The New Japan Pro-Wrestling G1 Climax 33 is set to kick off this weekend with shows on July 15th and 16th. Current NJPW STRONG Champion and AEW star Eddie Kingston is set to make his G1 debut. NJPW World caught up with Kingston as they discussed the G1 and other topics.
Eddie Kingston was asked what it meant for him to be in his first G1:
It means everything to me. It’s what I’ve wanted to do since I got started in the bsuiness. The pinnacle of pro-wrestling. You have to be battle hardened, you have to be battle tested to survive here.
He was also asked how he felt showing AEW fans a different side of himself:
I wanna show all the fans- not just AEW fans- that I can do this style. That I’ve studied this style before I even broke in.
Kingston was asked about being in the C Block of the G1 that includes many heavy hitters:
Yeah, well you know I’d like to fight Taichi just because of who he was trained by. Kawada is one of my favourites and the reason I wear the colours I wear. But I’m very happy with my block. I can’t wait to face Shingo, and Ishii again- I just want to fight man, it can’t come soon enough.
Kingston then commented on his opening G1 Climax 33 match against Shingo Takagi on July 16th:
I love that. That’s the test. OK I got invited but now we have to find out whether I can hang in there. Shingo is a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, so why not start with him?
Kingston commented on whether or not he is familiar with his July 23rd opponent Aaron Henare:
Yeah, I am. I keep up on everybody because you have to study your opponents, and know his strengths and weaknesses. His strength is his background, but his weakness might be his temper. So he and I are pretty similar in that regard. We’ll see whose temper is better.
Kingston also weighed in on his July 26th match with Tomohiro Ishii:
Out of everyone int his block, Ishii is the one I respect the most, for his style, for his work ethic, and the people he was trained by, too. I couldn’t ask for a better opponent. Couldn’t ask for a better match. I’m smiling saying this because I like the struggle. If you don’t struggle there’s no point to me. When you get to where you want, that’s a lot sweeter if there’s struggle to get there, and I know Ishii will give me that struggle.
NJPW World asked Kingston what lasting image he would like to leave with the Japanese fans when the G1 ends:
The last thing I’d like to leave for them is that I never quit, I never stopped and I always brung it, no matter how I felt physically, mentally, emotionally- and I’m an emotional guy- I always kept fighting. I keep saying it, but I was born to fight. I’m American, but my father’s side of the family is Irish, and they were hard men. My Puerto Rican side- all females, but hard females, man. I was brought up to fight.
Eddie Kingston wrapped up the interview with this comment:
Without struggle, there is no progress. I’m ready to struggle, and I’m ready to win the G1.
You can follow Lewis Carlan on Twitter @ShootingUpNorth
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