At Wrestle Kingdom 14, Tetsuya Naito finally achieved his dream at being on top of the mountain by winning both the IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight titles. However, the Los Ingobernables de Japon leader had his happy moment cut short, thanks to KENTA.
The Bullet Club member stormed the ring and violently attacked the double champion and made it clear that he was coming after both belts. In the latest interview with
New Japan’s website, Naito actually commends KENTA for having the balls to attack him following his big win:
“You have to give him credit for turning the focus to himself. I said this at the press conference, but as a wrestler, I have to respect what he was able to do, completely wrecking the ending to that weekend. Look, there were probably a ton of guys in the back who were cursing me out behind my back after I won. Plenty of people who would want to do what KENTA did, but he was the one that ran out and did it. Especially after he lost the NEVER Championship, just jumping me like that took a lot of balls.”
While Naito understands the former NEVER Openweight Champion’s actions at Wrestle Kingdom 14, the IWGP Heavyweight Champion knows that KENTA ruined a great moment for the fans, who clearly want to see the double champion get his revenge:
“For me, as a wrestler, I can just say ‘ah, OK, I’ll get my moment next year instead’. But to the fans in that building that night, they might not know if they can come next year. I’ve spoken before about the importance of now, of showing who I am right at this moment. To the fans who understand that, what KENTA did was [unforgivable]. n wrestling it’s all or nothing. Indifference is the worst reaction that can be; he might have been booed by over 30,000 people, but KENTA made that happen. He did get those fans in chorus, against him.”
These two will finally clash in a singles match at The New Beginning In Osaka on Sunday, Feb. 9. Both the IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight titles will be on the line.