Championships in wrestling are decided based on one thing more than anything else. Reputation. This can be reputation with a promoter, with the guys in the back, or with the fans. All three of these aspects mean more to a wrestler than anything else. Your reputation with a promoter as a reliable, over star, a moneymaker, can take you far in a promotion. Your reputation with the guys in the back, especially the right guys in the back, allows you to get better rub. Even when booked to lose, a great match can get you noticed. It takes two to tango, and if an established star feels like you belong on his dance card, he will put you over, win or lose. Finally, the fans can make stars. Ask Jeff Hardy.
Sugi has all three of these factors in his favor. We will examine his career and determine that he deserves to be the face of the Jr. Heavyweight Division for the next decade.
While Michinoku Pro Wrestling, Sugi battled Taka Michinoku, eventually losing, however, the promoters put him up against the most recongnizable name in the promotion. He has also been booked against The Great Sasuke and Jushin Liger, even winning some of these matches. Being the apploe of the promoter's eye leads to exposure, and exposure is great capital to a wrestler trying to build a career. Promoters can also bend the rules to put someone over. In one Japanese promotion, Sugi wasa character named The Zest, a masked character, and won the Junior Lightweight Title. The Zest then lost the title to none other than Takuya Sugi. Yes, that's right, he actually beat himself (well, someone in his gear) to take a title. The promoter decided he was good enough to win, then decided he was over enough. They found a way to job him out, without losing any of his momentum. That is quite a strong endorsement.
Sugi's matches with Sasuke and Liger are considered classics. As I have stated, it takes two to tango, and Liger and Sasuke, both veterans, both felt that Sugi was capable enough of running with their division, jr. heavyweight. You know that they felt this way with the matches they put on with him. Liger jobbed to him in the quarters of a tournament, a round in which Liger never loses. This is akin to HHH jobbing in a number one contender's match to Jeff Hardy. It doesn't matter what happens after that, the man in the back decided to let you carry the torch and take your shot. Hardy and Sugi both got extreme rub from international superstars, and that is a ringing endorsement to get a belt on a guy like that as soon as possible.
Finally, the fans love Sugi. He plays strong characters, fun characters, and gets the crowd involved. While some may argue that he ripped off Curry Man, the fact is he got it over. While working as a freelancer, several promotions angled themselves to get appearances, contracts, anything, because they know Sugi is a draw. Being a draw, over with the fans, endears you to the promoter, and we can go back to the top to see how that is beneficial.
Sugi has done a lot in his career to endear himself to those that influence decisions. His work in the ring is far more than adequate, and his drawing power is unquestioned. Sugi deserves a run with the title, and he deserves it soon.
