Former five-time NJPW IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada recently spoke with NJPW World about the current NJPW IWGP World Heavyweight Championship situation. During the interview, Okada mentioned that he believed that it was a mistake to unify the former IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships and to start a new lineage for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

The following quotes from Okada are courtesy of NJPWWorld.com and Mandatory.com:

“I knew that it was a mistake from the beginning, a long lineage of champions completely erased. Kota Ibushi becomes the champion, now this is my first time challenging. The whole thing doesn’t sit right with me. With Ibushi becoming the first IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, I didn’t buy it, and neither did others. Not just wrestlers, but the fans, too.”

“The belt has had a rough start, huh?” said Okada. “The first champion lost in his first defense, then the champion had to vacate. Perhaps some bad karma? The spirit of the old title putting a curse on the new one. That’s the will of the previous title lineage. I call it the ‘IWGP Curse.’ However, I’m sure the curse will recognize my own efforts, so I can shine that new one up.”