Go Shiozaki

[7.0] "Go Shiozaki is Great but the last great match he was part of was over two years ago. Part of me wanna say he should've never left NOAH but on the same time he wasn't ok at best on his last days in NOAH"

[10.0] "An all-time great who carried NOAH on his back during the pandemic and sacrificed his body in the process."

[10.0] "My favorite baby face of all time, period. The way Go has been able to connect with the crowd for over 2 decades is unlike any other wrestler to me. He is also probably the best "long match" wrestler as he is able to keep you invested and not have it get stale or boring. The amount of matches he has had that have gone well over 30 minutes is vast and almost all of them have been great. The guy has been a pillar for Noah especially thanks to his title reign during the pandemic which got me back into watching the company again. Even now into his forties Go is still good as ever and can put on strong performances night and night out. He truly is and has been NOAH."

[10.0] "Yes, he is not so separate character and wrestler at all, but he is soul and blood of NOAH nowadays. I think, that he can be a definition of necessary top star in every promotion, because he always can convey his feelings to the crowd. His moveset and his style it's truly concentrate of NOAH style with all bad and good moments in it. Hard hitting and good storyteller, who sometimes love too much do a BIG EPIC MATCH for 35+ minutes. Anyway, we all forgive him for that, becuse he very good in this type of match and he is one of a "that" kind, not just a copycat."

[10.0] "One of the greatest to ever do it, but is often forgotten about or not mentioned. A real shame as Go Shiozaki is absolutely incredible in the ring and can get any crowd behind him as the incredible underdog he is despite being so gifted in the ring. I don't know what else to say about him other than...go watch his matches. He's great!"

[10.0] "One of the best wrestlers in the world. Shiozaki's chops look very painful. Consistently been of the best in-ring workers all-round since the mid-2000's. The way he structures his matches are excellent. Good story-teller. Even in his 40's, he puts on awesome matches. He held NOAH on his back and will be remembered as a legend."

[9.0] "Really talented wrestler who has had some fantastic matches over the years, he does have some of the "I chop you, you kick me" booking which I don't like but his talent is undeniable."

[10.0] "Shiozaki has some of the most painful looking and sounding chops in the business. Works well as both a tag team wrestler and a singles wrestler. You can't deny the greatness that is Go Shiozaki and the level of presteige that he's brought to NOAH and the GHC Heavyweight Championship."

[10.0] "NOAH's Strong Arm is an amazing striking babyface, with tons of charisma and great selling ability, combined with an expert understanding of wrestling psychology. An intense fire, determination in his eyes, you really want to root for him, which was important as his prime started when NOAH was in its darkest period. Shiozaki was one of the greatest wrestlers of the 2010s, is still going strong today, and I would argue is one of the greatest of all-time."

[9.0] "While Go's career has taken a different path than many would have visioned for him, its hard to deny that hes been a fantastic performer everywhere hes been. His original NOAH run, going from Kobashi's son to the next top heavyweight was great, his All Japan run was great, and his 2015-present NOAH return has been the best of all of them. Whether as an ace, a challenger, or a tag guy, Go has an awesome hard hitting moveset and always puts forth his best effort."

[10.0] "He is the best in the world. His chops, selling, match structures, excellent babyface charisma, etc. He's one of the best wrestling storytellers of all time."

[10.0] "Best wrestler in the world (a tie between him and Miyahara) and has been for years now. Kenta Kobashi's style remains alive thanks to him. Single handedly carried NOAH during the pandemic era. Go Shiozaki IS NOAH"

"Go Shiozaki is in my opinion the best wrestler in the world. Still in his prime at 40 you could pit Go against any competent wrestler and get a banger of a match. He's what I aspire to be when I wrestle."

[10.0] "Despite some quirks and stutters early on (that were mostly outside of his control), Go Shiozaki is arguably the greatest wrestler of his generation. Someone who embodies the spirit of what we all love about Pro-Wrestling NOAH - their history, their intensity, their determination - and keeps that aura about him every time he steps in the ring. I don't know of any other wrestler who so perfectly incarnates a promotion and all it entails. From the Kobashi style to the Misawa gear, there is a reason no one even bats an eyelash when he says "I AM NOAH"."

