(NOAH) "Marufuji is a legend, but AJ Styles is the best wrestler in the world" WWE's Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows talk passionately about Noah on the 13th July at the Nippon Budokan

ABEMA TIMES

5th July 2024

Pro Wrestling Noah's "ABEMA presents DESTINATION 2024" will be held at the Nippon Budokan on July 13th. In the main event, Kaito Kiyomiya, the 45th champion will make his second defense, and face off against YOICHI, who has suddenly returned from training overseas. Another notable match is the singles between AJ Styles and Naomichi Marufuji. In the run up to the fan anticipated match on July 13th, WWE's Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows gave an interview and shared their views ahead of Marufuji's match. 

The two are currently members of the unit, THE O.C., that Anderson formed with AJ. Anderson has a deep connection with Japanese wrestling and proudly states, "I'm the first man in history to hold both the IWGP Tag Team and GHC Tag Team titles at the same time." Regarding Marufuji, with whom he has faced in a singles match, Anderson said with the utmost respect, "I know Marufuji very well. He's a legend. A great wrestler, and his technique is amazing, but AJ Styles is the best wrestler in the world. AJ is number one, and it's really exciting to see him now". After emphasizing the greatness of AJ, a tight knit member of the group, he continued excitedly, "AJ, who became a star known worldwide in WWE, and Marufuji, the star of Noah, are going to have a match in Japan. It's a historic moment". 

Gallows, who also faced Marufuji in 2012, said that this is also a groundbreaking event in terms of the business side of the Japanese and American wrestling worlds. Praising the partnership between the Japanese and American promotions that made this big match possible, he said, "I have to thank Triple H for his vision, and the new WWE. A few years ago, this match would never have happened. The icons of both promotions will be fighting in Noah. I want to pay my respects to the two groups who made this unprecedented and impossible compromise".

Gallows ("I really miss Japan") and Anderson ("I always want to go back"), still have fond memories of Japan and even revealed a behind the scenes story of how they still frequent Japanese restaurants and sushi places in New York. "Japan broadened our careers" (Gallows) and "I don't have any bad memories of Japan" (Anderson), and they both spoke passionately about their love for Japanese wrestling and its fans. Gallows described the forbidden showdown between AJ and Marufuji as "a dream match for both American and Japanese fans", and when asked if they would like to wrestle again in Japan, Gallows promptly replied "Of course I want to come back to Japan". He left an ominous warming, "Maybe we'll surprise Marufuji? You never know what's going to happen." He didn't forget to appeal to Noah by saying, "Shall we become the new GHC Tag Champions?"

Translated from ABEMA TIMES

Picture credit ABEMA TIMES