Public contract signing for New Beginning in Osaka took place February 8
On Saturday February 8, a public contract signing for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight and IWGP Double Championship matches at New Beginning in Osaka took place. First up were Ryu Lee and Hiromu Takahashi, signing before the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title bout.
Challenger Ryu Lee:
‘It’s an honour to see you all today, and I’m so happy to be back in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. I’m very motivated for this match in Osaka. I’m back, I could see all of you, and I’ve missed Hiromu’s cats (Daryl & Naoru) so much! I’m going into tomorrow like I’m wrestling two title matches, and that’s what I hope to express to everyone in the match.’
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi:
‘Osaka!! Are you having a good time? No, no, no, that’s not going to cut it! You aren’t loud enough, give me more! MORE!! (as fans start chanting ‘Hiromu’) OK, finally, let’s get down to business. On July 7 2018, the two of us fought with all we had, and we were left with physical and spiritual scars. Tomorrow will not be any different. And I! Will! Win!’
Questions from press
–Ryu Lee, your thoughts on this first match with Hiromu since his injury?
Lee: (In Japanese) I’m truly happy. (In Spanish)I’m so happy to have this match tomorrow. Many of the people here might not know it, but after Hiromu was injured, it took a long time for me to be in a good place mentally. But for him to be able to come back and for us to be able to wrestle again, I’m so fired up its like my skin is on fire. I think that will show in the ring tomorrow. And in the end, the one walking out with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship will be me, Ryu Lee.
Every day, I’ve looked in the mirror, and it’s not been me I’ve been looking at, but Hiromu Takahashi. When we step in the ring tomorrow it’ll be just like looking in that mirror. Right now, I’m making a new team, La Faccion Ingobernable. That represents a growth that I hope that the fans will be able to see in the match tomorrow. That, and my blood, my sweat, the heart that I’m fighting with, everything. I hope you can all feel that.
–Hiromu, do you have an eye on Tetsuya Naito in the main event tomorrow?
Takahashi: (singing) ‘I only care about Dragon Lee/The main is of no interest to me/I only care about Dragon Lee/ Tomorrow, tomorrow Dragon Lee/I only care about Dragon Lee/He is the center of my galaxy/The real belt is Dragon Lee/Everyone knows it Dragon Lee/The main event doesn’t matter, you see/The real main is me and Dragon Lee/You’re all I think about Dragon Lee/Me, me and Dragon Lee/I’m running low on rhymes, Dragon Lee/This is the end (crowd sings ‘Dragon Lee’)/Everyone loves ‘Dragon Lee’/Tomorrow, tomorrow ‘Dragon Lee’/ Let’s have fun Dragon Lee HEY!
–Ryu Lee, how do you feel after hearing that song?
Lee: I have no idea what most of it meant, but I know he was singing ‘Dragon Lee’. And all of you fans were hyped for ‘Dragon Lee’ too. That’s a bit strange, but I’ll take it. He makes a good singer, doesn’t he?
