FanSided Exclusive: NJPW’s Rocky Romero on the state of professional wrestling

In an exclusive interview with FanSided, NJPW mainstay Rocky Romero details his thoughts on the current and future state of New Japan and pro wrestling as a whole.

Rocky Romero is best known for his work with Ring of Honor as well as New Japan Pro Wrestling. An eight-time IWJP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion (among many other accolades), he is now leading Roppongi 3D, Sho and Yoh, to their own success as part of the CHAOS stable.

But he’s not ready to call it an in-ring career. Romero went onto a five-win showing at this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament, including a 25-minute classic with eventual tournament winner Will Osprey.

FanSided was able to get a little of Romero’s time for a question-and-answer interview. Here’s what Romero had to say about his future, New Japan’s future and the future of pro wrestling.

FanSided: Where would you like to see yourself in NJPW five years from now?

Rocky Romero: I would like to see myself in five years considered one of the all-time Junior Heavyweight greats, Best of Super Junior finalist, and one Junior title run (the one thing that has seemed to escape me). I think I have proven in this year’s BOSJ that there is still a lot left in the tank.

Where would you like to see New Japan five years from now?

In Japan I would like to see our audience double and internationally I would like to see our audience triple. Especially in the United States, I would love to see NJPW be a household name in professional wrestling.

I would love to see NJPW be a household name in professional wrestling.

Who do you believe is the dark horse for this year’s G1? [The tournament kicks off on July 6 in Dallas, Texas and runs through August 19]

Will Ospreay, he’s got the goods and he can be the first wrestler to blur the lines between Junior Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions. He’s got the power of a Heavyweight and the speed and athleticism of a Junior and right now he’s the most exciting wrestler in the world.

How was your experience in this year’s Best of the Super Juniors?

For me, this year’s BOSJ was the most challenging and most emotional journey I have had in my career. A lot of people were surprised by my matches and I think a lot of people counted me out when they announced I would be competing and maybe a few people were even bothered or upset I was in it.

For me, this year’s BOSJ was the most challenging and most emotional journey I have had in my career.

I am glad I was able to prove them wrong and receive the support from fans worldwide. It was a support I have never experienced before, and I was really touched by the whole journey.

Do you see Sho and Yoh breaking into singles action in the coming years?

I think its inevitable! Both of them are extremely talented and together are very special. As they both grow as wrestlers they will need to try their own path at some point. But I think that is some time before that happens.

Who is an international talent you would like to see land in NJPW?

I would like to see PAC (Neville) join the NJPW ranks. I think he would be a fantastic addition and like Ospreay could compete in both divisions and be successful. Fans worldwide would love that, like imagine Okada vs PAC?!

Do you believe we are in a golden era of professional wrestling?

I think we’re in the most interesting era of professional wrestling where every company big or small can make their own impact and every wrestler has more options than ever before. I think we are just seeing the beginning of it and the golden [era] is still to come.

What would you attribute to the current wrestling boom?

As the world gets smaller through social media, YouTube, etc. people can pick and choose the types of professional wrestling they want to watch, and the biggest producer of professional wrestling isn’t giving a lot of fans what they want. So, fans have a choice and that’s why you’re seeing a NJPW boom and an overall wrestling boom. The professional wrestlers are the best they have ever been in any era and that helps.

The professional wrestlers are the best they have ever been in any era and that helps.

If you could add one member of the current NJPW roster to CHAOS, who would that be?

Juice Robinson, I think he could use a little edge that CHAOS as a group could bring out in him.

Do you see yourself moving into more of a manager or commentator role moving forward?

Moving forward I’m not afraid to take on any opportunity that gets put my way. Whether that’s a manager, wrestler, commentator, producer you name it, I’ll do it all and I’ll always be up for it. I live for that s–t.

Follow Romero on Twitter @azucarRoc, on Instagram @azucarroc and check out his website, rockyromeromerch.com.