English translation
Yuma Anzai's "Promise to Me" (part 23)
Weekly Pro-Wrestling
No.2363, 2025/7/16 issue, p.44
What's the reason for my two-month absence?
"It's like going on a little business trip from the pro-wrestling village to a different village"
☆At Korakuen Hall on June 18th, you suddenly announced you wouldn't be taking part for a while. I've had a million ideas about your reasons why, but now we're in a place where we can talk about it, please tell us why.
Anzai:
First of all, I just want to say it's absolutely not because I'm transferring or leaving or injured or sick or any kind of negative thing like that. I will be coming back to AJPW, and it'll be like I'd never left.
☆You're not gonna give us any concrete details, are you.
Anzai:
... As far as making AJPW more exciting is the objective, there's more than one way to do that. Everyone has different assets, so I can't do things like the Saito Brothers or Miyahara-san, because we all have different ways of doing things. So, I want to be known by everyone, I want to be loved by everyone, I want to be seen by everyone. That kind of thing!
☆This time, in a place separate from pro-wrestling.
Anzai:
It's like going on a little business trip from the pro-wrestling village to a different village. Other than that...
☆I get it. I think everyone gets the general picture.
Anzai:
Yeah. I think everyone remembers what I've said and my attitude towards things up until now.
☆So, ELPIDA disbanded at the Korakuen Hall show, but does that mean you'll continue ELPIDA by yourself?
Anzai:
No, ELPIDA was the four of us together, so we're done.
☆So, when you return in two months, is it inevitable that you'll join the main unit of AJPW?
Anzai:
Well, you never know what's going to happen in pro-wrestling. I could end up in Hideki Suzuki's Romero Special while he yells at me to join Baka no Jidai, or I could end up standing next to Talos.
☆There are lots of options.
Anzai:
Yes, because ELPIDA's come to an end, I've had a lot of crazy ideas. Up until now, with ELPIDA, the only choices I've had are which of the other three to team up with, but now, I don't even know who I'll be teaming up with for the Real World Tag League or anything like that.
☆For the time being, nobody comes to mind?
Anzai:
I guess it wouldn't look good if I teamed up with HAYATO or Honda now...
☆While you're out, the other three will be working on their own things.
Anzai:
Well, it'd be too bad if they didn't. Honda's already stepped up with his Triple Crown challenge. But, whether or not people think of the four of us as ELPIDA, it doesn't change anything, because our roots started with the belief that "We're going to be the ones who liven up AJPW the most", so I think we all have the same goal.
☆Will you be rivals from now on?
Anzai:
I felt that way during the Champion Carnival, but when Honda-san and Ayabe-san ended up fighting in the main event, I thought, "We're not side by side". The thought crossed my mind that maybe it's more fun when we're fighting against each other. It's fun when you're fighting guys who are from the generation above you, but fighting someone from your own generation is even more fun. Fighting with HAYATO-san, and making the junior and heavyweight scenes more exciting could also be a thing.
☆That reminds me, at that Shin-kiba show, Yuma Aoyagi said he'd try his best as "the other Yuma". Are you OK with that?
Anzai:
Well, he sure did say that, haha. He did the promise pose and the jumping knee, but in terms of height, my jumping knee is maybe the best in the business, so it's gonna be hard to take my place.
☆You've gotta entrust someone with your coolness.
Anzai:
I can't really leave that to anyone, so I want everyone to keep thinking about me for these two months while I'm gone. I'll be back soon!
Translated into English by Michelle @puroresueikaiwa
Please do not use without permission and credit.
