Ibushi addresses plans for the double gold, SANADA
Kota Ibushi’s Wrestle Kingdom double title victory and defence on January 4 & 5 was an immense achievement at the end of a pair of emotional rollercoasters, but already, the Tokyo Dome has all but disappeared from the rear view mirror. Hiroshima is on the horizon, and the double IWGP Champions second defence, against SANADA. We talked to Ibushi about New Beginning in Hiroshima, and controversial plans for the double gold.
People said I was very different on January 5. I don’t see it
–Let’s reflect on your main event on January 5 in the Tokyo Dome. It was a very different style of match to what we usually see from you.
Ibushi: You think? That wasn’t really in my mind, so I’m not sure. Last time we talked about how my matches are primarily very athletic in style; you’re not the only one who has said the match on the fifth was very different, but I don’t see it.
–You think so?
Ibushi: The only thing that was different going in for me, is that I was preparing myself for a lot. I was expecting it to be 1 vs 10, basically.
–1 vs 10?
Ibushi: Right. I figured all of BULLET CLUB would be out there.
–Ahh, you expected a lot more interference.
Ibushi: Right. I was expecting anyone to pop up at any time. Obviously Gedo was going to get involved, and that made a two on one situation obvious, but when you’re expecting all these other guys to come out of the woodwork, it makes it hard to dictate the pace.
–But instead it turned into a very classical bout, very different to what we normally see from you.
Ibushi: Is that a good thing?
–I think so. It was a very pure kind of good and evil match. Much like a classic Inoki bout, say.
Ibushi: Well, that’s high praise in my book.
If you’re good at everything, that means you’re great at nothing. That’s his problem.
–So now we’re counting down to your next defense against SANADA. You were respectful toward him in your post Tokyo Dome press conference, but I get the sense this is a different kind of opponent than a Kazuchika Okada or Tetsuya Naito in your mind.
Ibushi: Oh yeah. I mean, everyone in NJPW has their own style and their own character traits, but SANADA’s is that… he has none. There’s no holes in his game. Some might say that makes him perfect, but there’s a distinction to be made there.
–You can’t gameplan for him with nothing standing out per se?
Ibushi: Yeah. You know, with every other wrestler, you can say ‘here’s their strength, here’s their weakness’, there’s always something to target in your opponent. But SANADA is good at everything. Thing is that’s actually a disadvantage in a sense. Whatever direction I go, he’ll be hurt to some degree.
–A lot of people are waiting for SANADA to really break through to the next level, not unlike the position you found yourself in for several years.
Ibushi: Yeah, I get that feeling. He’s missing something, I’m just not sure what that is.
–You went through that process, of finding the missing pieces you needed. But you can’t put your finger on what SANADA needs?
Ibushi: I really can’t. The thing with him is that when you’re good at everything, like I said, you’re great at nothing. That’s his problem, I think.
–You’ve wrestled several times before, but this will be the first time with the titles on the line. Do you feel a little extra pressure as champion?
Ibushi: Hmm, I don’t know. I think it’ll be different to when we’ve faced off in the G1 in the past. Back then it was part of a big league, or at the end of last year’s tournament. This is a different scenario, the traditional tour and preview matches before the main event.
–And it’s been a long series as well. A lot of interactions, and words to exchange backstage as well.
Ibushi: Neither of us are big talkers, so that’s been part of it. If I do something big toward him, how will he react? It’s unpredictable. I can’t predict what I’ll do, even.
–You can’t predict your own actions?
Ibushi: Right. And that’s another thing with SANADA. He’s too… pure, I guess?
–What do you mean by that?
Ibushi: I think I’d like to see him do something unpredictable, something wild, something weird. I’d love to get that side out of him.
Things are changing. I want a new belt for a new era.
–So, you talked about this in your post Wrestle Kingdom press conference, but you want to unify the IWGP heavyweight and Intercontinental titles. Does that mean you want a new belt?
Ibushi: I do. I want one championship belt that brings the two together.
–For the last year we’ve had two titles defended together, but you want to bring them together.
Ibushi: That’s right. I want there to just be one title. I don’t know about the specifics, but I want the IWGP name to remain, and mae a new championship. Things are changing, and I really want a new belt for a new era.
–So you would be the first champion? But you don’t want to erase the IWGP history?
Ibushi: Of course. The IWGP heavyweight Championship is the very representation of NJPW. The Intercontinental Championship, as far as I’m concerned is the belt that Shinsuke Nakamura made. I have a lot of love for both, and what they each represent. Maybe that isn’t getting through to some people as much as I want it to; I think there are a lot of people that aren’t necessarily for all this, I respect that.
–In your mind, would the Intercontinental title’s history be absorbed into the Heavyweight’s legacy?
Ibushi: I think the key thing is I want to bring both titles up. It isn’t a case of elevating one and leaving the other to die. I’ve never thought of the two titles as anything other than level, top footing, but that’s not how everyone thinks. They feel one’s always above the other. If one belt was at 100%, and the other at 60%, that thinking means you add them both and divide, so the new title’s only worth 80%. I think it would be worth at least 160%.
–To make something greater than the sum of their parts.
Ibushi: Yeah. That’s what I’m working toward at the moment.
I want to wrestle in retirement homes
–You’ve worked so hard for so long to be in the position you’re in now. So here we are, you’re the top guy in Japan. The next part is another challenge, right? How do you use that influence?
Ibushi: Well, the first thing I want to do is unify these belts. That’s the first movement I want to make, and it all ties in to what I want to do when it comes to broadening the scale of pro-wrestling. That’s what I’ve been talking about for years now. It’s a little difficult with the whole COVID situation but…
–Can you go in depth on what that actually means?
Ibushi: Well, in this world, there are lots of people that are born, live and die without ever seeing professional wrestling once in their life. I want to make that number as small as possible. Even if it makes them freak out and think ‘what the hell are those guys doing?’ I want to create a space where people just come and experience professional wrestling. Now, whether or not that place is NJPW per se, I don’t know.
–You’ve done street matches before, is that the kind of thing you’re talking about?
Ibushi: Hmm, yes and no…Street wrestling is a different thing altogether really. I want something different, something more structured, but where people can walk by off the street and see something special.
–And as champion in NJPW you have the best chance of making your ideas real.
Ibushi: That’s certainly how I want to use my position. But COVID has really changed a lot of things. In this new normal, what does broadening professional wrestling really mean, and how can we do that? I’m still thinking about it, but when I have a firmer idea, you can bet I’ll tell you.
–I think just based on this interview alone, fans will have all sorts of ideas.
Ibushi: And if I can really do this, there will be more wrestling fans than ever. But COVID is a big hurdle. At the end of the day though, I’ll make sure to act on my ideas, even if I’m acting alone.
–I think the company will listen to what you have to say.
Ibushi: If that’s the case, then I can really do a lot. Honestly, I want to wrestle at retirement homes. I want to do a ton of stuff. There are people that have wanted to watch wrestling all their lives, even if they don’t know it yet. It’s not easy right now, it’s a little unrealistic right now, but I have a ton of ideas.
–There’s a different level of expectation from you as champion, that you will really bring new and different life to the business.
Ibushi: I think I can really create something different. I can bring a kind of professional wrestling that’s different to anybody else that’s ever held these belts. I’ve done a lot, and had a lot of different experiences so far, but I think I’m nowhere near done yet.
–Well, we all have high hopes for the Ibushi Era.
Ibushi: It’s here! Or at least, I’m making it as I go along (laughs)
