The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Champion is hoping to be signed soon.
It has been over a month since United Empire’s Francesco Akira and TJP became IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. They won the belts during the June ‘New Japan Road’ tour.
Akira was interviewed on the Alliance Pro Wrestling Network platform and was asked if he’s signed to NJPW. He said he is not under contract but hopefully he will be soon.
Um, not yet. Hopefully soon [Akira responded when asked if he’s signed to NJPW].
He reflected on his title win alongside TJP and spoke about what it means to him to be a champion in New Japan. In 2021, Akira was All Japan’s World Junior Champion and for him to be the first Italian to hold a championship in NJPW means a lot.
It did man [feel good to win my first title in New Japan]. Like you said, last year I was champion in All Japan and to think back, it was crazy that one year later, I’m New Japan champion and New Japan is one of the biggest companies in the world and I’m the first Italian to be champion and this is gonna be in the history books so it’s a privilege. I work really hard and I’m glad I did it with TJP because he’s an awesome wrestler that taught me well and really kind of match good together.
The Junior World Tag League tourney and potential opponents who he and TJP could face was brought up. One team that was mentioned was former two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Champions KUSHIDA and Alex Shelley, collectively known as the Time Splitters.
Maybe now that he’s back, I would love to maybe one day have the Time Splitters too, KUSHIDA and Alex Shelley. But who knows?
The 23-year-old Akira has not wrestled in Japan since June. He stated that he’ll be returning soon but could not share the date yet.
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit the Alliance Pro Wrestling Network with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
