El Phantasmo wants to win the KOPW 22 trophy back because he believes he's more suited to it than anyone else.
NJPW recently confirmed that Phantasmo will face Takagi in a NYC Street Fight for the KOPW 2022 trophy at the Rumble on 44th Street event. The stipulation was decided by a fan poll, and the two stars will collide in what promises to be a brutal battle on October 28.
Speaking with NJPW's official website, Phantasmo previewed the match. When asked whether he's focused on winning the title or simply beating Takagi, Phantasmo responded by taking a shot at the design of NJPW's trophies.
"Look, if NJPW put any effort or budget into making their trophies then maybe I might show them some more respect. G1, BOSJ, New Japan Cup aside, the Super J-Cup I won in 2019 looked like it was bought at a Dollar store, the second one was a little better but fell apart, and this KOPW one was an abomination on the eyes. There isn’t the best track record for good looking titles lately," Phantasmo said.
Putting the design aside, Phantasmo made it clear that the title is meaningful to him because he's confident that he's suited to KOPW. He stated that, more than anyone, he can push the limits of what the trophy represents.
"There’s nobody better suited to KOPW than me. There’s nobody more creative, there’s nobody that can push the boundaries and limits of what the KOPW idea represents," he said.
The Bullet Club member also commented on the connection between NYC and ECW and vowed to showcase his inner RVD and Sabu. He made it clear that he as a knack for hardcore innovation, and he expects it to give him an advantage against Takagi.
"I believe that makes it the perfect place to show the RVD, the Sabu, the Super Crazy that’s in El Phantasmo. People who have followed me for a long time know that I have a level of hardcore innovation that Shingo can’t keep up with," Phantasmo said.
When asked to describe what fans can expect at the NYC shows, he stated that they will see a fired up "Baby Phantasmo", and he wants to deliver a special treat in his first trip to "the biggest shithole city" in the world.
"You can expect a hyped up ‘Baby Phantasmo’. This is my first time in the biggest shithole city in the world. I’ve been everywhere in the world, but this is my first time in NYC, and you guys are in for a wild treat when the KOPW trophy gets extreme," he said.
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Check out the updated card for NJPW Rumble on 44th Street here.
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