The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion comments on the new crop of NJPW talents.
Dating back to NJPW Sakura Genesis, SANADA has been reigning as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. He is currently competing in the G1 Climax tournament and is tied with Chase Owens and Kaito Kiyomiya in the A block.
SANADA was one of many NJPW wrestlers that went on a media tour to promote the ongoing tournament. He was interviewed by Rolling Stone Japan and shared his thoughts about Shota Umino, Yota Tsuji and Ren Narita being dubbed the Reiwa Three Musketeers.
He has high hopes for them and believes they’re the future. SANADA would go on to say that-that generation is lacking sex appeal. He said it’s about attracting attention and suggests that it could be the reason why they’re not as popular.
I have high expectations for the Three Musketeers… I really have high expectations for them. They are the future of New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Yes, that’s right (I am going to show the difference between them & I). That generation still lacks sex appeal. Well, it can’t be helped in terms of their careers. I feel there is a difference. I feel that sex appeal is more important than how well they play the game. It’s more about attracting attention. I think that’s why there are no popular guys in that generation.
SANADA is a member of Just 5 Guys with Taichi, DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and TAKA Michinoku. He shared that he does not get to spend a lot of time with them privately, but they are comfortable as a unit. He added that he does want to get too comfortable.
We (Just 5 Guys) don’t get to spend much time together in private, but they are very kind. I guess you could call them tsundere. When I get to know them well, they are kind to me. He (Taichi) gets angry if there are fans who don’t behave properly, and in fact, he is a well-meaning person.
Yes, we are (comfortable as a unit). But I don’t like to be too comfortable. I also don’t like to lose tension. I don’t like to lose the sense of tension.
Since winning the title, SANADA has had successful title defenses against Hiromu Takahashi, Yota Tsuji and ‘Jungle Boy’ Jack Perry.
