After a breakthrough in 2024, Zack Sabre Jr. is heading into NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 as the IWGP world heavyweight champion.

The English-born wrestler's unconventional road to success in Japan has made him one of the most revered technicians in the world. Although his reputation precedes him, his commitment to catch wrestling and the Japanese audience paid off in 2024 as he ascended to new heights as the first British G1 Climax winner.

Many fans may remember Sabre as the wiry young standout from WWE's Cruiserweight Classic in 2016. However, The Frontman of TMDK took a journey off the beaten path, signing with New Japan Pro-Wrestling instead and joining Suzuki-gun the following year.

Today, he has proved that venture wasn't merely a stepping stone as he dedicated eight years to becoming one of the top names in the company. The 2024 Tokyo Sports MVP has made a home in Japan and plans to follow up the best year of his career with even more accolades.

We had the chance to talk to him ahead of his upcoming title defense against Shota Umino about his run over the last few months, goals for 2025, Wrestle Dynasty opponent Ricochet, and some unfinished business with Bryan Danielson and Samoa Joe.

Locked In for Wrestle Kingdom 19

As Sabre settled in for our interview, it became clear he hadn't had time to stop and smell the roses so to speak.

Although the IWGP world heavyweight champion accomplished so much last year, he isn't resting on his laurels going into a monumental weekend for New Japan. Right now, his next title defense and the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 19 is his top priority.

"I mean, obviously, each individual goal was the focus," Sabre said. "I mean, it's a blessing and a curse having the most important events of the year at the beginning of the year. We'll see how the Tokyo Dome goes, and perhaps I'll get to relish it a little bit."

Nevertheless, 2024 was a historic year for him as he joined Kenny Omega as the second foreigner to win the G1 Climax. In addition, he became the first non-Japanese wrestler named Tokyo Sports MVP since Bob Sapp in 2002, but he hasn't had a chance to reflect on those achievements yet.

"I think probably anything that you're aspiring for [is a career goal], but pro wrestling is such a continuously forward-moving industry that obviously winning the G1 was a lifelong career goal," he said. "But then by the next day, we had the press conference for the title match. So it's already focussing on the next thing.

"So, I'm sure these will be things that I'll appreciate. I appreciate them fully now, but there'll be things I'm able to reflect on when I've stopped wrestling and no one cares and I'm just the crazy old man in a pub telling people like, 'You know, I won this tournament in Japan.' They'll be saying, 'Yeah, sure you did.'"

Betting On Himself After Historic Tournament Win

ZSJ called his shot after his G1 Climax win and opted to challenge Tetsuya Naito for the world title on Oct. 14 at NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling.

It was a risky move because most of the recent G1 winners held on to the briefcase until Wrestle Kingdom, but it paid off.

The English star also hasn't had the best luck at Ryōgoku Sumo Hall in Tokyo where he lost two IWGP Heavyweight Championship matches to Kazuchicka Okada.

"For the majority of the time I grew up watching New Japan, that wasn't a set precedent," Sabre said. "So I'd never associated those two things as being intertwined with each other necessarily. I'd had some really big matches at Ryōgoku, but I think I've lost basically all of them until the G1.

"So, some of it was trying to vindicate past errors, but there's something really beautiful about Ryōgoku. I think obviously, Korakuen Hall to Western fans gets a lot of rightful acclaim, but just the nature of the aesthetic and the history of Ryōgoku, the fact that the G1 finals are in the building that hosts the sumo tournaments in Tokyo. I think that symbolism is really important to me. And obviously that's the hub of our big events in Tokyo as well."

The two-time New Japan Cup winner was adamant about his decision to return to the venue and avenge his past losses. In the process, he vowed to win the company's top prize for the first time and defend it in London at Royal Quest the following week.

"Knowing that we always have a big Ryōgoku event in October that appealed to me much more than being able to challenge for the belt at the Tokyo Dome," Sabre said. "The ambition was always to enter the Dome as the champion. I think that the image of that, I think, is much different.

