Peatzilla for MP
By: Pep S. Caro
New Japan Pro Wrestling is about to hold Best of the Super Jr. 32, the latest edition of the world’s premier lightweight wrestling tournament (or junior wrestling tournament, as it’s known in Japan).
The best wrestlers from NJPW and their allies will participate in the tournament. One of them is Francesco Akira, pro wrestler from both NJPW. I had the opportunity to interview the Italian wrestler known as “The Jet” for my YouTube series “Pep Talk? Pep Talks”. The topics covered were his experience in AJPW, in NJPW, being a tag team champion with TJP as Catch 2/2, United Empire, the Best of the Super Jr. 32, his title match with El Desperado at the NJPW Anniversary Show, Dream Match, his family, hobbies, and more.
Pep:
Hello, friends! Welcome to this space. We have the visit of a new wrestler today. It is Francesco Akira, the “Crown of Fire” of New Japan. Welcome, Francesco! It’s nice to have you here.
Francesco:
¡Hola! ¡Hola a todos! Thank you very much for having me here!
Pep:
¡Bienvenido! It’s nice to have you here. We want to discuss some stuff, do some questions to you. Last time we saw each other was in Ota City. If I’m not wrong.
Francesco:
Oh! That was Wrestle Kingdom season.
Pep:
Yeah! So, you had a busy start, you know? Wrestle Kingdom challenging for the IWGP junior tag belts, then challenging El Desperado for the singles belt too. So, we want to discuss that and many things that are coming for you in New Japan with the Best of the Super Jr. next month. Are you ready?
Francesco:
Yes, yes, yes, I’m really, I’m very excited!
Pep:
Thank you so much. Ok, but before going to New Japan, you’ve been in Japan, the country, for quite some time now. You first did a tour with All Japan in 2019. You had two years of your career with All Japan and you even managed to win the All Japan World Junior Heavyweight Championship. So, what can you tell us about that time of your career and what memories do you have of that stage?
Francesco:
Oh, so firstly, that was my first big breakout in pro wrestling. Because it’s the first time that wrestling became my job and I came all the way from Italy to Japan initially just for two months that became two years with All Japan and I lived in the dojo with a room with six people. At the time it was hard, very hard. We train every day, do all the chores that the dojo requires but it’s a process that I don’t regret for sure and I’m very proud I did because it made me the wrestler I am today. It taught me a lot. I trained with the Jun Akiyama, Tajiri and like I had an amazing preparation and it was a really, really good time then also was my first big win in my career, the tournament and then the championship. So, it put me on the map, I think.
Pep:
Great! Then, when your chapter with All Japan ended, New Japan surprised everyone announcing you for the Best of the Super Jr. 29. And also that you were the newest member of United Empire, which at the time was the faction led by Will Ospreay. So, you know, you had your first participation in arguably the best or more prestigious tournament for Light Heavyweight or Junior Wrestlers in the world, and you managed to make eight points, which means four wins in your first tournament. That’s not bad at all. So, what memories do you have of that first tour with New Japan?
Francesco:
It was like a dream came true. It was like… I always dream about joining New Japan because even if All Japan is great, it’s more focused on Heavyweight. But New Japan has a lot of focus on Junior Heavyweight too. Best of the Super Jr. is the best tournament in the world. And I feel like only the best wrestlers can do it. So, for me, it was like an absolute honor and to be the first Italian in it. I didn’t close it like good as I wanted because yeah, eight points is good, but it’s not the best. But still it was like a good experience. My first time on the biggest stage. So it was sure, nice experience where I learned a lot.
Pep:
And you immediately clicked with TJP after the tournament and you guys defeated at the time acting champs Master Wato and Ryusuke Taguchi and then won the championship in a second match and you as Catch 2/2 have won the titles three times which is more than many teams have done in history of those belts. Do you have a favorite defense and what’s your current relationship with TJP right now?
Francesco:
That’s a good question. I think we had many good title defends and like, I think at the time, Catch 2/2 brought life back to a division that used to be very sick with Apollo 55, Golden Lovers and Shelly and all the other teams, Motor City and Kushida. And like one of my favorite defends, I think it was Sapporo. Sapporo against Douki and (Yoshinobu) Kanemaru when they were still Just Five Guys maybe because it was one of the first time also that the crowd was allowed to do more than claps. So, it was really amazing and I think the match is one of my favorite match. My relationship with TJP now is still close, it’s still United Empire, but I think he’s going for another direction now and I’m going for another direction. So even if Catch 2/2 was a good team, we are the second longest reigning team in New Japan history, but now we have two different directions, so we have to take it.
Pep:
It seems fair, you know, United Empire is a big faction, so not every member has to stick on what they used to do, so if you have any direction, it’s okay. It will help for you, for both of your careers, too, to go that way. So, now that I mentioned United Empire, you were involved in several big matches and key matches with the faction. Which one do you remember most fondly?
