Are these the modern NJPW Three Musketeers?

So this week at New Japan’s Wrestling Dontaku event we were treated to the return and re-invention of Yota Tsuji.

Tsuji was what’s called a Young Lion, a junior level wrestler coming up through New Japan’s training and development system. And until Wednesday night, he was on excursion half way around the world with Revolution Pro Wrestling in the UK.

As is customary with a former Young Lion’s re-introduction to the company, Tsuji was sporting a very different look and attitude to the one he left Japan with in 2021.

And it got me thinking that we could be looking at a new generation of the Three Musketeers.He was the missing piece.

For those who don’t know, The Three Musketeers was the label given to a group of home grown talents who defined New Japan in the 90s – Masahiro Chono, Shinya Hashimoto, and Keiji Muto. I have videos about them as a group and as individuals if you want to dive deeper.

In the early 2000s, a new trio was given the moniker. And now 20 years after that, I think we have the third generation of Musketeers.

Shota Uminio is already a phenomenal pro wrestler in the classic sense. He’s an innovator, a showman, perhaps even a wrestling genius. The Keiji Muto or Tanahashi of the group.

Ren Narita is a stoic, no nonsense fighter who embodies strong style. Definitely the Shinya Hashimoto, and obviously the Katsoyori Shibata.

And as for Yota Tsuji? If his new attitude and attire is anything to go off, he is very much in the Masahiro Chono-Shinsuke Nakamura category of swaggering, charismatic badasses.

#wrestling #njpw #wwe

[themilkman]

Tsuji had that energy to him. Like he was the biggest deal in the room

[yy-hjbr]

You are sleeping on Yuya Uemora. Im loving his Impact run, he's a great wrestler, and he looks like an ace.

[patricksavage]

Ren Narita looks like Shibata as much as Shota Umino looks like Tanahashi

[brianmfpaul]

Now NJPW officially announced The Reiwa Three Musketeers
Umino, Narita, Tsuji
... also poor Yuya Uemura

[Elijah_myhighway]

Here's my assessment of each of them.

Tsuji: Good in ring, has the look and swagger of a main eventer. He fits in LIJ perfectly, but his cockiness is gonna cost him quite a few big matches.

Shota: Has the crowd on his side, his time with Moxley set him apart from the rest of his class straight away. Also has the in ring spark down. Only setback with him is that he looks like a blend of Tanahashi and Naito, and he derives his rebellious attitude from Naito too.

Narita: Talented as he is, he feels half-baked compared to the other two. Though he is the first of the three to hold a title, he isn't his own man right now. He seems like a Shibata cosplayer without the presence or intensity that Shibata had. Maybe pairing him with Suzuki and Desperado would give him an edge down the line.

[ericlavergne]

That match Yota and Umino had in the G1 was EPIC

[imoutotrash]

Gene blast: the man with beautiful shades.
Also wanted to find this after they officially christened them with this title much to their dismay

[chasegardner]

I do have a question though. I feel like we skipped a couple years. I feel like we had Okada replace Tanahashi. Naito replace Nakamura. But who would you say replaced Shibata? Omega? They both worked with very stiff styles of wrestling and both left the companies for different promotions

[Imhim]

Will you do a any new document about Japan wrestling? I like your videos

[brianmoore]

I thought the same thing about Ren then he went and joined House of Torture 😭😭

[luthandombamba]

It's makes who is the the new 4 pillar men from Japan

[JeffHardyfan]

Seeing the Yota Tsuji picture you posted. Tsuji looks like a carbon copy of Masahiro Chono.

[RafaelSantos-diyw]

All of them are going to be in their 1st G1 right??

[splashwellington]

SHINYA I literally lost a trivia game the other night with a friend because i couldnt remember his name. I named every other musketeer from both generations and my dumbass said Naomichi Marufuji lmfaooo. I hate that im seeing this video now to remind me i lost $5 😂😂😂

[FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

Do Wato and O-Khan fit there too? They're from the same class

[QThom]

I definitely see Tsuji as the next Nakanishi more than Nakamura.