Ishimori stated that he would return the mask to Lee tomorrow: after he took the junior title first. To Ishimori, the big stage of a main event title match was an extra ‘ribbon’ on the package of the title he would again make ‘reborn’. 

Lee, for his part, was as gracious and proud as ever. The champion admitted he had a lot of respect for Ishimori but ‘in the ring, respect goes out the window’. Lee said he had complete belief in himself winning the match tomorrow night and leaving with the title. 

Up next were Kazuchika Okada and SANADA, as they issued their final statements before the IWGP Heavyweight Championship match headlines the second night of Dontaku on Saturday May 4.

Okada, full of confidence, had some fun with the fans in attendance as he exchanged greetings, before stating that ‘there have been several champions so far this year but no successful defences. I will absolutely defend this title’.  In response, SANADA praised Okada’s track record in the prior era of Heisei, but said that ‘I am the only one that can change the landscape of NJPW,’ and that he will usher in a new epoch of his own. 

Taking questions from the press about their preliminary matches on the tour, SANADA surmised that neither he or Okada had shown everything they had to show and was looking forward to putting it all out there in the ring Saturday. Okada joked about SANADA’s ‘coolness’ and said that in their last tag match tomorrow he would push enough buttons to get ‘Cold Skull’ hot. 

Asked why Okada nominated SANADA for his opponent in his first defence, Okada referred to their match in the New Japan Cup final. ‘We’re the same age, of the same generation and the match made me realize that this generation can really tear it up. I want to show that again on Saturday.’

When Okada’s 5-0 record against SANADA in singles matches was brought up, the challenger stated ‘the past is the past. I’m at my best right now’, while Okada said that in title matches you have to keep winning, whether it’s your sixth or hundredth meeting, and that he plans on making it 6-0 at Dontaku. 

Finally, both men were asked about having the first IWGP Heavyweight Championship match of the Reiwa era. SANADA responded that he and Okada would have a match worthy of the occasion, while Okada said he ended Heisei winning the championship in Madison Square Garden, and will start Reiwa in similarly grand form when he retains the title.