G1’s biggest entrant speaks
Of all 32 entrants in G1 Climax 33, one towers over the rest. Hikuleo is entering the first G1 of his career, but with hunger and a track record that’s included exiling Jay White from Japan, he might just make the biggest of impacts. We spoke to Hikuleo days before the G1 gets underway.
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This is where you really prove yourself
“So Hikuleo, first I wanted to talk about your 2023 so far. You beat Jay White in Osaka to start your year, but then weren’t in the New Japan Cup.”
Hikuleo: Right.
“Won the STRONG Openweight Championship, but then lost it shortly afterward. It’s been a year of ups and downs for you, but how do you feel reflecting on the first half?”
Hikuleo: Like you said, it started off great, beating one of the best wrestlers in the world in Jay White. But then I think I should have been in the Cup, should have been in the conversation for the World Heavyweight Championship. But then when I came back, I was able to beat KENTA for the STRONG title. That was a big start to get my first singles championship. So it’s been a slow and steady climb, but we’re only halfway though the year and now it’s G1 time.
“The ‘Tonga temperament’ is a famous one. Was it easy to be frustrated with the stop and start, or have you been trusting the process?”
Hikuleo: At first I wanted to just go go go, ride the momentum I had beating Jay White. But I had my brothers with more experience telling me to bide my time and be ready for the G1. Now here I am. I’m still young in the business, but I have my family in my ear telling me to enjoy the process and set me for a long career moving forward.
“What does it mean to you personally to have that call up to the G1 for the first time?”
Hikuleo: A lot. I remember when Tama got that call to be in his first G1, I was there. I remember how excited he was, and then his work ethic toward the tournament itself. I didn’t truly understand it until I came to Japan myself and saw how guys would train so differently to the rest of the year. This is where you really prove yourself and show your stuff as a singles competitor.
Speaking to that, with such a tough reputation for the tournament, is there anything you’re doing specifically for the G1?
Hikuleo: The guys in my block are all young, and we have a young champion in SANADA. So I figure I need to up my cardio. I’ve been doing a lot of HIIT training, a lot of wrestling on the mats in the school we have here, just moving a lot more, because there are so many young and fast guys that I have to keep up with as a big man.
Being a big guy like you are, the travel and the off time can often be almost as demanding as the in ring.
Hikuleo: Absolutely. It starts with flying to Japan, that 12-14 hour trip, you feel that in your knees, your neck, your back. All wrestlers go through it, but it’s even tougher for a big guy like me. Then Japan- Japan isn’t built for 6’8” guys like me. The beds are small- my legs hang off the bed. You can’t take a proper shower- I’m stood there trying to throw water on my neck from the shower head.
I’m not complaining, I’d pick this lifestyle over anything. It just definitely takes a toll. On the road, on the bus, in the hotels, restaurants, everything.
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