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Going on excursion is an important career step for many young wrestlers, especially in Japan. After undergoing rigorous training in the dojo and learning to apply that knowledge during actual matches, a rookie’s first excursion is the point at which they need to learn to think, fight, and live outside of that familiar framework, so they can later define their own unique place within it.
This jump will be particularly intense in the upcoming excursion of DRAGONGATE’s Mochizuki Junior. His father, the legendary Masaaki Mochizuki, loomed large over the 2022 debutee’s first years as a wrestler, even more so than is typical for second generation talent. As a self-described stage parent, Mochizuki Sr. took full charge of carrying his offspring to in-ring success right from the start, even founding an entire faction for that sole purpose. Despite the advantages this support brought him, however, Junior was not satisfied with the situation. He wanted to walk his own path, by his own strength.
With the announcement of his 2024 excursion to England and Europe, that wish seems about to be granted at last. At time of writing, Mochizuki Junior is set to spend three months with British Kingdom Pro Wrestling, participate in wXw’s 16 Carat Gold series in Germany, and potentially make a handful of appearances in Italy. Neither Mochizuki Sr. nor any other DRAGONGATE wrestlers will be accompanying him on this journey. To himself, his father, and the DRAGONGATE fans, this journey will prove whether or not Junior is finally ready to leave the nest.
Ahead of his overseas debut, Five Star Network’s Kay Quinn had the opportunity to interview Mochizuki Junior about his excursion goals, his current rivalries, and the dissolution of his first faction.
You are embarking on your very first overseas excursion starting in February 2024. Many western fans will be seeing you wrestle for the very first time. What is the Nr. 1 thing they should know about you before watching your work?
First of all I want them to learn my name! And then I want them to pay attention to my kicks and the names of my moves!
What do you consider your greatest strengths as a wrestler?
I’d have to say the kicks I cultivated with karate. And my German suplex, which is one of my signature moves.
A height that only a guy can pull off and a beautiful bridge that is on par with a girl’s!
What kind of impression are you hoping to leave on the international audiences who see your matches?
I really want them to see my karate kicks!
Kickboxing and shoot kicks are different, after all!
Why did you choose to go to England and Europe in particular?
When the company talked to me about [the excursion] I was just glad to hear it, no matter which countries it would be.
I’m especially looking forward to Europe since I’ve never been there!
Are there any specific British or European wrestlers you are hoping to face or team with during your trip?
To be honest I don’t know too much about European wrestling.
But that makes me all the more excited for it!
Is there any style or move in particular which you’re planning to learn or polish during excursion?
I’d have to say I want to learn European style wrestling, since it’s not my forte!
Who are your biggest inspirations, both within and without pro wrestling?
There are a lot of wrestlers who inspire me.
For wrestlers who use kicks, it’s Fujita Jr and Kenoh.
Shingo Takagi, who has had tremendous matches with my father.
I could list wrestlers endlessly, so I’ll leave it at that.
When it comes to non-wrestlers, it’s the successful singer Ado and the table tennis player [Tomokazu] Harimoto, who are both from the same generation as me.
The person you are most commonly compared to by fans is, of course, your father, Masaaki Mochizuki. Now that you are almost a year and a half into your career, how have you come to differ from him as a wrestler?
My gear and style are the same as my father’s, no doubt about it.
But I use almost none of my father’s moves.
Late last year, you challenged your father to a singles match once you returned from injury. What are you hoping to gain from such a match?
I want to win, of course .
I want to seize victory with my own moves and my own style.
The challenge came about as a result of your betrayal at the hands of Yoshiki Kato, almost exactly one year after you were betrayed by ISHIN. How were you feeling after these consecutive betrayals?
To be honest, I’m scared of forming a team right now.
I can’t really trust people.
But it did get me quite fired up.
I want to defeat these two, no matter the cost.
What do you think was the reason both of them turned on you?
I’m sure it was jealousy. And they’re both older than me.
They must’ve felt a sense of urgency.
In addition to Kato and ISHIN, you have also come to be in something of a rivalry with Gold Class’s Minorita. How did that originally develop and what do you currently think of him?
That guy…
He is certainly always making fun of me.
He strikes me as different from ISHIN or Kato.
He’s small but I recognize his solid skill and fast moves for which he uses his physique in the optimal way. He is actually good.
And he also destroyed my neck.
I will get my revenge for that.
In the face of your excursion, your faction, M3K, dissolved on February 7th. How did you feel during that final match?
We left it all in the ring.
It was my first time being on the receiving end of Susumu’s Jumbo Wins! and it rocked me considerably.
I also took Kanda’s John Wu for the first time. He always says “Blast off!” when he does it, but that day he told me “Spread your wings!” as he struck me with the John Wu.
I felt like crying.
Well, in the end I did cry.
In hindsight, what did M3K mean to you?
It’s a very important stable to me.
They supported me during my debut.
They let me grow.
What are the most important things your time with the group has taught you?
It really was the support I received from those three veterans that allowed me to improve greatly.
Is there a current DRAGONGATE faction you could see yourself joining upon your return?
I’m not sure yet.
Maybe I will approach [a faction] or maybe I will be invited.
Since you joined M3K almost immediately after your debut, this will be your first time wrestling without the support of a faction or your father for such an extended period. What do you think that being on your own will change for you and how are you preparing for those changes?
It’s going to be an important trial.
I have faith that once I make it through that, growth and a wonderful view will await me.
What is your biggest goal for this excursion?
Absorbing the European style. Getting bigger.
I also want to learn English, which I wasn’t very good at in school.
Our deepest gratitude to Mochizuki Junior (@ryoto_420), for taking the time to answer our questions, and to Ho Ho Lun (@hoholun719), for his help in arranging this interview.
All translation for this interview was handled by Joe (@thefeelite). Our thanks to him for his excellent work and his patience.
For more on Mochizuki Junior, check out our previous interview with him. Those unfamilar with his home promotion might also be interested in our DRAGONGATE Beginner’s Guide.