Fighful's Scott Edwards spoke with Pro Wrestling NOAH's Kaito Kiyomiya ahead of their major show NOAH The New Year 2024 on January 2nd. He will also be competing at NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom 18.
Here's what he had to say.
Edwards: You’ve said your focus is on your current tag team with Ryohei Oiwa, but you keep an eye on the rest of NOAH. With that being said, is singles gold completely out of your sight right now? Or is it something that’s always lingering in the back of your mind as something you definitely plan to get back to?
Kiyomiya: "Right now, I'm concentrating on my tag team with Ryohei. I will get revenge for NOAH's tag team belts!"
Edwards: You’ve had the opportunity to compete in both the G1 Climax and the World Tag League this year representing NOAH. What were those experiences like for you and what do you hope to take from them?
Kiyomiya: "Competing in NJPW has allowed me to feel the differences among wrestlers in the top of the wrestling world.
"In the future, I will make up for that difference and achieve results in NOAH."
DRAGONGATE’s Yuki Yoshioka called you out while you were in the middle of World Tag League for an Open The Twin Gate Championship match. Mentioning you’re someone he didn’t get to face in N-1, but really wanted to. Unfortunately, Yoshioka will be out of action for a little while so he won’t get the chance to face you. Would you like to face him in a singles setting when he does return to action?”
Kiyomiya: "I'm waiting for Yoshioka's challenge to defend Open the Twin Gates."
Edwards: What does Kaito Kiyomiya hope to accomplish in 2024?
Kiyomiya: "To be at the top of NOAH with Ryohei."
Edwards: Your rivalry with NJPW's Kazuchika Okada was the talk of the wrestling world this past year, with many hoping to see another one-on-one match between you two in the future. Can you tell us a bit about your feelings towards him after all that has happened over the last year? And considering your previous meeting was in NOAH, would you like to retain that home-field advantage or are you looking face him in NJPW when the time arises?
Kiyomiya: "I can't end up losing the battle to Okada like this. I will definitely catch up and overtake him. I want revenge, regardless of the place."
Edwards: At this stage of your career, it feels like few men have brought more fire and passion out of you than KENOH. How have you assessed KENOH's rise to the top since the death of KONGO and where do you feel your rivalry stands with the GHC Heavyweight Champion?
Kiyomiya: "I feel KENOH has a passion for NOAH, and I think he is giving shape to that feeling by winning the belt. However, I don't want to lose in terms of taking NOAH to the top, and I'll take NOAH to the top as a tag team with Ryohei."
House of Torture has invaded NOAH, attacking you and Oiwa in the process ahead of your big match at NOAH The New Year. How do you feel about them invading and what is your goal heading into the match against them? Just to defeat them? Or make them pay?
Kiyomiya: "I will not forgive House of Torture for defiling NOAH's ring.
"We will thoroughly destroy them at the Ariake Arena on January 2nd and again at the Tokyo Dome on January 4 so that they can never be associated with NOAH again."
Edwards: NOAH has undergone a lot of change over the past few years with wrestlers like Jake Lee and Jack Morris joining and others like Katsuhiko Nakajima leaving. As one of NOAH’s major stars, how do you feel about the changes? Do you welcome the new challenges of these wrestlers when they arrive?
Kiyomiya: "I believe that the addition of new rivals will help revitalize NOAH, so I welcome it."
Edwards: You had the chance to face a lot of new wrestlers over the past year thanks to participating in NJPW and soon-to-be DRAGONGATE. Is there anyone that you haven’t had the chance to face yet that you’re really hoping to soon?
Kiyomiya: "Right now I am interested in DRAGONGATE wrestlers. I will be competing against them in the Open the Twin Gates defenses!"
Edwards: What did it mean to you to be such a major part of Keiji Muto’s retirement earlier this year? What did it mean to you for him to pass on his moves like the Shining Wizard? Do you still look to him for advice?
Kiyomiya: "I wanted to absorb all of Mr. Muto's pro wrestling, and the techniques he gave me are proof of my four single fights with him, so I will treasure them forever while I aim for the top of the wrestling world. But from now on, I will pursue my own style of pro wrestling."
We'd like to thank both Kiyomiya and NOAH for helping us put this interview together.
You can check out NOAH The New Year 2024 live on WRESTLE UNIVERSE on January 2nd.
Kiyomiya will lead a six-man team featuring Shota Umino and Ryohei Oiwa against House of Torture. Also on the show will be Kota Ibushi's return to NOAH to face off with Naomichi Marfufuji and KENOH will defend the GHC Heavyweight Championship against Manabu Soya.
