JUICE ROBINSON:
HEART AND HONOR
By Jasmine Olan
This year’s G1 Climax is filled with incredible talent, each one of them with something to prove. Among them, is current IWGP United States Champion, Juice Robinson who is fast becoming one of the most popular baby faces on the NJPW roster. His signature dreadlocks and fun loving personality have become a huge hit with fans over the past couple of years. That along with his passion have him on the path to becoming one of the promotion’s top gaijin or foreign talents. From his promos to his wrestling style, Juice Robinson is in many ways very reminiscent of a young Dusty Rhodes. That can also be seen in the bond Juice now shares with the NJPW audience who’ve had the chance to watch their favorite moon child progress and evolve as he now shines on some of the international wrestling scene’s biggest stages. It hasn’t always been easy, but along the way, Juice has managed to remain humble and never forget his midwestern roots.
Originally trained by Ring Of Honor’s Truth Martini, Juice Robinson made his in ring debut on the American independent wrestling scene in 2008 at just nineteen years of age. In 2011, he was signed to WWE where he debuted in their developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling under the ring name of CJ Parker. There he would win the Florida Heavyweight Championship twice, once with Jason Jordan and once with Donny Marlow who would later be known to New Japan Pro Wrestling fans as Tanga Loa. 2012 would see him be mostly utilized as a tag team competitor. Around this time, FCW was closed and replaced by NXT as its developmental brand.
After returning from a serious injury in 2013, CJ Parker had a rough go at connecting with fans. He was intended to be a babyface, but his in ring character just wasn’t working even after a heel turn which saw his fun loving hippie character evolve into an angry eco-warrior. The rest of his run with WWE NXT would spent struggling to find his way, and he asked for release which he was granted in the spring of 2015. Juice would make his return to independent circuit in the US and Europe after his release. Later that summer, he made his debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling in a six man tag team that saw him paired with rising NJPW stars, Tetsuya Naito and Kota Ibushi against Katsuyori Shibata, Tiger Mask, and the Bosu King Kong Togi Makabe. He became a full time member of the New Japan roster that fall.
Rather than rely on name he’d made for himself in WWE NXT, Juice to begin his run in NJPW as a young lion, living and training at New Japan dojo. His first singles match in the promotion was against fellow young lion, Jay White who he defeated. His time as a young lion would be prove beneficial as it has contributed to the incredible growth fans have seen from Juice Robinson over the last three years. 2016 would see him continuing to grow and learn from the best. Among those great mentors was the Ace Of The Universe, Hiroshi Tanahashi who Juice was paired with for that year’s world tag league tournament. The two formed a close bond which grew strong when they both became members of Taguchi Japan in 2017.
In the summer of 2017, Juice made his G1 debut. That tournament run would see him get a huge upset win over 2016 G1 Climax winner and inaugural IWGP United States Champion, Kenny Omega. His reaction to getting that pin fall has become a favorite moment for many fans. Juice continued to make progress throughout the rest of 2017. 2018 has seen Juice embroiled in a heated feud with former dojo mate, Jay White over the IWGP United States Championship. That feud would result in Juice making history, becoming the first American born wrestler to win the IWGP United States Championship when he defeated then champion, Jay White. The future is looking brighter than ever for Juice Robinson right now as he fights to make it to the finals of G1 Climax 28.
One thing that is for sure about Juice Robinson is that he is truly a star on the rise. His matches are some of the most fun to watch and his interviews are some of the most inspiring. He’s grown so much since his time in WWE NXT. His bond with fans the world over continues to grow stronger. With his talent, 1960s influenced look and passion, Juice has also managed to earn the respect of his peers and critics alike. It is clear to see that he is going to major role in the future of New Japan Pro Wrestling as its global expansion moves forward. He once struggled to find his way, but has finally found it. Success is sure to come his way, and NJPW’s favorite moon child is ready to achieve it all the same way he always has. With heart and honor.
