Tetsuya Naito is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he is the leader of the Los Ingobernables de Japon faction.
57 Facts About Tetsuya Naito
2.
Tetsuya Naito began training for a professional wrestling career in 2000, initially under Animal Hamaguchi before joining NJPW in 2004, where he underwent further training.
3.
Tetsuya Naito is a former NEVER Openweight Champion, and a former IWGP Tag Team and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship with former No Limit partner Yujiro Takahashi.
4.
In 2020, Tetsuya Naito became the first person to hold both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships at the same time, accomplishing that feat twice, becoming a three-time IWGP Heavyweight and record six-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion.
5.
Tetsuya Naito began training for a professional wrestling career in 2000, initially under Animal Hamaguchi.
6.
On November 3,2005, Tetsuya Naito passed a public audition held by NJPW in Korakuen Hall, graduating from the dojo and earning a spot on the promotion's roster.
7.
In 2007 Tetsuya Naito participated in the 2007 Best of the Super Juniors tournament, replacing a wrestler who was unable to compete due to injuries.
8.
Tetsuya Naito finished last in Block B, earning four points by defeating Gedo and El Samurai, losing the other four matches in his block.
9.
In February 2008, Tetsuya Naito formed a tag team with fellow rookie Yujiro Takahashi called "No Limit".
10.
In May 2008, Yujiro and Tetsuya Naito underwent a five-match series with some of New Japan's top tag teams, dubbed "No Limit Generation Smash", held in the various Zepp clubs across Japan.
11.
Tetsuya Naito lost to Yujiro in the first round of the tournament.
12.
On October 13,2008, at Destruction '08 Yujiro and Tetsuya Naito defeated Devitt and Minoru to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.
13.
Shortly after losing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Yujiro and Tetsuya Naito traveled to North America for a "developmental tour", something often done with young Japanese wrestlers to expose them to other styles of wrestling and help them develop into better wrestlers.
14.
Yujiro and Tetsuya Naito worked for TNA approximately two months, receiving another unsuccessful shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.
15.
Tetsuya Naito teamed up with Okumura and is expected to team up with Taichi, a NJPW rookie who will be travelling to Mexico to gain experience.
16.
On December 5,2009, NJPW announced that Yujiro and Tetsuya Naito were returning to Japan as part of their annual January 4 Tokyo Dome show called Wrestle Kingdom IV in Tokyo Dome.
17.
At the event Yujiro and Tetsuya Naito defeated Team 3D and Bad Intentions in a three-way hardcore match to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship.
18.
On January 4,2011, at Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome, Tetsuya Naito unsuccessfully challenged Jeff Hardy for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.
19.
In May 2011 Tetsuya Naito took part in New Japan's first tour of the United States, the Invasion Tour 2011.
20.
Tetsuya Naito then went on to win six out of his eight remaining matches, including picking up big wins over Giant Bernard, Yoshihiro Takayama and IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi, to win his block and advance to the finals of the 2011 G1 Climax.
21.
However, in the end, Tetsuya Naito failed to win the tournament as he was defeated in the finals by Shinsuke Nakamura.
22.
On January 4,2012, at Wrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome, Tetsuya Naito faced All Japan Pro Wrestling's Keiji Mutoh in a losing effort.
23.
From late 2011 to early 2012, Tetsuya Naito was involved in a feud with Shinsuke Nakamura, which built to a singles match on February 12 at The New Beginning, where Tetsuya Naito was victorious and in the process became the number one contender to new IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada.
24.
On May 3,2013, Tetsuya Naito made an appearance at New Japan's Wrestling Dontaku 2013 event, announcing that he would be returning to the ring on June 22, while naming the NEVER Openweight Championship, held by Masato Tanaka, as his goal.
25.
From August 1 to 11, Tetsuya Naito took part in the 2013 G1 Climax.
26.
Tetsuya Naito announced that he first wanted a rematch with Masato Tanaka for the NEVER Openweight Championship.
27.
Tetsuya Naito and reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada faced off on November 23 during the first day of the 2013 World Tag League in a match, where Tetsuya Naito and Mexican wrestler La Sombra were defeated by Okada and Yoshi-Hashi.
28.
