Tetsuya Naito
An image from NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14: Night 1, one of the productions that also features Tetsuya Naito.
Tetsuya Naito

Tetsuya Naito

June 22, 1982 — Adachi, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan

Tetsuya Naito is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in his record-tying second reign and is the leader of the Los Ingobernables de Japón stable.

Naito began training for a professional wrestling career in 2000, initially under Animal Hamaguchi before joining NJPW in 2004, where he underwent further training. He is a former NEVER Openweight Champion, and a former IWGP Tag Team and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with former No Limit partner Yujiro Takahashi. He also had a short reign as IWGP Tag Team Champion with Sanada. In addition, Naito is the winner of the 2013, 2017 and 2023 editions of the G1 Climax, NJPW's premier singles tournament, and of the 2016 New Japan Cup.

Regarded as one of the most popular and greatest wrestlers in NJPW history, Tokyo Sports awarded Naito with the MVP Award, the publication's highest honor, in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2023. In 2020, Naito became the first person to hold both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships at the same time, accomplishing that feat twice, becoming a three-time IWGP Heavyweight and record six-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion. In addition, he is the only person to win back the double gold, doing so at Summer Struggle in Jingu.

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12

2018

NJPW G1 Climax 33: Day 16

NJPW G1 Climax 33: Day 16

2023

NJPW G1 Climax 33: Day 17

NJPW G1 Climax 33: Day 17

2023

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13

2019

AEW x NJPW Present Forbidden Door

AEW x NJPW Present Forbidden Door

2024

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15: Night 1

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15: Night 1

2021

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11

2017

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14: Night 1

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14: Night 1

2020