>>12863573Naito always had that cockiness to him even as stardust genius. Don’t forget he also mocked nakamura after beating him and had that combo of babyface underdog combined with the cockiness he had as a heel during no limit. He also showed defiance against mutoh who tried to put him over but naito refused that gesture.
When Naito returned he seemed to lose some of that cockiness but he was also booked like shit which didnt help. I do think the 2013 G1 win could have been salvaged with some high profile feuds to build him up to Okada. Instead, he had to feud with yujiro and masato tanaka in throwaway feuds that nobody benefitted from.
