Post by Kick Your Face on Jun 19, 2008 20:45:43 GMT -5
www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/article1266941.ece
It’s so good to have you wrestling back in the UK again, especially as many fans thought cancer could rob us of you. How do you feel?
When I found out I had cancer in 2006, I thought I may not be able to wrestle again which for me is equal to death.
However, I made a comeback and I am so happy and honoured to wrestle right in front of British fans again in Coventry on June 21.
When you left All Japan to help establish NOAH as a major promotion did you ever think it would get to the point where we are now gearing up for European shows?
In 2000, our president Mr Mitsuharu Misawa established NOAH in the pursuit of “the ideal form of pro wrestling”.
When we started, I did not even imagine that we could actually hold a wrestling event in Europe.
We got to this point because each one of us has been working hard and do the best we can in every match.
Also, our supportive fans mean a lot to us.
Now for those viewers who may be new to NOAH, what makes you different to other promotions?
What we do on the ring is everything. The way we wrestle will surely give you an idea of what we are trying to tell you.
This may be NOAH’s first time in the UK but you have wrestled here before, what are your thoughts on the UK and the UK wrestling scene from what you have experienced?
I travelled and wrestled for the first time in the UK and Germany in November 2005. I was so glad to receive so much support and encouragement.
Thanks to Doug Williams many of our wrestlers had opportunities to wrestle in the UK and Europe for the last couple of years and I think it is a valuable experience for us. I am hoping the relationship will continue to develop.
I have wrestled with many great British native wrestlers. I believe there are many more great British native wrestlers among whom I have never wrestled with. I am looking forward to meeting with those wrestlers during my next trip to the UK.
Japanese wrestlers like KENTA have been making a big impression on the independent scene in the USA, particularly in Ring of Honour. Is this an important part of promoting the Japanese tradition?
I had the opportunity on several occasions to wrestle in the USA when I was younger, however it did not happen due to the company’s policy at that time.
Now NOAH wrestlers such as KENTA, Morishima, Marufuji and Shiozaki have been travelling to the USA and they have been doing very well.
In a foreign country, people won’t understand our native language, Japanese, and they may have a language barrier.
However, in the ring, language doesn’t do anything because there’s no need for words.
They wrestled and are still wrestling with all the knowledge they have learned in Japan in the ring of NOAH.
The achievement has gained not only the recognition of Japanese tradition but I believe what they are doing has gained the acknowledgment of the style NOAH has.
Why do you think there are so few big name Japanese wrestlers working with Vince McMahon and WWE?
It is simply because what we are doing and what they are looking for is different.
Which Japanese wrestlers should British fans look out for as future wrestling stars?
All of our young wrestlers who are going to wrestle at the Coventry Skydome – so come and see them.
Kanemaru is the current GHC junior heavyweight champion, KENTA and Ishimori are now GHC junior heavyweight tag team champions.
Shiozaki is now mainly wrestling in the USA for Ring of Honor. Suzuki has a lot of different moves which he has invented himself.
Aoki stayed in Europe for two months last year and travelled around Europe.
Please witness these matches of those who will be the future wrestling stars.
Are there any British stars you would like to wrestle?
Doug Williams, who comes to NOAH on a regular bases.
His style is devoted to the basics of wrestling and he can adjust himself to various styles.
He is such a good wrestler who makes me wish to wrestle with him over and over again.
With all of your accomplishments in wrestling what do you feel you have left to achieve and how much longer do you think you will be in the business?
I have not yet found the answer to the question: “What is pro wrestling?”
In order to pursue what the answer is, I will keep wrestling in the ring. There is no retirement in Kenta Kobashi.
Finally do you have any messages for our UK readers and what can they expect from the Noah show in Coventry?
Pro Wrestling NOAH is coming to the UK for the first time ever.
For myself, it has been two years and eight months since the last time I wrestled at the Coventry Skydome.
I remember clearly that there was a lot of warm cheering when I wrestled for the first time in UK just as if it was yesterday.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you again.
