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Kota Ibushi on KENTA in Bullet Club, a New Era in Wrestling, and More

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Recently, Kota Ibushi spoke to the official global website of New Japan Pro-Wrestling about winning this year’s G1 Climax, KENTA joining Bullet Club, and more. Below are some highlights.

Kota Ibushi discusses the new era of wrestling:

“I think it’s more a case of a new era for pro wrestling at large, including me. Wrestling has really changed this year. I think it’s in the middle of a big change right now.
“What Tanahashi led, that wasn’t just him, but everybody around him expressing themselves. This era now; winning the G1 put me in the position where I was able to declare it as a thing. I’ve felt for a while that we’re entering a new era, but it wasn’t until I won the G1 that I was in a position to say as such.”

Kota Ibushi on his match with Shinsuke Nakamura at Wrestle Kingdom 9:

“At the end of the day, that was really a semi-main event. But now, if I get to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, that would really be a main event, right? And then there’s my little idea… I don’t know if it would happen if the company is OK with it or not, but if that did happen, I’d be in back-to-back main events in the Tokyo Dome. There’s so much possibility there, I can’t help but be excited about it.

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Kota Ibushi on KENTA:

“Unbelievable, right? Why did he come to New Japan? After his match with me, he offered a handshake, and did the same with Tanahashi and Ospreay, right?
“That’s what I don’t get. He seemed to be respecting the hontai members, so why would he then go and join BULLET CLUB? Was that something he’d always planned to do from the beginning, or did he get drawn to BULLET CLUB after he’d started?”

Kota Ibushi on winning the G1:

“It makes that goal of broadening wrestling easier. Even people who don’t know anything about wrestling will listen to that message more coming from a G1 winner. If you’re no big name, it doesn’t matter whether what you’re saying or doing is any good, people will just ignore you. It just ends at ‘What the hell is that geek talking about?’
“But when you’re the G1 winner, then people look at you differently and listen to you more closely. If I’m the IWGP Heavyweight Champion, I can spread my vision of wrestling even further. And if I were to win the Heavyweight, then the Intercontinental in two back to back days, in the Tokyo Dome. That’s… legendary.”