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YOSHI-HASHI (2018)

118 Pts.



It was now or never for the 36-year-old YOSHI-HASHI in 2018. The delightful “Tacos” desperately needed to make 2018 his year… and just when it looked like his big break was coming, YOSHI literally fell on his face.

When “Switchblade” Jay White and Gedo turned on Okada, the lasting visual was Okada’s long-standing rival Hiroshi Tanahashi coming in for the save. But what’s forgotten is that YOSHI-HASHI, not Tanahashi, was the first man to run down to the ring during the beatdown. YOSHI-HASHI sprinted down to the ring presumably to save his friend and unit leader Okada but tripped and fell on his way to the ring. When YOSHI-HASHI finally picked himself up and slid into the ring, he was a bloody mess and clearly disoriented. White immediately began a beatdown of YOSHI-HASHI and he was easily tossed to the outside where he was given immediate medical attention.

We haven’t seen YOSHI-HASHI since.

Now, we have to wonder what would have happened if YOSHI-HASHI hadn’t slipped. Would he have turned on Okada as well? Would he have been the one to save Okada from the White/Gedo beatdown? Could we be talking about YOSHI-HASHI as one of the important figures in the upcoming Jay White vs. Kazuchika Okada match at Wrestle Kingdom 13?

What could have been if YOSHI-HASHI hadn’t fallen? Worse yet, injuries sustained that night appear to be worse than originally thought. We haven’t seen YOSHI-HASHI since. White continues to expound on his takeover of CHAOS claiming he still has a mole in the unit. Some suspect its Chuckie T, or maybe Toru Yano, or maybe someone we aren’t thinking of immediately. Is there any chance its YOSHI-HASHI? Was it originally meant to be YOSHI-HASHI but the slip and the injuries made them switch things up?

I hate that we never got to find out what was supposed to happen but more than that, I hate that YOSHI-HASHI’s biggest opportunity ended with him slipping, falling and injuring himself severely. Typically, we point and laugh at YOSHI-HASHI, we look at one of NJPW’s lost souls, a man who was on Okada’s level when he returned from excursion but now seems only above young lions. I wanted to continue laughing about YOSHI-HASHI but that joy and laughter has turned to sorrow. I truly do feel bad for him and hope he can get his career back on the rails.

Unfortunately, I think 2018 was a do or die year for YOSHI-HASHI’s career and without knowing what was to happen at Destruction in Kobe and the extent of his injuries, it’s hard to imagine YOSHI-HASHI ever delivering on his promise.