Tetsuya Naito Says SANADA 'Isn't A Superstar’

SANADA currently sits atop New Japan Pro Wrestling as the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but despite undergoing a radical image change ahead of his ascent to the top, Tetsuya Naito just doesn’t feel that SANADA is a superstar.

Naito gave his opinions on his former LIJ stablemate during an interview with the official NJPW website, saying the following:

"If I don’t say something that means there’s nothing to say. He’s the champion, but he isn’t standing out like he should. If you grabbed a random fan off the street somewhere in the world and asked them who the champion in New Japan is, they would have to really think about it at best, right? That’s where SANADA is. 

“He won the New Japan Cup, and he took the belt, so there is no denying his ability. He just isn’t a superstar. That’s why when you asked me who I want to face the G1, I didn’t answer SANADA because he’s the champion, I answered with Shingo Takagi and Yota Tsuji. Kazuchika Okada would be a big final as well. Me and SANADA, not so much," Naito said.

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