Tetsuya Naito is preparing for his next big match under the New Japan Pro Wrestling banner and recently did an interview with NJPW’s website while in-character.
He’s slated to take on Chris Jericho with the IWGP Intercontinental Title being on the line at NJPW’s biggest event of the year, Wrestle Kingdom 13.
The two stars have a history as Jericho won the title at NJPW Dominion back on June 9th. Naito talked about Jericho being a part-timer in the company as well as the promotion expanding internationally without Jericho.
“Yeah. But I do believe that the winner is proven right. Even though he doesn’t wrestle a lot, and he’s pre-occupied with another career, I’m the one who lost to him in Osaka. It’s my fault that he’s got that chip on his shoulder. That’s on me.”
“I could feel his intent, as if he was truly trying to kill me. He was different from what I expected, different from other American wrestlers. He was probably switching things up because he was in New Japan. Besides just his wrestling, I understood why he’s been a top start for many years. He has a nimble mind. He’s put it all together to get to the point he’s at now.”
Wrestle Kingdom 13 is slated to take place on January 4, 2019, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan and will air live on NJPW World and air on Fite TV.