Chris Hero Discusses Japanese Wrestling, Concussions, More

– Chris Hero recently spoke on several subjects, here are some highlights…

On Working For All Japan: Well the strange thing is, now that I’ve been over there – I’ve done six tours for NOAH now – initially, you just kinda keep to yourself, do your own thing. They have separate locker rooms, so I would go whole shows without seeing Misawa, or I wouldn’t see Kobashi. Maybe I’d see Akiyama because he’s on the bus, but I wouldn’t see him once we were at the venue. We have 4-5 locker rooms, so it’s not like you’re hanging out with these guys all the time. You’re on the bus with them, but ya, it’s really intimidating. Japanese in general are more quiet, more stoic; you don’t know if they’re being quiet, or if they’re annoyed, so it takes some time to figure out what exactly they’re doing and why. It took me a couple tours to get comfortable. Now I have a lot of good friends over there and I can joke with them. I have that respect level because I did stay and train in the dojo but also because I did stay over there, and also because I get a good response from the fans.

On The State of Japanese Wrestling: You know, it’s not just them. New Japan is doing better, but it’s just wrestling in general is down. It’s been over-exposed. It’s been around. The new stars haven’t been created. You don’t have a (Giant) Baba, you don’t have an (Antonio) Inoki – I mean you do have an Inoki, and he’s doing okay with his IGF shows. You don’t have a current Tiger Mask – you know what I mean. But ya, they’re trying. I think with NOAH’s core talent, they’re making the right moves.

Has He Ever Has A Concussion?: Well, I’ll say this much: you see the style of matches I have, and I don’t know if I’m just lucky, but I’ve only ever had one concussion, and that was over 10 years ago. I get hit in the head all the time.

Does He Wear A Mouthguard?: No I don’t. When I was training to box last summer yes, I definitely had a mouthguard. I don’t know, maybe I’m just lucky. I think the problem is when guys get their bell rung, and don’t realize how serious it is, and they continue, and that’s when they get that second concussion, and that usually leads to post-concussion syndrome. And I think that the trouble I’ve heard is when people haven’t realized how severe their first injury was. But I’ve been knocked out before, you know had my bell rung quite a bit. But not to have a lasting effect of ‘Oh my head’ or whatever, because the first time I had a concussion, I definitely had a concussion. I couldn’t get out of bed, I got on a plane and vomitted everywhere. This other stuff, that’s just a part of wrestling. I’m not concerned for myself, but I would advise anyone with anything resembling a headache or whatever after a match to take it easy, I mean that’s what happened to Nigel.