LogFAQs > #905178379

#19 - Hiromu Takahashi Nominated by: CybrMonkey

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God, Hiromu is a fantastic wrestler. But his style is kind of a pain in the neck.

I didn't really like Hiromu when he was in Ring of Honor, but my opinion was drastically altered when he began in New Japan. Unlike Jay White, who I just have a really hard time caring about, Takahashi has left an utterly indelible impression ingrained in my mind. I hate to say it but the Ticking Time Bomb is the kind of wrestler you better enjoy while you can. His absurdly risky daredevil antics make a career the length of, say, Chris Jerichos or Yuji Nagatas seem very unlikely. This is a guy whos made a regular habit of doing hurricanranas over the top rope, out of the ring and onto the floor outside. As New Japans IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, the former Kamaitachi has had maybe more great matches in 2017 and 2018 than anyone other than Okada and Omega. His fantastic Wrestle Kingdom 11 match with Kushida was followed by so many fantastic matches that I can barely keep track.

And despite his daredevil style, it's his character which I love the most. How do I describe the beauty that is Takahashi, the almost childlike innocence personified in the red-headed man. Takahashi, who would talk to the belt whenever Naito held it up. Takahashi, who turned a stuffed cat into one of the best side characters in the history of wrestling. Takahashi, who caused the crowd to cry when his stuffed toy named Darryl was ripped apart by a ignorant brute. Takahashi who got over a Darryl Jr. with crowd somehow. It's amazing what his wide-eyed naivete mixed with his evil, crazy-eyed wrestling style combines to create.

Takahashi might explode at any minute, but until that happens he might be the most thrilling wrestler in the business.
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