Eddie Kingston Says He Wants To Win an NJPW G1 Climax Tournament

In an interview with Fightful, Eddie Kingston said that he not only wanted to compete in the NJPW G1 Climax tournament, but he wants to win it. The wrestlers involved in this year’s tournament have not been revealed, but it’s possible Kingston could be a part of it. AEW’s Wheeler Yuta will be involved in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament this year. Here are highlights:

On his love of Japanese wrestling: “I don’t think people fully understand. Yes, my favorite wrestling was All Japan during the 90s. But I watched New Japan as well. ‘Cause I remember the Three Musketeers. I remember Keiji Muto, aka the Great Muta, who was the first Japanese wrestler I ever saw. Then, of course, there’s Masahiro Chono. I thought the STF was the deadliest move in the world. I remember Jim Ross screaming about it on commentary and Chono learned it from Lou Thesz. That’s a name you know, even if you have never seen him wrestle. But you know the name. Then you had Shinya Hashimoto, who was just a badass. He was my personal favorite. I know the history and it means a lot. That’s why I mentioned Tenryu and Riki Choshu to Ishii, to let him know, ‘I know who trained you, dog. I watched them. I studied them as well. So I know who they are.’ I know the history. That’s why wipe my feet, of course, and I give a kiss to the logo in the middle of the ring—take my hand, put a little kiss on it. out of respect. It feels great. All that political stuff, I didn’t see it. As soon as I was able to work with AEW, and I was lucky enough and blessed enough to do it, STRONG hit me up a couple of weeks later and AEW, even before this working relationship, was like, ‘Yeah, okay. Do it.’ So I never saw all the political side. But for those that did, sorry. Now you don’t have to see it.”

On the way so many wrestling companies work together now: “It’s amazing. It’s an amazing feeling. In my twenty-year career, I have never seen it like this where everybody’s working together. There’s no political B.S. where, ‘I don’t like this person because of whatever.’ It’s, ‘Oh, you want to do the show? Fine, go make your money’ or ‘That’s a really good match-up. Maybe we can show it here.’ Everybody’s starting to work together, which is what I thought wrestling was. Remember, I’m an 80s baby. So I grew up at the tail end of the territories. So I saw, at one point in time, all the territories trying to work together to beat Vince. So I thought that’s the way it was supposed to be. Not to beat Vince, but to work together and have more places to work. I think it’s great. I’ve never seen it like this.”

On wanting matches with Yuji Nagata and Hiroshi Tanahashi: “Well, I already have Ishii at STRONG. So, that was number one for New Japan [Shin Nippon Puroresu]. Hopefully, I said it right. Ishii was the guy. Tanahashi, to me, saved puroresu at one time. Especially for New Japan. Of course, him. Nagata, of course, ‘cause when that whole run he had with the IWGP title going sixty [minutes] with Chono and other matches, facing off against the shooters during a time period that was a little rough. But he was in there. He was a warrior. But for Forbidden Door, I don’t know if it can happen, but if we talk about the Forbidden Door, it’d be Akiyama. I know he doesn’t work with New Japan or he’s not with them, I know he’s with DDT, but Forbidden Door, right? That’s what everybody [is].”

On wanting to be a part of the G1: “Yeah. The last time I was in Japan was in 2011 for Osaka Pro, at the time. Yeah, G1 has always been a goal. I was talking to somebody the other night, it was a youngin’ in the locker room—I’m not gonna say who—but I was trying to explain that when I broke in my biggest goals were ECW, right before they closed; All Japan, at the time, before the NOAH split; and then New Japan and I wanted to be in all the tournaments. So, of course, the G1’s always a goal. If not this year, then it’ll be a goal next year. For me, personally, the competitor in me, it’s not just about being invited to the G1. It’s about actually winning. Not just doing good. Not just making it to the finals and other people would be happy about that. No, I’m trying to live forever. I’m trying to have my legacy live forever, so I’m trying to win the whole thing. So G1. There’s your answer. To anyone listening—G1! Let’s go.”