New Japan Pro-Wrestling star KENTA recently commented on WWE superstar Shinsuke Nakamura using the Go To Sleep move he created. It’s always interesting when KENTA comments on the use of his finisher because of the discussion around it more so than who used it and on what show.
New Japan’s KENTA and The Stolen Finisher Dilemma
On WWE RAW, Ricochet attacked Shinsuke Nakamura during a backstage interview. Nakamura would pay him back later in the night by hitting him with the Go To Sleep. Obviously, with most fans being so tied up with CM Punk’s wrestling future and familiar with the most readily accessible wrestling, the thought went to “The Best in the World” must be signing.
An interesting side story for the OGs is KENTA trolling response on X which simply read “See you at survivor series lol.” Those who know KENTA and know the history and origins of the G2S know KENTA was kidding. It wasn’t him alluding to re-signing or wanting to actually wrestle Nakamura. That is unless he was still in NOAH or KENTA knows something about Nakamura’s contract that hasn’t been revealed yet.
Both aren’t likely but that didn’t stop him from tweeting. However, KENTA’s gotten to point where he knows he’s being bitten off. Most Japanese wrestlers have probably gathered that when they come to the U.S to wrestle only to find that their finisher is another move in someone’s arsenal==and not even a finisher.
Swag jacking and move jacking—unfortunately it happens, originality is running low in many mediums. However, if you’re going to jack, make it 1:1. The G2S, while simple enough in execution when we see it is a unique move in that everyone would’ve been doing it if it was another move.
It hasn’t reached the stage of the Ace Crusher, the DDT, the Super Kick, the Shining Wizard, the Stunner, or the Canadian Destroyer. There’s still something special to it—respect—because so few do it. If anything, the G2S is a fairly protected finisher. The gatekeeper on the move is athleticism: bite the move if you’re going to bite but don’t make it look like sh**, basically.
While wrestlers might want their stuff to be bitten off in the first place, ultimately, they’re hoping that it doesn’t look like sh** and has to place it in vault to get the tarnish off. What do you make of KENTA’s comments?
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