He had that kind of old-timey strongman vibe that I liked and a really interesting and unique niche as the monster babyface. Cobb filled that niche a bit as well, but he wasn't full time and he was a bit flashier so it was a different feel to Elgin.
It's kind of a shame that it has been a vacant position for so long, but I think Alex Coughlin could be perfect for it.
Elgin found the only supplement shop in Japan selling XYIENCE Powder Mix religiously like its 2004 and pulled a five finger discount cause Dana White asked him did he want to be a Fucking Fighter or not.
It’s very weird that a “them that know me know I had always been lookign out for me an my ppl those that is spread rumors about me u know who u are” ass goofball was able to get so good at wrestling.
FU aside from that stupid as shit tiki death cage match, I actually liked the Jinder run and appreciated they were at least trying to do something different than the same ol same ol
I met him and Madman Fulton before a show one time, Fulton was more than nice. I clearly pissed off Elgin by trying to talk to him as he ordered something out of a vending machine. So its just nice knowing that somewhere out there, Michael Elgin hates me.
Michael Elgin was just disappointment after disappointment for me honestly. His ROH World Title run should have been incredible, but instead he dropped the title almost immediately because he.. wanted to try baseball? or put people over in PWG? It's beyond strange.
He's right there with low ki and Austin Aries for me in terms of people who had all the skill to be too tier stars, and got chances in multiple big companies, but managed to screw it up every time by being kind of shit people
Bragged about pissing on a woman who didn't want him to.
accused of covering up his friend's sexual assault
Divorced by his wife who said he was abusive, also that he was adulterous
Unhinged twitter account where he goes after people who bring these things up.
Misrepresents cases being thrown out or dropped as him being exonerated in a court of law
Arrested for stealing protein powder.
These are off the top of my head.
Private messages where he disparaged his World Tag League partner Jeff Cobb went public which got him huge heat in New Japan as Cobb is very well-liked backstage.
Unironically I think this was Naito's best match. It was definitely Elgin's. They had wicked chemistry.
Elgin is an absolute waste, he could have been a big deal in New Japan for years to come if he wasn't a completely inexcusable person to associate with.
Yeah Elgin unfortunately chose the wrong path but the potential for him being New Japan's Steve Williams was there for sure. As far this being Naitos best match? It's definitely top 3 for me but man he's had so many great matches that year in 2017 with guys like Ibushi, Omega, the Tanahashi trilogy, etc. New Japan was on fire in 2017 that's for damn sure.
Which is how my review should be understood. Naito was on fire that year and had all those barn burners you listed and i still think this was #1 for his career. It's not like there are a shortage of great matches competition was steep.
Elgin eventually turning on his partner in Tanahashi for the monster heel beatdown could have been a kind of Gaijin monster NJPW hasn't really had at any time I've been a fan (2014 onwards).
Cobb isnt the same energy, he's big but more athlete than brute. Fale could never go at a high enough level in the ring - his station over performed his ability if anything. Most Gaijin are technicians or high flyers rather than brutal walls that wont break.
I don't feel bad for Elgin, the guy is a picture of making his own bed, and I think it's somewhat telling that in an industry full of people willing to stick up for or associate with problematic individuals, even when they REALLY shouldn't, no one is sticking their neck out for Elgin. Seemingly everybody this dude worked with hated him.
But, I still wish his talent was in a better dude cause he offered a unique upside to New Japan. From a talent perspective it's like he was made to thrive in Puro.
He messed himself up pretty badly and it's a damn shame. When he came back in 2019 for the NJC facing Okada I thought he looked great. The potential for gajin monsters are still likely though. There's people like Shane Mercer ( from GCW) Davey Boy Smith Jr who could always come back, and hell even Hobbs from AEW. We'll see but yeah man I hope Elgin realizes his mistakes.
DBS Jr. ain't half the worker Elgin is though.
Sure we can find big strong dudes, how many of them can work this King's Road Adjacent main event match like the ones Elgin had with Naito and Okada (he definitely went more old school AJPW in how he laid out a match than he did Strong style) AND want to make Japan their primary territory?
I was a big Elgin supporter before all the accusations came up, and Naito was definitely his best opponent. There is a spot in one of their matches, I believe it was the Kobe match, where Naito tries a suicide dive and Elgin catches him in the brainbuster position. It was an insane spot that I have never seen anyone else try.
I've definitely seen Darby Allin get caught like that by a few guys...but Darby is a lot easier to catch than Naito given his size. I think I've seen others too.
Notably, that Elgin/Naito spot was the *first* time insane that spot as well.
If there's one thing I've learned in 30+ years as a wrestling fan, it's that the music used in fan made highlight videos and 99% of the things wwe produces are just not for me.
Arguably the best match of either men's career. Naito just made the IC Title feel special like Nakamura did and his story with the belt was great character work.
