NJPW: Exploring The Members of a Potential Shota Umino Stable

In 2025 one of the key stories that New Japan Pro Wrestling are telling is that of Shota Umino discovering who he is. For too long he's used Jon Moxley's finisher and Hirohi Tanahashi's attire scheme. There's a story to be told of Shota saying his place is in Hontai but after major loss after major loss this year it feels like something needs to be changed. Shota for me is falling behind Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura in terms of fan expecations. For me Shota needs to move into being where he is to something new he's in the position of Stardust Genius Naito where that reinvention is needed and that I think is a new stable.

Shota saying his only place is Hontai keeps leading me to expect a story where he doesn't think it represents New Japan in the best way and forming a group that does that in his own way. With Chaos and Just 4 Guys merging into it you have too many people in one place. With that being said if Shota was to break out into his own group I have a few ideas of people that should join up with him and his vision of what New Japan should be.

Young Blood

Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima have been on excursion for just over a year now and I believe WXW have said they have wrestled their final match there so it does feel like they will return soon. I would argue that with WXW and PWH tag titles reigns it is time for them to come back. You always need a place for Young Lions when they come back and a brand new stable founding with them and Umino to begin is a good start. 

Matt Vandagriff 

A slightly out there pick but here me out. I keep saying that the New Japan Academy in America needs to be shown as a valid pathway to shows in Japan. Zane Jay becoming a Young Lion is one thing but actual movement between the Japan shows and STRONG. If there's one person who should be the one to test this with it would be Matt Vandagriff. I think Matt is someone that would work and could bridge the gap between the Japanese and American show. Because hey it's better then pre-show matches and a feud with Fred Rosser.

Master Wato

I was going back and forth in thiking if I should also include YOH here who I do feel needs something but opted just for Master Wato. While I do feel a refresh for both I feel that Master Wato and Shota Umino have more history together. Being part of the same dojo class as well as the best of seven series where they teamed with Nagata against Suzuki, Desperado and Narita. I think it is time to revamp Wato a little bit and a kinda heel turn and new direction would work. Hey look I've always been an advocate of moving from 'Way to the Grandmaster' to 'The Grandmaster' Hirai Kawato and give him the Jr Title please and thanks. 

Strong Machine J

One final pick if they were to bring anyone in from outside of New Japan. Umino and Strong Machine J have a shared history of being sons of prominent New Japan staff members. Umino's father being the ref red shoes and Strong Machine's being current trainer and former wrestler Super Strong Machine. While and outside chance as he seems happy in Dragon Gate it would create an interesting look at how they would interact. 

All in all a refresh for Shota and a lot of the roster would work well. We need something new with stables going and it is clear Shota is suffering in this future ace role not sutied to him. He needs his Naito returning from excursion moment and run and giving him his own stable may just do the trick.