(NOAH) "19 year card" Ohara. Tadasuke heads to Ryogoku on the 29th April with a view to capturing a belt with Shuji Kondo. Interview with Tadasuke and Hajime Ohara.

26th April 2022

Pro Wrestling DX

Tadasuke, Hajime Ohara & Shuji Kondo vs NOSAWA Rongai, Texano Jnr & Super Crazy, is to be held at the 29th April Ryogoku event for Noah Juniors. The Kongoh Juniors will introduce their new member, Kondo, while Perros Del Mal De Japon, will introduce Texano Jnr, the originator of Perros. The two teams will collide. This is also a match in which all the past contacts are a complex intertwining with "Mexico" as the keyword. We talked to Tadasuke and Ohara to discover the depth of that time, and look to the future with Kondo.

 

Interview with Tadasuke & Hajime Ohara

Q: Firstly, what are your thoughts on Tadasuke, Ohara & Kondo vs Texano Jnr, NOSAWA & Crazy?

TADASUKE: Firstly, April 29th is the anniversary of my debut. It's a milestone for me. An opponent is the original source of Perros Del Mal, and they are going to arrive with a solid Mexican taste, as a pure Japanese, I have no choice but to meet with my own belief. 

OHARA: The first impression when I saw the card was "Toryumon vs Perros". This side is Kongoh and the former Toryumon. The opponents are Perros, the head house, that is wrapped up with my Mexican era. To the current fans, this may look like a card that was made in a hurry, but to me this looks like a card that has been accumulating for nineteen years or more. 

Q: Of particular note, is Shuji Kondo's participation in Kongoh

TADASUKE: I think I have always said, "There are other guys who have belief, but that guy, that guy..." As one of them, I spoke with Kondo, and he was willing to accept. When I announced it I said "that guy", he was very angry, but I apologized for it on the day. As Ohara said, both he and Ohara are from Toryumon. Are there any other people who know each other? When I thought about it, the feeling was of Kondo. 

OHARA: Kondo was the most familiar "Watchdog" senior when I entered Toryumon as a 13th generation member in 2003. He was a strict senior. I still vividly remember being forced to do push ups from hell. As you would expect, Kondo with that upper body, does push ups thoroughly and not squats. SUWA was the worst, and Kondo was also frightening. 

TADASUKE: Yeah, I also practiced with them once in a while. It was tough, but when I was off, I got a beef bowl at Matsuya*. I don't think I can remember a story about Kondo from about eighteen years ago, but there was the usual three times better than usual punch to the gut. Maybe it's best to want Kondo to see the growth of the wrestler I have become. 

Q: What about the other opponents in the group, NOSAWA Rongai, Texano Junior & Super Crazy? 

TADASUKE: I don't know, but isn't Texano Jnr a junior heavyweight? He's big, no? So, conversely I have never done anything solid with Texano Jnr, and I hate big guys.

OHARA: I also have a deep connection with Texano Jr. When I appeared in CMLL, he was in the early stages of his career. The frequency of matches was high because we are the same age. I was aware of him as his father (El Texano) and my teacher, Negro Navarro, had just formed a tag team. I also had many matches with Texano Jnr's younger brother, SuperNova, is also a wrestler and we often had matches, so I am deeply involved with both the brothers. Regarding Super Crazy, I used to go to a classroom that Super Crazy opened to teach in Mexico. In Noah we have fought, and we have a deep connection. Regarding NOSAWA Rongai, in Mexico I have had matches on the side of Tokyo Gurentai. From my point of view, this is a card in which the more I chew, the greater flavor I get. 

Q: The ban on overseas wrestlers in Noah has been lifted in Noah.

TADASUKE: Well, it is good to be able to fight foreign wrestlers. I am excited because I like foreigners, especially unknowns like Texano Jnr, which are my favorite. Well, to me he's just unknown, to him he's famous.

OHARA: I am originally a foreign wrestler, since my debut was in in Mexico. My starting point was that there were only foreign wrestlers around me, and it is natural that I gained experience with them, but due to Corona the young wrestlers of today, Yano etc, I don't think they have ever even touched a foreign wrestler. Even with the basic lock up, the way Mexico and Japan do it is opposite. I think there are all kinds of discoveries from small to big and above all the world view will expand for the viewer as well. 

Q: What about the challenge of the Junior Ryogoku? 

TADASUKE: I don't think I will do anything drastic. Tell Harada? I didn't want to get on board, but now that I have thought about it, I am going to make the most of this stage. 

OHARA: Even if I have joined Kongoh, I still have the same feeling that I attached to the Noah Juniors. My way of thinking and way of doing things is different from them, but I think the big direction is the same. That is why I think this will be an important stage for building the Noah Junior brand. What makes it successful? Successful in being good at attracting customers, or successful in being highly satisfied with the matches? I think there are different standards, but by challenging a big stage that has never been done before, you can see things that you couldn't see before, and have new challenges. I think this is important. 

Q: Looking at the composition of Kongoh vs Perros, NOSAWA has accused you of being "100 yen wrestlers" or you being a "blonde pig"

TADASUKE: Truly that guy is a wrestler who loves slander. He talks so abusively during matches, when does he have time to breathe? Well, I will pay him back for what he said. 

Q: As Kongoh Juniors, your situation continues to be unsuccessful? 

OHARA: I entered Kongoh and lost to Kotoge in singles, and lost even the junior tag...I haven't got any results. That's why I bear in mind that this year, on New Year's Day, I teamed with Ultimo Dragon, and then Dragon Kid, and then Shuji Kondo. There was an announcement for Toryumon Casa. Mysteriously, the connection with Toryumon has suddenly erupted this year. The flow to the source is occurring naturally, and I feel like I can find a chance to emerge from that. A natural return to origins. I am wondering if I can become a new self as a result of the encounter with Kongoh's Shuji Kondo.

Q: The Kongoh Juniors are still unconnected to titles, but will you aim for the belt with Shuji Kondo? 

TADASUKE: Of course, there is that. For the Junior Tag, honestly it would have been best if I could have worn it with Ohara, but I want to look for opportunities there. That is why I want to make a match that will lead to the future.  

*Japanese department store, Tadasuke does not say whether he went to Ginza or Asakusa. 

Translated from Pro Wrestling DX

Picture credit: Pro Wrestling DX