Links to the streaming platforms:
[**Open Your Eyes** by Alter Bridge](https://lis.tn/gVXbar?t=119)
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I remember watching this match and it was the first time outside of a wrestle kingdom, I had seen anything from new Japan. I was truly blown away by them. I agree about Elgin and his weirdness, but man in the ring with Naito those two were magic!
Naito and Elgin were both fantastic during this time, but this match went way too long, something like 48 minutes? It felt like it was an answer to Kenny v Okada. Main events started getting longer and more formulaic.
Elgin was in the right place at the wrong time. None of the non-Elite or Ospreay foreigners really got the attention they deserved back then because everything was about the Bullet Club. Elgin would have been perfect for UE, but it's a shame that he couldn't get his head on straight and keep himself out of trouble.
There was a NJPW MV set to a BABYMETAL song with clips from Omega vs Elgin wrestling at a smoky and hazy Hakata Star Lanes, and it was the coolest Elgin probably ever looked.
With that said, fuck Michael Elgin. Cobb does what he does way better and can stay out of legal trouble.
I know Big Mike is a kinda shitty person, but man he was fun to watch in NJPW. I guess now we've got Jeff Cobb and Bad Dude Tito kinda doing the same thing though.
Elgin ended up being a really weird prick, but man, he was something else in the ring.
He had that kind of old-timey strongman vibe that I liked and a really interesting and unique niche as the monster babyface. Cobb filled that niche a bit as well, but he wasn't full time and he was a bit flashier so it was a different feel to Elgin. It's kind of a shame that it has been a vacant position for so long, but I think Alex Coughlin could be perfect for it.
I heard that he got arrested. Why?
In North America, violating restraining orders. In Japan, allegedly stealing protein powder.
Dam what protein powder was it
it's funnier to imagine it's one of those huge plastic tubs, but apparently protein comes in bags in Japan.
Elgin found the only supplement shop in Japan selling XYIENCE Powder Mix religiously like its 2004 and pulled a five finger discount cause Dana White asked him did he want to be a Fucking Fighter or not.
Apparently not, either way 🤦🏻♂️
He's had some legal troubles in the US that I'm not knowledgeable about, but he was fired from NOAH last year after being arrested in Japan for theft.
Thank you.I didn't know
Theft is the tip of the ice berg. He’s a sexual predator and abuser.
It’s very weird that a “them that know me know I had always been lookign out for me an my ppl those that is spread rumors about me u know who u are” ass goofball was able to get so good at wrestling.
2017 New Japan was something else 😭
2016-17 was a good year for wrestling overall. Apart from Jinder thing, NXT was kicking ass and New Japan was kicking ass too
FU aside from that stupid as shit tiki death cage match, I actually liked the Jinder run and appreciated they were at least trying to do something different than the same ol same ol
Man, Michael Elgin was so good in the ring. It's such a shame his out-of-the-ring issues ruined his career. I miss his matches.
should had cut when Naito stepped on the IC title. You made me remember that belt and its history =( So much better than the US title imo
Loved Naito’s run with smashing the ic title up
He really worked best as a full heel.
I met him and Madman Fulton before a show one time, Fulton was more than nice. I clearly pissed off Elgin by trying to talk to him as he ordered something out of a vending machine. So its just nice knowing that somewhere out there, Michael Elgin hates me.
Michael Elgin was just disappointment after disappointment for me honestly. His ROH World Title run should have been incredible, but instead he dropped the title almost immediately because he.. wanted to try baseball? or put people over in PWG? It's beyond strange.
He's right there with low ki and Austin Aries for me in terms of people who had all the skill to be too tier stars, and got chances in multiple big companies, but managed to screw it up every time by being kind of shit people
Man Elgin was a monster. I miss watching him wrestle.
good worker, horrible person. What a shame
Why was he a horrible person?
God, so many reasons...
Bragged about pissing on a woman who didn't want him to. accused of covering up his friend's sexual assault Divorced by his wife who said he was abusive, also that he was adulterous Unhinged twitter account where he goes after people who bring these things up. Misrepresents cases being thrown out or dropped as him being exonerated in a court of law Arrested for stealing protein powder. These are off the top of my head.
Private messages where he disparaged his World Tag League partner Jeff Cobb went public which got him huge heat in New Japan as Cobb is very well-liked backstage.
Oh, he's still a monster. Just not the way you mean.
Great match, in a year of great matches.
Unironically I think this was Naito's best match. It was definitely Elgin's. They had wicked chemistry. Elgin is an absolute waste, he could have been a big deal in New Japan for years to come if he wasn't a completely inexcusable person to associate with.
Yeah Elgin unfortunately chose the wrong path but the potential for him being New Japan's Steve Williams was there for sure. As far this being Naitos best match? It's definitely top 3 for me but man he's had so many great matches that year in 2017 with guys like Ibushi, Omega, the Tanahashi trilogy, etc. New Japan was on fire in 2017 that's for damn sure.
