In an interview with Pro Wrestling Illustrated, Zack Sabre Jr spoke about his past year in wrestling, and his desire to have a match with AEW and ROH wrestler Nigel McGuinness. McGuinness was in retirement for years but started wrestling again last year. His last match was against Lee Moriarty at ROH Final Battle last month. Here are highlights:
On being only the second foreigner to win the Tokyo Sports MVP Award: “Yeah, I mean, out of all of them, I definitely thought [Tokyo Sports] MVP would be either the most difficult or the least attainable, just because it’s independent from New Japan. I can sort of control my own personal achievements, but [Tokyo Sports MVP] is more objective. I was conscious that only one foreign wrestler had won it before. And essentially, Bob Sapp won it for all of his achievements, but I think it was mostly through his MMA success that year. So yeah, definitely to win it, to have the support of the media … and the committee is quite broad with peers, journalists, and I think especially for them, I’ve been in Japan for 13 years now, so for them to give me that acknowledgment is definitely one of the best things I’ve ever achieved. And it’s the first time I’ve got to reflect on the year. I guess this is where the calendar year’s ending. But with the G1, obviously the focus is just on the size of the match, then after that winning the [IWGP World heavyweight] belt, then trying to get some defenses in before heading into the Dome. So yeah, it’s definitely a real end to the year.”
On establishing himself again after the end of Suzuki-gun: “Japan has always been the, I mean, not even the end goal for me, but the goal. So, with that, I’ve always strived to reach the top, but then I’ve always been happy for the journey. Every experience as a wrestler contributes to who you are. And then, my time in Suzuki-gun, I’m forever in debt to that group because that gave me a real platform and home. The nature of being a touring Japanese wrestler is you’re with your team all the time. Towards the end, I was the only foreign wrestler in Suzuki-gun. I think it really gave me a connection to Japan properly to be amongst a team of Japanese wrestlers, especially during COVID. Everyone was really looking after me, but I felt like Suzuki-gun ended at its perfect time. I loved that we ended amicably. I think we were one of the only wrestling units that ended in that way, but I think it was the right time for the unit, and it was the right time for me as well. Teaming with Taichi was incredibly fun. I think we brought out the best in each other and we were able to win Tokyo Sports Best Tag Team, which was my first Tokyo Sports award up until now. And I don’t think New Japan had won that for a long time. So [Suzuki-gun] definitely gave me a platform to be in a prominent position in New Japan. But ultimately, my style, the way that I wrestle, and the way that I’m passionate about, I’m a singles wrestler at heart. With the TV title being announced around that time, it just felt like the right timing to be able to put my stamp on a new championship that didn’t have any preordained image about what the style of this title is. The rules, in theory, do not suit my style so I saw that as a challenge, as well. In title matches or big singles matches, New Japan has a 60-minute time limit, so you’ve got a lot of room for freedom; where 15 minutes is a separate challenge from most of my career where I have the freedom within a larger time limit.”
On his standoff with Nigel McGuinness at AEW All In: London: “That was a mad week. Every young Brit dreams of performing at Wembley. I think probably most young kids are dreaming of playing football there or maybe playing a gig. To get to do it for pro wrestling definitely felt much more rewarding. I had no idea that Nigel was going to be involved in it either. I was blown away by the response. Obviously, I spent most of my career in Japan. I don’t wrestle full-time for AEW, so I wouldn’t have expected the reaction that I got. And then to have Mass Lines playing. Chris Thomas, the front man of Mass Lines, is a really old friend of mine. We both grew up on the Isle of Sheppey together and were both in Canterbury after. So yeah, to be able to have a close friend’s song play me out in Wembley Stadium against a British wrestler like Nigel that I’d come to terms with never getting to wrestle, and then to actually have it so well received seems like I’ve just made it up. The fact that’s actually a real thing that happened is a highlight of an insane year. And [Nigel] owes me … he still owes me a singles match, as well, because Big Nige looks very genki, that’s healthy in Japanese. He is in the shape of his career, although I do wish he had his old hair and the iron and the spikes. Is he still claiming that he singlehandedly reunited Oasis as well? He can have that. Yeah. If Nigel was getting back in the ring, I’ve been able to wrestle some really incredible wrestlers, and I’d have come to terms with never getting to wrestle with Nigel in a one-on-one match, but I think that has to happen at some point.”
