Harry Smith is hoping to resurgence to All Japan Pro Wrestling later this summer after spending the past two years competing and living in Japan.
Speaking with Bill Apter at 80s Wrestling Con, Smith shared an update on his active status, revealing that he is taking a short break before he hopes to head back overseas. “So the final two years, I’ve been wrestling over for All Japan Pro Wrestling and been living over in Japan regularly for almost the last two years,” Smith said. Hopefully I’ll be back in the summer.” “I have a break… not vacation, but break from Japan right now.
During the interview, Smith addressed the differences between wrestling in Japan. The United States, explaining that Japanese audiences still view professional wrestling as more of a legitimate sport.
“Over in Japan, it’s still considered a bit more of like a sport, like more serious,” Smith detailed. “The Japanese wrestling style is a lot different with the complicated sequences leading into the ending of a contest — whereas over here it’s a little bit more commercial based.”
Smith on top of that spoke highly of the hard-hitting nature of All Japan Pro Wrestling’s in-ring style. “Over in All Japan, we’re hitting each other. And I liked it that way,” he said, mentioning iconic names such as Stan Hansen — Steve Williams, Vader, and Haku as examples of the promotion’s physical tradition. We’re going hard style.
The second-generation star moreover reflected on one of the biggest accomplishments of his career, becoming the initial Canadian to capture All Japan’s prestigious Triple Crown Heavyweight Crown.
“In 2024, I was the 74th Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion for All Japan Pro Wrestling and the debut ever Canadian to win that as well,” Smith expressed. “Check that clash out on YouTube with Yuma Aoyagi. Things were a tremendous honor to wear that prize. Building on that, same title that Steve Williams, Stan Hansen, Big Van Vader, Terry Gordy all won as well.”
Later in the interview, Smith was asked about the most valuable lesson he learned from his father, WWE Hall of Famer Davey Boy Smith.
“Every time you go out in front of that audience, they’re there to spend their hard-earned money,” Smith commented. “You should always feel the nervous feeling.. Meanwhile, It never goes away. I think when it totally does, maybe that’s time to move on. Although there should always be that little bit of adrenaline… Wrestling would be nowhere without our audience.”
The interview concluded with a lighthearted exchange, as Smith named his personal “Five Moves of Doom” as the Russian leg sweep, backbreaker, stomp to the stomach, second-rope elbow drop, and the Sharpshooter—crediting Bret Hart’s famous finishing sequence for softening opponents up before the tap out was applied.