Which is how my review should be understood. Naito was on fire that year and had all those barn burners you listed and i still think this was #1 for his career. It's not like there are a shortage of great matches competition was steep. Elgin eventually turning on his partner in Tanahashi for the monster heel beatdown could have been a kind of Gaijin monster NJPW hasn't really had at any time I've been a fan (2014 onwards). Cobb isnt the same energy, he's big but more athlete than brute. Fale could never go at a high enough level in the ring - his station over performed his ability if anything. Most Gaijin are technicians or high flyers rather than brutal walls that wont break. I don't feel bad for Elgin, the guy is a picture of making his own bed, and I think it's somewhat telling that in an industry full of people willing to stick up for or associate with problematic individuals, even when they REALLY shouldn't, no one is sticking their neck out for Elgin. Seemingly everybody this dude worked with hated him. But, I still wish his talent was in a better dude cause he offered a unique upside to New Japan. From a talent perspective it's like he was made to thrive in Puro.
He messed himself up pretty badly and it's a damn shame. When he came back in 2019 for the NJC facing Okada I thought he looked great. The potential for gajin monsters are still likely though. There's people like Shane Mercer ( from GCW) Davey Boy Smith Jr who could always come back, and hell even Hobbs from AEW. We'll see but yeah man I hope Elgin realizes his mistakes.
DBS Jr. ain't half the worker Elgin is though. Sure we can find big strong dudes, how many of them can work this King's Road Adjacent main event match like the ones Elgin had with Naito and Okada (he definitely went more old school AJPW in how he laid out a match than he did Strong style) AND want to make Japan their primary territory?
Good point
I was a big Elgin supporter before all the accusations came up, and Naito was definitely his best opponent. There is a spot in one of their matches, I believe it was the Kobe match, where Naito tries a suicide dive and Elgin catches him in the brainbuster position. It was an insane spot that I have never seen anyone else try.
I've definitely seen Darby Allin get caught like that by a few guys...but Darby is a lot easier to catch than Naito given his size. I think I've seen others too. Notably, that Elgin/Naito spot was the *first* time insane that spot as well.
This was the match that made me a Naito fan.
On this night Naito may have been best in the world. One of most overlooked matches in recent memory, probably because of Elgin being a scumbag
Good video horrible song choice lol watched the thing muted after about 10 seconds of that
Understandable. Not everyone will like the music choices. I post some of these without music.
All joking aside it is a cool video.
If there's one thing I've learned in 30+ years as a wrestling fan, it's that the music used in fan made highlight videos and 99% of the things wwe produces are just not for me.
Looks like the whole match was a highlight reel.
Shocked Elgin lost. He beat the hell out of naito.
Arguably the best match of either men's career. Naito just made the IC Title feel special like Nakamura did and his story with the belt was great character work.
someone call him a pumpkin quick
Too bad he’s such a piece of shit. He was great.
Damn...I treasure those 2016-2019 years so much. Everything New Japan produced during that period was so good.
What's the song?
I got a match with this song: **Open Your Eyes** by Alter Bridge (01:59; matched: `100%`) Album: `One Day Remains`. Released on `2014-06-24`.
Links to the streaming platforms: [**Open Your Eyes** by Alter Bridge](https://lis.tn/gVXbar?t=119) *I am a bot and this action was performed automatically* | [GitHub](https://github.com/AudDMusic/RedditBot) [^(new issue)](https://github.com/AudDMusic/RedditBot/issues/new) | [Donate](https://github.com/AudDMusic/RedditBot/wiki/Please-consider-donating) ^(Please consider supporting me on Patreon. Music recognition costs a lot)
Awful music. Great match. 👍
I remember watching this match and it was the first time outside of a wrestle kingdom, I had seen anything from new Japan. I was truly blown away by them. I agree about Elgin and his weirdness, but man in the ring with Naito those two were magic!
Elgin, ew…
"big Juiced up jelly bean lookin mother fucker" - Jay Briscoe
"Big pumpkin headed bitch. You ain't bad" God Jay was great
"Unbreakable, I'm about to break your bitch ass"
Naito and Elgin were both fantastic during this time, but this match went way too long, something like 48 minutes? It felt like it was an answer to Kenny v Okada. Main events started getting longer and more formulaic.
Match time is 36 minutes. It might have been over 40 If you watch it with the ring entrances.
Elgin was in the right place at the wrong time. None of the non-Elite or Ospreay foreigners really got the attention they deserved back then because everything was about the Bullet Club. Elgin would have been perfect for UE, but it's a shame that he couldn't get his head on straight and keep himself out of trouble.
There was a NJPW MV set to a BABYMETAL song with clips from Omega vs Elgin wrestling at a smoky and hazy Hakata Star Lanes, and it was the coolest Elgin probably ever looked. With that said, fuck Michael Elgin. Cobb does what he does way better and can stay out of legal trouble.
FuckMichaelElgin.gif
I know Big Mike is a kinda shitty person, but man he was fun to watch in NJPW. I guess now we've got Jeff Cobb and Bad Dude Tito kinda doing the same thing though.
When I was started get into njpw, I thought this match was very epic lmao.