(NOAH/LIMIT BREAK) "Win by bringing out the best in everything" ~ Interview with Go Shiozaki on his "destiny" match against Saito ~ 29th May World Heavyweight Challenge

25th May 2024

Pro Wrestling DX

On May 29th at "LIMIT BREAK", the championship match when Go Shiozaki, who will challenge Akitoshi Saito for the ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship, will be held in Shinjuku as TEAM NOAH showdown. The title match comes as Misawa's death anniversary (June 13th) and Shiozaki's own 20th anniversary debut show (June 19th at Korakuen) are coming up, and we asked Shiozaki what was on his mind as he looks towards Shinjuku. 

Q: You will challenge Saito for the World Heavyweight Championship at Shinjuku on May 29th, but what are your honest thoughts? 

SHIOZAKI: Originally, ZERO1 and TEAM NOAH competed against each other, but I had no desire to challenge for the belt. But, when I watched Saito-san's ZERO1 match when he won the championship at Yasukuni, I saw the expression on his face, and the bloodlust or aura he had during the match, and I thought "I want to fight Akitoshi Saito, even though we're on the same team!". It could just have been a singles match, but I wanted to fight with that belt on the line to add prestige to the fight with Saito-san.

Q: When you were nominated by Saito, did you think, "Okay, no problem?"

SHIOZAKI: Yes. I didn't think, "Huh, me?" It was probably due to the fact that June (the anniversary of Misawa's death) is coming up, and there is something "destined" between myself and Akitoshi Saito having a match at this time I feel.

Q: It happened to be this time of year again, but do you feel there is an invisible power or coincidence? 

SHIOZAKI: I think it's fate to be working with Akitoshi Saito at this time. I don't think it's very often that we fight each other in a singles match, and I don't know if there will be any more in the future, but I want to show the meaning of Akitoshi Saito vs Go Shiozaki, and the essence of the fight to all the fans watching, and to the wrestlers as well. 

Q: This will be the first time that Akitoshi Saito, the champion, has been challenged by Go Shiozaki? 

SHIOZAKI: When this situation happened, I was very excited. There is a burning feeling that comes up from the bottom of my body. 

Q: Do you remember the feeling and atmosphere in Noah, when you were a young wrestler and chasing after Saito? 

SHIOZAKI: Yes. When we formed TEAM NOAH, we had the feeling that we wanted to relive the fights from back then, and all the wrestlers who shared that feeling came together. The belt is the World Heavyweight, but I am confident that with him, we will be able to show off Pro Wrestling Noah's fighting style. I think we will be able to see a fight that goes beyond the limit, and I think it will be a fight where we fight until we run out of strength. 

Q: In the past matches, it seemed to come down to Misawa, but what do you think will happen this time? 

SHIOZAKI: We won't know until we try, but I want to have a fight that will bring out the best in each other. I want to win by giving everything, even more so than Akitoshi Saito, and I think he feels the same way as me. I think our feelings will become heated, and this will become the most intense match ever seen. 

Q: Isn't that like breaking the limit? 

SHIOZAKI: I think it's meaningless unless it's a title match between myself and Akitoshi Saito, so I want to fight with resolve. 

Q: What are your impressions of ZERO1's belt, the World Heavyweight Championship?

SHIOZAKI: To be honest, I'm not really too familiar, but I think a fight with a belt on the line, should have meaning and weight. Considering the weight of the title match, I would like to have a match that goes beyond the previous world heavyweight belt fights. 

Q: You want to show off to ZERO1, who are competing against you, by having a great match in the TEAM NOAH showdown? 

SHIOZAKI: I think it will also be a battle with ZERO1 in a sense, and so Akitoshi Saito vs Go Shiozaki will show you just how amazing they are. 

Q: It's the 20th anniversary year since your debut, do you also want to win a belt in your commemoration year? 

SHIOZAKI: Since it's my 20th anniversary...I don't really want a belt. But this time, even if it is important that Akitoshi Saito is wearing a belt, I also feel like celebrating my 20th anniversary by wearing a belt.

Q: Do you want to fight so that you can appear at your 20th anniversary show on June 19th in your best condition? 

SHIOZAKI: Yeah. It's LIMIT BREAK before my 20th anniversary show. I want to win, beat Akitoshi Saito, and celebrate my 20th anniversary. 

Translated from Pro Wrestling DX

Picture credit: Pro Wrestling DX