Francesco:
I think for sure the cage match, when we did the cage match against War Dogs, it was really a war and like we didn’t, unfortunately, even if it’s not good to say, but we didn’t came out as the team who used to be from that match because then Ospreay left and then things didn’t go as well as it used to be. So, I think the cage match was a key match, maybe in a bad way, but also like in a good way because it was Ospreay’s last match in New Japan and I was part of it, so I’m very proud of that.
Pep:
Yeah, it was indeed a breaking point for United Empire. You guys already technically lost Ospreay. Then Ospreay also went to AEW. That’s right And now I want to enter to the Best of the Super Jr. Next month we have a new edition of the tournament. We know you will be competing. We don’t know the blocks yet. That might come by the time of Wrestling Dontaku most likely. So, what are your expectations for this year? And who do you consider might be the most dangerous of the participants in the lineup?
Francesco:
I think so. As right now, I’m the only member of the United Empire in. There’s one guy from CMLL. I don’t know if it’s Templario or not yet, but like I’m the only member. So, I have a lot of my shoulders. I’m going to represent United Empire. So, from this year, I wanted to be like, of course, I want to win. But more than that, I want to show what I can really be able to do. I did show it against Desperado in my match in March. I earned his respect. Now it’s my time to like, earn everybody’s respect and put myself on the map again. And like we need or not winning. It does. It’s not really what matters. But like being the MVP of the tournament is what I want. And if I have to say someone that might be dangerous. I mean, of course, Despe is on like, he’s on fire right now. And we can say (Kosei) Fujita is another hungry young guy. (Master) Wato. Douki’s not in this year. And then this guy from AEW like Nick Wayne. And then Kevin (Knight), that is signed with AEW too. I know he’s going to represent both New Japan and AEW. And Kevin is a very, very good athlete. So I’m looking forward to wrestle with him.
Pep:
Thank you for your early analysis of the tournament. I know that you mentioned Despe, yes, you had a title match, which was your first time challenging for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at the Anniversary Show, which is one of the biggest shows of New Japan, not only because of the scale, but also because it’s the anniversary show. So, it was an important stage for your career and you revisit one match that you had two years ago, and the storytelling of the match was, you know, kind of similar to that match before. So how do you feel after that match? And what are your thoughts of Despe as a competitor? Right now he’s leading the division.
Francesco:
But yeah, right now he’s the best in the division. There’s no doubt about it. I wanted to take that title from him, but I wasn’t ready at the time. Still, it’s my first time challenging, first time Italian challenge, and especially at the anniversary event. I was the semifinal in an event that also saw the last challenge of (Hiroshi) Tanahashi-san at the IWGP Heavyweight Title. So, for me, it was very honor, but not only that, it was like finally my work paid off, and maybe it took a while. It took like a long time since I came to New Japan. Honestly, I don’t care. It took time because I became three times tag champion, Super Junior Tag League winner in the Tokyo Dome. So, I was busy doing something else. Now the match didn’t go as I wanted, but I feel like I put the first step down in the right path. I have to train more. I have to get more stronger in order to beat him, but I feel like I’m on the right path.
Pep:
That’s right. Now, going back to your mention of Templario, we don’t know if he’s going to be on the on the lineup, but, you know, he is the member of the United Empire in CMLL, which is a big partner of New Japan, and you had the opportunity to compete in there two years ago, if I’m not wrong, during the Grand Prix. You were with TJP there, so how was your experience during the Grand Prix with CMLL, and if you have any interest on returning to Mexico to compete with them?
Francesco:
Oh yeah, I would love to go back to Mexico. I loved my time in Mexico and CMLL and Arena Mexico is probably one of the best arena I’ve ever been to. It’s like one of the loudest arena. I still remember when we did the Grand Prix, the army came out and played the national anthem of Mexico. And I had like a, how do you say, chicken skin, like when you’re like excited, like nervous.
Pep:
Goosebumps?
Francesco:
Yes, goosebumps, sorry. I had so many goosebumps and then they announced Mistico and the crowd… I couldn’t hear, my ears were in pain. He was so popular. So, I love Mexico and CMLL, I visit Puebla, Guadalajara and Arena Coliseo. And actually, Templario, I believe he’s the guy that eliminated me from the Grand Prix because he gave me like a power bomb from the top rope that still hurts nowadays, but it was the guy that eliminated me. So, I didn’t expect him to join United Empire, but I know he’s a very, very good wrestler, a very, very good senshu. And la senshu in Japanese is like wrestler or like athlete. So, I cannot wait to see him challenging Despe. I know it can be hard, but you never know. There’s always can be an upset.
