Post by blackHEART on Jul 17, 2016 16:53:47 GMT -5
Kenny Omega, one of NJPW’s top stars, sat down with Sports Illustrated recently and gave his views on working with NJPW and if he’s been contacted by WWE. He also has a surprising take (to some) on how WWE has used Shinsuke Nakamura up to this point. Here are some highlights from the interview.
Headlining WrestleMania:
“I had it in my mind that I would be headlining WrestleMania 30 because it’s a nice, big round number. But I don’t even know what WrestleMania we are on. What WrestleMania are we on? I’ll headline WrestleMania 40 or 50–I just want it to be a nice, big round number.”
The Best Wrestler In The World:
“The best wrestler in the world is me. I am invading homes everywhere, all over the internet and on TV–all you have to do is search the name and you can find me anywhere, from New Japan World to Ring of Honor.”
The New Day:
“New Day rocks. I can’t lie. What would it do and what would it prove if they sucked? We’re The Elite, so we have to challenge the top act on the planet. You don’t see us challenging some other three man unit–we’re trying to make history, and we’re challenging the best–New Day rocks.”
Shinsuke Nakamura’s “Insulting” WWE Debut:
“I certainly think it is (insulting). A lot of people heard the reaction that AJ received when he came out of nowhere at the Royal Rumble–if Nakamura debuted at WrestleMania, knowing that fans in that crowd travel from around the globe for that weekend, Nakamura’s reaction would have dwarfed AJ’s. That’s not saying Nakamura is better than AJ, but that atmosphere is built for someone who eats it up like Nakamura.”
Talking To NXT:
“I have spoken with the heads at NXT, and they’ve all said, ‘If you want to come down, let us know–the second your visa is in place, you’re on TV the next week.’I thought that was really cool of them to say and I appreciate they recognize that I’d add some value to their product, so I always kept that in my mind as an option. But this is going back to my Deep South days–I still haven’t quite shown them what I can do on my own, and that’s what I think this year is going to do for me.”
Going To WWE With The Young Bucks:
“Going to WWE with the Bucks would be revolutionary. I want to go with the Bucks, and it’s not because I’m scared to go in alone, but it would double up on our impact. The general reaction, in my mind, to AJ [Styles] and [Luke] Gallows and [Karl] Anderson forming the Bullet Club is, ‘That’s cool, but where the f— are the Young Bucks and Kenny?’ We have something special to show, and we’re more than just an extra three numbers in the Bullet Club. That’s why we thought it was time we tag another name–The Elite–and be individuals in this three-man unit.”
Winning Championships In Japan:
“Titles, especially in Japan, mean something. It doesn’t change my contract, but it adds legitimacy to your character. If you’re holding a championship that means something in the landscape of Japanese wrestling, you’re guaranteed to get a huge feature in almost every magazine–you might even be guaranteed a front page. That’s big. Other entertainment mediums like television shows, comedies, dramas–they’re not looking for some shmuck to be some guest on their show, they’re looking for guys who are well-known, and those are champions. It’s also cool to feel that moment of anticipation building in the crowds for the championship matches. I don’t want a trip to Japan and just have matches that mean nothing–I like being in the thick of things, with that meaning attached to it, and having all that meaning attached to my shoulders.”
Source: topropepress.com
Headlining WrestleMania:
“I had it in my mind that I would be headlining WrestleMania 30 because it’s a nice, big round number. But I don’t even know what WrestleMania we are on. What WrestleMania are we on? I’ll headline WrestleMania 40 or 50–I just want it to be a nice, big round number.”
The Best Wrestler In The World:
“The best wrestler in the world is me. I am invading homes everywhere, all over the internet and on TV–all you have to do is search the name and you can find me anywhere, from New Japan World to Ring of Honor.”
The New Day:
“New Day rocks. I can’t lie. What would it do and what would it prove if they sucked? We’re The Elite, so we have to challenge the top act on the planet. You don’t see us challenging some other three man unit–we’re trying to make history, and we’re challenging the best–New Day rocks.”
Shinsuke Nakamura’s “Insulting” WWE Debut:
“I certainly think it is (insulting). A lot of people heard the reaction that AJ received when he came out of nowhere at the Royal Rumble–if Nakamura debuted at WrestleMania, knowing that fans in that crowd travel from around the globe for that weekend, Nakamura’s reaction would have dwarfed AJ’s. That’s not saying Nakamura is better than AJ, but that atmosphere is built for someone who eats it up like Nakamura.”
Talking To NXT:
“I have spoken with the heads at NXT, and they’ve all said, ‘If you want to come down, let us know–the second your visa is in place, you’re on TV the next week.’I thought that was really cool of them to say and I appreciate they recognize that I’d add some value to their product, so I always kept that in my mind as an option. But this is going back to my Deep South days–I still haven’t quite shown them what I can do on my own, and that’s what I think this year is going to do for me.”
Going To WWE With The Young Bucks:
“Going to WWE with the Bucks would be revolutionary. I want to go with the Bucks, and it’s not because I’m scared to go in alone, but it would double up on our impact. The general reaction, in my mind, to AJ [Styles] and [Luke] Gallows and [Karl] Anderson forming the Bullet Club is, ‘That’s cool, but where the f— are the Young Bucks and Kenny?’ We have something special to show, and we’re more than just an extra three numbers in the Bullet Club. That’s why we thought it was time we tag another name–The Elite–and be individuals in this three-man unit.”
Winning Championships In Japan:
“Titles, especially in Japan, mean something. It doesn’t change my contract, but it adds legitimacy to your character. If you’re holding a championship that means something in the landscape of Japanese wrestling, you’re guaranteed to get a huge feature in almost every magazine–you might even be guaranteed a front page. That’s big. Other entertainment mediums like television shows, comedies, dramas–they’re not looking for some shmuck to be some guest on their show, they’re looking for guys who are well-known, and those are champions. It’s also cool to feel that moment of anticipation building in the crowds for the championship matches. I don’t want a trip to Japan and just have matches that mean nothing–I like being in the thick of things, with that meaning attached to it, and having all that meaning attached to my shoulders.”
Source: topropepress.com
