D-Oh GP2022 Pre-Tournament Special Interview: “Tetsujin”Kenta Kobashi speaks frankly: I’m excited to see Yoshimura’s growth in A-Block and Hino has the best ability in B-Block.

On November 1st, DDT’s yearly tournament of the strongest, the "D-O GRAND PRIX 2022," will begin at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. This year, the age restriction is under 40, and a total of 12 participants will compete: Tetsuya Endo, Daisuke Sasaki, Yuki Ueno, Naomi Yoshimura, Joey Janela, and RSP in Block A, and Kazusada Higuchi, Chris Brookes, MAO, Yuji Hino, Yukio Naya, and KANON in Block B. The tournament will start on November 1 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
　The schedule is as follows: the first bout will be held on November 1 at Korakuen, followed by official matches at Yokohama Radiant Hall on November 3, Yokohama Radiant Hall on November 5 (day/night show), Edion Arena Osaka No. 2 on November 12, Kyoto KBS Hall on November 13, and Korakuen Hall on December 18. The first-place finishers from each block will compete in a deciding match on December 4 at Korakuen Hall.
　President Sanshiro Takagi requested that the tournament be as hot as the singles league tournaments of other promotions, and requested “Tetsujin" Kenta Kobashi, to serve as the executive committee head for the second year in a row. We asked him about the highlights of the tournament this year.

――Looking back at last year, how was the tournament?
Kobashi: Ever since I became the executive committee head (of the D-Oh) the wrestlers have been fired up and had great matches. First of all it’s been amazing. They’ve even had wonderful matches outside of Tokyo and I’m glad to see that. The finals bout between Takeshita and Ueno was amazing. I don’t know how much I helped to invigorate the tournament or how much my contribution has done but I did my best to respond to President Takagi’s request. But I can see that the wrestlers have did their best to answer.

――Have the league matches been up to par in terms of intensity compared to other promotions?
Kobashi: Well, each match has had a decisive finish. I could see each wrestlers’ feelings in the match. Whether they’re competing or not, they’ve been doing their best to hype up the league matches…and its up to the fans to decide so. If the wrestlers put their all in making the league matches an interesting affair, it’ll naturally reflect in the results.

――You decided to take up on the offer this year after seeing the results of last year’s show?
Kobashi: Yes. President Takagi requested to do so again this year, and after the results of last year’s series I hope that more amazing bouts can be seen this year.

――We’ll be focusing on each individual bout from here. First of all, your impression of A-Block?
Kobashi: There’s last year’s runner-up Ueno and Endo, but I’m most interested in Yoshimura.
Last year he had 1 win and 4 losses, and the previous year he had 1 win and 5 losses. However, this year he will be entering as a KO-D Tag Team Champion. I’m sure he has his pride as a Champion, so this year his growth will be put to the test. Daisuke Sasaki won’t be let off the hook. His skills and how he pulls people in is one to watch and seeing these 4 go at each other will be an eye-opener. I think RSP is quite interesting to boot. I don’t know if he’ll win or go beyond the A-Block but he has a great body and good movement. He reminds me of the large foreigners during my time in AJPW. He might end up in a respectable spot.

――Janela has an image of a Hardcore wrestler but how do you think he will fare?
Kobashi: How far can he go without his Hardcore style? Is he more of a Junior Heavy build? It depends on his movement and his condition. Ever since Rikidozan’s era there’s been an image of large foreigners vs Japanese wrestlers. I’m not disregarding him but with his build and non-Hardcore aspect how far will he be able to go? He might use a Chair or some Hardcore aspects so I wonder how his matches will go. He’s definitely an X-Factor.


――You could say he’s the Dark Horse of A-Block?
Kobashi: I think amongst these 6, Sasaki is the most outstanding. However the foreigners have amazing skills so the foreigners might outshine him in their movements perhaps. He has an amazing Pro-Wrestling mind so if he goes wild it’ll be a sight to see. Or perhaps the large RSP will eat through the competition. It’s difficult to guess who will win A-Block as I’m unsure who will outrun the others.


――But for Kobashi, your choice is Yoshimura?
Kobashi: I think it’ll be Yoshimura. Or to be precise it has to be Yoshimura. He’s 27 like Ueno and Takeshita. Last year both Ueno and Takeshita were in the finals and Yoshimura wasn’t. I’d like him to go to the finals this year. Also Endo has become bigger and stronger. Endo had that major incident this June so I’m looking forward to seeing how well he’ll do. It’ll be a chance for him to regain the fan’s trust. He lost the match against Higuchi for the Openweight title but it gave him the chance to return. This time I hope he could leave a good result.

――Who are you looking forward to in B-Block?
Kobashi: If the Champion Higuchi is participating, he must win. That’s his fate. Although its unnecessary pressure as he’s the double champion. He’ll be able to accomplish a DDT Grand Slam if he’s able to. But if its ability I think it’ll be Hino….When he appeared at my Fortune Dream show he was really outstanding and you could see him in his element. Then, at the Oct. 28 Press Conference he was really brazen, but coming to the Press Conference in Pajamas (T shirts and shorts)? I went there in a necktie and he came in his Pajamas?? (laughs) However, in a pure ability standpoint, he is number 1.

――What do you think of Chris?
Kobashi: Chris is good. He’s tall, has a great Octopus Stretch and good on his feet. If his torso isn’t strong he won’t be able to do it to smaller guys. If he could put on a little more muscle, I think he’ll be more interesting however….

――The smallest in B-Block is MAO we think?
Kobashi: He has amazing movement. Good vibes, always shouting and supporting his partners. MAO sticks out like a sore thumb amongst everyone else. MAO seems like the guy who’ll think “if I don’t win here I won’t be able to be in the finals”. And in that situation, he might drag the rest down like forcing a double count-out. However, he considers himself as one of the best but he might drag the ones who are most likely to win…but you’ll need a certain level of skill to be able to do so in the first place.

――What do you think of Naya?
Kobashi: He has a great body and he’ll be insane if he finally wakes up. If he gets even bigger he’ll be even more interesting. He should become bigger like the wrestlers of old. Japanese wrestlers don’t often have that size, so it’ll suit him better. He’ll get even better going forward so if he destroys his opponents going forward, he’ll be an amazing main-stay.

――Recently he’s been showing signs of breaking from his shell. Could this B-Block be the key to it?
Kobashi: It could perhaps be. His body is really a great weapon. He has the ability to be explosive. I think he might get a few wins.

――He’s not bee in DDT long but what do you think of KANON?
Kobashi: He has a great body. He’s going to only get better from here onwards. Train more, do more reps and I hope he can face more of these guys going forward.

「** **Every match for Higuchi would be like a title match. That’s his responsibility as a Champion.」

――Higuchi will take part in his first D-Oh as KO-D Openweight champion. With your experience in mind, what do you think his role equates to?
Kobashi: I hope he wrestles each match as a title match in his mind. As a Champion, regardless of whether it is a singles, tag match, 6-man tag match, he has a responsibility to wrestle with the dignity of a champion. And especially so in a singles league tournament. That’s the responsibility of a Champion.

――During these few months he’s been shooting up the ranks. How do you feel seeing his growth?