Ryusuke Taguchi

[6.0] "Taguchi's comedy is very hit-or-miss with me. Whenever he does a straight wrestling match he's likewise merely above average. Despite my personal hangups, he's a good support player and anyone who's seen his Oscar worthy peformance in Tanahashi's magnum opus "My Dad is a Heel Wrestler! " can confirm he's got some acting chops."

[8.0] "The greatest, no exaggeration, the greatest junior heavyweight, not best or greatest overall but the greatest junior heavyweight in NJPW history. Ryusuke Taguchi found a nice path after winning the young lions cup into being a great athlete in his prime, 2011-12 was his greatest run. BOSJs XIX win and XX semis procure his real wrestling style, the dropkick master in the business. Then he became the funky weapon we know today, the company guy. He delivered big matches through 2014-18 where he stole the BOSJ and Super J Cup shows. No doubt controversial moments aint anyones cup of tea at times, where he pants himself, one match with 50 hip attacks and attics compared to Toru Yano in the G1s. But he was a solid tag team specialist with Apollo 55, tagged with Ricochet and Six or Nine with Master Wato. He kept himself very well to sort of break Ligers record for most BOSJ appearances. A underrated run was 2025s BOSJ which he had fought Taiji Ishimori in their home town and was the best match that night cause the crowd came to see them. He would go on to wrestle Nick Wayne feeding humble pie in a form of a Oh My & Garankle. Psychology wise was a match between him and Robbie Eagles delivered many nights later. Ryusuke Taguchi found a nice healthy balanced path in staying active, staying focused and making fans laugh in the process. The greatest junior heavyweight to come from the Shin Nihon Puroresu dojo."

[5.0] "Ryusuke Taguchi is a wrestler whose humor doesn't appeal to me. But he even defends himself in wrestling and in addition he has a lot of age and many achievements. Personally, I don't think his style makes an impression on me. However, as a wrestler he will leave some mark and trace in this world."

[7.0] "In my mind, Ryusuke Taguchi is very similar to Toru Yano, as he's mainly a comedy guy now who's main goal is to freshen up any card he's in. However, I personally don't like modern Taguchi as much as I like Yano, as his ass-based wacky antics are totally not for me and I personally think he misses or times than he hits. I do have a great appreciation for early Taguchi though, his work with Devitt and as IWGP junior champion is great fun looking back, and I do think that his early work is very underappreciated. Additionally, I also think that he's still a good worker when he's motivated, I just hoped I could see more of that instead of his standard goofiness or annoying advertising of whatever bad product NJPW sponsors with next."

[7.0] "Probably one of my favorite "comedy but he can get serious" guys in current New Japan. Still moves well enough, but his best days are probably behind him. Hoping for a semi-decent US/Mexico run in the near future."

[8.0] "Ryusuke Taguchi is someone who always makes me smile, he is a comfort wrestler of sorts. He is good ring to this day despite his age. He manages to add comedy in matches but can be serious when asked to. He older matches are also quite good. Taguchi is someone who I will always enjoy seeing in NJPW."

[5.0] "I mean, he's an ok wrestler who is obviously best suited in the comedy role. Nothing really special about him aside from the fact he can make you laugh, really enjoyed his work with Devitt as Apollo 55 though. Feel like that was probably the best of Taguchi, hasn't really done anything noteworthy since, which is a shame because that team ended well over a decade ago now."

[6.0] "His best years are behind him and he'll probably retire soon. His run in this years BOSJ was, in my opinion, pretty refreshing since he told a story and even worked a little bit. His comedy and ass-skits aren't really my cup of tea but as a normal wrestler, he isn't bad by any means."

[8.0] "Very underrated wrestler, might be because a lot of people are getting worked by the ass gimmick but besides being a good comedy wrestler, he is actually a great technician as well. He showed more of it in the latest BOSJ even if it was short and he is obviously at the end of his career but if he needs to step up he can still do it and the crowd absolutely loves him."

[7.0] "He didn't have a great Carrera and know It Is probably coming to end but It Is not a bad wrestler, only a bit generic. ***1/2"

[7.0] "Taguchi has been an excellent worker for many years now. Spends a lot of time in undercard comedy matches but when called upon he can really put on a fantastic match. Technically sound and knows all the basics of wrestling which makes him a very reliable wrestler to have around. His character work is pretty basic but it's fine for his position on the card."

[8.0] "Reliable, fun, and a veteran. Taguchi doesn't get his flowers when he really should. He's had a lot of really good matches and a lot of good time as a staple of the Junior Heavyweight Title scene and now that he's in his 40s he's transitioned to an infectiously fun veteran who is constantly up to wacky bullshit. Taguchi will always have a place in my heart and will definitely have a place in NJPW history"

[8.0] "It might be easy to dismiss Ryusuke Taguchi because of his goofy personality and the fact that he's rarely been outside his New Japan Junior Heavyweight bubble. But make no mistake, the man can go at it with some of the very best, whether that is his former tag team partner Finn Balor, the Golden Star Kota Ibushi or even prime Kenny Omega. As a tag team competitor, he and Balor (or Prince Devitt as he was know back then) had some of the greatest tag team matches of the decade against the likes of the Golden Lovers and the Motor City Machine Guns."

[3.0] "I haven't seen Rysuke in tag matches yet, but in singles he just hasn't been appealing to me. This was especially true in this year's BoSJ's. He seriously needs a new or mix up of his current move set, because the multiple hip attacks he does in every match just don't look good or like they work as much as they did when I saw him for the first time."

[7.0] "Good when he actually applies himself beyond "wrestler who uses his ass for a weapon" and having tedious singles matches. I know that his earlier stuff was a lot better in quality and that he changed things up due to well, not being the most durable, but his match quality consistently isn't very good. Blame the company for keep putting him in tag matches, I guess."

