care: Naito is essentially the actualization of the question many wrestling fans have asked over the past few years: What would happen if you took Roman Reigns and made him a devil-may-care heel? After winning the G1 Climax in 2013, popular opinion turned so far against Naito that his IWGP heavyweight title match was made the co-main event of Wrestle Kingdom 8 in deference to Nakamura and Tanahashi's match for the Intercontinental title. A tour of Mexico, during which he joined the faction Los Ingobernables, changed everything. His disregard for authority and the fans ironically made him a fan favorite, and until a few weeks ago when he lost the title to Tanahashi, his carefree flinging of his Intercontinental title -- the object that kept him from thethis belt to be the cornerstone of our U.S. operations going forward.

ESPN.com Are there plans for how the title will be defended in the short term?

Chairman Sugabayashi: Whomever becomes the champion in Los Angeles, we would want the title to be defended both on future America based NJPW shows, and on shows held by our partners like Ring of Honor.

ESPN.com: How important is it that the first champion embody New Japan Pro Wrestling and what the company is trying to accomplish in the United States?

Chairman Sugabayashi: Wrestling came to Japan as an American import. For over half a century Japanese fans have been interested in, and embraced, American wrestlers and American wrestling. There is no doubt that this title represents New Japan Pro Wrestling having a closer relationship