Tetsuya Naito: Some Days Feel Like I’m In The Seventh Inning, Sometimes I Feel Like I’m In The Ninth

Tetsuya Naito says the ballgame isn’t over yet, as far as his career is concerned.

Tetsuya Naito says the ballgame isn’t over yet, as far as his career is concerned.

Tetsuya Naito, 41, won the G1 Climax 33, so he will challenge SANADA for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom on January 4. For Naito, the match presents an opportunity to regain his place atop the card.

In an interview NJPW posted on their YouTube channel, Tetsuya Naito discussed the upcoming match. He noted that he finds himself thinking about his age more these days.

“I feel like compared to people around me, I find myself thinking about my age more. That’s why I feel if I don’t make the most if this moment, I’ll live to regret it later. So I guess I’m a way, it’s my age that’s helped me realize what’s important. It’s not so bad. Some days I feel l’m top of the seventh inning. Sometimes I feel I’m in the bottom of the ninth. But sometimes you play extra innings too, so it might be a while yet. But the match is nearly [here]. Right now, I’m down 0-1. Drawing level, making a comeback, that excitement is still there, that’s for sure,” Naito said.

Naito recently won the Tokyo Sports MVP Award. More information is available here.

Check out Naito’s comments on potentially reuniting with Andrade El Idolo here.

Fightful will have live coverage of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 as it airs on January 4.