"Both Dome events are really incredibly important to the future of New Japan. So, I knew the relevance that it would have to walk in as champion, as opposed to challenging for the belt on my fourth attempt, having lost three previous title matches. I knew that I needed to enter the Tokyo Dome as champion to sort of erase that past perception of me."

Fresh Start As IWGP World Heavyweight Champion

During a NJPW interview in November, Sabre said his "career starts here" following his celebrated win over Naito.

After a successful run in 2024, he made it clear that he's just getting started as a top star.

"I guess it's somewhat facetious for someone who's been wrestling for 20 years," Sabre said. "I mean, it's always the cliché, you should always say you've been wrestling for less time and then people are more impressed. If I'd been wrestling for three years, I think I would have had like an all-time career.

"I felt like I'd been working to reach the top in Japan for 13 years. I first came to Japan for Pro Wrestling Noah and joined the dojo in 2011. I know I'd always had success. I've won tournaments and championships, both in Noah and New Japan, but I'd always been one step below that.

"So, I genuinely feel that by winning the G1 I was able to not only prove broadly to the company, to the fans, to the wrestling industry widely, but more to myself that I'm capable of being not only a champion but also someone to lead New Japan.

"That aspect of being champion appeals to me much more than the egotistical aspects of, 'Oh, I'm the champion.' To be the champion, especially in New Japan, gives you immense responsibility, and that's something that I've been seeking out as opposed to shying away from."

The Submission Master joined New Japan as a heel. As such, most fans are used to his brasher and cockier persona, but you could feel the groundswell of support for him when he hoisted the IWGP title after a statement victory over Naito during the second night of the G1 in Osaka.

"I was overwhelmed by it, of course, the Japanese fans are very pragmatic," he said. "I think they may pay attention and are familiar with the journey of a wrestler, especially as a younger foreign wrestler. When I first went to Japan, I think I was 22 or 23, but still, I wouldn't have expected the atmosphere that I had at the G1 semifinals and the finals.

"But then also to have it reciprocated with Western fans as well. I was overwhelmed by the response from the G1, and then obviously when I won the championship as well. It felt similar to winning a Champions League or something or your local sports team winning.

"I think timing is paramount. From the time that I won the first New Japan Cup in 2018. Then even when I won the Cup again a couple of years ago, I think I was capable to be champion, but I don't think I was capable to be at the front of the company or to lead the company with all of the other responsibilities that come through media or just having that perception that, OK, Zack is ready now.

"I don't regret any aspect of the journey because I think it's always better to be overqualified than underqualified. And fingers crossed, I'm at least qualified now and then hopefully I'll prove that I'm overqualified."

Leading New Japan into New Era at Wrestle Kingdom 19

Sabre has quite a daunting task ahead as he prepares to face a young, up-and-comer in Umino at Wrestle Kingdom 19 and hopes to be the first foreigner to retain a world championship in the main event.

"Under the Wrestle Kingdom banner, there's not been a foreigner to leave as champion," he said. "But a big aspect of why I wanted to enter as champion rather than challenging for the first time was to already establish myself in that sphere.

"Outside of the direct goal of wanting to main-event at the Tokyo Dome, and obviously win at the Tokyo Dome, being able to approach the way that I wrestle in the largest room possible that we have. That is very motivating to me because I think I can provide something completely different from perhaps what the stereotype of the Tokyo Dome main event can or should be. I think I can also do something not outside of the box for me, but play to the room that it deserves."

New Japan is currently rebuilding its world title picture without mainstays like Will Ospreay, Jay White and Okada.

In fact, this will be the first Wrestle Kingdom main event that won't feature The Rainmaker, Naito or Hiroshi Tanahashi since 2010.

However, ZSJ is eager to prove himself on the big stage as a vanguard for the company. There are also high expectations surrounding Umino as one of this generation's "Three Musketeers," but he is positive they can lead NJPW into the future.

"Even though this is my first Tokyo Dome main event, I have to wrestle and show everyone that there's a reason why I am in the main event," he said. "But I see the responsibility more broadly is to be able to bring up a young wrestler like Shota, who's also main-eventing at the Tokyo Dome for the first time. But I see that our situations are completely different.

