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You've been through a lot in such a short period of time experiencing
both extreme worlds of Vale Tudo and Pro Wrestling. Daniel Gracie,
Giant Nortje and Shane Eitner for Vale Tudo fights, and many pro
wrestling series including a NWF championship against Takayama and
a MUGA match against Nishimura. How do you feel, and what can
you say about your special career?
VERY FUN! At least up to this point, even if I am going against some people's expectations, I'm doing everything I want to do for my career. It's perfect. I'm not ling to myself, just heading in the direction I want to go.
This question is going to go back in time, but did you actually want to fight against Nortje?
I had to... I had to prove myself. After the Bom Ba Ye 2002, my name value went up, but I didn't want to be a pro wrestler who tried
it (NHB) one time and quit because of the lost. I started something, so I wanted to accomplish it and make a mark. Even if they (NJPW) called me a "SUPER ROOKIE" and hyped me up putting me on the 1.4 Tokyo Dome cards, I didn't have any solid career. So, to fight against a K-1 fighter was a big chance to prove myself, I needed to win. I was prepared to die in the ring.
You won against Nortje in Ultimate Crush. After this
fight, many NJPW wrestlers started to go against you. For example,
Shibata started to mention your name, he even took off his Makai mask. How did you feel and what did you do?
Nothing affected me. It's none of my business how the others talk or feel about me. Regarding Shibata, even if he mentioned my name, I never took him seriously. I proved myself, and the company gave me more chances (NWF title match). Shibata just tried to jump on me for attention, but it's never going to work that way. I won against Nortje and won my ticket to the contender position for the NWF belt. No wrestler in the company can go against that fact.
You probably were the youngest challenger for the NWF championship
match. Do you have any interest in the new U-30 belt?
You must be joking... I've absolutely got no interest. What's the
purpose of that belt in the first place? Personally, I don't think
there's a need for that belt to even exist.
Which champion belt are you interested in?
I like the original IWGP belt and the NWF.
What about the new IWGP?
Well, I'd like to fight for any real champion belts, but there's
always a right timing for things to happen. My final goals are not to win the belt, but I believe it (champion belt) will follow me if I continue fighting. Right now, I just want to focus on personal themes that interest myself.
Shinsuke Nakamura has the image of an independent wrestler, sort of
like Funaki of Puncrase (began his carrier in NJPW) when looking back at the Japanese pro wrestling history, but the media has categorized and named Tanahashi, Shibata and you the "NEO TOUKON SAN JYU-SHI" (NEW THREE FIGHTING SPIRIT WARRIORS). How do you feel about this?
Well, the media guys are still hung up with the idea of the "THREE FIGHTING SPIRT WARRIORS" (Hashimoto, Mutoh and Chono), so I'm stuck. They should get over with their memories of the past...
Hate it or not, NJPW is starting to look forward to Nakamura,
Tanahashi and Shibata. It will be natural for the company to book the three of you to go against each other. You did choke out Shibata with a triangle choke, but do you look forward in fighting Tanahashi? He's the current U-30 champion.
I see nothing appealing in that match up, but if I had to go against Tanahashi in a single match, I'll tell him, "Don't put the U-30 belt on the line!" I refuse to put that on my resume. I'm also going to say, "Don't push that thing (U-30 belt) on me!"
You will be on the NEW INOKI ARMY TEAM for the Tokyo Dome show. Are you committed with being on Team Inoki, or did you want to go onto Team NJPW?
Neither.
Are you a "SPACE LONE WOLF?"
Yes, I'll wear the silver helmet. I'm not going to rush myself because of others, I'll live my life. I don't force myself to do something because forcing creates unnecessary friction. I will always be independent, and for this game, I will represent the real NJPW wrestler on the INOKI ARMY. This may confuse many people, but I know the true NJPW history, and I'm being true to my beliefs. Look at the members on the new Inoki Team, each has own career and vision as an individual fighting artist.
Bob Sapp will be on the team, you've also worked out with him. How did that happen?
Bob Sapp called me over to spar with him. I don't know what K-1 has in mind, but Sapp is a real nice guy, very serious about training and tries his best to learn. There are things he's not able to do because he's huge, but Sapp is powerful. Just taking the power element, Sapp can smash people like a toy. But I found many elements that I exceeded. I now know his strength, weakness, and potentials.
Everyone knows that Bob Sapp is trying to fight against iron Mike
Tyson. Would you want to fight Tyson?
Tyson wouldn't be able to use my name, but I'll use his name value to the max!
What about Sapp? Sapp will be a great competitor, a rival and a good friend, so you can tag up with him calling yourselves "SN Ho" (Sapp-Nakamura Ho, just like "BI Ho," a former tag team name of Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki)?
If I were to fight him, the bigger the stage, the better it would be. If we were to tag up, invincible.
What do you think of the K-1 fighters' skills and ability? Would you want to fight any other K-1 fighters like Peter Aerts, Ernesto Hoost and the fighters who are considered to be on the top of their team?
They're super. If I were to fight under K-1 kick boxing rule, there's a very slim chance for me to win. It will be close to zero, but if we can reset the rules and go under NHB rules, I'd like to fight the best top K-1 fighters.
You're confident in wining against the top K-1 fighters in NHB?
My theory for NHB is like the Scissors, Paper, Stone game. I just
have to use the right item at the right time to win. If I use the wrong one, I'll lose.
Continued to the next page --> Other Interviews |
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