The stakes are high for Zack Sabre Jr.
Zack Sabre Jr. has become one of NJPW's top stars, and he has held multiple titles throughout his time with the company. He had a lengthy reign as the NJPW World Television Champion. In 2024, he is focused on reaching new heights, as he is determined to win the NJPW G1 Climax 34 and capture the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship for the first time.
Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Sabre Jr. stated that he feels like his career would be a failure if he did not win the G1 Climax 34 and the world title.
"It’s probably somewhat dramatic to say that my career will have been a failure if I don’t win both the G1 this year and the IWGP world heavyweight title, but that’s the gut feeling I have–and I’m vegan, so I have a great constitution," Sabre Jr. said.
Sabre Jr. also discussed wrestling in Japan and highlighted how important the Japanese style has been to him. He stated that NJPW is the place where he can be the best wrestler that he can possibly be, and he owes his career to the country.
“I’m sure that, even in a digital age nowadays, discovering Japanese has a huge impact on people, but for me waiting for bootleg–ahem, definitely official–VHS tapes to come in the post when I was a teenager was a life-changing experience. The wrestling landscape was a completely different world in 2001. And I honestly don’t think I would have become a pro wrestler if I hadn’t discovered Japanese wrestling at that time. I’ve spent more of my adult life in Japan than anywhere else, so I owe more than just my career to the country. But pragmatically now, the environment and the infrastructure of the industry is still best suited to my style. New Japan is where I can be the best wrestler that I possibly can," Sabre Jr. said.
Sabre Jr. went on to state that he was fortunate to be following his passion, and he feels inspired by the kind of schedule he has followed lately, as he has wrestled on AEW television and competed at Arena Mexico with AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door and the G1 Climax on the horizon as well.
At AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, Zack Sabre Jr. will face Orange Cassidy.
Fightful will have coverage of AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door as it airs on June 30.
