(NOAH/NEW JAPAN) Jake Lee reveals his true intention of invading the New Japan mat. The reason he targeted Tetsuya Naito was "Because it's the quickest way."

29th April 2024

Tokyo Sports

Noah's Jake Lee (35) revealed his true intentions for invading New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

Earlier this month, he teamed up with David Finley's "Bullet Club WarDogs" and began a feud with Tetsuya Naito. He made his first appearance in New Japan in Hiroshima on the 27th, and although he lost the elimination match, he has no intention of ending things like this. At "ALL TOGETHER" (May 6th, Nippon Budokan, Tokyo), it has been decided that in a trio together with Finley and Gabe Kidd, he will face Naito, Takagi Shingo and Yota Tsuji. 

In response to the interview, Jake explained the reasons for his actions as, "I think it's only natural for wrestlers to pick a fight against the most valuable person in order to increase their value. He's one of Japan's leading wrestlers, and he's probably the quickest one to get started with. I have worked for a lot of promotions, and at my age I can't say anything long winded."

Naito has just lost the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (the current champion is Jon Moxley), but that doesn't change the perception that he is the most attractive opponent. 

Jake smiled fearlessly and said, "That's how I see it, and I think a lot of people see it that way. How many years has he been leading? He has also said things like, "I don't have much time left..." so I think it would be better to have Tetsuya Naito when he's ripe".

In Noah, he leads the Good Looking Guys (GLG), and his position will not change. Regarding the collaboration with War Dogs, he says, "I think that is something that will become clear when you look to the future, as individual actions will lead to team actions as well. At the moment, no one is against it". 

This also has implications for future developments. 

The New Japan ring is somewhere Jake has always been aware of. In April 2022, when he was a member of All Japan Pro Wrestling, he had a tag match with Hiroshi Tanahashi at the 60th anniversary held at Korakuen Hall, which ended in a full time draw. Tanahashi suggested, "Come to New Japan".

"The match was a major turning point in my career, and I realized that there are wrestlers like that out there. That is why my desire to fight with different wrestlers, has only grown stronger since then. However, even though the person who said, "Come", became President, I didn't hear from him at all, so I decided to take action on my own, because it seems he's really busy with his job". 

For more than two decades, the Japanese pro wrestling world has been led by Naito, Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada. At the end of last year, Tanahashi became both president and wrestler, while Okada left New Japan in January of this year, and went to AEW in the US. Jake boasted, "The quickest way to do this is to beat Tetsuya Naito here. The time is perfect, isn't it?"

It's time to turn the entire industry upside down. 

Translated from Tokyo Sports

Picture credit: Tokyo Sports