Lio Rush chose New Japan Pro-Wrestling‘s Capital Collision to be the site of the fresh start that he felt needed. The event’s location in his hometown made it the perfect place for “The Man of the Hour” to remind everyone that he’ll be coming back.
Rush suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery at PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2022 in January, and he’s expected to be sidelined for the next few months. But he appeared in a non-wrestling capacity at NJPW Capital Collision on May 14 to tease his looming arrival in the junior heavyweight division. It’s unclear when Rush will be return to the ring, but he named Taiji Ishimori, Robbie Eagles, and Hiromu Takahashi as potential opponents down the road.
In an interview with Denise Salcedo, Rush discussed his appearance at the show and stated that it was “meant to be” because he felt like he had to be there.
“That event that happened, I feel like it was just meant to be,” said Rush. “I didn’t have any kind of plan or goal or when I wanted to come back. I just knew I needed to get healthy, I needed to take my time, and I needed to be in the right mind frame in order to come back. Because I can heal physically and be ready physically, but I definitely feel like the wrestling industry is more a mental game than anything. Because that’s at least what I’ve learned and what I’ve experienced. So I just wanted to sure that I was ready, that I wasn’t just ready physically, but ready mentally, ready spiritually.
“I feel like I’m at a time in my life right now where I’m kind of, I’m evolving more into a man. I’m almost 30, which is crazy because I started my wrestling journey when I was 18 years old. I turned 28 this year and I’m thinking about things differently. But when I saw that New Japan was gonna be in DC, I went back home for my surgery, spent some time with some time with some family, and I saw that they were gonna be in DC. And it just felt right. It felt like I needed to be there.”
Rush also described how showing up at the event in his home town was a fitting way to tease his return to wrestling. “The Man of the Hour” made it clear that he’s already hungrier than he’s ever been, so he’s looking forward to lacing up his boots again.
“It felt like I needed a fresh start, and what better way to have that fresh start than do it at home, in my home town and kind of put my stamp on when I do come back, I’m gonna come back, and it’s not a cliché, but stronger, faster, healthier than ever before,” said Rush. “I’m definitely hungrier than I’ve ever been, even first starting out wrestling. I feel like there’s more at stake. And I’m excited, I’m excited.”
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