[5.0] "I wish I could give him a higher rating. I know he's good. I've seen his Roppongi 3K stuff. He's a natural babyface. Unfortunately he is dreadful as a heel, borderline unwatchably so. Taking a guy whose main selling point is he's a heroic power wrestling junior heavyweight and turning him into a cookie cutter cowardly sneak is braindead booking."
[7.0] "Disregarding the HoT filth that comes with the faction label, SHO is an great heel. He stood out from the rest of the Jr. division as a face because of his powerful techical ability and devastating moveset but while in CHAOS was clearly still "the guy that used to be in a tag team". Now, he's developed into a great slimey, snarky, wormy cheating character, that honestly gets the ire of audience more than even EVIL does. Out of the whole roster, SHO is the "little bastard" of the cast, and his gaining of the Jr. Heavyweight title will finally allow him to show off his character more now that he's in the spotlight. UNFORTUNATELY house of torture will house of torture so a couple of his matches might be stinkers from overbooking but we'll see."
[8.0] "As a babyface, SHO was a great powerhouse/technical wrestler. His tag team with YOH as Roppongi 3K worked well and both guys completed each other because YOH was way better at showmanship meanwhile SHO had the better strikes/impactful moves but was shy and bland as a character. Then he turned heel, joined House Of Torture and changed his wrestling style. He can still show some of his great strikes and technical skills but obviously had to change his style in a way that gets heat and fits his new character. SHO right now is, like the other House Of Torture wrestlers, a cheater, a snake, doing everything he can to make his match go off the rails so he can create more opportunities to cheat and steal the win. I would say that currently he is the best product of House Of Torture as he is able to be a little more creative than EVIL with the ending of his matches. His performance in the Best Of The Super Juniors 2023 highlighted this really well, he constantly found a different way to cheat. Right now he just beat El Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in one of the dirtiest way possible which gave him some good heat and makes him the undeserving champion to chase for the babyfaces. He is a great (and funny) heel to watch and the junior division definitely needed someone like him. So to sum up: SHO is a very smart guy, he knows how to work as a babyface with more fighting spirit, and he knows how to adjust to work that heel role really well. That's what makes a great wrestler: being able to play your role in the most efficient way. This heel turn gave him a big boost in confidence and charisma, he's great at comedy but still finds the right balance to get heat as a heel should. "Murder Machine" SHO doesn't get enough credit."
[6.0] "Sho is fine. He was good from before HOT, now due to bad booking he can't do what he used too do. Having said that, he still can make me smile or even laugh out loud when I watch him. I love some of his matches, not because of him, but because he lost. Overall he ranges from me not giving a shit to me loving his matches"
[5.0] "Although he joined the most lazy and stupid faction in NJPW history now, SHO (along with Ishimori) still manages to separate from them in terms of wrestling ability. After finally separating from YOH (and while he was away), he got to show what he really can do (apart from the cheating skits) as a singles wrestler. SHO's 2020 was a year that he broke free and has shown he was a no-nonsense technician and submission artist to a huge avail. Edit: My rating for him decreased. While YOH proved us all wrong by reinvigorating his career by tasting success, charisma and have actual fun with his new trickster gimmick, not to mention the awesome matches he was having, SHO in the other hand managed to make us question if he accepts being booked like that because he became lazy or tired of giving 100%. Dude was a beast, a promise, literally re adjusted himself while YOH was away and was having great matches. But now, all he has is people chanting "go home" and a stupid wrench he uses during his matches. It's sad, but guess what, it's House Of Torture, so no surprise."
[4.0] "This guy went from potential to be great to becoming the most unwatchable Jr. Heavyweight wrestler in NJPW. Another victim of bad booking due to being apart of the worst faction in pro wrestling today: House of Torture."
[5.0] "5 feels like the only justifiable score right now. Consistently part of the worst parts of New Japan's shows but we all know he used to have potential so maybe there's a chance he'll turn it around one day."
[9.0] "SHO is honestly amazing. Whether it is the Shock Arrow of Chaos or the Murder Machine of the House of Torture, SHO serves his roles amazingly. He has banger themes, nice moveset, neat finisher, and overall charisma. I do feel like out of all of the members of HoT, he is the only one who actually fits and does his job perfectly. But then again, he could be doing something better than being EVIL's lackey. Overall, SHO is an amazing talent for NJPW and I honestly hope that somehow, someway, SHO can get a singles title run."
[7.0] "SHO is a very good worker and has proven time and again that he can be one of the top performers in New Japan. Initially, I love his heel turn; He would put on sadistic perfomances against Young Lions befitting his new attitude; However, his association as a member of House of Torture (HOT) might not be the best move forward. Hopefully, the guy gets pushed to the top of the Jr. Division(A division in need of fresh faces and new feuds) keeping his violent character but without the negative influences of HOT."
[9.0] "Before becoming a sort of mini EVIL, SHO was the best worker of Roppongi 3K. More charismatic, more athletic, better moves than YOH, SHO should be at the top of the Junior Division right now, but the HOT affiliation is dragging him down beyond belief. I hope he gets away from them soon."
[7.0] "I liked him more as a cruserweight, his attual gimmick Is a failment for me. He has to leave House of Torture or his Carrer Will be completey fucked. ***1/2"
[6.0] "I thought SHO would have kicked on a bit more by now. He's a very good worker and was the clear stand out to break through a few years ago and be a big player in the junior scene but it's just not happened. It might still happen but time is beginning to run out."
[9.0] "Very talented, skilled in ring, and I love SHO, but I just cannot give him 10 because of 1 thing, House of Torture, I'm really sad he is there, when he will leave House of Torture, then I can give him 10 because I love SHO"
[6.0] "Eh, SHO has never really done much for me. He can be great in the ring; but he's unlikable as a babyface since he's just too intense/angry (around his peers) to root for, and he's not particularly interesting as a heel due to the House of Torture crap. Honestly, I think YOH is the better performer out of Roppongi 3K. His matches have been far more consistent over the past year."
