Exclusive: Konosuke Takeshita on Okada Match at AEW Double or Nothing, US Fans and Food, More

This Sunday is All Elite Wrestling's annual Double or Nothing pay-per-view. Several championships will be defended on the show, but the international title feud feels like the most personal.

For several months, Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada have been having issues while both serving as members of The Don Callis Family.

They met for a singles bout in the Continental Classic, which Okada won thanks to a screwdriver hidden near the ring. Now, Takeshita is looking to not only get retribution, but he also wants to take The Rainmaker's title.

Ahead of the PPV, we asked Takeshita about his feud with Okada, transitioning to wrestling in the United States, and much more.

Facing Kazuchika Okada

The storyline with Okada and Takeshita has been the definition of a slow build, which has increased anticipation for this weekend.

When asked why he doesn't like The Rainmaker, Takeshita's answer was simple.

"What I dislike most about Okada is that he has no respect for me," Takeshita said. "He always talks down to me and treats me like I'm beneath him. Maybe he's afraid that I'm the one who will take the spot as the top Japanese wrestler from him."

While Callis remains confident that his family will remain a cohesive unit after the PPV, there are questions around whether the two rivals can coexist, and Takeshita shares those doubts.

"If Okada gets kicked out of The Don Callis Family and everyone remembers that I was the first member of The Don Callis Family, there will be no problem," he said. "It's that simple."

Working in the United States

Prior to joining AEW, Takeshita's experience working in the United States was much more limited. Now, he works for AEW, NJPW and CMLL on a regular basis, making him one of the more active stars on the international scene.

"I've wrestled not only in the United States and Japan, but all over the world, and my style has always stayed the same," Takeshita said. "It's the Takeshita style — Japanese wrestling mixed with American wrestling and a little bit of lucha.

"I don't really have a favorite or least favorite thing about wrestling in different countries. The important thing is showing my style anytime, anywhere."

When asked about the difference between working in Japan and the U.S., the 30-year-old mentioned how U.S. fans have a lot of energy during matches.

"What I love about American fans is how loud and passionate they are," he said. "During the match, it feels like they are fighting together with me. Japanese fans watch matches more carefully and quietly. Because of that, my adrenaline gets even higher in the United States."

Eating on the Road

Working in each territory is different for every wrestler, especially when it comes to what happens outside the ring. For Takeshita, the options for food after an event have been one of the most difficult parts of transitioning to working in the U.S.

"The hardest part is when I get back to the hotel after a match, and the only food options are Denny's or Burger King," Takeshita said. "That's when I really miss Japanese gyudon.

"I usually order Panda Express on the road. Orange Chicken and Mushroom Chicken—those two are lovely. Also, there's a Japanese izakaya-style restaurant in Las Vegas called Ichiza.

"Even as a Japanese person, I think the food there is really authentic and delicious. Last year, I went there with Shinsuke [Nakamura], and Keiji Muto was sitting at another table. It felt like Japanese wrestling legends were all gathered in one place."

Downtime

For wrestlers who travel a lot, finding things to keep them occupied during downtime is important.

Takeshita is a keen photographer and posts a lot of pictures on his Instagram page.

"I love photography," he said. "I always carry at least one camera in my bag.

"I also enjoy watching movies and anime, so I always download something to watch on flights. Initial D is one of the greatest anime ever made, so if you haven't seen it yet, you should."

Movie Review

We always end our AEW interviews with a movie review. When asked about what he has seen recently, Takeshita singled out Ryan Gosling's latest hit.

"The last movie I saw was Project Hail Mary," he said. "I already read the original novel, so I was really curious about how Rocky would look in the movie.

"When I finally saw him on screen, he was actually adorable, and honestly, it made me cry. Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!"

Takeshita can be seen this weekend challenging Okada for the AEW International Championship at Double or Nothing.