[7.0] "Taguchi is one of my personal favourite wrestlers. This isn't even appreciation out of irony either. Yes, he's mainly a comedy wrestler utilising his ass and some ridiculous facial expressions, but dammit, the guy gets over! He also isn't like Yano, who just repeats the same gags over and over again and is applauded because of his comedic presentation, as Taguchi actuallys adds new gags to his repertoire every few months or at least develops his existing gags in interesting and funny ways. He's a naturally goofy-looking guy who plays his goofy character well. I also love Taguchi as much as I do because of how rarely but successfully he can prove himself to be a legitimately good big-match wrestler. I first noticed he could actually sell pretty damn well and pace/structure a match at a high standard back during the 2016 BOSJ, especially during his great finals match against Ospreay. He's usually had at least a handful of very good matches every single year since then, and he will also get maybe one great match a year too. Taguchi is legitimately a very good wrestler, and part of his character involves using his genuinely funny comedy bits to pull you in, as you then think he's just a joke and nothing more, but then, when in a high-stakes situation, he proves that he does have talent and does take wrestling seriously, and it's thus super endearing to see him show such genuine desperation and heart. I just want the absolute best for this courageous clown. Heck, I wouldn't be mad if he got another IWGP Junior Title reign, since I"m sure he'd do very well in that position."

[8.0] "Ryusuke Taguchi is very good, y'all. I get why some people hate him, but it's not his fault, just watch his matches of any BOSJ or for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight or Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. Despite being a comedy guy, he can be a very serious wrestler if he wants to, and that's why he's one of the best Junior Heavyweights that NJPW ever had. I would give him an 7. 75/10, but I can't do that here, so here's an 8/10"

[8.0] "For someone who has been leaning into comedy for so long Taguchi is a surprisingly good wrestler. Very technically sound and incredibly reliable in NJPW's Jr division."

[8.0] "Ryusuke Taguchi used to be absolutely amazing as a Jr Heavyweight. Proof is he was at the same level if not slightly better than Prince Devitt as part of Apollo 55. His matches with the likes Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi and Milano Collection AT are incredible to this day. But here's the extraordinary thing: while he had to tone things down a lot due to age and tear and wear on his body and reinvented himself as a merchandise-shilling comedy character he got if possible even better when he's needed. His 2015 match with Shinsuke Nakamura was incredible, not just because of the in-ring action but for the amount of sympathy Taguchi managed to get from a crowd that at the beginning of the match was firmly in Nakamura's camp. All the important singles matches he's had since have ranged from good to excellent: he may save himself up for the big occasions but when those come he never disappoints. Truly an outstanding wrestler."

[8.0] "Easily one of the most underappreciated wrestlers in the world. Sure, he can be an annoying or silly comedy guy at times. However, when the company needs him to deliver, he always does. He is good at filler challenger role or a transition champion. Really good in ring work, good selling, good psychology. He can work with various opponents. Of course he is not workhorse like kushida, but he always plays his role well."

[7.0] "Ryusuke Taguchi is a weird guy. Most of the times he's doing his comedy and a lot of people hate him for it. I, too, can't stand most of his singles matches because he's just using his damn ass. I don't like WWE's "Divas" for example doing it, why would I like a Japanese man almost as old as John Cena? But when you see Taguchi on a great match, such as in this year's Best of the Super Juniors against KUSHIDA, you notice he CAN put up a great match when need be. Maybe, his gimmick is just that. In an enviroment like NJPW, not being taken seriously when you're actually great is a good weapon kayfabe-wise, and a nice shocker out of it. Taguchi can put up good performances. For God's sake, he's the leader of a stable that has Hiroshi F'n Tanahashi as a member! Taguchi is, to sum it up, New Japan's Big match player. You can eventually grow to at least tolerate his ass, and watching him in a great match is weirdly satisfying. Still, he could tone the ass down a little."

[10.0] "He doesn't show it in every match, but Taguchi is hands down one of the best in NJPW. When he's not aiming for comedy, he's crisp and deadly, and can go toe to toe with anyone on the roster."

[10.0] "Taguchi's freaking amazing. It's easy to just write him off as a silly comedy wrestler, slim Yano of sorts. But he's so much more. With Yano what you see is what you get, but Taguchi, besides being entertaining novelty act on your regular njpw show, can just turn it on given big match opportunity. He's a master of a mood swing. It may seem that he's doing his regular comedy match but he knows how to make himself look like a real threat . His matches with Will, Kushida, Hiromu are a proof of that."

[10.0] "Taguchi is the most underrated wrestler in NJPW. He had showed his capacity in great bouts, he is the best worker of all JR (alongside JTL) his selling is good and the match against Will Ospreay proved that deserves more despite his age and gimmick."

[4.0] "He can work when he has something to prove (see this years BOTSJ), but I find him borderline unbearable to watch when he doesn't."

[8.0] "Taguchi is underrated. His comical "funky weapon" gimmick hinders his true in ring ability. I was one of many people who doubted his abiliity, but once I saw his true potential in BOSJ 2016, I can say Taguchi is one of best Jr. Heavyweight in NJPW right now. His match with Matt Sydal and Will Ospreay at BOSJ were amazing and I know he can do a lot in the ring if given opportunity"

[7.0] "While Taguchi portrays a bit more of a lighthearted character than most of the rest of the NJPW roster, it doesn't necessarily cost him any legitimacy in the ring. Even his signature hip attacks are done in such a way that they look like legitimate offense. He also has some good technical skill and a few aerial moves that are somewhat reminiscent of his hero Eddie Guerrero. He may be destined to remain a fixture of the midcard and tag team ranks, but the Funky Weapon seems poised to make the most of it."