Zack Sabre Jr. has big plans for when he eventually captures the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling‘s Zack Sabre Jr. recently spoke with the Official NJPW website. When asked about the current perception of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, Sabre Jr. believes he’ll be able to elevate the title beyond what any Japanese performer has been able to do so far.
“Obviously the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is still relatively new, but those IWGP letters have more legacy and prestige attached to them than any other title,” Zack Sabre Jr. said. “Obviously, a lot of foreign wrestlers have held that title, but I’m going to be the only one to win it while living in Japan.
“I’ll be on every event, in every town. That’s not a dig to any other champions living abroad but I don’t see myself as a foreigner in that sense. I see myself not only doing what those foreigners haven’t done but elevating the title beyond what any Japanese wrestler has been able to do.”
Japan has always been the goal for ZSJ
While most foreign stars eventually depart for other companies, Zack Sabre Jr. makes it clear that Japan is where he’s always wanted to be.
“Japan was always the goal for me,” Zack Sabre Jr. said. “A lot of wrestlers see Japan as a part of the journey that they go through before they end up where they want to be. I wanted to be in Japan since I was 14 years old. I’ve challenged for the championship three times, so I feel the next time I have to win, and to really be seen as the top guy I have to have the bar set as high as possible.
“Being in the record books isn’t so important, but what is important is that gut feeling of recognition that you’ve achieved something important and this is something I’ve wanted to achieve for 20 years.”
It’s unknown when Sabre will challenge Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Championship.
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What do you make of Zack Sabre Jr.’s comments? Would you like to see him have a run as the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.
