【Newcomer Interview①】Kotaro Suzuki: I’m not going to try to fit in with everyone else. I’m aiming for the top

Thanks to his appearance on Jun Akiyama’s YouTube channel ‘Explo-nyaa’, Kotaro Suzuki made a special appearance at the DDT December 4^th Korakuen Hall. At that show it was announced that he will be challenging for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship at the December 29^th TDC Hall show, putting his near-future plans in anticipation towards the DDT fans. We interview him about his future plans from here. (Taking place in December 14^th)

――It’ll be your first time in DDT since the August 20^th 2017 Ryogoku show (Special 4-Way Tag match Kotaro Suzuki & Soma Takao vs Yuko Miyamoto & Kodaka Isami vs Kaz Hayashi & Keisuke Ishii & MAO & Mike Bailey), has your impression of DDT changed within thes 5 years?
Kotaro: My image of DDT is that it has everything from enjoyable matches to the hard-hitting stuff in an all-in-one package. At the recent Korakuen show (on Dec 4^th) liked Akiyama said, the intensity of their hard-hitting stuff has become more apparent.

――We think the change was due to Akiyama joining DDT.
Kotaro: That is a factor for sure.

――You teamed up with Endo and Okada, but you’ve never had any interaction with Endo until the 4^th we presume?
Kotaro: Not at all. We’ve never fought nor teamed together until this point but I am definitely aware of him. He has a very high angle yet beautiful looking Shooting Star Press.

――What was your impression of him after tagging together?
Kotaro: Nothing felt weird at all. I’ve had a little feud with Okada back in All-Japan so I was more concerned about that. We worked without much issue, but it was only one match so I can’t really say now. For that match however we had no issues.

――Your opponents were The37KAMIINA team of MAO, Shunma Katsumata and Toi Kojima.
Kotaro: It was my first time against Kojima but I’ve fought against Shunma in DNA and we’ve fought many times back then so I was excited to see how much he grew from then. I’ve fought MAO in the Ryogoku 4-Way, and his long-distance Firebird Splash was memorable.

――What do you think of The37KAMIINA as a unit?
Kotaro: I’m a little confused about that actually…is it about the Neppa? Is it the thing where you swing the towel around in the Sauna? I don’t really know what’s going on (laughs) but there weren’t that annoying in the ring at all.

――Are you not a fan of Sauna perhaps?
Kotaro: Actually, I love the Sauna! I’ve received an Aufguss in a Sauna before, and I never thought they’d bring it into the ring. My only thought was that why didn’t they bring a towel to the ring. (laughs)

――At the Dec 29^th TDC Hall show, you’ll be challenging for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championships. The person you’ve had the most interactions with in the Champion team would be Doi we assume?
Kotaro: That is correct. We fought for the Triangle Gate Championship over at DRAGONGATE after a long while. When we were younger, we fought many times for the GHC Junior Tag Championships.

――And after a turn of events, fate would bring the both of you once again in a DDT ring.
Kotaro: Both of us went Freelance and it must be fate that we would cross paths again in a DDT ring.

――You’ve fought against Owashi at the Nagano show during your time there, correct?
Kotaro: We met at the show, and he’s a lot bigger that I last remembered. (laughs) But I’ve fought against much bigger opponents than myself so I know my strategy against him. But you won’t really know until you actually go in the ring. But the one thing I cannot keep my guard down is that one “interesting kid” I feel (laughs)

――You’re talking about Hirata. Will this be your first time?
Kotaro: Our first encounter and our first meeting. If I make fun of him I’ll be caught in his trap so I’ll be very aware of him.

――You are aware that Hirata will dance during the match correct…?
Kotaro: I-I’m sorry can you say that again? (laugh) He’s gonna dance!?

――Sometimes he prioritizes his dance performance over winning the match…
Kotaro: ??? Well it would’ve been better had I went against him first instead of the NEPPOWER!! kids. (laughs)

――Are there anyone else you’re interested in DDT?
Kotaro: I’m very interested in everyone on the top card. Ueno is one, Naya is one, and HARASHIMA and I are from the same period but he’s a little senior to me. Of course, I can’t forget Endo and Akiyama. I definitely want to go against everyone of them at least once.

――You’ve mostly fought in the ‘Junior Heavyweight” category in your career, but DDT is an Openweight promotion. What do you think about this?
Kotaro: I think that’s a modern take (on Wrestling). Recently (at Dec 4^th) you had Ueno and Naya going head to head and I felt “if I was in that ring it wouldn’t feel strange at all”.
――You’ve had many interactions with Takao before, would you like to go against him or tag with him once again?
Kotaro: I’ve officially acknowledged his use of the Endless Waltz, and I definitely want to go against him. Team Dream Futures came to AJPW before and I defended the Asia Tag titles against Ishii and Irie but I’ve not fought against Takao. He’s definitely improved a lot since then so I’d be fine to tag with him since we’re both Red. (laughs) A singles match would be perfectly fine too.
――By the way what do you think about the Pheromones in DDT? Are you aware of them?
Kotaro: I know of their name. (laughs) I don’t know what they will do, however.

――You might have to go against them in your time here in DDT.
Kotaro: I’m sure we will. So I’d like to keep it as it is. (laughs) I’ll keep the enjoyment for when we cross paths.

――There might be many fans seeing you for the first time in DDT so can you leave us with a message for them right now.
Kotaro: As I was fortunately invited to wrestle in the DDT ring, I’m not going to try to fit in with everyone else. I’m aiming for the top. I hope you enjoy Kotaro Suzuki’s wrestling.