(NOAH) "Follow Me You Bastards!" Kenoh's Weekly Pro Column ~ 4th December 2024 (No. 2329)

KENOH: I hear the booing of Shota Umino is a hot topic.

Q: Zack Sabre Jnr announced his challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on October 14th at New Japan's Ryogoku on October 14th. Some fans feel its too early.

KENOH (ignoring him): That's how it is. Around spring this year, no one was booing him, but I was ahead of the trend and booed. 

Q: Before the 6th May ALL TOGETHER at the Nippon Budokan, Umino was flirting with Kaito Kiyomiya in a special event that had been planned for the show, and you were chasing him, calling out "Kaito-san", as if you were like love rivals.

KENOH: Back then, the assholes were calling Umino "cute" and all, but now they've completely changed their minds. But the booing is a good thing, so let's applaud.

Q: So you're happy that your love rival is being booed?

KENOH: You idiot!! It's the opposite. It's applause in recognition of him as a professional wrestler. I think Umino has finally reached the starting line where he can shoulder the future of professional wrestling. I used to get criticized a lot.

Q: Please give me more details!

KENOH: It would be shallow to easily assume a top position in an promotion. I don't think you can truly reach the top, unless you overcome hardships. A wrestler who can bounce back from that is truly at the top. However, there are many who are booed and become disheartened. I'm worried about Umino because she seems to be mentally unstable.

Q: You pay close attention.

KENOH: There are a lot of mixed opinions on social media, and Umino is a wrestler worth exploring. It's really good for him as a professional because he's getting attention at this point.

Q: Kenoh, why do you think he was booed so much?

KENOH: Maybe it's because he's the son of Red Shoes Unno, a referee with world-class refereeing skills. I don't think Japanese people have a very positive image of a second generation, maybe its perhaps that the sound of those words make him sound like he's been spoiled. I mean, wrestling has been part of Umino's daily life since he was born, he's been to New Japan dojos and venues, and he's on good terms with the wrestlers and staff. I think they try not to bring their father-son relationship into the workplace, but they're still seen as different from the guys of the same generation.

Q: He beat the current champion Zack in an official G1 match, and also beat SANADA in a singles match when he challenged him in October, so I think he's achieved results worthy of a challenger.

KENOH: It's the same with Kiyomiya, but when a young guy who has been an ace since joining the company comes up, the bastards demand perfection. In this year's G1, he was injured and didn't have a memorable fight. For me, the only good one was his fight against Will Osprey in November last year.

Q: You really do pay close attention. 

KENOH: Shall I suggest a solution?

Q: Please

KENOH: He should just accept it and stick to being a heel. Japanese people are similar to Naniwabushi*, and they empathize with people who have struggled. The champion, Zack, first came to Japan with Noah, and lived in the dojo at Differ Ariake, where he distinguished himself. He then transferred to New Japan, and he steadily built his career for seven years before he finally reached the top. Even though many foreign wrestlers have moved overseas, he has remained in New Japan and is trying to become a wall for the new generation. He has a lovable character and matches backed by classical techniques, and he has a high audience support rate. Umino has been expected to be the next ace since he joined the company. Given the situation, it's not possible for Umino to gain more support than Zack in just a month and a half. He's already being booed like a natural heel, so there's no reason not to use that. Rather than trying to curry favor, he might be more valuable if he stirs up the bastards and stirs up trouble. 

Q: That's a novel view.

KENOH: It's his chance to be like Dominic Mysterio of WWE, the most booed in the world. But when I saw the press conference announcing New Japan's championship card at the Tokyo Dome on Samurai TV's News Suplex, it looked like Umino's eyes were wandering. He needs to be more confident, and be confident in his ability to present himself as a candidate for being ace. I can understand that he's young and thinking about a lot of things and got scared, but if it was me, I would have looked into the camera and gotten booed by the people watching at home. 

Q: As expected of you!

KENOH: Well, the final showdown will be at New Japan's main event at the Tokyo Dome on January 4th, so I'm curious to see how the boos will turn out if he takes the belt away from the popular Zack. Either the boos will be unimaginable, or there will be a standing ovation. If he can turn that kind of situation into cheers in just one day, then it will be the birth if a new ace in the world of pro wrestling. It's possible.

Q: I would love to see something like that. So, will you be cheering for Umino?

KENOH: Naturally, Zack, who trained with me at the Noah dojo, good luck!!

 

Notes

Naniwabushi: A 19th-20th century type of storytelling accompanied by a shamisen.