Zack Sabre Jr. Considers Supporting Ryohei Oiwa’s Growth His Personal Project

During a recent interview with Rolling Stone Japan, NJPW star and former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. discussed his TMDK stablemate, Ryohei Oiwa, and supporting Oiwa’s overall growth. According to Sabre, helping Oiwa is his personal project right now.

The duo recently won NJPW’s World Tag League for 2025. Sabre said on competing in a tag team, “I started this year as the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and ended it by winning the World Tag League 2025. I never intended to go for the tag team belts, so this is also a new challenge for me.” He continued, “Tag matches are unique to professional wrestling and are rarely found in other martial arts or sports.”

He continued on Oiwa, “I’ve focused on singles matches throughout my career, but there’s still room for growth and learning in tag team wrestling. As for my relationship with my tag partner, Ryohei Oiwa, I believe he will become a great star in the future, so supporting his growth has become a personal project for me.”

The wrestler added, “Lately, I’ve been feeling really happy when I can witness someone’s growth with my own eyes. It’s like watching a child grow up—though I don’t want to say that. I’m not that old (laughs).”

Zack Sabre Jr. and Ryohei Oiwa are currently slated to challenge the Knock Out Brothers (Oskar and Yuto-Ice) for the IWGP Tag Team Championships at NJPW New Year Dash!! 2026. The event takes place the night after Wrestle Kingdom 20 on Monday, January 5. It will be held at the Nippon Budokan.