New Japan Pro Wrestling released backstage comments from Chris Jericho shortly after winning the IWGP Intercontinental Championship at this weekend’s NJPW Dominion event at Osaka-Jo Hall.
The 47-year-old gave high praise to the former champion, Tetsuya Naito, calling him “an excellent performer and professional wrestler”:
“Two men just beat the s— out of each other. It was one of the toughest matches I’ve ever had in my entire career. Tetsuya Naito is an excellent performer and professional wrestler, and that was one of the hardest matches I’ve ever had in my life.”
Jericho captured gold in New Japan for the first time in his career.
“As you can see this – the blood of Chris Jericho and Tetsuya Naito is on the Intercontinental Championship. Ten times the Intercontinental Champion; nine times in WWE, and now in New Japan. The only performer in professional wrestler history to be the Intercontinental Champion in the WWE and New Japan Pro Wrestling.”
While it’s unknown how long Jericho’s tenure in New Japan will last, now that he’s champion we’re all but guaranteed one more match.
“…Chris Jericho is here to stay. It wasn’t just for the Tokyo Dome, and it wasn’t just for tonight, because now I am the champion. I don’t know when I can wrestle again, but Naito kicked the s— out of me. My head is f—ing killing me. My hand is killing me, and I’m seeing stars.”
“I am the best of all time. I am the greatest of all time. I am the Alpha, Chris Jericho, and you never know what to expect. You never know what I’m going to wear, you never know what I’m going to do, and you never know what titles I’m gonna win.”