[10.0] "That title match in 2018 against Sugi changed him and the tag run with Nakajima solidified him as an all timer to me. He finally unlocked that 2nd gear in him and became so fun and captivating to watch. He had always been an amazing wrestler but he wasn't the guy to carry a company. Then in comes 2020 and him beating Kaito for the belt. Starting his best run ever with the phrase "I am NOAH". He put them on his back and was determined to bring NOAH back to the top.The company may not look the best right now with its booking but he deserves so much credit for getting more eyes on the current NOAH product during a pandemic no less. Completely different guy nwow"

[9.0] "As anyone ever had louder chops than Go. He has been with NOAH through a lot of a lean years and carried them during the first year of the pandemic"

[10.0] "One of the best wrestlers that I have ever seen, the last pupil of Misawa and the second best pupil of Kobashi (the 1 is KENTA)"

[9.0] "I didn't feel Go very much in his early years: very much bland, not a lot to him beyond a generic appearance and okish wrestling. I never quite got on board like Kobashi and the rest of his peers who thought he was going to be a top tier ace and groomed him that way, and I do feel like that damaged his rep in later years, because he just wouldn't make that expectation in terms of numbers. He'd always have that shadow of burden as being the top guy and, while I feel like he was a fairly good performer and still to this day has strong elements of storytelling and pacing that few can protest to have in his matches, he's definitely gotten a lot better from those days, refining his style and look to match his status as the face of NOAH for years to come. His 2020 title run was, for the most part, quite good barring some of his longer matches which I find he doesn't do well. Go is suited for 30 minute matches where his selling is not too exaggerated and prolonged to be unrealistic, but long enough that he can sell damage effectively. He's great at putting over threats and showing subtle changes to his style. He can brawl, work technical, his offence looks fantastic for the most part, and he's a solid tag specialist as well. He's a student of the game no doubt, the only real issue is that most of his career hasn't been his 2020 peak, and Go has had his fair share of mediocrity to go around, unlike Tanahashi or Suwama who even in their weak years as aces have still pulled out some great bouts."

[9.0] "In my opinion the best wrestler in 2020, he was such a boss during his title reign knocking out a banger in basically every big match. Can't wait for his comeback."

[10.0] "Go Shiozaki is a prime example of a protégé of one of the greatest of all time that turned out fantastically. Sure he may seem like a carbon copy of Kobashi at some points, but most of the time, he seems to be forming a niche and legacy of his own as one of the many faces of NOAH. He is NOAH, for he has helped ascend it from it's darkest of times along with the rest of the talented roster. If I had made this comment in 2019, I would've likely given him an 8 or a 9, but his 2020 run has allowed me to fully understand the extent of which he can go. He really cut down on a lot of weaknesses people point out about his in ring skills, and truly has provided some of the greatest matches of COVID era wrestling. #WEARENOAH!"

[10.0] "My man. Dude revitalized NOAH and really put it back on the map with his recent title reign, which had banger after banger."

[10.0] "His recent title reign was probably the best championship reign since his mentor Kobashi's reign as GHC Champion. Every single title match during his reign told a unique story and all were amazing in their own way. Wrestler of the year in 2020."

[10.0] "Go Shiozaki has always been a personal favorite of mine, however, he really proved it to the world in 2020. His GHC Heavyweight Championship reign went above and beyond, and can truly be considered as one of the best reigns of the belt. He is the iron man for NOAH during this pandemic, and gives his heart in each match he has."

[10.0] "One of the best of the world. This man is just pure gold. His current title reign is being just one of the best I've ever seen. He just can't stop creating masterpieces."

[10.0] "Am I really forced to tell why I give this guy a 10 ? I don't think so since he put classics after classics last year. And the better thing he was always a great wrestler ! From his wXw work at the end of the 2000's to today and even back in 2004 with Kenta Kobashi, he always impressed me in a ring. His match against Nakajima last novembre is one of my favorite matches ever. Very charismatic guy. Fantastic babyface. A true machine and one of the bests storyteller ever. That's why I'm giving him a 10."

"I've never been that fond of Go Shiozaki. While he's not an imitation of his trainer Kobashi as other wrestlers turn out to be, I still found him more of a downgrade to his contemporaries. That being said, 2020 has easily been Shiozaki's best year and if you've been following NOAH at all, makes a strong case for WOTY. Even the more controversial, artsy matches he's been a part of I still appreciate for being bold and ambitious during a time where many failed to adapt. Great performances against the likes of Kenou, Marufuji and Nakajima."

[10.0] "2020's male MVP with not much competition. Every singles match I've watched this year, from Kiyomiya to Kenoh has been very good at worst and MOTYC at best. One of the most consistent wrestlers in the world today."

