Kota Ibushi recently sat down with New Japan Pro-Wrestling and discussed the factors that played into his decision to stay with the promotion, his current relationship with Kenny Omega, Tetsuya Naito and more. Below are some highlights:
Kota Ibushi on his decision to stay with New Japan Pro-Wrestling:
“I’ve been saying for a long time that I want to spread my love of pro-wrestling to everyone, but I would like to be based in Japan when I do it. Of course, I also want to become famous as well, so when I combined my thoughts I realized that New Japan Pro-Wrestling was my only choice.
I want to spread New Japan’s fighting style all throughout Japan and I think that naturally, this will tie us together with the world. Kenny says he wants to change the world with pro-wrestling, but I want to change the world with New Japan.”
Kota Ibushi on the match with Will Ospreay at Wrestle Kingdom 13:
“Well, the fact that I was able to go head to head in a thrilling match against Will Ospreay in the opening match at Wrestle Kingdom, I can only look back and think it was awesome.
By the end, I was knocked out and had to be stretchered out, but I don’t regret it in the least. Seeing the positive side of it, I got the chance to relax and think about a lot of things.”
Kota Ibushi on his relationship with Kenny Omega and feeling overshadowed by Omega:
“Kenny has his own path to follow and I support him with it completely. I’d like to see Kenny change the world with wrestling, but I don’t want to lose to him. I’m going to fight my battles with everything I’ve got. Looking back now, I think Kenny really overshadowed me in New Japan, right?
When I look at what he’s achieved, Kenny’s won the G1 and was IWGP Heavyweight Champion, two things I’ve never done. Because I felt that I was not on the same level as him, I was always conscious about linking arms and teaming up with him.”
To read New Japan’s full interview, click here.
