The Dirty Old Man Problem
By Ross W Berman IV
Miho Abe is in a hostile work environment. Not only is she in a borderline abusive relationship with Suzuki-gun’s Taichi, but she was recently assaulted in storyline by “Funky Weapon” Ryusuke Taguchi, a comedy babyface. Not only was she assaulted by a babyface, but Kevin Kelly, the seemingly babyface announcer of NJPW has repeatedly mentioned the possibility of Miho inciting the attack. A babyface comedy character assaulted a female valet, and said female valet is being victim-blamed by the babyface English announcer of NJPW. There is a lot wrong with that sentence. A lot.
Just to add to the problematic nature of this storyline, noted victim-blamer Michael Elgin has been on Taguchi’s team during the whole angle. Elgin’s real life issues already cast a pall over his matches, to the point that many fans refuse to watch NJPW during Elgin’s matches, and now there’s is open talk of victim-blaming and assault from the commentary team. It’s an extremely distressing experience for the informed viewer, and it is a full-blown PTSD trigger for actual survivors of sexual assault.
There is no gray area in this storyline. Taguchi tackled Abe in a simulated assault, and then discussed taking it further in backstage segments. This too serious of a storyline for a comedy wrestler that has delusions of being a baseball coach and hits people with his ass.
No one in this story is of any actual consequence to New Japan, and the Honor Rising schedule has Abe and Taguchi far away from each other. Elgin isn’t even scheduled for either show. This might be the last it’s discussed, but it must be discussed nonetheless.
Whether it’s Elgin, Taguchi, or Elder-Pervert-In-Chief Jushin “Thunder” Liger, there’s a misogynistic streak running through New Japan Pro Wrestling. They cannot pretend to embrace their LGBTQIA audience with The Golden Lovers, while Liger, Taguchi & Elgin continue to keep wrestling’s “boys club” mentality alive and well in 2018. Breaking ground in the main event is easy to miss, if the undercard is so infuriating that it makes people turn off the show. New Japan is renown for taking their wrestlers very seriously. They should extend that respect to their female valets.
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