"I have a 20-year career, so I feel it's sort of arbitrary that it's my first Tokyo Dome main event, but it's my responsibility as the most experienced wrestler and also someone who's achieved the things I've done this year. But I'm very confident. I've known Shota since he was a young lion. We've wrestled quite regularly since he returned from excursion.

"I can't speak for him, but I feel like I have the most confidence in him being worthy of that challenge. So it's a dual-purpose responsibility to prove that I'm a Tokyo Dome main event-level wrestler, but also bringing my opponent up with me through somewhat torture, if not kind torture. I don't know. I think that's probably somewhat contradictory."

Match With Ricochet at Wrestle Dynasty

NJPW billed Wrestle Kingdom as a two-night event with its first co-branded show with AEW, ROH, CMLL and Stardom the following night.

Wrestle Dynasty was the logical next step for its partnership with All Elite Wrestling, and ZSJ is grateful for the opportunity to headline both shows.

"I've been involved in all three of the Forbidden Doors," Sabre said. "I think it was always inevitable that we would do something on Japanese soil. But I think the fact that it's happening for the first time in Japan at the Tokyo Dome, which is the largest venue we can run, is very important to me.

"I was somewhat surprised to see Ricochet diving at me in a full suit and dress shoes from the top rope, which speaks paramount to his balance and skill because I don't think I could do that in gym shoes, let alone loafers.

"But I think this year's Wrestle Kingdom will be looked upon as a massive turning point in a generational shift for New Japan. Wrestle Dynasty, I plan on very much entering as champion, so the match will be for the IWGP world heavyweight title.

"I couldn't be the first foreign G1 winner, but I was the first British winner. I couldn't be the first foreign IWGP world heavyweight champion. I'm not the first Tokyo Sports MVP winner. Sorry, Bob Sapp. But I can be the first foreigner to enter and leave Wrestle Kingdom as IWGP world heavyweight champion.

"No New Japan wrestler in history has defended the championship twice in back-to-back Tokyo Dome events. So that's what's driving me right now."

Sabre has a busy schedule in January and lofty goals for the rest of the year, but he isn't taking his longtime friend lightly. Although they've crossed paths many times, he's expecting a different competitor in an opponent he hasn't wrestled one-on-one since 2017.

"Well, I mean, me and Ricochet have wrestled all over the world," ZSJ said. "It's somewhat ironic that our first singles match in Japan is going to be at the Tokyo Dome. We had traveled and wrestled extensively. When I was living in the States in 2016, 2017, I saw him almost every week, and then even when we were abroad, whether it was Germany across Europe or the first time I went to Australia, I wrestled him twice. So he was somewhat of a constant in my life.

"I think the one takeaway that I always felt wrestling Ricochet was how he's deceptively strong. He's an incredibly strong wrestler. Will Ospreay, obviously, says how much of an influence he had on him. I think obviously people think about him being broadly a high-flyer, but I think he's much more versatile than people give him credit for.

"I'm interested to see how he's going to approach not only the scale of the match at the Tokyo Dome, but also entering the heavyweight division, having been a very accomplished junior heavyweight in New Japan. And obviously, I'm a ginormous behemoth of a heavyweight, so he's going to have to adapt to that aspect of me.

"There aren't any tricks that he can have up his sleeve. I presume he's not wearing the suit for the match. I wrestle very well with high-flyers because it leaves a lot open for opportunity. But likewise, I'm not going to be expecting the junior heavyweight of New Japan past with Ricochet."

Passion for Technical Wrestling and Hopes to Wrestle Bryan Danielson Again

For the past decade, ZSJ has made a name for himself as one of the best technical wrestlers in the world. As an ambassador of the World of Sport style, he has showcased catch wrestling alongside all-time greats like Bryan Danielson.

"I think most of it is subconscious," Sabre said. "I mean, that's just the way that I wrestle is the way that I genuinely feel passionate about wanting to wrestle myself. It doesn't mean I don't think that wrestling should have an incredibly wide variety of different styles.

