Shingo Takagi States Tetsuya Naito Leaving NJPW Has Left A Big Hole In His Heart, Will Miss BUSHI

By: Lewis Carlan

Last week the news broke that long time New Japan Pro-Wrestling superstars Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI would departing the promotion. The announcement sent shockwaves throughout the world of professional wrestling. Naito has been with NJPW since 2006 and BUSHI since 2012. The departures created a number of questions regarding the future of the NJPW faction Los Ingobernables de Japón, which is led by Natio and BUSHI is a long time member of.

In a recent interview, Takagi expressed sadness at the departures of Naito and BUSHI. Takagi stated he came to NJPW because of Naito and Kota Ibushi, who left NJPW in Jan. 2023. Takagi stated with both gone, “it feels like there is a big hole in my heart”.

Takagi revealed that BUSHI was the person he communicated with the most when he debuted in NJPW back in 2018 and is going to miss him.

Despite Naito repeatedly saying he would leave NJPW, Takagi figured he would wind up renewing his contract and remain with the company he has been with for the last 19 years. When he got the call that Naito was in fact departing NJPW, Takagi said he was very surprised.

Takagi admitted that the future plans of LIJ are undecided at the moment. Takagi stated:

I originally came to LIJ as an assistant, but when I think that maybe LIJ will disappear too, I wonder what the meaning of my existence is. I wonder where my true place is.”

Naito and BUSHI’s final match with NJPW is expected to be May 4th at Wrestling DONTAKU 2025 as they team with Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi to take on Shota Umino, Tomohiro Ishii, Taichi & Taka Michinoku.