Tetsuya Naito On IWGP World Champion SANADA: There Is No Denying His Ability, He Just Isn’t A Superstar

The NJPW Website recently conducted an interview with one of it’s top stars Tetsuya Naito prior to the start of G1 Climax 33. The topic of the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA came up during the interview. Naito and SANADA were Los Ingobernables de Japon stable mates until SANADA left the faction to form Just Five Guys in early 2023.

Natio didn’t hold back and made it clear he doesn’t think SANADA is a superstar despite being IWGP World Champion:

 If I don’t say something that means there’s nothing to say. He’s the champion, but he isn’t standing out like he should. If you grabbed a random fan off the street somewhere in the world and asked them who the champion in New Japan is, they would have to really think about it at best, right? 

That’s where SANADA is. He won the New Japan Cup, and he took the belt, so there is no denying his ability. He just isn’t a superstar. That’s why when you asked me who I want to face the G1, I didn’t answer SANADA because he’s the champion, I answered with Shingo Takagi and Yota Tsuji. Kazuchika Okada would be a big final as well. Me and SANADA, not so much. 

Tetsuya Naito lost in his opening G1 Climax match against Jeff Cobb while SANADA earned his first two point in his opening match as he defeated Hikuleo.

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