Great-O-Khan makes some bold comments about Tetsuya Naito.
As previously announced, Great-O-Khan will challenge Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion at NJPW Destruction in Kobe.
In an interview with NJPW's website, Great-O-Khan spoke about the upcoming match. He discussed how he and Naito had similar struggles early on in the NJPW G1 Climax 34.
"We were able to turn things around during the G1. Naito didn’t all the way. Why is that? We debuted barely six years ago, and he has a wealth of experience. So why didn’t he do what we could? Because he has no future. Because he’s older, because his body is hurting. We changed our style so that we could reach the top. We were lost and we were worried, but we gave it thought and reflection and improved. Now we’re aiming for even higher things," Great-O-Khan said.
Great-O-Khan then said that Naito was clearly working around the limitations of his body. He stated that Naito has no road left in front of him. He pointed out that Naito himself has commented on how he does not have much time left.
"During the course of one G1, he used his corner combination less and less. He changed his finish. All decisions he made because he was working around the fact his body just doesn’t move like he wants it to. He is making his choices looking backward over his shoulder, because he has no road left in front of him. That’s what came into sharp focus this G1. Even in his comments backstage, he’s talking about not having much time left, all the while denying the next generation. After his match against Shota Umino in Korakuen, he said, ‘The company can support the new generation all they want but they have to come and take the top spot,'" Great-O-Khan said.
Great-O-Khan subsequently responded to Naito's comments about how it wasn't easy to have new stars pop up in wrestling. He said that Naito sounded like someone who was on a retirement tour. Great-O-Khan stated that Naito could not look any higher than his current position.
"He sounds like someone on a retirement tour, making himself look generous by wrestling people younger than him. The truth is, he’s in so much trouble just keeping hold of that title that he can’t look forward, he can’t look to any higher a station than the one he is in," Great-O-Khan said.
Likewise, Great-O-Khan said that Naito is on the decline, and he knows it. He noted that Naito was exhausted, and he was not wrestling the way a champion should. Great-O-Khan explained that the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion is supposed to be the best of the best.
"He’s on the decline and he knows it. He can’t see, he can’t move and pretty soon he won’t be able to muster up the heart either. Out of desperation like a wounded dog, he was able to take back the belt from Jon Moxley, and now he’s exhausted. It isn’t just the spitting [on the fans]. It’s the fact he gets his wins through rollups, that he wrestles nowhere near like how a champion should. Those letters IWGP mean that you are the absolute best of the best. The strongest in all of NJPW. If you have that title, you are the face of this organization. Who thinks that his matches, the way he wins them, who thinks that’s befitting of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship?" Great-O-Khan said.
Finally, Great-O-Khan said that Naito was becoming more decrepit by the day. He went on to say that the past Naito was growing further away by the second. He claimed that as long he was the champion, NJPW as looking at the past.
"As long as Naito is IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, the fans are paying high prices for tickets, and then going home feeling concern?!? Will Ospreay, Kota Ibushi, Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega are all a core of IWGP Champions that went overseas. Naito was one of that core, but he’s becoming more decrepit by the day. Fans that saw Naito as their icon, their hope. They supported him, and now they’re concerned and sympathetic. When they’re chanting ‘Naito, Naito’ they aren’t saying ‘we believe in you’ they’re saying ‘just hold out a little bit longer, keep fighting a little more’. Believe us, it isn’t just Naito who’s looking over his shoulders; when the fans see him they’re cheering for the past Naito who is growing further away by the second. The longer he’s the champion, all of NJPW will be looking at the past. None of us will have a future unless someone will create it," Great-O-Khan said.
Naito previously said that he knew his time was limited, and the image of retirement was coming into focus. Check out his comments here.
Fightful will have coverage of NJPW Destruction in Kobe once it airs on September 29th.
