Zack Sabre Jr has wrestled some of the biggest stars in wrestling history, so naming one Japanese legend as the toughest man he’s ever faced came as somewhat of a shock.
The IWGP Heavyweight champion is the top foreigner in New Japan Pro Wrestling, having ascended to the main event in 2024.
At Wrestle Kingdom 19, Zack Sabre Jr became the first gaijin to win the main event of the Tokyo Dome since Brock Lesnar, breaking a record that many expected never to be matched.
Sabre Jr has fought some of the world’s strongest fighters, like Bryan Danielson, Kazuchika Okada and fellow Englishman Will Ospreay, in a career that has spanned more than two decades.
However, it was another innovator from the East who he named his toughest-ever opponent.
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Zack Sabre Jr named KENTA as the toughest wrestler he’s ever faced
Despite the incredible talent he’s battled (and beaten) in the squared circle, the technical wizard has named the innovative KENTA as his toughest-ever opponent.
In a classic interview with Sabre Jr, the future world champion told TheOnlyWayIsSuplex that the Japanese star is “phenomenal” in the ring, and a guy who wants to dominate his opponent no matter the occasion.
Sabre Jr said: “It was phenomenal. KENTA is one of the toughest guys I’ve ever been in the ring with.
“Well, it’s OK, there’s nothing to worry about. Spoiler alert – I don’t get hurt! Guys like KENTA just want to show who is most dominant, and it’s such an honour to be on the show and to be put against guys like that.
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. KENTA – NJPW G1 Climax 29 (Night 17)
— Walker Stewart (ウォーカー・スチュワート) (@VelvetVoiceWS) July 13, 2024
"The arena brought back memories from my NOAH days, and my opponent motivated me even more." -Zack Sabre Jr. (Block A)https://t.co/Y5BSO7ZShY pic.twitter.com/XzvSJ2vkGW
“Actually, I try not to think about it too much, and it flies by. You just think I want to be on these shows, and when you get the chance, you could get overwhelmed but there’s so much to concentrate on it’s just nice!
“I’ve never actually had an injury, and I put that down to the quality of my opponents. But your entire body aches after that sort of weekend. I won’t go to the gym on a Monday morning after that.”
While that answer may have changed in the year’s since, there is no doubting the toughness of KENTA in the ring, especially during his peak years when he was battle Sabre Jr.
KENTA dominated Zack Sabre Jr during a match for NOAH in Wolverhampton
The UK has played host to some of the greatest wrestling matches in history on our soil in the past few years, but the locals in Wolverhampton never expected to see these two all-time greats duking it out in their city.
That is exactly what happened back in 2011, during Pro Wrestling NOAH’s tour of the UK as they attempted to expand their business across the world.SIT
On the second night of the tour, the semi-main event saw KENTA take on Sabre Jr in a brutal fight that showed fans the Japanese legend arguably at his peak.
KENTA’s fights with Naomichi Marufuji in the 2000s had inspired numerous indie wrestlers across the world, helping give birth to the PWG-style of wrestling that began mega popular in the United States.
However, his bout with Sabre Jr was much different. As many of Sabre Jr’s best matches are, it was a technical battle of the mind for a large chunk of it, with the rest featuring KENTA progressing kicking his face off.
The future WWE star (KENTA, as Sabre Jr turned down the chance to join WWE a few years after this bout) won the fight and clearly made a huge impression on his young opponent.