kagKenoh flips tables in face of flippant LIJ
The Wrestle Kingdom in Yokohama Arena press conference on January 6 saw LIJ and Kongo give their thoughts ahead of January 21’s best of five singles match series. While tensions were high in the individual wrestler comments, questions from media would see them escalate into Kenoh storming out of the conference altogether, with Kongo following.
Media Questions
–What do you think of Kenoh’s suggestion to bring you to NOAH if he beats you?
Naito: Well, it’s a big if. But if it doesn’t conflict with my NJPW schedule I’d be happy to go over to NOAH, and take their fans back with me to NJPW. Prepare the place, and Los Ingobernables De Japon would be happy to pay NOAH a visit.
–Takagi, it’s your first singles match with Nakajima in 11 years and you’ve lost to him twice.
Shingo: Right. No question, I lost, and you always remember the ones you lose. 2005, 2012 was it? Both in Korakuen hall, both defeats. back then, he had a ton of fire, he wrestled with his heart, and we went all out. Now, he’s a harder guy to read. Hopefully I can bring that old recklessness out of him. I think he was trying to play last year off as if it was no big deal, but I get fired up when my opponent is fired up. I fight harder when they fight harder.
There might not be any announcements from the office, but I’m a KOPW 2023 holder, might be the IWGP World Heavyweight Challenger, so I know there’s a target on my back. But I want to head into this one without that on my mind- to just go out there and fight.
–Kenoh, how do you respond to Naito’s suggestion that you should have voiced your disappointment last year?
Kenoh: Where? On what? On NJPW programming, in a NJPW conference. I’m not that desperate. So that’s why when I win, I want you at a NOAH conference. When you lose, go pour your heart out. But do it on my YouTube channel.
–Do you feel that this being in an NJPW ring, it’s a kind of unspoken acknowledgement of this pecking order in professional wrestling, that you’re unfairly being put in an inferior position?
Kenoh: I’ll admit there’s a pecking order. There is. There’s one for LIJ and Kongo as well. I understand that. I understand it, and I’m fixing to change it. If we don’t try and change it, this business has no future. How long have we had NJPW as the dominant force? LIJ as the dominant force? Too long. In the old days in America you had WCW and WWF. The boys all ate and ate well. Old days in Japan were the same. It was the best for the boys and best for the fans. Now things are getting stale fast with one set of top dogs. It’s time for me to take down the biggest faction in the biggest company.
As questions seemed to dry up, Hiromu stood to extend proceedings, imploring for mroe questions from reporters while digging at Hajime Ohara, who had to admit that he felt Hiromu’s ‘creativity’ had seen his initial vowels being ‘Ha’ and ‘Oh’ and assumed Ohara was ‘Ha-oh’. Kenoh grew ever more frustrated by the back and forth before flipping the press conference table and exploding in rage.
Don’t you dare look past us. I didn’t come here for a NJPW comedy skit. I came here to represent NOAH. I came for a fight and I’m getting a farce. I came here to change the wrestling world, and on January 21 I will tear you all apart to do it.
