Ryohei Oiwa Reflects on G1 Climax Victory, Studying Bret Hart & Ricky Steamboat

During a recent interview with NJPW1972.com, New Japan Star and G1 Climax winner Ryohei Oiwa spoke about winning the finals of this year’s G1 Climax, taking inspiration from Bret Hart and Ricky Steamboat, and more. Below are some highlights:

Ryohei Oiwa on Winning This Year’s G1 Climax

“To be honest, it didn’t feel like I’d really done it until the press conference, the pain in my arm was the only proof that morning to me that I went through a G1 final. I definitely never thought five years ago that i would be a G1 winner here today. … I was buzzing from the adrenaline on the night, and I didn’t sleep all that well, but when I did wake up, I had something like 200 messages. I spent the entire time right up until the press conference replying to everything.

“Out of all the messages I got, the most common comment was about the style of the match. About being on the mat for the first 20 minutes, the finish coming from a headlock, people were saying they’d never seen a G1 final like it.”

On How the Fans Were Invested in the Match Fundamentals of the Finals

“I don’t know whether to say it was new and fresh, or a retro throwback, (laughs). But I always go in there to fight to win, and that was the style I landed on to achieve that. It always made sense to me to stay on top of my opponent and not give them any breathing room.”

On His Interaction With Kazyuki Fujita Backstage After the Finals

“Well yeah, but then he got all embarrassed and disappeared somewhere (laughs). He saw my semifinal with Callum Newman as well, and told me he thought both matches were great. You know, he was the only other guy in my class of Young Lions, so we were always going to be rivals, and that’s definitely going to continue. I think this G1 win is the first time I’ve felt I’ve been able to catch up to him.”

On How His Win Elevated Him

“I think it’s definitely shot me up in most people’s estimation. But the last three matches I had in particular, the last league match against Konosuke Takeshita, Callum Newman in the semifinal, and Uemura in the final, I only just about did it. It’s no guarantee that I would win again if the situation was the same. The competition is really fierce, so as NJPW’s younger guys are tearing it up in NJPW, I have to make it my mission to truly be the top guy of all of them.”

On His Wrestling Inspirations

“I learned a lot from watching old-school guys in America as well, Bret Hart and Ricky Steamboat. [On wearing sunglasses to his entrance for the finals] That was a Bret Hart tribute (laughs).”

As previously reported, Oiwa will challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Title at NJPW King of Pro Wrestling. The event is scheduled for October 12 in Tokyo’s Ryogoku Sumo Hall.