(NOAH/NEW JAPAN) Tetsuya Naito cuts down intruder Jake Lee's "double dip" with a single blow, saying that "my neck isn't that cheap".

24th April 2024

Tokyo Sports

Tetsuya Naito (41) was attacked by Noah's Jake Lee (35) at New Japan's Korakuen Hall show on the 23rd April, sparking a new grudge. 

Jake, who colluded with Bullet Club Wardogs, will be participating in New Japan for the first time in Hiroshima on the 27th. Naito, who suffered the humiliation of being KO'd by Jake, who suddenly barged in, praised his actions in an interview, but questioned his attitude of trying to double dip. 

This incident occurred during a singles match between Naito and Dan Moloney. With no referee present due to a melee, War Dogs' David Finlay entered the ring, and immediately after Jake made a surprise appearance, causing the audience to erupt in surprise. Naito was heavily damaged by Jake's FBS, and was then defeated by Moloney's Drilla Killer. He was dragged out of the ring, and then completely KOed by a second FBS. There was a foreshadowing when Finlay hinted at the existence of a "assassin" by saying, "There's someone who's been DMing me. Naito, it looks like someone wants to fight with you". In an interview after the show, Naito said, "I thought that they would come at some point in the series*", but I was expecting a wrestler from overseas, I wasn't expecting a wrestler to come from a Japanese promotion". Since the time that he and Jake clashed in a six man tag at the DRADITION Yoyogi show in December 2022, he has said, "I'm sure there will be a sequel to this". With a fearless smile he also saod, "Isn't it amazing how he came to take action on his own accord? There are many wrestlers in New Japan who hold belts, but the fact that he came right after his lost his belt, means that he must have a good eye for Tetsuya Naito's high value."

However, some questions have been raised. Jake had just lost the match to determine the next challenger for the GHC Heavyweight against Kaito Kiyomiya at Noah's Shinjuku show on the 22nd. Naito quickly pointed out that Jake had been chasing two rabbits* and condemned him saying, "While sending DMs to Finlay, you were also targeting the GHC, right? Since you couldn't become a challenger, you decided to go after Tetsuya Naito. This might not be the right thing to say after losing the belt, but I feel like my neck isn't that cheap."

It has been decided that Naito will compete against Jake in a five on five elimination match, which will be held in Hiroshima. "It's easy to leave an impact with surprises, but situations where this is not the case are more important. I'm looking forward to seeing how much of an impact Jake Lee, who came to New Japan to defeat me, will make on my home turf."

The out-of-control-man, who even now looks relaxed, has the chance to take on a new enemy.

Translated from Tokyo Sports

Picture credit: Tokyo Sports

Notes

*Series: Somewhat Baba/Inoki-era word used for tour. Mitsuharu Misawa disliked both "Series" and "Tour" and referred to Noah's travels as "Navi".  

*Chasing two rabbits: Japanese proverb that basically means that if you chase two goals at the same time then you won't get even one.