Captain New Japan

[1.0] "I don't get it, how did he have a job in New Japan for so long? Sure, the gimmick of Captain New Japan is hilarious at first, but... how did he stick around? Why did they turn him heel? I have so many questions."

[2.0] "When your teammates are calling you out in the ring for sucking, and asking you to lay down and take the pin, you know you're screwed. He was not exactly great as Captain New Japan, but watching him as Bone Solider is downright hilarious. Some of the strangest booking decisions possible."

[1.0] "I want to know what kind of hardcore crack cocaine Gedo was on when he decided that taking the lowest of low-tier comedy wrestler in Captain New Japan and throwing him into the hottest heel group of the modern age, was a good idea. Seriously, He had NO wrestling ability whatsoever, so what made Gedo think that this out-of-shape Japanese man in his fucking 40s would fit in with this group of talented bad-boy foreigners? This ranks up there with Vincent (AKA Vergil) joining the nWo in how it seemed to instantly devalue the group he was joining just from his mere presence. Not helped by his stupid mask and long-sleeved shirt get-up making him look like a Power Rangers monster with a drinking problem. And it seems like Gedo quickly realized this too, as less than 4 months after joining, Kenny Omega called him the most useless piece of shit in existence and kicked his ass out. "Captain Fookin' New Japan" Indeed."

[2.0] "It's funny, I was reading an old issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter from 2005 and it dedicates a quick bit in the New Japan section to what high hopes they have for Mitsuhide Hirasawa as he'd only just started training at the time. Sadly Hirasawa would not live up to those expectations, with his run as BONE SOLDIER being possibly one of the worst in the history of New Japan. As Hirasawa he was a serviceable Young Lion wrestler, and as Captain New Japan he could be somewhat entertaining as a comedy character and foil for the bigger stars. However, once he got added into The Bullet Club it became glaringly obvious just how poor his in-ring skills were in comparison to pretty much everyone else in the company. Being in a company like New Japan where the general competency of the roster was so high meant that Hirasawa had nowhere to hide, with his flaws being extenuated with every miserable foray into the ring. It reached the point where you almost felt sorry for him that they kept sending him out there to struggle every time. His New Japan career almost morphed into a cruel social experiment by the end, and he hasn't really been seen anywhere else since the two sides parted ways. As Captain New Japan he could at least cover for some of his in-ring inadequacies by using comedy and pratfalls, but once he was supposed to be a genuine Heel threat the gig was up and it was time to go. In some ways it wasn't his fault because turning him Heel was obviously such a daft idea that I'm amazed they tried it, but he must also carry the can somewhat for never really improving from an in-ring perspective"

[4.0] "As Mitsuhide Hirasawa, he was this gutsy yet naive young lion whose father was friends with Choshu in high school. His spirit and strong attitude made him display an image of a brilliant future ahead of him after his excursion time; also an obedient pupil for Yuji Nagata and Seigigun (6). As Hideo Saito, his gimmick of a caribbean primal like man with personality issues was a fun one to say the least, yet you could notice it was temporary and would be dropped as soon as he was dumped from CHAOS (5). As the Captain, his gimmick was good on paper, but when it came to the wrestling, you noticed Hirasawa un-learned everything he was taught in favor of the Saito gimmick, and this would go on for four long years (3). As Bone Soldier, it was his last chance to prove he was still capable of at least hitting people with a belt, but it was evident his career was pretty much done and he inexplicably disappeared from NJPW and soon fired (0). A man who lost himself on his gimmicks leaving a lot of potential behind."

[3.0] "Was only serviceable as Captain New Japan, in which comedy hid his embarrassing lack of wrestling talent. Despite being in the business for years, he really failed to get the basic fundamentals and stunk up any match he was in."

[3.0] "He was fine as a jobber, not good, just fine, meaning he did not make those who beat him better but that he was just another body in the ring. But a comedy wrestler... he was truly horrible unless there's some weird Japanese cultural thing here I haven't got yet. His mercifully brief tenure as Bone Soldier, terrible feud with Yoshihashi included, was best defined by Kenny Omega as an "intergalactic disaster", which is exactly what it was."

[4.0] "A good comedy act wrestler but to be fair I really couldn't see him ever going anywhere with it. Throw him in those random tag matches and let him and antics free, then put him away before the main event."

[1.0] "BONE SOLDIER will best be remembered as Captain New Japan, and outside of a YouTube clip of Finn Balor saying his name, those aren't very good memories. In the ring, the man was pretty much the opposite of what you want to see from a professional wrestler in every way. His total lack of athleticism, charisma, or ability to perform even basic in-ring things were a huge black mark on any match he was a part of. He had no place in New Japan, but I do wish him the best in whatever he's doing now, because he seemed like a nice enough guy. Ironically, it was being paired with another awful New Japan wrestler in Yoshitatsu, and eventually turned heel to feud with him that ultimately did in his career. Whatever crowd support his gimmick had garnered him to that point disappeared when he was given probably the shittiest, no effort gimmick of all time. It almost makes you feel bad for him, like he was set up to fail with the crowd so they'd be justified in releasing him."

[1.0] "Yes he's rubbish but i like the fact that Kenny Omega calls him 'Boner'. Nothing more than comedy relief."

[0.0] "BONE SOLDIER continuously shows that he has no worth to NJPW. He detracts from every match and segment he is in."

[1.0] "As a face, he filled a necessary role as a jobber babyface in New Japan. As a heel, he's the Vincent of the Bullet Club, and no stable needs a Vincent."

[5.0] "Easily one of my favourite jobbers, he is so stupid it is great. Very fee wrestlers have me say that"

[5.0] "Captain New Japan, where to start? Been watching him work for almost a couple years. As a wrestler he's solid, at 6'2" 240lb he's one of the bigger guys on the roster, but that gimmick is so bad I can't see him ever being more then just a spot filler on a New Japan card. I think a good rivalry or a comedy tag team could really help him move up. But I don't see that happening anytime soon. I guess even the biggest wrestling company in Japan needs a few jobbers. I do like his new green and black look but that's about it."

[3.0] "Why would New Japan create this gimmick if it was intended to denigrate the name 'New Japan? ' Even Captain NOAH isn't treated as low (bookerman. ) However, I did enjoy his run as Hideo Saito - the rolling eyes & his Meng-like 'Tongan Death grip' cracked me up... for facial expression galore check out a match this character had with Nagata from G-1 in '11."