REDEMPTION ROAD:
HIROOKI GOTO AND G1 CLIMAX 29
By Jas Olan
Hard hitting, fearless, and strong, the Fierce Warrior, Hirooki Goto is the epitome of Japanese strong style. Of the many interesting stories being told in this year’s G1 CLIMAX tournament, his could easily be one of the most compelling. Like a ronin, a fallen or masterless samurai, Goto has set him self on the path to finding himself again while competing in the highly prestigious and notoriously grueling tournament. After struggling through last year’s G1 and a rivalry with Switchblade Jay White that truly tested his confidence, the Ara Musha has been working his hardest on finding his way again.
This quest for redemption would take Goto from his homeland of Japan to America for a rigorous training camp at NJPW’s LA dojo with long time best friend, Katsuyori Shibata. As head coach of the LA dojo, Shibata supported Goto through this rebuilding process and pushed his best friend hard in training. The hard work paid off when it came time for the opening night of G1 29. That night, the Fierce Warrior stood face to face with the rival who had sought to break him down over the past year, Switchblade Jay White in a tag team preview match. Goto’s team would get the win, and his journey in the G1 was already off to a great start.
When it came time for the two to go head to head in block competition, fans were firmly behind the Ara Musha. It was time to fight back after a seemingly endless amount of trash talking from the Switchblade. White had even gone so far as to call Goto a failure and embarrassment to his family and friends. However the New Zealand native would soon learn his lesson during block competition to never count the Fierce Warrior because when it’s time to fight, he will do exactly that. Goto would get the win in that match as well as a major vote of confidence from fans, critics, and his peers.
Despite losing his next block match to former United States Champion, Juice Robinson, Goto’s chances are still looking very good in this year’s G1. As a former G1 winner, it is quite possible that he can go all the way and win again. Winning again would mean a new chance to win the title that has eluded him throughout his fifteen year run in NJPW, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. It would also mean a new beginning that would see Goto move from the upper echelon of New Japan’s mid card to the main event where he most definitely belongs.
Hirooki Goto’s journey through G1 CLIMAX 29 will ultimately be all about self discovery. With his confidence bolstered and a rediscovered passion and focus, there’s no telling how that journey will pan out. A truly beloved performer among NJPW fans, Goto’s story is one of the most relatable ones New Japan has ever told, one with so much meaning as well as an invaluable lesson that sometimes the most difficult of challenges create the strongest of people. That’s something everyone could learn from New Japan Pro Wrestling’s fearless Ara Musha.
