Kevin Knight discusses his goals in NJPW and beyond.
Knight initially competed on the independent scene before he joined NJPW's LA Dojo. He came up through that system in 2020, and he recently graduated as he joined forces with KUSHIDA in the 2022 Super Junior Tag League. In recent months, Knight has been active at independent shows, and he has also competed for IMPACT Wrestling and AEW through NJPW's relationship with the companies.
In an interview with William R. Washington, Philip Lindsey, and Righteous Reg on Fightful's Grapsody Podcast, Knight was asked to name his goals in NJPW. He made it clear that he wants to compete at the Tokyo Dome, and he also has his sights set on several titles, including the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Knight stated that he wants to do everything, and nothing is impossible.
“Tokyo Dome is definitely something [I want to do]. I was trying to politick my way to get there this year [laughs], trying to talk to Gedo, ‘Let me get in a Rumble or something.’ But that’s always a goal. Now that I’m in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, I want to do it all, the Tokyo Dome. I’m riding with KUSHIDA right now, so I want to go for those belts, the Junior [Heavyweight] Tag belts, Best of Super Juniors, I gotta get in there and show people what I’m about. It’s time to show people what I really can do on the one-on-one action. Of course, gotta go for those IWGP Junior Heavyweight, IWGP Heavyweight, everything. While I’m here, I want to do everything. Nothing is not impossible for me. Anything that comes my way, I’m going for it. That’s all the goals right there," Knight said.
Knight was also asked whether NJPW is "it" for him, or if he has aspirations of regularly wrestling on TV for a company in the United States. Competing at WrestleMania was also brought up as a possibility. He responded by making clear that, while he's with NJPW, he wants to everything he can with the company, but making it to WrestleMania on his list of goals. He also expressed his interest in competing in a Royal Rumble match.
“Of course. When I got into wrestling, I didn’t know anything about New Japan Pro-Wrestling. So I’m still learning as I’m here. I’m still learning, but now that I’m here, everything in New Japan, I want to do and check it off the list. Always the goal, WWE, now AEW, so somewhere in the future, maybe. I don’t know. We gonna see where the journey goes. It’s my story that I get to write, so we get to see where we go. Of course, WrestleMania. I gotta go to the Royal Rumble once. I can’t tell you how many times I watched the 2000 Royal Rumble for the Rikishi/Too Cool moment. I gotta make one myself at some point. Of course, that’s another goal. I’m a wrestling an at heart, so I just want to make myself proud," Knight said.
Knight will compete at NJPW Battle in the Valley, which will air on FITE on February 18. Check out the card here.
NJPW recently announced that NJPW Academy will launch in March 2023. More information is available here.
Fightful will have coverage of NJPW Battle in the Valley as it airs on February 18.