It’s so good to have you wrestling back in the UK again, especially as many fans thought cancer could rob us of you. How do you feel?
When I found out I had cancer in 2006, I thought I may not be able to wrestle again which for me is equal to death.
However, I made a comeback and I am so happy and honoured to wrestle right in front of British fans again in Coventry on June 21.
When you left All Japan to help establish NOAH as a major promotion did you ever think it would get to the point where we are now gearing up for European shows?
In 2000, our president Mr Mitsuharu Misawa established NOAH in the pursuit of “the ideal form of pro wrestling”.
When we started, I did not even imagine that we could actually hold a wrestling event in Europe.
We got to this point because each one of us has been working hard and do the best we can in every match.
Also, our supportive fans mean a lot to us.
Now for those viewers who may be new to NOAH, what makes you different to other promotions?
What we do on the ring is everything. The way we wrestle will surely give you an idea of what we are trying to tell you.
This may be NOAH’s first time in the UK but you have wrestled here before, what are your thoughts on the UK and the UK wrestling scene from what you have experienced?
I travelled and wrestled for the first time in the UK and Germany in November 2005. I was so glad to receive so much support and encouragement.
Thanks to Doug Williams many of our wrestlers had opportunities to wrestle in the UK and Europe for the last couple of years and I think it is a valuable experience for us. I am hoping the relationship will continue to develop.
I have wrestled with many great British native wrestlers. I believe there are many more great British native wrestlers among whom I have never wrestled with. I am looking forward to meeting with those wrestlers during my next trip to the UK.
Japanese wrestlers like KENTA have been making a big impression on the independent scene in the USA, particularly in Ring of Honour. Is this an important part of promoting the Japanese tradition?
I had the opportunity on several occasions to wrestle in the USA when I was younger, however it did not happen due to the company’s policy at that time.
Now NOAH wrestlers such as KENTA, Morishima, Marufuji and Shiozaki have been travelling to the USA and they have been doing very well.
In a foreign country, people won’t understand our native language, Japanese, and they may have a language barrier.
However, in the ring, language doesn’t do anything because there’s no need for words.
They wrestled and are still wrestling with all the knowledge they have learned in Japan in the ring of NOAH.
The achievement has gained not only the recognition of Japanese tradition but I believe what they are doing has gained the acknowledgment of the style NOAH has.
Why do you think there are so few big name Japanese wrestlers working with Vince McMahon and WWE?
It is simply because what we are doing and what they are looking for is different.
Which Japanese wrestlers should British fans look out for as future wrestling stars?
All of our young wrestlers who are going to wrestle at the Coventry Skydome – so come and see them.
Kanemaru is the current GHC junior heavyweight champion, KENTA and Ishimori are now GHC junior heavyweight tag team champions.
Shiozaki is now mainly wrestling in the USA for Ring of Honor. Suzuki has a lot of different moves which he has invented himself.
Aoki stayed in Europe for two months last year and travelled around Europe.
Please witness these matches of those who will be the future wrestling stars.
Are there any British stars you would like to wrestle?
Doug Williams, who comes to NOAH on a regular bases.
His style is devoted to the basics of wrestling and he can adjust himself to various styles.
He is such a good wrestler who makes me wish to wrestle with him over and over again.
With all of your accomplishments in wrestling what do you feel you have left to achieve and how much longer do you think you will be in the business?
I have not yet found the answer to the question: “What is pro wrestling?”
In order to pursue what the answer is, I will keep wrestling in the ring. There is no retirement in Kenta Kobashi.
Finally do you have any messages for our UK readers and what can they expect from the Noah show in Coventry?
Pro Wrestling NOAH is coming to the UK for the first time ever.
For myself, it has been two years and eight months since the last time I wrestled at the Coventry Skydome.
I remember clearly that there was a lot of warm cheering when I wrestled for the first time in UK just as if it was yesterday.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you again.
