Just 5 Guys: The Story Of NJPW’s Newest Rising Faction

By: Sonal Lad

One of the most important parts of New Japan Pro Wrestling is the factions. Each wrestler belongs to a faction, and it acts like their family. Along with wrestling together in multi-man matches and supporting each other, they will travel to destinations together.

One of the newest factions hoping to change the complexion of New Japan is Just 5 Guys, with TAICHI, TAKA Michinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, DOUKI, and their newest member SANADA.

Here is a look at the path that led to the creation of Just Five Guys and what the future holds for this unexpected group of wrestlers.

Suzuki Gun Supremacy

Despite being a heel faction, fans loved Suzuki Gun, and the members had become increasingly popular during the past few years. Each member had their own path into the faction and was the perfect fit.

TAICHI and TAKA Michinoku were part of the faction from the moment Minoru Suzuki replaced Satoshi Kojima as the leader of his faction, turning Kojima Gun into Suzuki Gun. Yoshinobu Kanemaru joined while the faction was expelled to Pro Wrestling NOAH, and DOUKI joined as a replacement for El Desperado during the 2019 Best of Super Jr tournament. Although each had different styles, the members worked together and shined as single competitors and as a team.

The Creation Of Just Four Guys

In December 2022, Minoru Suzuki shocked fans when he announced that Suzuki Gun would be disbanding, and the members mutually chose to go their own way.

While the future seemed uncertain, Wrestle Kingdom and New Years Dash seemingly showed the future of the members. El Desperado and Minoru Suzuki stayed together and attempted to recruit Ren Narita for a new stable, and Zack Sabre Jr joined TMDK.

The other members seemingly didn’t fit into any other faction. The result was that TAICHI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, DOUKI, and TAKA Michinoku came into the ring before their match and announced they were creating their own faction called Just Four Guys.

The Teething Problems

On the surface, the faction seemed strong. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and TAKA Michinoku are junior heavyweight legends. TAICHI and DOUKI have also improved drastically in the ring, picking up big wins and finding popularity amongst fans globally.

However, the faction wasn’t without its problems and was seen as a joke for the first weeks.

The constant presence of TAKA Michinoku as the weak link meant the faction was picking up many losses in both singles and tag action. They did not have the momentum they started with that had fans excited. They needed something to change… or someone to help them.

The Addition Of SANADA

Someone else who had seemingly been losing momentum and needed a change was SANADA.

SANADA had been in Los Ingobernables de Japon since he first debuted for New Japan in 2016. He made his presence known after helping Tetsuya Naito defeat Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

For many fans, the past few years saw SANADA stagnate and not progress further.

At the start of the New Japan Cup, SANADA almost seemed defeated when he was fighting TAICHI in the first-round match. While the TAICHI of the past would have jumped at the opportunity to win, the Holy Emperor willed SANADA to fight him properly. Halfway through the match, the tide turned. The Cold Skull found a new surge of energy and got the win.

.@seiyasanada "Black Mephisto"

Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1XamUA#njcup #njpw #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/ILWBrh0tey

— njpwworld (@njpwworld) March 5, 2023

In the post-match comments, TAICHI shared his thoughts on SANADA and his potential, adding, “I hope you realized today how weak LIJ are.” It seemingly foreshadowed the Holy Emperor’s interest in the wrestler.

For the third round, SANADA faced fellow Los Ingobernables de Japon member Tetsuya Naito, shocking fans by beating him. After the match ended, rather than celebrating with the other members, Just Four Guys got into the ring. SANADA and TAICHI exchanged a hug, cementing that one of NJPW’s newest factions had a new member.

As the rest of the LIJ members made their way to the ring, SANADA made his statement about where his allegiance lay. Rather than betraying the members, SANADA honestly shared his feelings about his place in Los Ingobernables de Japon. He explained, “If I stay with LIJ, nothing new will come of it. Therefore, as of today, I’m done with them.”

While it might have been an odd choice, it is the perfect fit. Aside from his respect for SANADA, TAICHI’s former Dangerous Tekkers tag partner Zack Sabre Jr was never afraid of praising him. After the match, the now-dubbed “Just Five Guys” made their intention clear with SANADA as their newest member. They  were on a path to actually “Change New Japan.”

A New Chapter for Just Five Guys

With a new member, it was time for the faction to cement their dominance. SANADA’s place in the New Japan Cup’s final was key. SANADA shocked fans with his dramatic appearance change for his semi-final match with Aussie Open’s Mark Davis. His wrestling continued to produce results as he beat the much bigger wrestler.

In the final, SANADA continued that success. With the rest of his new faction at ringside, he was able to defeat David Finlay to win the New Japan Cup for the first time. More importantly, he secured a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada.

What The Future Holds for Just Five Guys

The next big milestone for the faction will be Sakura Genesis. SANADA faces his long-time rival Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight World Championship. After facing Okada multiple times, a win might not seem likely. Yet, it is needed for Just Five Guys and SANADA to progress in their desire to “Change New Japan.”

Aside from the heavyweight picture, the annual Best of Super Jr tournament is coming up. Neither DOUKI nor Yoshinobu Kanemaru is a favorite to win the tournament but hey will definitely be out to play spoiler. The new confidence from their faction could make them dark horses.

NJPW’s newest faction has already made waves. However, there is a long way to go to cement themselves among the top wrestlers in the company.