Zack Sabre Jr. will be IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in 2024.
At least, that is what the British grappler thinks is going to happen. The TMDK leader is one of the top stars in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), especially after the exits of Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay.
Following his victory over Yuji Nagata at New Beginning event in Sapporo, he spoke to the press about his future (via Fightful).
ZSJ proclaimed 2024 “my year”, and vowed to become IWGP World Heavyweight Champion for the first time.
“Moving on, New Beginning. There’s not really that many new beginnings in this series, is there? Same old bollocks. But one thing that’s gonna be very new from next month, we’re gonna have ourselves a new challenger because I’m gonna win the New Japan Cup for the third time, for the third bloody time. Third time’s a charm. Who am I gonna be facing? Will it be SANADA, the most handsome man in New Japan Pro-Wrestling?”
“A much more interesting, technically proficient and skilled wrestler? That will be much more exciting for me. But I’ll take immense satisfaction from taking the championship from Naito. I’ve beaten Naito more than he’s had dodgy haircuts. But I’ve never beaten him for an IWGP Championship, let alone the top championship in all of, not only Japanese professional wrestling, but all of professional wrestling.”
“I don’t really care if it’s SANADA or Naito. The most important thing is, things are gonna bloody change. Ospreay, he’s out of here. Bye-bye, Okada. You’re gone this weekend. We’ve got a lot of young talented wrestlers, but they’re babies. They’re little puppies. They’re not fucking ready yet. Who’s ready? Zack Sabre Jr. This is my year. This is everything my career’s been building up to. I’m gonna become IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, and I’ll lead New Japan, not only into a new era, but new Strong Style.”
