WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross and New Japan Pro Wrestling star Kazuchika Okada recently spoke with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard, and below are some interview highlights.
Jim Ross on New Japan’s G1 Climax Tournament:
“This tournament is such a big thing in the industry and within the business itself, and nobody does tournaments like New Japan,” said Ross. “They’re just the best at it. The journey from the opening match to the finals is always intriguing and compelling and unpredictable, but also logical.”
Jim Ross on Kenny Omega:
“Kenny keeps striving to get better,” explained Ross. “He doesn’t put himself in a comfort zone for long, which is unlike a lot of guys you see on American television, who have the same basic structure for all their matches on television. I don’t know if you’re doing your best effort or if you’re being a real pro if you’re having the same basic match every Monday or Tuesday night on television. I don’t see Kenny Omega having the same match every week, and I call a lot of his matches on AXS TV’s New Japan. Granted, there are some high-profile matches that we’re able to bring the fans on Friday nights, but Omega is continually going out and tweaking his game, trying new things, and refining what he’s doing.
“It’s a good time to follow a guy like Kenny, who, some day, will be a WWE guy. There’s no doubt. I’m glad that he came back to New Japan for another year, and I would think that after he stars at Wrestle Kingdom in 2018, then he very well could be the most coveted free agent that WWE has tried to sign in years.”
Okada compares AJ Styles and Kenny Omega:
“Kenny and AJ are both great, but they’re very different,” said Okada, whose match against Naomichi Marufuji airs this Friday on AXS. “They have different wrestling styles. Kenny has crazy moves, but AJ can do anything. Kenny just has a different style. They’re both great wrestlers, and wrestling both has been great experience for me. They’re both very different, but neither is as great as me.”
Jim Ross on Brock Lesnar vs Goldberg at WrestleMania 33:
“Lesnar will go over with his finish, the F5,” predicted Ross, who was then asked whether the audience will be treated to a squash match or one that extends beyond five minutes.
“If they use their head, make sure Paul Heyman is involved in the game-planning, and get an agent like Michael Hayes or Pat Patterson or someone like that, then there is no excuse that they can’t give you ten quality minutes, bell-to-bell,” said Ross. “There is no reason that two guys of that stature, earning that kind of money, can’t give ten kickass minutes of pro wrestling content. I firmly believe it’s possible.”
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
