Wato interviewed before first IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship bout
Master Wato heads into Sendai’s main event on February 11 for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship the decided underdog opposite El Desperado. Yet, having a 1-1 record with the champion in singles competition, and with a recent submission victory in the Tokyo Dome, albeit against a distracted and weakened champion, Wato enjoys the position, and seeks to take the biggest step yet on the road to Grand Master status in his biggest career match. With that bout fast approaching, we speak to the challenger.
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I was pretty let down by the Tokyo Dome card
–So, you mentioned on social media a while back that you had been dealing with a fever. How are you feeling?
Wato: After the January 23 card we had in Tochigi, I came down with a fever, 39.3 degrees Celsius. My throat really hurt, and then the next day it went down to 38, but I got a cough as well. I felt pretty sure it was COVID, but my PCR test came back negative.
–How long did it take for you to recover?
Wato: About the fourth day, my throat was feeling better and the fever had gone down. I was just a bit woozy. But I had to isolate, so I couldn’t go to the Dojo. I was just doing squats in my room.
–You had to do what you could at home.
Wato: The second day, (Hiroyoshi) Tenzan messaged me asking if I wanted anything. He went and bought me fruit. I couldn’t see him directly, so he left this bag of fruit on my bike parked outside.
–That’s kind of him.
Wato: Thanks to his support, I was able to get back to moving around on February 3, and since then it’s been working to get in title match shape.
–This is a big deal for you for so many reasons, not least of which the fact you didn’t make the main card on either night of Wrestle Kingdom.
Wato: That really hurt. We had another company (STARDOM) having their match on the main card, but I didn’t have a spot. It really hurt. I was hoping to springboard my year, but then I was on the pre-show of the second night. I was let down, and at the same time I took it as ‘OK, you have to try harder’.
This is a dream opportunity I can’t pass up
–But it was in that pre-show match that you submitted El Desperado and earned this title match in Sendai.
Wato: As soon as I saw my name in that match, I knew what I had to do. In my Best of the Super Jr match with Desperado, I tried to use that Vendeval hold, but he got out of it. This time, I knew his neck was weakened after that match the night before with Hiromu, so the time was right.
–So you’ve had a month to react and get ready for this match Friday. What’s your mental state now?
Wato: This is a dream opportunity, it really is. I was so happy to have that match set, but the work starts now. I’ve been saying that the future of the division belongs to me, and now I can’t pass this up.
–And it’s in the main event in Sendai.
Wato: For me to have the main event spot in my first challenge, it isn’t just that I have to win, I think now I have to help carry NJPW into the next 50 years.
–Recently when fans think of the junior heavyweight division, it’s been very focused on Hiromu Takahashi and El Desperado. What are your thoughts on that issue?
Wato: Well, I want to disrupt that order. At least for now, I want to be seen in the ‘big three’. In my mind, I’m number one, but the top of the pyramid is the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
–And that’s where you want to be.
Wato: Damn right!
There’s no wasted motion with Desperado
–So what are your thoughts on Desperado as a wrestler?
Wato: Obviously he’s great in ring, but he’s a great talker as well.
–He’s certainly been salty in his comments toward you.
Wato: I’ve got to admit, he’s better at that war of words aspect. But I take that as inspiration for where it counts in the ring.
–And what do you think of him within the ring?
Wato: He’s smart, with everything that he does. There isn’t even the smallest bit of wasted motion with him.
–And very few mistakes.
Wato: Even though I’ve wrestled him a few times, he’s switched things up each time, so it’s hard to get a read on him. I’ll have to try and read the unreadable in Sendai.
–Desperado really had a remarkable 2021.
Wato: He was able to win his first IWGP singles title, and had great matches every night. I really felt he set the standard for me to try and beat.
–It’s a high standard.
Wato: Right, but that’s why I want to beat it, heh.
–What do you have to be most careful about with him?
Wato: I think his double bluffs. He likes to make you think he’s going for your knee, and then target your back or neck instead. I have to try and stay a step ahead.
I can get to Vendeval from any angle
–So how did you come up with Vendaval?
Wato: The name means ‘a gust of wind’. I watch a lot of footage of wrestling form all over the world, and I saw something from Mexico that gave me an idea. I tried it out, and arrived at this hold.
–Already on the tour you’ve shown a few ways of getting into the hold.
Wato: I was able to counter DOUKI’s Doton no Jutsu with it. I’ve been able to get into that hold on instinct.
–So there might be more ways we haven’t seen yet.
Wato: I can really get there from any angle, right.
–So you’re ready for Desperado.
Wato: I’ve thought of a few things. I’ve thought of a few counters to his moves, and I’m pretty confident I can put them to use.
–Any hints what you might try and do?
Wato: Well, Vendeval is definitely there, but I’m not fixated on it. I can go for Recientemente, and my kicks are getting more and more accurate, so I’d like to bring in those strikes when the time’s right.
–What kind of match do you want to wrestle?
Wato: I want everyone to see what a pissed off Master Wato looks like. I think tempered, ordered aggression is the theme. I want more emotion, but at the same time to be in charge.
Our junior heavyweights are better than NOAH’s
–All this time, Ryusuke Taguchi is determined to team with you to go after the tag belts. Your thoughts?
Wato: Well, that’s definitely all good, but I’m really focused on the singles title match right now, so I want him to hold off a bit.
–All you’re thinking of is Friday in Sendai.
Wato: Right. Let me get results here, and then I can think about tagging. No doubt, it would be cool to challenge for two championships and win them both, but there’s a chance I could challenge for both and wind up with neither. So I want to focus on one thing at a time.
–I see.
But then, it was a bit of a downer to see him choose Rocky Romero as his partner for the Tokyo Dome. It made me think maybe I wasn’t good enough, so part of my wanting to win in Sendai is proving to Taguchi I’m a worthy partner.
–After the Dome you had the chance to compete against NOAH in Yokohama Arena. How was that?
Wato: I did want to do more. I would’ve liked more of a fight.
–You wanted to show more of yourself.
Wato: Right. For me it felt more like a regular match, a friendly, and I wanted something more violent. I think for their part, they came to our house on January 5 and talked a really big game, but didn’t really show up on the night.
–Did anyone impress you?
Wato: Not really.
–Kaito Kiyomiya, who’s your age, was in the main event.
Wato: Seeing that, I really didn’t get it. Seeing that match, I didn’t see what makes him a top guy. I don’t think he’s any better than me, certainly.
–Strong words.
Wato: Well, I watched the whole card; I thought I should in case those guys wanted to try and get into Best of the Super Juniors somewhere down the line. But I don’t think their junior heavyweights were anywhere near as good as ours. When I was growing up as a fan, I did like Naomichi Marufuji as a junior heavyweight, but now…
I want to lead the way
–So to finish out here, what does the IWGP junior title mean to you?
Wato: Well, it’s a title I want to bring new life to. Of all the juniors here in japan, I’m the only one in my 20s. So I want to win on my first attempt, and show that I can lead the division for years to come.
–We started out talking about Hiroyoshi Tenzan and all he’s done for you. Will he be at ringside Friday?
Wato: I hope so, yes. He’s been there for me from the start, so I want him to see me win the title.
–And your plans for the 50th anniversary year?
Wato: I want to lead the way. For me, for the junior heavyweights, for all of NJPW!
