New Japan Pro Wrestling star KENTA Kobayashi (also known as Hideo Itami during his time in WWE) recently did an interview for NJPW's official website, NJPW1972.com. During the interview, the former Pro Wrestling NOAH Global Honored Crown World Heavyweight Champion spoke openly about his time in WWE, as well as his frustrations during his time there. He also spoke about what he hopes to achieve in New Japan in the coming years.
The following comes from NJPW1972.com:
âYouâve been away from Japan from a while.
KENTA: Thatâs right.
âYouâre based in America now, correct?
KENTA: Yes, in Florida. I think my base will continue to be in the US, and Iâll be coming over to Japan to wrestle.
âYour appearance in Osaka in Dominion was major news, becoming a top Twitter trend. Why did you choose New Japan?
KENTA: Well, I explained this in my backstage comments, but I went to America, I went to WWE, and I didnât really achieve what I set out to do there. I didnât get the results I wanted. While all this was going on, I was still in contact with (Katsuyori) Shibata, and we talked about this and that. In the end it boiled down to âOK, what do I want to do with myselfâ? What I concluded was that I didnât want things to end this way, I wanted to try once more to bring my vision of pro wrestling to the world.
âI see.
KENTA: So that said, business is booming for NJPW, and if thereâs anywhere that I can bring that vision worldwide, itâs in New Japan.
âDo you think those words, âNew Japanâ have shifted in meaning in the time you were in WWE?
KENTA: I think so. You know, when people would ask me after I left WWE what I was going to do next, a lot of those questions would be followed up with âare you going to New Japanâ? It really made me feel that NJPW had this big international influence.
âItâs become a global brand.
KENTA: I mean, in April, NJPW filled Madison Square Garden, and the quality of the wrestling is always very high. I thought âOK, here I can make my markâ. The best wrestlers from all around the world are here. If I can do my thing in NJPW, itâs a chance for my style of wrestling to be seen, naturally, by the whole world.
âI see. So to you, being able to compete in New Japan means competing on a global stage.
KENTA: Right. Even to American fans, the words âNew Japanâ mean a lot, itâs reached the global consciousness.
âYou mentioned that you couldnât achieve what you wanted to do in WWE. What did that experience mean to you?
KENTA: Itâs hard to put into words but⌠it was a very tough five years. I got hurt, and beyond that I was really grasping for something during that whole time. Itâs like, I came into the company to bring my style of wrestling worldwide, but what that actually became was bending and adapting to what the company wanted. Thatâs important in a sense, but the strength and aggression that I bring to the table got lost. Thatâs a real shame.
âYou couldnât express yourself in the way you wanted.
KENTA: One person there might tell you âdo it this wayâ, and then another would be âno, no, do it like thisâ. That meant my own personal vision just crumbled away. There are people who can do very well in that environment, but I just couldnât. So when that âwhat next?â question came up, I didnât ask anybody else what they thought. I just decided to focus on what I wanted to do. Otherwise thereâs no point.
âIt sounds like it was a difficult period for you, but did you gain anything from the experience?
KENTA: If I didnât, the whole thing would have been meaningless. Of course, you want to succeed in everything first time and keep moving forward, but life isnât like that. You take your knocks, and then have to learn from that, otherwise your experience is pointless. In the end, I have zero regrets about any of my decisions.
âSo you think NJPW is the place where you can really show off âKENTAâs pro wrestlingâ.
KENTA: Right. My style isnât really like the WWE style. Thereâs an aggression there thatâs closer to Strong Style, my matches evolve in a more thrilling way. I think if I can fit in here, Iâll be able to awaken something thatâs been dormant for a long time.
âSo you must be really fired up to be in the G1.
KENTA: Absolutely. Iâm really excited. â
-While you were a part of Pro Wrestling NOAH, it really felt that you were fighting with a lot of pride against NJPW at large. Has that feeling changed?
KENTA: No, not at all. Back then, I was representing NOAH, so it wasnât just New Japan, but all the other promotions I had antagonism for. It wasnât anything special for NJPW, it was for the whole world. Now Iâve made the decision to come to NJPW, but that doesnât mean anythingâs changed.
âYou have actually wrestled in New Japan before, correct?
KENTA: Just once. 2002 in the Budokan, I wrestled Wataru Inoue. That was actually the night that Shinsuke Nakamura debuted.
âAugust 29, 2002.
KENTA: Nakamura versus Tadao Yasuda. But that was the only time I wrestled for NJPW.
âYou wrestled a lot of NJPW opponents in NOAH rings, though.
KENTA: Yes, that happened a lot.
âShibata was asked about you coming into NJPW as well, but can you explain your relationship with Shibata to the newer fans?
KENTA: Hmm.. Well, we have a lot in common. We donât have many friends, weâre both pretty introverted (laughs)..
âReally?
KENTA: There is that, but for whatever reason we just get along. We first met in, oh, 2004, 2005? Weâve been friendly ever since.
âYou got on well outside the ring, and really became best friends.
KENTA: Right. When Shibata left NJPW in 2005, I actually invited him over to NOAH. Now itâs funny; the roles have reversed.
âYou actually tagged together in NOAH.
KENTA: We did. So this is all quite emotional.
âNow Shibata is injured and canât wrestle.
KENTA: To tell the truth, Iâd love to get in the ring with him again, but it isnât the kind of injury to talk about in simple terms like that. Iâm sure itâs the thing he thinks about most; itâs not for me to talk about, really.
âShibata is currently working in the LA Dojo, developing the next generation of talent. Have you considered training with him there?
KENTA: Iâd like to go there, yeah. I really think heâs become a better teacher than I could imagine (laughs). He really understands how important it is to be developing those new guys. I think itâs awesome, what heâs doing there.
âYou see it in his disposition, heâs become so much happier since he started working there.
KENTA: Iâm so happy for him that heâs found his calling⌠Ah! Actually there was something I wanted to say about Shibata.
âWhatâs that?
KENTA: That dropkick of âhisâ in the corner. I started that, you know.
âAhhh, thatâs a misunderstanding thatâs gone global, the world thinking itâs ShibataâsâŚ
KENTA: Itâs OK, really, really. But when other people do it and it gets called a âShibata moveâ, my ears prick up, yâknowâŚ(laughs)
âLike âhold on, thereâ!
KENTA: Yeah. I just wanted to clear the air (laughs).
âShibata is so respected around the world. Dragon Lee will use that dropkick and yell out âShibata!â while he does it.
KENTA: Ah, no, thatâs OK, really. I just wanted to get it off my chest (laughs).
âThen thereâs the Go2Sleep, a move you innovated thatâs been used around the world.
KENTA: Well, itâs not like I invented the dropkick or anything. But when it comes to a move that I did make, that was another thing that got to me about WWE. A move I invented, I thought up, and Iâm not allowed to use it? Itâs crazy. Over here, well, nobody can say anything to stop me hitting it.
âYouâre the originator. Itâs just one more way youâd be showing your pro wrestling to the world.
In part 2, KENTA gives his thoughts on the G1 field and a certain individual called Jon Moxley!
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