AEW star and Don Callis Family member Konosuke Takeshita has opened up about his recent booking in the company.
Since his arrival in All Elite Wrestling, Konosuke Takeshita has become a standout performer in AEW with signature wins over the likes of Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho and Darby Allin.
Takeshita signed with AEW after making a name for himself and becoming “The Ace” of DDT Pro Wrestling and having highly regarded matches on AEW TV as a freelancer.
Takeshita added yet another gem to his resume with his well received bout against fellow Don Callis Family member Will Ospreay at AEW Revolution earlier this year.
Speaking to Sayoko Mita of DDT, Konosuke Takeshita addressed his recent booking in AEW and the difficulties he’s experienced on U.S. television. He said:
“I thought hard work could cover for everything else before getting there. If I showed how good I am I could get more airtime, but there are other aspects that come to play when competing here (in America).”
“Discrimination is not the word here, but unfortunately, there’s a lack of space for an Asian person to be on a TV show watched by Americans.”
“No matter how good my condition was nor the amount of matches I was put it, or how many times they said my match was good, it felt like I couldn’t make it in the starting lineup, to put it in Baseball terms,”
“Everyone felt like they’re having fun Wrestling here (in Japan). I didn’t have any fun wrestling ever since I got to America.”
“The effort was bearing fruit, but I didn’t feel the enjoyment. It was the most mentally exhausting period in all 12 years of my wrestling career.”
“However, when I stopped having fun, my matches were better received, and I gained more recognition. And it’s not proportional.”
Takeshita has been targeting Jon Moxley’s IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in recent weeks.
It remains to be seen when their inevitable showdown will take place at the time of this writing.
For the full lineup for AEW Double Or Nothing 2024, click here.
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