Pep:
Yeah, I’m sure that the fans in CMLL, and also, you know, the people in the managing team of CMLL will be happy to have you over again. Also, during this beginning of the year, we saw a very emotional moment. When your brother visited you in Japan, there was these pictures of him, you know, in the entrance of the United Empire, I believe, in Ota City, where he was doing the crowns sign with his hands, and all the Empire, you know, posed with him, very touching. Can we say that he’s an honorary member of the United Empire?
Francesco:
For sure, yeah. If Sami Zayn is the honorary member of the Bloodline, for sure, my brother is the honorary member of the United Empire. Accepted by everybody, no doubt.
Pep:
Oh, that’s great. And, you know, people might not understand this, but wrestlers, you know, like wrestling, like any other profession, if you have to do it outside of your country, you might have to left your family, friends, people you love. In this case, how important was for you to have your family with you this time?
Francesco:
It’s probably one of the moments that I’m most proud of in my career. They already came to Tokyo Dome, my first time in Tokyo Dome, three years ago. But they came again this year and it was… I felt like this was more special because this time I was able to take care of them. Like my mom helped me a lot when I was in All Japan and I was making so little money that she used to send me money to survive. But now it’s my time to give back and I was really proud that I could do that and then they came out for a month and we enjoyed Japan. And my brother of course loved Tokyo Dome and Ota and he had spent some time in the backstage with the boys too. So, it was really really happy moment and I cannot wait to see them again and bring them over another year again.
Pep:
That’s great, man. And I hope that they have an amazing time with you when they have the chance to visit you again. Now going a little bit outside of wrestling, you know, now that we’re talking about your family and stuff like that, we want to know more about you. You know, Francesco, the person, not only Francesco the senshu. So, can you tell us about your hobbies? What do you usually do in your daily life when you don’t have a match?
Francesco:
I usually, so… I’m a relaxed guy outside of wrestling, like I like a lot to nature, so I like to go hiking or walking, I just bought a bicycle, so I like to take a ride with my bicycle and then I wish I could buy a pet but I live by myself, so I cannot take care of something like a dog, but I like them. Yeah this and especially I like to go to a nice restaurant, not fancy but like delicious restaurant of every culture like Mexican, Greek, Japanese, Italian and Spanish whatever and that’s what I like, meeting friends, yes, normal stuff.
Pep:
Oh, that’s fair. Now, going back to wrestling, especially with New Japan, you have been able to wrestle many top athletes from all over the world, but is there anyone that you haven’t faced yet that you would like to face?
Francesco:
There’s a few names that first came to my mind. Will Ospreay for sure. I never… I tagged with him but I never wrestled with him. Against each other. We were supposed to wrestle against each other back in Italy before I joined even All Japan, maybe? I believe, yeah. Even before I joined All Japan, I was supposed to wrestle him in Italy but I got hurt a week before, playing basketball. So, I knew I could. I miss the chance there but then two weeks later I met Tajiri and it changed my life so things always, somehow life always finds a way and probably Will Ospreay. I’m looking for if we’re in the same block to face Nick Wayne and I mean dream match, that it’s a dream dream match will be The Rock. Like The Rock is my favorite wrestler so I will love to wrestle The Rock.
Pep:
Ok! Those are three possibilities. Yeah, it’s okay that you say a dream match because I believe that the the trick of this question is always, you know? Imagine it doesn’t matter if they have a contract for a specific company so that’s what our dreams are for. But you mentioned two matches that are possible maybe one might happen next month so fingers crossed for that and the other one, you know, AEW is partners with New Japan so maybe you can cross the Forbidden Door you haven’t been in AEW yet.
Francesco:
Yes, exactly, so I would like them.
Pep:
Cool! Also, do you have specific goals for the next months of the year?
Francesco:
For sure now being the best in the Best of Super Junior win it or anyway being the MVP of the tournament. Then, after that, like when the year started, I know everybody said this is going to be my year but I said that I wanted this year to be my rebuild her. Like I want te build myself as a wrestler of course, as a person learn Japanese, have a bigger body and train hard in the gym to be ready. Because like I think great things require, times requires preparation and require passion. So, yes, I want to take this year as a preparation year and for the last remaining time I want to try to bring the Empire back on the map and bring it back to what used to be and even more than that.
Pep:
Okay, wishing you all the best. Thank you for your time, Francesco. It’s been a pleasure to have you here. Before closing, do you have any message for your fans watching this?
Francesco:
Like I appreciate always the support and I hope they support your channel too and keep supporting New Japan Pro Wrestling and especially The United Empire and The Crown of Fire Francesco Akira. I will kill it this year in the Best of the Super Jr. I will do my best and I will come out as MVP of the tournament.
Pep:
Okay, friends, you have heard the man. “Crown of Fire” Francesco Akira, is ready to kill it in the best of the Super Jr. Okay. That was all for today. See you next time!
We’d like to thank Peatzilla for the art direction. We also want to thank Francesco Akira and the New Japan Pro Wrestling team for all the facilities they provided to conduct the interview.
Date:
May 16, 2025
