Translated Interview: Chris Brookes invites El Desperado to DDT “Let’s make something worth talking longer than it took to make this happen”

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Chris Brookes was invited to perform at the DESPE-invitacional- El Desperado produced show. After his match, he challenged Desperado to a singles match at the July 21st Ryogoku Sumo Hall show. Both men have expressed their desires of facing each other on social media but Chris had a reason for not waiting for this match to happen…
Original author: SuzukiKen.txt
Its due to the trust that he've build
that this match is coming to life.** **

――You won last year’s KING OF DDT and beat Yuji Hino for the KO-D Openweight Championship in one of the most amazing paths to the peak. How different is your goals for this year’s Ryogoku show?

Chris: They’re similar in terms of the pressure going towards the show but this year it’s a little different. Last year I was a little unsure because if I became Champion, I’ll have the responsibility of carrying the company going forward. This year I’m still feeling the pressure, but I feel I can enjoy this kind of pressure as I’ll be facing an opponent from another promotion.

――You’ve wrestled all over the place but yet you still the pressure of facing others from a different promotion.

Chris: Yes. One on hand for DDT our Ryogoku show is considered the biggest show of the year, but on the other hand New Japan Pro Wrestling is perceived as the top Japanese promotion by the public. In that sense DDT has an impression of being seen as below or as the other side. However, whatever the perception is of the people watching, there’s no difference in quality or the type of wrestlers when in the ring. In that sense, I have the pressure of showing that to those watching.

――There’s a contrasting feeling of enjoyment and pressure at the same time.
Chris: You’ll need some level of self confidence to be able to enjoy such pressure. Looking back at last year’s Ryogoku I didn’t have that confidence. It was only when I won the KO-D Openweight Championship that I was able to gain that confidence. Until that moment I couldn’t shake off my internal conflict if I was the right guy at that moment and if I was a worthy champion when I win the title. 
But I did win at Ryogoku and while I did lose to Ueno later on, I had no qualms within me if I was a worthy opponent to face Desperado after all my efforts this past year. And looking at the Wrestling world right now, I have no doubts that Chris Brookes vs El Desperado is a match worthy of taking place at Ryogoku. And that’s why I’m able to enjoy it now.

――In that sense is now the perfect timing for this to happen?
Chris: Well, if we’re talking about timing, I feel it might be a little late. Desperado first brought up MAO and myself in his backstage comments about 2-3 years ago. So we took quite a while to get here. However, had I suggested this idea of the match at that time, it might not have come to fruition based due to the situation of Wrestling world back then. But with the current situation, Dream Matches don’t just end up being Dream Matches. And a big factor is due to Desperado’s actions and what he achieved throughout this time.

――And what of Desperado’s achievements?
Chris: My feelings are a little different than just being happy after a dream match of mine is finally happening. Many people know Desperado and myself converse on social media. It’s because at the root of it all there’s a layer of respect. I’ve been doing lots of interesting things inside and outside of DDT. While he didn’t say it directly, I feel he has respect for what I’ve done there, and I respect his determination to not only promote New Japan but the entire Japanese wrestling industry. 
So we have this sort of mutual understanding from there, and not just us but the fans have this perception of what might happen if the two of us happen to cross paths in the ring. And we have this responsibility to each other. I feel this coming from him and I’m sure he thinks the same as well. So our desire to carry it through is far more stronger than the excitement around it.
And I feel I have this big responsibility to show off something amazing yet different from my two previous Ryogkou title matches. With him I definitely can have such a match and when the fans are going home I hope Chris vs Desperado will be the first thing that pops into their head.
 
――Did you believe you were going to have a singles match against him when Desperado gave you the invitation to his June 10th DESPE-invitacional?
Chris: I always wondered when it will finally happen, and when I received the invitation it felt like I was getting one step closer. One the show day itself it was a 4-Way match and I was a little frustrated that I didn’t win but I felt I got to express what DDT style was (to the audience) and in the spur of the moment I challenged him to a Singles match.

――You decided to do on the spot
Chris: The crowd’s reaction and the entire show was amazing. So my emotions welled up and I felt if I was going to do this, now is the time.

――It was the perfection situation to get the fans’ consent I felt.
Chris: That’s right. At the merch sales post-sho,w many fans said “Chris, I saw you for the first time today and I’ll definitely come watch when you face Desperado!”. A big part of that was thanks to Desperado winning the fans over with his ability and their trust in him. I talked about his achievements earlier and he’s helped to promote New Japan all this time, so he has earned the trust of both the fans and the company itself. 
The trust is so strong that even if the NJPW fans don’t know about me, they have the trust in Desperado that facing me will surely be something interesting. Even at the DESPE-invitacional, I believe he built the matches in a way to put the spotlight on the DDT wrestlers, and it did just that. And if you look at the facts, you can understand that’s it due to his ability to produce (such a show) and without that, the match may not have come to be.

The feeling of being alive when
I’m put in a challenging situation

――With regards to the match, obviously your priority is to win but do you have any plans on creating something because your opponent is El Desperado?

Chris: If I’m limiting this to something personal, I feel that I’m enjoying wrestling the most is when I’m put in a challenging situation. When I’m put in a spot where I must show out and pull it off is when I feel I’m truly alive. Being put against a world class top wrestler like El Desperado is where I’m being tested and I’m excited to see what will bear fruit from our encounter.

――Even in a normal match in DDT you would have hardcore and psychological elements in your matches. Will it be the same for this as well?
Chris: This is also connected to the essence of DDT but last time he fought against Sasaki. It was less experiencing what DDT has and closer to experience Daisuke Sasaki I felt. I hope this time it feels more closer to inviting El Desperado to DDT. Whether it could be hardcore elements or something else, I haven’t thought of what aspects of DDT to bring and I won’t know what will inspire me until I hit the ring. But one thing’s for sure I will wheel out the full DDT experience for him.

――This will be your first Ryogoku show ever since you had a tumor found and removed at the end of last year. What are your thoughts on being able to continue wrestling after such an experience.
Chris: I really felt that…there might not be another match after that. Recently I felt that suddenly matches scheduled next week could be cancelled suddenly and every match could very well be my last. And right now speaking to you, the Ryogoku match may not even happen at all. And that’s why I treasure and enjoy each match I have while putting my absolute best in them. It was due to the tumor that I’ve come to this realization but not everyone may have this realization. 
I’ve said it elsewhere as well that after experiencing all of that, ever since I got back into the ring I take each moment as it is and enjoy it to the fullest that I can. To not put anything off and doing it right now. And not just with regards to the match with Desperado but with everything, like my offer from TJPW, travelling to Thailand with Masa (Takanashi) or even going to America.

――Hearing that I can understand why you wouldn’t want to wait.
Chris: We’ve kept the fans waiting a long time but I myself have been waiting for this match. And because we’ve kept them waiting this long both Desperado and myself will put everything into this match to make it worth the wait. And on top of that we hope to make it something worth talking about for even longer than that. Don’t you think so too, Desperado?