Just 5 Guys (J5G) is a

professional wrestling Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...

stable, performing in

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion based in Nakano, Tokyo. Founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, the promotion was sold to Yuke's, who later sold it to Bushiroad in 2012. TV Asahi and Amuse, Inc. own minority shares ...

(NJPW). The stable formed in January 2023 as Just 4 Guys (J4G) by Taichi,

Taka Michinoku (born October 26, 1973), better known by his ring name (with his first name usually stylized in all capital letters), is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. Michinoku is known in North America for his work for the ...

Douki , better known by his ring name Douki (stylised in ''all caps''), is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the '' Just 5 Guys'' stable. Douki was a part of the '' Suzuki-gun'' ...

, and

Yoshinobu Kanemaru is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he also works as a backstage producer. Kanemaru is best known for his work in Pro Wrestling Noah, where he holds the records for the most reigns with the GHC ...

, following the disbandment of their previous stable Suzuki-gun. Two months later, the stable added

Sanada Sanada is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Asami Sanada (born 1977), Japanese voice actress *, Japanese shogi player * Juzo Sanada (1923–1994), Japanese baseball player * Hiroki Sanada (born 1984), Japanese basebal ...

and took their current name.

Background

Taichi and Michinoku first interacted in December in 2010 as part of Kojima-gun, which morphed into Suzuki-gun after they turned on Satoshi Kojima and appointed Minoru Suzuki as their new leader. Within Suzuki-gun, Michinoku and Taichi teamed up in NJPW's junior heavyweight tag team division in which they held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, before Taichi moved up to the heavyweight division in March 2018. Meanwhile, in

Pro Wrestling NOAH (stylised as Pro Wrestling NOAH) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) ace Mitsuharu Misawa after he had led a mass exodus in which 24 of AJPW's 26 contracted wrestlers left the ...

, Kanemaru would join Suzuki-gun in February 2016, as part of the stable's invasion storyline, before moving to NJPW with them in January 2017. Douki joined Suzuki-gun in May 2019, having been introduced to the stable by Taichi. All four wrestlers remained members of Suzuki-gun until the stable disbanded in December 2022.

History

On January 5, 2023, at New Year Dash, Michinoku, Taichi, Douki, and Kanemaru formed Just 4 Guys with the aim of reaching the top of New Japan. On February 4, at

The New Beginning in Sapporo The New Beginning is an annual professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event has been held since 2011 as a pay-per-view (PPV). From 2013 to 2014, the event also aired outside Japan as an internet pay-per-view ...

, Taichi lost to Will Ospreay in a singles match. On the same event, Douki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru challenged for Catch 2/2 (

Francesco Akira Francesco Begnini (born November 12, 1999), better known by his ring name Francesco Akira is an Italian professional wrestler, working for the Japanese promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the United Empire stable and ...

and TJP) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, but lost. In March, Sanada, then a member of

Los Ingobernables de Japon (Spanish for "The Ungovernables of Japan" and often spelled without the accent as ''Los Ingobernables de Japon'' in English-speaking countries), also shortened to ''L.I.J.'', is a Japanese professional wrestling stable, based in the New Japan ...

, entered the New Japan Cup. After he defeated LIJ stablemate and leader Tetsuya Naito in the quarter-finals, he left Los Ingobernables de Japón and joined the stable, changing the name to Just 5 Guys. Sanada defeated David Finlay in the finals of the tournament and, one month later, defeated Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at

Sakura Genesis Sakura Genesis is an annual professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) since 2013. Held annually at Tokyo's Ryōgoku Kokugikan, the event has been nicknamed . Originally known as Invasion Attack, the event was rename ...

. Following Sanada winning the title, he was confronted by former stablemate Hiromu Takahashi, who sought a shot at the world title. Sanada accepted, however only on the basis that Kanemaru was granted a title shot at Takahashi's IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, which Takahashi accepted. On April 27, Kanemaru lost to Takahashi. Two days later, at Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni, Taichi defeated Takagi to win the KOPW championship. Following Takahashi retaining the title against Kanemaru, he faced Sanada at

Wrestling Dontaku is an annual professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It was originally held from 1993 to 1995 and again from 2000 to 2001 in Fukuoka at the Fukuoka Dome. The event was revived in 2009 and has since been held a ...

, where Sanada retained the World title. Following the match, Sanada and the remainder of Just 5 Guys were attacked by the returning and new member of LIJ

Yota Tsuji is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Early life Before wrestling, Tsuji had played baseball, American football and had done Taekwondo. In March 2012, he graduated from Yokohama Tateno high-sch ...

, who challenged Sanada for his title. The day after at the event, Sanada retained his title against Tsuji. Through NJPW's partnership with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Douki made his AEW debut on the June 23 episode of '' AEW Rampage'', losing to

"Jungle Boy" Jack Perry Jack Perry (born June 16, 1997), also known by the ring name Jungle Boy, is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he performs under his real name, but has been inactive since August 2023 d ...

. Sanada made his third title defense two days later at

Forbidden Door ''The Forbidden Door'' ( id, Pintu Terlarang) is a 2009 Indonesian psychological thriller film written and directed by Joko Anwar based on Sekar Ayu Asmara's novel of the same name. Despite disappointing box office receipts in Indonesia, the fi ...

, defeating Perry.

Members

Current

Championships and accomplishments

** IWGP World Heavyweight Championship ( 1 time, current) – Sanada ** New Japan Cup (

2023 Events Predicted and scheduled events * January 1 ** In the United States, books, films, and other works published in 1927 will enter the public domain, assuming there are no changes made to copyright law. ** Croatia will adopt the eu ...

) – Sanada **Provisional

KOPW KOPW (106.9 FM, "Power 106.9") is an Omaha, Nebraska-based rhythmic contemporary radio station. It is owned and operated by NRG Media. Licensed to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, its studios are located at Dodge Street and 50th Avenue in Midtown Omaha, ...

(1 time, current) – Taichi

References

{{Navboxes , list1= {{KOPW (professional wrestling championship) {{IWGP World Heavyweight Championship {{New Japan Pro Wrestling personnel New Japan Pro-Wrestling teams and stables