[7.0] "I've yet to see the much heralded Fujita match from today, but my experience with Shiozaki is that he's pretty solid but nothing spectacular. For as much success as he's had, I can't really find any match or moment in particular to point to to say this is what makes him great or why you should care. He's a good hand for Noah to have for sure but I don't think I'd consider him great or a favorite for me."

[7.0] "A worthy student of the greatest wrestler of all time, but also somewhat of an imitation. Though he never peaked as high as (Kobayashi) Kenta, Shiozaki has had a more consistent journey, and has yet to decline physically. Frankly, I think the way people use numbers on this website is absurd, and I think things like 9s and 10s should be reserved for complete wrestlers who rank among the absolute greatest of all time (eg. Misawa is a 9, and the more charismatic Kobashi is a 10). Shiozaki is more than good. He's great. However, he is not quite excellent, is not a draw, has many world title reigns to his name but is nearly just-another-guy in a promotion that can barely draw a thousand people. Shiozaki is a (sometimes upper) mid carder in a promotion on life-support, a promotion that spurned him for trying to make his way in the world and still hasn't fully opened its arms to him again. I wish he had gone to New Japan years ago, where he'd have more worthy competition to hone himself against."

[9.0] "Shiozaki is currently one of my favourite wrestlers. It's very rare to find a wrestler who is excellent at not only wrestling but also portraying a character. Shiozaki has an air of royal arrogance about him, and in that sense he reminds me of Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z. Shiozaki's use of facial expressions is some of the best I've ever seen. He reacts to every single action that takes place in the ring. This isn't to say he goes over the top with big smiles or scowls to every little thing that occurs, but I can always tell what he is thinking after every single action he, his tag partner, or his opponent(s) take. It's incredibly immersive to see someone's emotions so clear, as I feel like I can really empathise with what he's going through. The main idea Shiozaki seems to communicate is pride. He looks absolutely disgusted when someone tries to even suggest they might be stronger than him, and his fiery reactions show how enraged he becomes at the idea of not being the best. When Shiozaki has a suitable opponent, he will exude a great sense of intensity as if he wants nothing more than to completely destroy them and prove his dominance. Even though the NOAH fans struggle to get behind him ever since he briefly left for AJPW, Shiozaki still manages to wow them with his brutal chops and great visual storytelling abilities, winning them over to some extent by the end of his matches. It's not hyperbole when I say that I see a lot of Kobashi's best qualities in his pupil."

[8.0] "Superb. he isn't perform but no one is but Go will give you his all every single time. You never have to worry about the match quality with Go. Superb performer."

[9.0] "The direct pupil of the legendary Kenta Kobashi, Go Shiozaki might not be remembered for living up to his senpai's great career, but he did build himself and NOAH enough to at least be remembered as a a wrestler who had amazing potential. He didn't have the same Western appeal that a few of his contemporaries had, KENTA and Marufuji, and I wouldn't even say he had as big of personalities as those guys either, but what he lacked in personality he made up for in his pure fighting spirit. He wouldn't always be the toughest or most skilled guy in the room, but no one could match him in his ability to give it his all no matter what. I think he would've left a greater impact if his big push hadn't come at the same time as Misawa's death, but at least for a few years he tried to carry on the legacy of NOAH even into it's recent dark days. If there's one thing that Shiozaki can live up to in Kobashi's name, it's the fire inside of himself."

[10.0] "This guy really has a star light. I think NJPW is exactly where he needs to continue his career. I do not know if there is room for him or not. Maybe he does not want to go, but i think Shiozaki's place is NJPW. It's still early for him. Go Shiozaki is a real puroresu star. He should not spend his career and his life with nonsensical tag matches."

[9.0] "People have said that he is generic and boring and I'm utterly shocked by those comments, Go is the far from generic. He is arrogant without being over the top with it but he has morals and he is disgusted by those who stray from the purity of wrestling. Whether it's his subtly smile when he comes up against and opponent who he thinks is beneath him or his scowl against people who he dislikes. He is an excellent wrestler as well. I'm loving his new look with him going all bald."

[7.0] "I find Go just a tiny bit overrated. I'm rarely impressed by his work - with a great wrestler he can have a great match, but with a lesser talent he's just okay. He's got a lot of intensity, I'll give him that."

[10.0] "Shiozaki is about experienced as they come for someone who's never wrestled for the WWE; he honed his skills in the NOAH dojo and he became somewhat of a protege of legendary grappler Kenta Kobashi."

[6.0] "Shiozaki's decent. Good look, decent charisma, fine in-ring work though no classics yet. Not quite sure what he's done to warrant a 9+ average, though."