KO-D Openweight Champion Kazusada Higuchi on his fifth title defense: “I'll be challenging the D-Oh Winner Yuki Ueno with this belt in hand"

Kazusada Higuchi has been sprinting towards the finish line for the second half of 2022 in DDT Pro Wrestling.
On July 3^rd at Korakuen Hall, he won his first KING OF DDT 2022 and at the same time the vacated KO-D Openweight Championship also making this his first title reign. On the 24^th of the same month also at Korakuen Hall, he won the KO-D Tag Team Championships with Naomi Yoshimura (relinquished this November). He has continued to defend the title belts as double champion. Unfortunately, he did not reach the finals of the recently concluded DDT’s League of the Strongest the D-Oh GRAND PRIX 2022. However, he will be defending his title against the first-time winner Yuki Ueno at this Thursday’s NEVER MIND 2022 (December 29^th TOKYO DOME CITY HALL) hoping to make this his fifth defense of the title. We interview him just before the final defense of the year.
――Its been just over half a year since the beginning of the KING OF DDT tournament that took place at Shinjuku FACE on June 16. How has your title defenses been?
Higuchi: Suddenly it became December. Every title match whether it was for the Openweight title or the Tag titles were memorable. Going through each one of them felt so sudden looking back.
――Your first title defense was against Tetsuya Endo (August 20^th Ota-Ward), Konosuke Takeshita being the second (September 25^th Korakuen), two men who are considered the pillars of DDT. Did beating these two helped to build your confidence?
Higuchi: I’ve never fought a title match against them before but in normal singles match I’ve beaten then sometimes and loss to them at others. Instead of giving me a boost of confidence I felt it was meaningful to have defended the titles against them at this point of time.
――One of them being Takeshita who is currently doing his best at AEW. I’m sure defending against him was quite the hurdle…
Higuchi: It was I who requested them both after all, and they reciprocated in kind. I’m very thankful. I’m very thankful that they fought against me regardless of their circumstances at that point of time. And I’ve managed to win in both instances. So they were very meaningful.
――On October 23^rd at Korakuen you defended the KO-D Tag Team titles (against Daisuke Sasaki and KANON) and you had to defend the Openweight title against Shinya Aoki after he cashed in his “Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere”. How challenging were those series of matches physically?
Higuchi: To defend the title after going through Sasaki and KANON was honestly…tough.
――You have a size advantage against Aoki but we’re sure the submissions was quite a challenge.
Higuchi: He has the techniques that surpass any size advantage I have after all. Even in a normal situation that matchup would be challenge but it was very expected of Aoki to come at me at my weakest.
――Beating the world-famous Shinya Aoki surely must’ve given a confidence boost.
Higuchi: I was amazed by final headbutt managed to give myself the victory. It was less confidence but more of glad I was able to survive that instance.
――It’s been a while since we last saw the “Right to Challenge”, what do you think of it?
Higuchi: Half a year after my debut I used it against HARASHIMA for a KO-D Openweight title match so I’m sure it’ll be great to see it go wild again.

――You got another challenger in the form of your former ERUPTION boss Yukio Sakaguchi after that in October. Sakaguchi hit you right in the chest, was that challenge more mental than physical?
Higuchi: It was less of me leaving ERUPTION and more of Sakaguchi saying “you’re good enough on your own”. It wasn’t something on my own will. As Champion I definitely had to go against him and it came right after two title defenses back to back. And as someone who’s helped me so much along the way yes it was the most mentally challenging opponent so far.

――Both physically and mentally?
Higuchi: Absolutely. Sakaguchi attacked me from all angles but I managed to shake it out in one piece. That was my way to returning all he’s done for me. Perhaps his image of me is different than he thought but he did say “I’m good enough on my own.”

