Or, Betrayal by Another Name ~Observations on the Korakuen Hall Match, August 16, 2021~

It is a rare consecutive update. I use a parody for the title every time, but perhaps due to my lazy personality, it lacks a twist, and I'm running out of material... I'm actually the type of person who finds preambles troublesome, too. So, let's get straight to the point.

◼️ Match 5, 30-minute time limit
SUPER Jr. TAG LEAGUE 2021 Tournament Match
SHO & YOH vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado

These two teams have crossed swords many times before, and the memory of their deathmatch for the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship is still fresh. However, they don't quite fit the image of friendly rivals; 'nemesis' might be a more accurate description for their relationship with 3K. Desperado's insults—or rather, agitation—toward 3K were quite fierce and biting, and without fear of being misunderstood, one could say he was the vanguard of the deep-seated criticism against 3K. Although Desperado himself dislikes the idea of jumping on the bandwagon, there is an aspect where 3K was left to take the heat because their own actions in response were not very clear. Furthermore, regarding their records in this tag league, one must say there was a world of difference in their starting positions: 3K, who had the threatening track record of three consecutive victories but were drifting in an atmosphere of total defeat, versus Kanemaru and Desperado, who had firmly established themselves as a tag team.

The content of this match reinforced that; the 'roughness' of the Kanemaru/Desperado team served as a contrast to the 'cleanliness' of 3K, while simultaneously highlighting their weakness. YOH suffering from his legs being thoroughly targeted is a sight I've seen many times, and while they have managed to pull off comeback victories with combination moves on several occasions, it is a fact that, contrary to such heroic circumstances, many in the audience could not quite get on board with that 'struggle' narrative. In terms of career, both are seniors, and Kanemaru's skill, in particular, is outstanding. Since the difference in class was quite obvious from the start, the fact that they couldn't show much 'growth' amidst that might have been, in a sense, the limit of 3K.

The 'meanness' of the Kanemaru & Desperado team also stood out this time; by thoroughly attempting to divide the two and preventing them from executing their combination moves, they set out to deny the very existence of 3K as a tag team. There is no meaning in them teaming up. In a tag team battle, there is no stronger denial than that.

YOH, unable to run and collapsing even when sent to the ropes. Just when it seemed like it was all over as he was put in Numero Dos on his injured leg... that was when the incident occurred. SHO, who was supposed to come in for the save, stood like a Nio statue, looking down at the suffering YOH, returned to his own corner, and then even went outside the ring... I thought, 'Is SHO the one betraying him?' but there was still a tiny possibility that SHO, who had been protecting him, had finally reached his limit and this was 'tough love'.

However, by not rescuing YOH as he continued to be beaten by the two, and by watching him coldly until the moment he was pinned, the premonition of betrayal became definitive.

Well... I hate to say it, but I was first relieved that the heel turn for YOH, which had been the most rumored, was averted here (laughs). Looking at YOH's moves—the beautiful high-impact thrust kick, the Dragon Suplex as a legitimate successor, the Falcon Arrow which is surprisingly vacant of users, and Stargazer—I thought, 'There's no way he's the heel!' (laughs). He looks like a pure babyface no matter how you look at it! Well, this is just my personal interpretation, but I was relieved that it didn't turn out to be a misinterpretation.

And then, the moment I regained my composure, I saw SHO's expression. I didn't think he could make such a 'look,' and it gave me the chills in the best way possible. Not just a 'face,' but a 'look'—it was truly an evil countenance, an expression of someone who has lost their mental balance (a new expression that appeared in the Rurouni Kenshin Hokkaido arc). To put it very bluntly, it had a drug-addict-like intensity that was different from the hot-blooded boy he had been until now. In my opinion, the most important condition for becoming a heel is not words, but that countenance. Pro-wrestling is the ultimate form of non-verbal communication, and while words are an exciting spice, they are ultimately just the branches and leaves that color it. Whether or not one can stand as a single image is an important condition for both heroes and villains, and just by being able to make this 'look,' I was convinced of the success of SHO's heel turn.

And then, the Shock Arrow was unleashed, becoming the literal 'final arrow' for 3K. And the beginning of the end as he charges down the path of evil. YOH lost his ally, lost the youth that was 3K, and in a sense, completely lost his 'escape route' of a heel turn.

