Bryan Danielson will battle Kazuchika Okada at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 on January 4.
Ahead of his match at the Tokyo Dome, Danielson spoke with NJPW about his experience training at Antonio Inoki’s dojo back in 2002 and more.
You can check out some highlights from the interview below:
On wanting to go to NJPW when he began competing: “New Japan, when I started wrestling, that’s where I wanted to be… I was training at the Inoki Dojo and I was going regularly on tours … and me and Curry Man had won the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championships as a tag team and, all of the sudden, I just stopped getting booked and it was really, really frustrating.”
On training at the Inoki Dojo: “I first started training [in the Inoki Dojo] in 2002. The mentality was, and this was directly from Inoki, is that we treat professional wrestling like a sport and you train legitimate combat sports… The mentality for us was we’ve got to train our ass off. If we want to live up to this ideal that Antonio Inoki had of wrestling.”
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Bryan Danielson Set to Battle Kazuchika Okada at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18
On January 4, Bryan Danielson, also known as Daniel Bryan, will face off against Kazuchika Okada at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18. As fans eagerly anticipate this highly anticipated match at the Tokyo Dome, Danielson recently sat down with NJPW to discuss his experience training at Antonio Inoki’s dojo back in 2002 and more.
When asked about his early aspirations in wrestling, Danielson revealed that New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) was always his desired destination. He expressed, “New Japan, when I started wrestling, that’s where I wanted to be… I was training at the Inoki Dojo and I was going regularly on tours… and me and Curry Man had won the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championships as a tag team and, all of a sudden, I just stopped getting booked and it was really, really frustrating.”
Danielson then delved into his training experience at the Inoki Dojo. He began his training in 2002 and emphasized the dojo’s focus on treating professional wrestling as a sport. Under the guidance of Antonio Inoki, the mentality was to train in legitimate combat sports. Danielson explained, “The mentality for us was we’ve got to train our ass off. If we want to live up to this ideal that Antonio Inoki had of wrestling.”
In a video interview shared by NJPW, Danielson further elaborated on his journey and the significance of his upcoming match at Wrestle Kingdom 18. He expressed his excitement about facing Kazuchika Okada, acknowledging Okada’s reputation as one of the best wrestlers in the world. Danielson also mentioned his admiration for NJPW’s strong style of wrestling and how it aligns with his own approach to the sport.
As the anticipation builds for this epic showdown, fans can stay updated on all the latest wrestling news on eWrestlingNews.com. The website provides comprehensive coverage of the wrestling world, ensuring fans don’t miss any updates or developments. Additionally, fans can follow eWrestlingNews on Twitter and Facebook for more wrestling content.
In conclusion, Bryan Danielson’s upcoming match against Kazuchika Okada at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 is set to be a thrilling encounter. With his extensive training and passion for the sport, Danielson is ready to showcase his skills and leave a lasting impact on the wrestling world. Fans can look forward to witnessing this epic clash and the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.