Callum Newman: I Joined NJPW Thinking I Was Gonna Be A Junior Heavyweight

Newman thought he was coming into New Japan to be a junior heavyweight.

The reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion is Callum Newman. He is the youngest IWGP Heavyweight Champion of all time, and his first title defense will be against Shingo Takagi on May 4th at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku.

Ahead of the bout, Newman sat down for a recording of the Midnight Kingdom podcast. Looking back at his start in NJPW, he thought he was coming into the promotion to be a junior heavyweight. He shared that his United Empire stablemates told him he was too big for the junior division and encouraged him to put on some weight to get ready for the heavyweight division.

“I think it was just getting bullied by everyone,” Newman said when asked how he put on size. “I joined thinking I was gonna be a junior. I was supposed to be doing Best of the Super Juniors. That was always my dream. But then, everybody in (United) Empire was like, ‘No, you’re too big, so, better put on weight.’ So I just went to the gym and ate.”

In the same interview, Newman was asked about his experience at AEW in April. To read his comments, click here.

If the quote in this article is used, please credit Midnight Kingdom with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription.