SANADA Claims Hiromu Takahashi is Neglecting Junior Division

SANADA Claims Hiromu Takahashi is Neglecting Junior Division

By: J. Curbelo

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA is set to defend his title next Wednesday at Wrestling Dontaku against IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi, and the defending champion wasted no time in calling out his challenger for his audacious gamble.

SANADA pointed out that all of Takahashi’s efforts to raise the value of Juniors in New Japan and professional wrestling as a whole are being automatically undervalued by his ambition to conquer the World Heavyweight belt.

Days before he challenges the champion, Hiromu is just walking out of a dramatic Junior title defense -the fourth one in his reign- against Yoshinobu Kanemaru in Hiroshima last Thursday. He accomplished the first of his two goals to become the first champion of two different weight classes in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

The IWGP Junior champion Hiromu Takahashi defended his belt against @njpwglobal's Yoshinobu Kanemaru at #njdontaku, and he's waiting for his big match against SANADA to achieve his dreams. pic.twitter.com/t9TKDUZWhQ

— Monthly Puroresu (@MonthlyPuroresu) April 29, 2023

SANADA, who accompanied teammate Kanemaru during his match, was admittedly impressed by the match and Takahashi’s performance, but became immediately disappointed by the source of his “dream”. The champion feels like Hiromu is neglecting the Juniors division by focusing on the World Heavyweight division.

The skull formerly known as cold went on to explain that despite respecting Takahashi’s perseveration to achieve his personal dreams, this particular one has no appeal as it blurs the limits between the weight divisions, and ultimately comes across as Takahashi nulling his own claim of being “The Best Junior Wrestler” by chasing something else.

【新日本】ＳＡＮＡＤＡ　挑戦者・高橋ヒロムを一刀両断！「ジュニアをないがしろにしている」｜東スポWEB https://t.co/9qgcF3rDoq

— 岡本佑介@東京スポーツ新聞社 (@okamotospo) April 28, 2023

SANADA also added the example of the legendary KENTA vs Naomichi Marufuji matches from Pro Wrestling NOAH, which he thinks are a perfect example of proving the greatness of each weight division without forcing a clash between them, as he believes Takahashi is doing. The World Heavyweight Champion hopes to prevent his opponent from winning both titles and making him realize the importance of sticking to your division.