◼️On SHO's heel turn and YOH's future

With New Japan incorporating the context of 3K's pros and cons into the Jr. Tag League in a way that reflects the public will of the fans, the dissolution of 3K and the heel turn were treated among fans as if they were a foregone conclusion. As for the odds, there were many voices 'expecting' a heel turn from YOH, which likely stems from a desire for change. However, personally, I couldn't get on board with that. In the first place, saying 'you're hated, so you should just turn heel' is far too easy, and a heel turn is not just a simple character change. If a heel turn changes how fans see you and makes you popular, that's a matter of the audience's sensibility, and in that case, you could just do a 'gimmick change' without turning heel. Isn't it strange to be 'expected' to turn heel in the first place? A heel in the original sense is a bona fide 'villain,' and if that's the case, a contradiction arises where 'not' turning heel would result in betraying the fans, making that the correct path.

In that sense, although SHO's heel turn was somewhat predicted, it can be called a success. It resolves the dissatisfaction that the context of his victory in the GLEAT main event wasn't imported, while allowing him to broaden his horizons and leap forward as a heel. It is not a conversion in response to the expectations of the audience, but rather a charge down the path of evil with his own ambition and desire. I believe it is correct to turn heel by one's own will, not by the support of the fans.

A Jr. heel leaning towards a shooter style with strikes and joint locks is certainly a vacant position in the current landscape that tends to lean towards technicality, and I have nothing but expectations when I think that SHO's strikes might become sharper and his joint lock finishes might become more ruthless. Doesn't just thinking about SHO kicking his former tag partner with that cold-blooded face make you excited?

The words of farewell that SHO uttered in the ring and backstage were, contrary to his intense expression, textbook heel lines, and there might be room for improvement here. To speak meta, since the criticism of 3K and the fact that their tag league record was not worthy of the previous year's champions are the causes of their defeat, one could view it as having to use that kind of language because pointing out YOH's 'lack of spirit' creates 'justification' for the betrayal. Phrases like 'retire,' 'you have no use,' and 'you're finished' are exciting words, but they are also words that deviate from the bond 3K had until now, which conversely could mean that SHO is intentionally hiding his true intentions. Also, SHO still has hesitation, and he might have chosen strong words to push himself away... I think it's fine to leave that kind of interpretation to the fans. Pro-wrestling is not just about taking words at face value; it is up to the fans to interpret them.

And YOH, who lost everything. No, no, this is where the real battle begins. Although the criticism of 3K is a factor in their defeat, it doesn't mean YOH is entirely to blame; as a tag team, I believe the responsibility is split fifty-fifty. In that situation, now that he has been released from the evaluation of being a two-in-one unit called 3K, it has become entirely YOH's individual evaluation and responsibility, and once you hit rock bottom, the only way is up, right?

I have written this before, but if it's SHO and YOH, I believe YOH will be the one on top in the end. It's a reenactment of Hiroshi Tanahashi around 2004-2006 when he was poorly evaluated; Tanahashi was made to carry half the sin of a broken world and was 'not recognized' as a savior, but unlike that time, the current soil is rich, and YOH does not yet have the responsibility to carry the New Japan Jr. division, let alone New Japan Pro-Wrestling. That 'lack of responsibility' can be said to be directly linked to a 'lack of role,' and unlike Hiromu or SHO, who have a striking, ephemeral impression, it is YOH who has more 'impatience.' YOH's style, which emphasizes timing and tempo, is not just a natural sense; it is something that requires experience, and it is something that only blooms by fighting relentlessly. I want to first praise YOH's choice to spend time in obscurity while looking long-term amidst such a swirl of criticism, and I can support him more for choosing the thorny path of a babyface rather than 'escaping' through an easy heel turn.

Lastly. Even though it hasn't been decided yet, I think many fans are shocked that the continuation of 3K has become almost hopeless. At the very least, the SHO of the past will never return, and no matter how much it might be a plus for the two, or even if their paths diverge for their respective futures, I think it is painful for fans to accept all of that positively.

However, the sense of loss for the tag team 3K. Please cherish that feeling along with your memories, even if it is sad. No matter how much criticism there is, the fact that fans with such feelings were following and supporting them is proof in itself that the tag team 3K was not worthless, and it is also evidence that the 'betrayal' of SHO's heel turn functioned perfectly. The end of the 'first chapter' as 3K was bitter, but as long as they are both pro-wrestlers, the time will come when they must fight somewhere. If the story of 'teaming up' has ended, the next is the beginning of the story of 'fighting.' I don't know how many years it will be, but I believe a reunion will eventually come, and when that time comes, their many combination moves will explode once again, this time with cheers. Wishing for that time, I will say goodbye for now. I will continue to keep an eye on their story. That's all for today.