Top NJPW star Zack Sabre Jr. spoke with the company on a number of topics including regaining the NJPW World Television Championship earlier this year.
Sabre Jr. said, โListen, I said in January when I lost the New Japan Television Championship that as much as my goal was to reach 20 defenses and continue wearing that championship on my path to bigger things, but when I lost after an exact calendar to our new president, [Hiroshi] Tanahashi, I thought, โYou know what? Thatโll do. Thatโll do.โ A yearโs worth of work into a brand-new championship with a very difficult rule system, which doesnโt suit my bloody style. Iโm trying to make three-hour French language art house films, and that championship wants me to make a YouTube video.โ
On Cobb defeating him to win the title:
โWhen a scoundrel like the former NJPW World Television Champion, who doesnโt even compete in shoes calls me out, regardless of my ambitions, Iโm not gonna turn down a challenge. Guess what? I got the belt back, didnโt I? I donโt want to discredit Jeff Cobbโs win. Iโm not gonna make excuses. Jeff Cobb won because heโs the strongest wrestler, not only in New Japan, but I think in the entire sodding world. The rules just donโt suit me. I did what I could. I grew a lot, I learned a lot, that championship grew because of me. It was mutually beneficial, but weโre having an amicable breakup. So I wonโt be seeking a rematch. My time with the New Japan World Television Championship and 15-minute time limits are sadly over for now. My dream was to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship while also being the TV Champion. Thatโs not gonna happen. So Jeff, you are more than a worthy champion, an Olympic-level freak. Iโm excited to see what you do with that championship. Iโm excited to see what future champions will do with that championship. But my future stands with four letters, IWGP, and it stands for 60 minutes because no one is gonna stop me [from] becoming World Heavyweight Champion in 2024. All I need is 60 minutes.โ
You can check out Sabre Jr.’s comments in the video below.
(H/T to Fightful for transcribing the above quotes)