"One of my favorite matches of all time is Onita and The Great Sasuke in an exploding cage match. So I love all forms of wrestling. But as far as what inspires me now and inspired me from the beginning was always technical wrestling. And then with my background beginning wrestling in Britain, I always just resonated with that style more than any other style I've been involved in otherwise.

"Part of it is feeling a responsibility to keep aspects of that style alive, but I mean, just selfishly, it's just the way that I enjoy wrestling the most. And I think whether it's outside of wrestling, whether it's music, art or film or anything creative. I think if you're pursuing something that you genuinely feel passionate about yourself, then it's effortless. You don't really have to make a conscious effort to pursue that style.

"I feel very fortunate to have been able to wrestle Bryan twice in, for now, his retirement period, but I expect that he will be back."

The two have been linked for years. At the tail end of Danielson's original run with WWE, fans voted ZSJ the best technical wrestler of the year for seven consecutive years in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards.

The American Dragon has dominated the category since 2021, but no one outside of them has won the award for the last 19 years.

Their WrestleDream rematch last February at NJPW The New Beginning was a match-of-the-year contender. Still, Sabre and many viewers hoped for a third encounter after he tied their series of matches at the event.

"If he's physically capable of wrestling, I'm certain he'll be back," he said. "But I'll certainly be waiting for the decider. But to be able to wrestle Bryan in both America and Japan in close proximity was very important to me.

"I would never have presumed to be able to have that match on an American pay-per-view either. So, I think it's a testament to professional wrestling fans as well as to how open-minded they are for it to have been received the way that it was."

Unfinished Business With Bryan Danielson

Although ZSJ bested Danielson in their last showdown in Japan, he still has a score to settle with him.

"I've not tapped him out yet," Sabre said. "He graciously said that I was the best technical wrestler in the world, but I don't know if I can take that mantle until I've beaten the best submission artist. So, yeah, get your ass back, Bryan.

"I'm an environmentalist, so I won't be using any single-use plastic to aim for him. I'll only be using submissions."

The Brit remained incredulous about the possibility of Danielson never wrestling again, but he briefly commented on the notion that he officially passed the torch to him after he retired as a full-time competitor.

After all, he won the IWGP world title two days after the 43-year-old was taken out of the Tacoma Dome in Seattle at WrestleDream, cementing his place as one of the best in the world.

"I've been aiming to be the best technical wrestler in the world my whole career," Sabre said. "I wasn't hoping that it would come with attempted murder. So, yeah, it would have been somewhat more enjoyable if he was still alive. But I think he's OK.

"Likewise, I would have loved to defend the title against Bryan. I mean, I plan on being the IWGP world heavyweight champion for the foreseeable future. So, we'll obviously have to see. But I guess there's some melancholic symbolism of people attempting to murder Bryan while I win my first championship."

A Potential First-Time Match with Samoa Joe

The former NJPW world television champion also has unfinished business with the self-proclaimed King of Television.

Samoa Joe confronted Sabre during an appearance on Ring of Honor in 2023, but their anticipated one-on-one match never came to fruition.

"Joseph of the Samoas," Sabre said. "As the sole representative of the Isle of Sheppey, as Sheppey Zack, I think it's the island battle that the world has been clamoring for. It was obviously unfortunate that that match never materialized.

"Samoa Joe is one of the best wrestlers in the world and had an incredible AEW title reign very recently. Sadly, it will not be for control of television at this point. But obviously, my focus moving forward will be domestically on New Japan, but it's still a world title.

"And given the close connection and collaborations that happen with AEW, then that is something I would definitely be eager to make happen. We have to find a neutral [venue]... Well, I guess Japan would be a neutral island for both of us. If he wants to make the fight, then I think that's something I'd be eager for."

That could be a perfect matchup for Forbidden Door 2025, which is set to take place in London on Aug. 24. Wrestle Kingdom 19 and Wrestle Dynasty will stream live on Jan. 4 and 5 on NJPW World.