On January 4,2014, at Wrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome, Tetsuya Naito failed in his title challenge against Okada.
29.
From July 21 to August 8, Tetsuya Naito took part in the 2014 G1 Climax, where he finished fifth in his block with a record of five wins and five losses.
30.
Tetsuya Naito returned to NJPW the following week with a new look and persona, while announcing that he now represented Los Ingobernables in NJPW.
31.
From July 20 to August 14, Tetsuya Naito took part in the 2015 G1 Climax.
32.
Styles and eventual tournament winner Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito finished third in his block with a record of five wins and four losses and thus failed to advance to the finals.
33.
On October 12 at King of Pro-Wrestling, Tetsuya Naito unsuccessfully challenged 2015 G1 Climax winner Hiroshi Tanahashi for his IWGP Heavyweight Championship contract.
34.
On January 4,2016, at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome, Tetsuya Naito was defeated by Hirooki Goto, with whom Los Ingobernables de Japon had been feuding since the previous October.
35.
Tetsuya Naito avenged the loss on March 12 by defeating Goto in the finals to win the 2016 New Japan Cup.
36.
Tetsuya Naito made his first successful title defense on May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku 2016 against Tomohiro Ishii.
37.
From July 22 to August 13, Tetsuya Naito took part in the 2016 G1 Climax, where he finished second in his block with a record of six wins and three losses.
38.
Tetsuya Naito finished tied with block winner Kenny Omega on points, but failed to advance to the finals due to losing to Omega in their head-to-head match on the final day.
39.
Tetsuya Naito then took part in the 2016 World Tag League, where he and Los Ingobernables member Rush finished with a record of four wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals due to losing to block winners Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa in their final round-robin match.
40.
Tetsuya Naito won the award decidedly in the first round of voting, garnering 18 of 21 votes to beat Okada and Kenny Omega.
41.
On January 4,2017, at Wrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome, Tetsuya Naito successfully defended the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi, which he followed up with another successful title defense against Michael Elgin on February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka.
42.
On January 4,2018, Tetsuya Naito was defeated by Okada in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 12.
43.
At Destruction in Beppu, Tetsuya Naito defeated Minoru Suzuki in a singles match.
44.
At the event, Tetsuya Naito defeated Jericho to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship for the third time.
45.
At The New Beginning in Sapporo, Tetsuya Naito retained his title.
46.
Tetsuya Naito was announced to take part in 2019 New Japan Cup and faced Kota Ibushi in the first round, but lost.
47.
At Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall, Tetsuya Naito regained the IWGP Intercontinental Championship from Ibushi.
48.
At Power Struggle, Tetsuya Naito came out to confront Jay White and propose a match between them at Wrestle Kingdom 14 for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, expressing his desire to be the first man to hold both the IWGP Intercontinental Championship and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the same time.
49.
From September to October, Tetsuya Naito competed in the 2020 G1 Climax in the B Block, but did not win, and finished with 12 points.
50.
However, in his opening match against Zack Sabre Jr, which he lost, Tetsuya Naito suffered a knee injury and was forced to forfeit the tournament.
51.
Tetsuya Naito returned 2 months later, to team with Sanada in the World Tag League, the team finished with 16 points, but losses to Dangerous Tekkers and EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi, who finished with 16 points, stopped them advancing to the finals.
52.
At Wrestle Kingdom 16, Los Ingobernables de Japon lost to United Empire in a six-man tag-team match on Night 1, however Tetsuya Naito defeated Jeff Cobb on Night 2.
53.
Tetsuya Naito received another World Championship match at Wrestling Dontaku, but was defeated by Okada.
54.
Tetsuya Naito finished with 8 points, defeating Zack Sabre Jr on the final block match day to advance to the semi-finals.
55.
Tetsuya Naito is a fan of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp baseball team and has throughout his career wrestled in red, which is the team's main color, and the team's fans have been known to sing his wrestling theme song as a chant for Hiroshima.
56.
In 2017, Tetsuya Naito collaborated with Hiroshima Toyo Carp for a shirt.
57.
Tetsuya Naito came up with the taunt in 2009 during his Mexican excursion, where local fans hurled racially-charged taunts at him for his narrow eyes.