Tetsuya Naito: I Could Toss The World Heavyweight Title, NJPW Gives Out New Titles If You Break Belts

Tetsuya Naito comments on holding the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

Tetsuya Naito comments on holding the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

Tetsuya Naito previously said that he did not want the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, and he was against its creation. However, he won the gold by beating SANADA at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18.

NJPW’s official website shared Naito’s comments at his first press conference following his title win. In one highlight, he was asked about holding the gold, and he joked that he could toss it, much like David Finlay smashed the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.

“Well, I haven’t worn it yet. I hold it, but I haven’t worn it around my waist. When this belt was made, I was against it right up to the very end. I never had any good thoughts about this title before, and now I have it… it’s complicated. Maybe I have a little more attachment to this belt than I did before the Tokyo Dome, but just a little. Perhaps the more I hold it, the more attached I’ll become, and if not, well I guess I’ll just toss it. I mean, if you break belts around here they just give you new ones, right? With a different name. Seems there’s precedent,” Naito said.

Finlay previously smashed the IWGP United States and United Kingdom Titles, and NJPW responded by creating the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. 

Naito is set to defend the title against SANADA at NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo. More information is available here.

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