During a recent interview with the official global website of NJPW, Kota Ibushi referred to Shinsuke Nakamura and Hiroshi Tanahashi as God-like in his eyes:
Nakamura and Tanahashi are my gods. I’m beneath them, but it’s not because I’m beneath them that I call them that. I have to surpass them, and I think that time is getting closer. But I don’t care whether he main events the Tokyo Dome, or he’s at an indie show in front of 50 people, Nakamura is still my god. I want to surpass him, I feel I have to surpass him, but it’s because I respect him so much I call him that and I always will until the day I die.
Ibushi will wrestle Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4th at the Tokyo Dome for Wrestle Kingdom 14.