In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Konosuke Takeshita discussed his upcoming match with Chris Jericho at DDT Pro’s Ultimate Party 2023 this weekend, why he chose to sign with AEW over WWE, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the interview below:
On coming to America: “After becoming the KO-D champion so many times, and setting the record for the most defenses, I felt that there was nothing more I could do in DDT. It was like the end of the first season. So I needed to start “season two” of the Konosuke Takeshita show, and it needed to be more exciting. That is why I decided to go to America.”
On why he chose AEW over WWE: “AEW has a lot of wrestlers and superstars that everyone knows. I was still a nobody in the long history of wrestling. I thought it would be cool if I could beat those superstars in exciting matches. And AEW is the most powerful wrestling organization right now. I wanted to be in the mainstream.”
On facing Kenny Omega: “The number-one reason I came to AEW was to wrestle Kenny Omega. When I was in DDT with Kenny, I was just about two years into my career, and I was a teenager. Now that I have grown up and experienced many things, I wanted to fight again. After Kenny Omega left DDT, I tried to make DDT exciting in my own way. It was very difficult. The quality of the matches would change. I’ve been staring at the back of “The Best Bout Machine” for a long time.”
On Chris Jericho coming to DDT Pro: “The superstars who came to DDT in the past have been “former” superstars. I wanted to bring a “current” superstar to DDT. I felt like it was my mission to do that, because I’m now competing at the top of the U.S. scene. I’m glad I was able to make that happen in a big match in DDT.”
On his title aspirations in AEW: “My biggest goal right now is to become AEW champion. I’m 28 now, so I’d like to achieve that while I’m still in my 20s. That’s because I want to be a champion in the best physical condition possible, and I want to show everyone the best title match I can.”
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, NJPW NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi offered his perspective on wrestling in the United States.
Takagi noted that the possibility of working with AEW for a longer period held an attraction for him.
You can check out some highlights from the interview below:
On the opportunities he sees working in the US currently: “I want to bring the NJPW experience that most fans can only ever experience in Japan, right here to Texas. Following Las Vegas, this is my second straight main event, so I’m fired up and ready to rampage.”
On the possibility of working with AEW for a longer term: “There are quite a few Japanese wrestlers doing their thing in AEW, aren’t there? I’d like to see Bryan Danielson again. Seeing him in the ring would be fine. I just missed Claudio Castagnoli and Samoa Joe when they were in ROH, so I’d like to mix it up with them sometime.”
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Japanese professional wrestler Konosuke Takeshita recently sat down for an interview with Sports Illustrated to discuss his upcoming match with Chris Jericho at DDT Pro’s Ultimate Party 2023, his decision to sign with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) over WWE, and his aspirations in the wrestling industry.
Takeshita explained that after achieving numerous accomplishments as the KO-D champion in DDT, he felt that he had reached the end of a season and needed to start a new chapter in his career. He believed that going to America and joining AEW would provide him with a more exciting platform for his talents.
When asked about his decision to choose AEW over WWE, Takeshita expressed admiration for the wrestlers and superstars in AEW and saw it as an opportunity to prove himself against them. He acknowledged that he was still relatively unknown in the wrestling world and wanted to make a name for himself by facing these established stars. Takeshita also recognized AEW as the most powerful wrestling organization at the moment and wanted to be part of the mainstream wrestling scene.
One of Takeshita’s main motivations for joining AEW was to have a rematch with Kenny Omega. He had previously faced Omega during his time in DDT when he was just starting his career. Now, with more experience and growth, Takeshita wanted to challenge Omega again. He mentioned that after Omega left DDT, he tried to make the promotion exciting in his own way, but it was challenging without Omega’s presence. Takeshita expressed his eagerness to face Omega once more in AEW.
Takeshita also discussed the significance of Chris Jericho coming to DDT Pro. He felt that it was essential to bring a current superstar to DDT and saw it as his mission since he was now competing at the top of the U.S. wrestling scene. Takeshita expressed his gratitude for being able to make this happen in a significant match in DDT.
Looking ahead, Takeshita revealed that his biggest goal in AEW is to become the AEW champion. At 28 years old, he wants to achieve this milestone while still in his 20s, showcasing the best title match possible and being in peak physical condition.
In a separate interview with Sports Illustrated, NJPW NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi shared his perspective on wrestling in the United States. Takagi mentioned that he wanted to bring the NJPW experience that fans typically only experience in Japan to the U.S., specifically mentioning Texas. He also expressed interest in working with AEW for a longer period and mentioned wrestlers like Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, and Samoa Joe as potential opponents he would like to mix it up with.
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Overall, both Konosuke Takeshita and Shingo Takagi are excited about their respective careers in the wrestling industry and are looking forward to making an impact in AEW and the United States. Their matches and aspirations showcase their determination and passion for their craft, making them wrestlers to watch out for in the future.