[6.0] "I'm not really satisfied with what NJPW has done with SHO consistently cheating in his matches. His in ring performances are impressive, but NJPW needs a do-over of the storyline they're working out with SHO so that we can appreciate him more."
[7.0] "One of NJPW's biggest wastes of talent. I don't mind the idea of turning him heel, but completely neutering him of his wrestling style to be essential be a old timey villain twirling his mustache is a shame. A lot of talent trapped in a terrible gimmick and stable."
[8.0] "Prior to his heel turn and joining of Bullet Club, I considered SHO to be one of the best juniors in New Japan. He and Hiromu always produce gold when they're in the ring together. I still think he's a great wrestler I just wish he wasn't being bogged down by having EVIL and Togo constantly interfering in his matches. He and YOH could always be depended upon to have a great tag match during the dominant run over the junior tag division and I liked their dynamic with Rocky."
[6.0] "I'm a bit worried about where SHO is going to go so his ranking could come down quick. He's a good wrestler but I hate his heel turn resulted in a Bullet Club/HOT membership. Because that seems to be the to BS finishes instead of letting him still have good matches. Would much rather he be in something like Suzuki Gun which could fit given he's got some MMA style moves Sadly as of right now SHO's work has been destroyed by being in HOT. Now I dread when he has a match"
[8.0] "I initially gave House of Torture SHO a 5, but I can concede where I'm wrong. In a perfect world, SHO doesnt defect to Bullet Club, but as it stands, it finally feels like SHO is hitting his stride in the House of Torture, his BoSJ showing this year was an underrated highlight, we all knew how good he can be as a pure wrestler but his House of Torture tenure has given him the platform to spotlight some of his lesser appreciated qualities, such as his brilliant character work, solid comedic timing and his cheating, which while we all know its coming, has been much more varied and creative this year than it was last year, such as using a loaded boot against Hiromu or hiding a 2nd wrench in a turnbuckle pad against YOH, and I think thats important for a stable whose only notable gimmick is cheating and outside interference. I dont know where this House of Torture ride ends, but I believe SHO will be a better all-round performer for it."
[8.0] "The HoT stuff is clearly not working at all but his skills before that debacle were very apparent. His matches with Shingo were standout and he was clearly on the trajectory to being the Jr champ. I hope they put an end to this heel run ASAP so SHO can realise his potential."
[5.0] "Promising Young Lion who got to gain a lot of experience around the world before coming back home and being stuck for years in a midcard tag team that highlighted all his limits. SHO is not bad, but he's not particularly good either: he's bland and generic in the ring, a major problem in NJPW, and has a gimmick designed to sell merchandise (which is often truly ghastly) to a certain sector of the public. NJPW is now trying the age old trick of turning him heel to see if he can shake off that "midcard for life" feel and get the most out of him. The jury is still out, but so far I have been far from impressed with SHO."
[8.0] "SHO is money. He's got a great look, he's very charismatic, he's fun to watch in the ring, and he's quickly become a key component to a somewhat diminished junior heavyweight division."
[9.0] "Between his excellent BoSJ last year and some tremendous matches in this year's NJ Cup I feel like it's safe to say that Sho will be the next big singles ace of the junior division. Just an amazing wrestler."
[7.0] "Sho was always my preferred guy out of him and Yoh when they were young lions, and now Sho is a full-time roster member, a fantastic junior powerhouse, and one of the most promising youngsters in the company. His intensity is off the charts and his offence is always suitably explosive. I easily foresee him as a future junior ace, or at the very least a future multiple time IWGP Junior Heavyweight champ. He far eclipses his partner, Yoh, in almost every field. He sadly doesn't have the best of chemistry with him in Roppongi 3K, even though they've been together for 2 years now, but he always manages to steal the show either in singles action or in a tag match. He still has a ways to go to unlocking his full potential, but he's shown quite a few glimpses of greatness already."
[10.0] "My absolute favorite Jr Heavyweight. Also the MVP of both super juniors he was in. And probably will be for several years to come. Highly underrated, Anyone who has doubts go watch Sho vs Shingo Takagi Night 1 Super Juniors 26 Or Dragon Lee vs Sho Night 3 Super Juniors 26. Keep in mind these matches are only few days apart, and both are unbelievable pace and hard hitting. Sho for IWGP Jr Champ, Or a Heavyweight push eventually."
[8.0] "Noch kein deutscher Kommentar? SHO wird in den nächsten Jahren sicherlich einige Single-Titles in New Japan halten. Den Look hat er. Obwohl er ein Junior ist. Aber das waren Ibushi und Kenny auch. Gutes Move Set. Aktuell zeigt er im BOSJ26 dass er 20min Main Events worken kann. Aus dem wird noch was!"
[8.0] "SHO is the future of NJPW's Junior Division, he has everything to be a good Champion, he just need to be built. Also, I hope he becomes a Heavyweight in the future, he has a good body and move-set to become one."
[9.0] "Sho is step up big time in the last Best of Super Junior tournament. He has the biggest physique junior heavyweight in NJPW right now. I really like his combination of Powerhouse and Technical which make him great in ring. I hope he focus on his single career match in the future."
[8.0] "Very good basic wrestler with a intense and watchable mat game. Watching his development has been a pleasure. Not the biggest guy in the world but has a frame that might see him as a Goto-esque heavyweight in the long run."
[7.0] "Similarly to the other young lions in his class, Tanaka is showing a lot of potential. Although it's too early in his career to really see how he'll do, things look bright at the moment"
