In order for a pro wrestler to reach his top potential, all of the pieces must be put together at the right time. That is exactly what is happening for 31 year old Zack Sabre Jr after an outstanding 2018. After affiliating with Suzuki-gun in 2017, Sabre went on to win the New Japan Cup tournament in March of 2018. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito were all defeated clean by Sabre in the last calendar year, which says a lot about the future of Sabre by beating the top of the food chain in New Japan Pro Wrestling. “The Technical Wizard” has spent most of his career in the United Kingdom, where he perfected his submission game but Sabre signed an NJPW contract for a full-time deal in April of 2018, making Sabre a major player in the current Northern Expansion era of NJPW.
Sabre competed in the World Tag League tournament, teaming with Taichi. Minoru Suzuki faced off against his star pupil of Suzuki-gun, when Sabre and Taichi met Suzuki and Iizuka in tournament action. It’s very likely Sabre breaks free from the rule-breaking faction in the near future, but the cocky attitude really suits Sabre when he’s in control of a match. The young British master is able to use old-school techniques better than any pro wrestler today, twisting the wrist and manipulating joints, all the while posing for the camera. Zack Sabre Jr vs Will Ospreay sounds very enticing in a battle of clashing styles for the NEVER Openweight Championship as we head into 2019 in NJPW but first Sabre gets Tomohiro Ishii at Wrestle Kingdom 13 for the Rev Pro British Heavyweight Championship on January 4.
The Zack Driver has been a great addition to Sabre’s offense in addition to TAKA Michinoku being a fantastic spokesman for the young Suzuki-gun member during his ring entrance. The UK has been the home of Zack Sabre Jr since his 2002 debut outside of Pro Wrestling NOAH excursions, ”The Stone Pitbull” invaded that territory due to the NJPW/Rev Pro relationship in 2018 and claimed the British Heavyweight Championship after wars against former Champion, Minoru Suzuki. The trainee of Naomichi Marufuji and other greats has a new devastating finishing maneuver in the arsenal and Ishii holds the championship that Sabre so dearly wants back, it’s a great reversal of roles where Sabre is challenging for Ishii’s British Heavyweight Championship at the Tokyo Dome.
Will Ospreay and Zack Sabre Jr along with Marty Scurll have been phenomenal success stories from the United Kingdom to Marquee matches in NJPW, it’s very possible Sabre is the one leading the pack after already challenging Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. “The Technical Wizard” may be the wrestler the NEVER Openweight title division needs with all the experience that goes with being a champion, the man that bridges the gap between Junior Heavyweight and Heavyweight competitor. Sabre though would love to achieve much more, winning back the British Heavyweight Championship for Rev Pro is only the first step to a huge 2019. Zack Sabre Jr has so many different ways of winning a match and there are also many different directions Sabre’s career could take towards the top of NJPW. One thing is for sure, we must get Zack Sabre Jr vs Minoru Suzuki in a singles match one way or another and it might just happen in the G1 Climax 29 tournament in 2019.
