Zack Sabre Jr. vows to earn it and become the top wrestler in the world.
At NJPW Resurgence, Zack Sabre Jr. scored a big win by defeating NJPW President and former world champion Hiroshi Tanahashi.
In his post-match comments, Zack Sabre Jr. praised Hiroshi Tanahashi.
“Mr. President, he’s got some life left in him. I’ve written that man off more than some incredibly witty remark that I could make comparing him to something. But in my more naive younger days, I thought I’d be the one finishing Tanahashi off. I think that’s basically impossible at this time. The only thing that’s gonna stop Tanahashi is full-time presidency and his dedication to it, which New Japan will be all the better for it. But like I said when I put the challenge out to him, it was more than just revenge from the Tokyo Dome. I had a bigger point to prove. I’ve been saying since I got to New Japan that I want to be the top, not the top foreigner, but the top wrestler in New Japan. That was very deliberate by me. I wanted to show President Tanahashi exactly why I’m the perfect candidate to lead this company into the future. So in recent New Japan, anyone just walks out without a back record and makes a challenge. Tanahashi-san might have had some big losses the last couple years, but that’s still one of the most important wrestlers in history, let alone the most important wrestler in New Japan history. Single-handledly kept New Japan alive in its darkest hours. I mean, that is a worthy victory," Sabre Jr. said.
Sabre Jr. went on to say that he intends to earn a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship by winning the G1 Climax. He made it clear that he has his sights set on winning the gold and main-eventing Wrestle Kingdom. In doing so, he said that he would become the top wrestler in the world.
"I could just bowl out, after tonight’s main event, and be like, ‘Alright darling, give me my title shot.’ That’s not the way I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna reveal my hand right now. I want to reach the top, the absolute bloody top. The best way to do that, the only way to do it, is to prove it to myself. To prove it to myself, I have to win the G1 Climax. Then I’ll be a worthy challenger. I’m not losing one more World Heavyweight Title match. I’ve lost three. I won’t lose another one. The only way to guarantee it, I’m gonna win the G1 Climax 2024. Then I’m gonna win the World Heavyweight Championship for the very first time, and then I gonna complete the hat trick, mate. Because I’m gonna main-event, and not just main-event the Tokyo Dome. I’ll be the first foreigner to win the main event of the Tokyo Dome in New Japan history. Then I’ll be, without a doubt, the top wrestler, not in just New Japan, not in just Japan, but in the fucking world," Sabre Jr. said.
Sabre Jr. recently shifted his focus back to the world title after losing the NJPW World Television Championship. Check out his comments here.
Catch up on our coverage of NJPW Resurgence here.
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