Zack Sabre Jr. Comments on Winning This Year’s NJPW G1 Climax Tournament
This past Sunday’s G1 Climax 2024 Finals event for New Japan Pro Wrestling in Tokyo, Japan featured Zack Sabre Jr. defeating Yota Tsuji in the Finals of this year’s G1 Climax tournament. This was Sabre Jr.’s first ever G1 Climax tournament victory of his wrestling career.
NJPW held a recent interview with Sabre Jr. One of the topics discussed included Sabre Jr.’s thoughts about his recent G1 Climax tournament victory.
“I’m still overwhelmed from the reaction from the fans not just from this weekend, but all through the G1. From people I met on the street to everyone I’ve met over the course of the series, everyone has the belief I was going to win the G1. I’ve spent most of my adult life in Japan, but I feel that this last month in particular was one where I made a connection with Japanese fans, and these two nights in Ryogoku was the best atmosphere I’ve ever had in my career.
If you have skill, the right mindset and dedication then opportunities will come when you’re properly prepared. I feel I’m overqualified now to lead New Japan into the future, and there’s no doubt in my mind I will be the next IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. It’s very clear how much I love Japan and New Japan and I’m ready to be the best in the world now.”
Sabre Jr. also gave his thoughts about the rise of Tsuji and NJPW’s new generation for the company.
“There’s a reason why he was the first of his generation to win a New Japan Cup and come so close to the G1. He has achieved a lot in a short soace of time. There’s no shame in him losing, I think he overachieved, but it was always my G1 to win. I still represent a generational shift, with this being my first G1, so it’s my role and motivation to bring up the young generation with me. The future will be very strong.”
Sabre Jr. also gave his thoughts about Bryan Danielson’s praise of him.
“I’m really grateful for him saying he believed in me. He’s someone that’s inspired me from the beginning of my career, and when you have a rival and contemporary like that who believes in you, that gave me the boost I needed, as well as (Yoshinari) Ogawa san announcing his retirement. My whole career has been about me aspiring to personal goals, but this is bigger than me.”
Giulia Gives Farewell to Japan at Monday’s Marigold Event
Monday’s Summer Gold Shine 2024 event for Marigold in Tokyo, Japan featured Giulia’s final singles match of her Marigold and wrestling career in Japan.
Following her victory over Mai Sakurai in the main event, Giulia gave a speech to the crowd saying her farewell to Japanese wrestling fans.
An emotional Giulia listening to the crowd chant her name at her Farewell Show today 🥹 pic.twitter.com/oFfhBU7qHG
— Dark Puroresu Flowsion (@PuroresuFlow) August 19, 2024
Giulia says goodbye to the Japanese fans today. She said she will come back a Superstar 🌟
— Dark Puroresu Flowsion (@PuroresuFlow) August 19, 2024
Thank you Giulia 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/PMULNMsBMl
Misc. Wrestling News & Notes
Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling recently announced that WWE NXT talents Tatum Paxley and Kale Dixon will be making an appearance for the company at their Breakout event on August 25th in Texas City, Texas.
The National Wrestling Alliance recently announced that Kylie Paige, Adrianna Mosley, La Rosa Negra, Alejandra Quintanilla, Natalia Marakova, and Lili “La Pescadita” Ruiz are the next set of official competitors for this year’s Burke Invitational Gauntlet match at their NWA 76 event on August 31st in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Scott D’Amore’s Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling announced that they have recently signed a partnership deal with Qatar Pro Wrestling and Oceania Pro Wrestling.
This past Saturday’s Triplemania XXXII: Mexico City event for Lucha Libre AAA featured WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield making a surprise appearance. JBL accompanied Nic Nemeth to be in his corner for the AAA Mega Championship match against Alberto El Patron. JBL recently reflected on Twitter about his appearance at AAA’s show in Mexico. JBL stated “Incredible night and show in Mexico City, honored to be a part and be there for one of our business all time greats Nic Nemeth. These guys packed em in, @luchalibreaaa -I’ve always wanted to own a company in Mexico……..“
New Japan Pro Wrestling recently announced two new matches for the card of their Destruction in Kobe 2024 event on September 29th in Kobe, Japan:
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Great-O-Khan vs. Tetsuya Naito (c)
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship – YOSHI-HASHI vs. David Finlay (c)
NJPW also recently announced one new match for the card of their King of Pro Wrestling 2024 event on October 14th in Tokyo, Japan:
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Winner of Great-O-Khan/Tetsuya Naito (c)
Prestige Wrestling recently announced one new match for the card of their Roseland 9 event on September 29th in Portland, Oregon:
- WCP Championship – Trevor Lee (former Cameron Grimes in WWE) vs. Kevin Blackwood (c)
Major League Wrestling recently announced one new match for the card of their Fightland 2024 event on September 14th in Atlanta, Georgia:
- MLW World Championship – Mads Krule Krugger vs. Satoshi Kojima (c)