Zack Sabre Jr: My Time With NJPW World TV Title Is Over For Now, My Future Stands With IWGP World Title

Zack Sabre Jr. says he and the NJPW World TV Championship are breaking up.

Zack Sabre Jr. says he and the NJPW World TV Championship are breaking up.

Zack Sabre Jr. was the inaugural NJPW World TC Champion, and he held it for 365 days before Hiroshi Tanahashi beat him at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18. Sabre Jr. regained the gold by defeating Matt Riddle at NJPW Windy City Riot. At NJPW Wrestling Dontaku on May 3, Jeff Cobb beat Zack Sabre Jr. to win the title.

In his post-match comments, Zack Sabre Jr. discussed his loss.

“Listen, I said in January when I lost the New Japan Television Championship that as much as my goal was to reach 20 defenses and continue wearing that championship on my path to bigger things, but when I lost after an exact calendar to our new president, [Hiroshi] Tanahashi, I thought, ‘You know what? That’ll do. That’ll do.’ A year’s worth of work into a brand-new championship with a very difficult rule system, which doesn’t suit my bloody style. I’m trying to make three-hour French language art house films, and that championship wants me to make a YouTube video,” Sabre Jr. said.

After noting that he wanted the title to stay in TMDK, which was why he sent his stablemates after the gold, Sabre Jr. stated that he would not back down from a challenge himself. He noted that he won the title back, and he gave Cobb credit for his strength. However, Sabre Jr. stated that the rules did not suit him. With that in mind, he said that he and the title were having an amicable breakup. 

“When a scoundrel like the former NJPW World Television Champion, who doesn’t even compete in shoes calls me out, regardless of my ambitions, I’m not gonna turn down a challenge. Guess what? I got the belt back, didn’t I? I don’t want to discredit Jeff Cobb’s win. I’m not gonna make excuses. Jeff Cobb won because he’s the strongest wrestler, not only in New Japan, but I think in the entire sodding world. The rules just don’t suit me. I did what I could. I grew a lot, I learned a lot, that championship grew because of me. It was mutually beneficial, but we’re having an amicable breakup. So I won’t be seeking a rematch. My time with the New Japan World Television Championship and 15-minute time limits are sadly over for now. My dream was to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship while also being the TV Champion. That’s not gonna happen. So Jeff, you are more than a worthy champion, an Olympic-level freak. I’m excited to see what you do with that championship. I’m excited to see what future champions will do with that championship. But my future stands with four letters, IWGP, and it stands for 60 minutes because no one is gonna stop me [from] becoming World Heavyweight Champion in 2024. All I need is 60 minutes,” Sabre Jr. said.

Sabre Jr. went on to note that his second title reign was a side mission, and he was focusing on the future. He noted that he was growing, as he would not waste time ranting about his loss. Sabre Jr. made it clear that he also had to think about TMDK, rather than simply caring about himself.

“Zero defenses is incredibly embarrassing, and I will certainly not be happy with zero defenses. But I’m not, like the Zack Sabre Jr. of old, gonna waste my time screaming and ranting and being a sore loser because that got me absolutely nowhere. So do not mistake this for being happy that I lost. I’m just growing. It’s not just me I’ve got to think about. It’s all of TMDK because I’m the frontman for a reason. So side mission failed. I guess I gotta go feed my Tamagotchi. They get really grumpy when they’re hungry,” Sabre Jr said.

Catch up on our coverage of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku here.

Fightful will have coverage of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Night Two as it airs on May 4.

If you use the above quotes, please credit the original source and link back to Fightful with an h/t for the transcription.