――You went into the D-Oh as Champion this year. What are you thoughts on that?
Higuchi: I felt I did not live up to my role as Champion. I didn’t even make it to the finals. I’m frustrated with regards to that.
――The reason being that you lost to Yukio Naya on the final day. How did you feel with regards to his growth this year?
Higuchi: He was way stronger that our match at KING OF DDT even though he was already pretty strong then. He has a good foundation and he finally learnt how to unleash it, making him someone to be feared when you cross paths. I feel he still has a little soul searching to do. But in that one instance against me he managed to clear his doubt and went further than me. He got me good.

――Perhaps his emotions were a big factor to his growth?
Higuchi: Ever since he teamed with Hino he learned how to wrestle like a big man should. The fruits of his labour shine through that and it gave him confidence. He had the potential from the beginning after all.

――Last year’s runner-up Ueno finally managed to win this year. You haven’t fought him in singles matches recently but do you feel he has gotten “stronger?”
Higuchi: Ueno was the runner-up last year and was in the final-4 of this year’s KING OF DDT. We haven’t fought recently but he has sparred a few times in tag matches. He’s real good. He is DDT UNIVERSAL Champion after all.

――He’s one of the lighter guys amongst the DDT roster. What do you think balances that out?
Higuchi: I’m sure he has something. Whatever that is, it’s working because he’s standing across me right now.

――Ueno wants to face the Openweight Champion after winning the D-Oh. What about yourself?
Higuchi: I didn’t win the D-Oh after all so I’m looking forward to challenge the D-Oh winner this time. Since Ueno won DDT’s League of the Strongest he’s technically the strongest in DDT right now correct? I entered and didn’t make the finals after all. If Ueno say he’s here to take the Openweight title, I’ll say that as someone who didn’t win (the D-Oh) it doesn’t sit right with me so I’ll gladly challenge you. That makes sense to me I feel.

――Your last singles match was at Korakuen on 22^nd November 2020 in the D-Oh with Ueno winning that instance. How were the grudge matches leading up to today?
Higuchi: Oh he’s pretty strong right now. In a different sense, he’s kind of like a monster right now.

――We’re almost at the title match on December 29^th. You would love to defend the title and pass the New Year we presume.
Higuchi: Obviously I’d love to pass the New Year as Champion but I feel it depends on what happens on day of. I just want to settle the score. I’m well prepared in many ways.

――Have you planned your strategy leading up to this match?
Higuchi: I’ll be doing that from here on but, there’s some history in Higuchi vs Ueno. We understand each other in many aspects. I’m sure we’ll add another notch to our history together.
<h2>[The meaning behind two DNA debutants fighting for the KO-D Openweight Championship</h2>

――Compared to everyone else so far, your next opponent is someone you’ve seen grow from a debutant until now. How does that feel?
Higuchi: I’ve seen him ever since his trainee days. As his senior I was his debut opponent and he’s been growing ever since. He’s had many pinfalls over me since then. From our DNA period we’ve gone from Senior-Junior to rivals, and a dangerous challenger to boot. All of a sudden there’s Ueno, MAO and Yoshimura. The DNA boys who’ve stayed on in DDT have all become rivals. We’ve scratched and clawed our way here. And all of a sudden we’re all rivals.

――You’re now defending the Openweight title against someone you faced as their debut opponent. What do you think looking back at the history between you both?
Higuchi: I don’t want to keep saying this but it’s two DNA debutants fighting for the top prize for the first time ever. That is very meaningful in itself. It gives reason to DNA existing after all.

――Your goals going forward after defending this title should you successfully do so?
Higuchi: I’ll treasure each match. If I start thinking of what’s next that’s a problem. I’ll face each opponent when that time comes. As long as I continue to take a step forward in each instance.

――Unfortunately, you had to relinquish the Tag title due to Yoshimura’s injury but with regards to the tag titles we assume you’ll be waiting for his recovery?
Higuchi: I’ve been thinking about this. I can’t for sure right now with regards to Harimau. I have to keep training Ishida and we want to keep doing our best as Harimau. I’ve been thinking of other plans as well but first I’ll defend the title against Ueno.