Kazuchika Okada Quotes

I started wrestling in Mexico, and then I came to New Japan.

I worked on trying to get to Mexico, which was the first thing that I really wanted to do, but a couple of my girlfriends thought that I should learn how to wrestle before I go to Mexico, so I should try out in Japan. That is how I kind of got over there in Japan.

My first six months were in Japan; then I went to Mexico and then went back to Japan. I had the opportunity to wrestle all the wrestlers from the United States, Europe, and Japan when I was there.

When I was Cedrick Von Haussen, the champion of Liechtenstein, I was only 18 years old. I was super, duper young. I started traveling around for wrestling when I was 16, so I had only been wrestling a few years at that point.

Sometimes when you're in different countries, everything has become so homogenised and there's a Starbucks and McDonald's everywhere, and you could feel like you're in Florida. But in Japan, you know you're there.

I'll say this, I'm no stranger to working with a foreign cast, foreign directors, that sort of thing. I love it, because I think that when you have people from different countries, it sort of brings everyone together, it's more of a worldly film.

Other projects later this year, but I think it's going to be a very very busy year this year with Star Wars and the re-release, so I'm sort of running about going backwards and forwards to America, Japan, Mexico. So there will be a lot of things to do.

I was thankful that TNA saw the potential in me and put me in a position to fulfill something like winning the World Heavyweight Championship.

I would hope to end my career here if it came down to it and take other roles with 'Lucha Underground.' I see a lot of the style I was raised on here, and I think I can help out with the young upcoming talent and hope to be around here as long as it lasts.

I've been to over 70 different countries, all seven continents. It's been just a wonderful ride, and all that is because of professional wrestling 100%.

Austin Aries is a guy that has been the longest-reigning 'X Division' champion, has proven himself all over the world before he even got to TNA, and is well-respected in the industry, so I think he's a guy to look out for and I look forward to working with.

I got to travel to Australia and I got to main event at Korakuen Hall.

In Mexico, to become a pro wrestler, you have to have a wrestling license, and to get a license, you have to pass a wrestling test.

Fortunately for me, I discovered Ring of Honor. And I saw guys who were much smaller in stature but were putting on these amazing matches that I had never seen in WWE before. So I thought, at the very least, I'd love the chance to be able to wrestle in a company like that someday.

When I started wrestling, I never wanted to go to WWE. It was the Japanese life for me.

Do I think Vince McMahon was looking at my matches in Japan going, 'We need him?' No. He wasn't. He's too busy. There's no way. But somebody may have been looking and going, 'All right, I like this guy. Let's give him a shot.'

If I was young again and wanted to be a professional wrestler, first thing I'd do is get jacked all to hell is what I'd do.

There are wrestlers in Japan. I think they think they can move to WWE, but it's not so easy.

I don't want to go back to WWE and burn out within four or five months, and having another run as TNA world champion would feel just as good.

I was in TNA for over a dozen years. I had a great run there - I had a great career - but obviously, WWE has always been the be-all, end-all of sports entertainment. Until you get there and experience it on a personal level, you just don't know.

When I first broke in, I wanted to be the best technical wrestler on the planet.

To look back and reflect on the career and sort of look at the seasons of it before I got to the WWF, working the territories and Japan and Texas, Puerto Rico, and then the WWF and WCW, then obviously the TNA years - it's been quite a journey, I'll say that.

'Lucha Underground' is the evolution of wrestling. It's high-style, high-flying, fast-paced hybrid style wrestling, and we're actually paying homage to lucha libre for the first time.

I didn't get to wrestle at all in TNA. I wanted to wrestle, and they wouldn't let me.

I like doing the shows with Ring of Honor, but I don't want to leave Japan.