January 4th, 2019 – Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Kenny Omega to win the IWGP World Championship for the 8th and final time. This was the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 13, and the final night in New Japan Pro Wrestling for both Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks. They would go on to form All Elite Wrestling alongside Cody Rhodes, Chris Jericho & Tony Khan – and the rest as they say, is history. However, on November 20th, 2022 – Omega would appear as part of NJPW x Stardom Historic X-Over, challenging Will Ospreay for the IWGP United States Championship – with the match set for Wrestle Kingdom 17.
Kenny Omega Is Returning To NJPW As An Ambassador
Ahead of this monumental return to NJPW, Kenny Omega would sit down with Sports Illustrated to spell out his intentions in this return. Omega had the following to say.
“I’m returning to New Japan as an ambassador of AEW,” says Omega. “I’m returning to New Japan as an ambassador of pro wrestling. I’m also returning home. I left to start this new, exciting opportunity, but it’s still home. Now the things Will can do are things I cannot. He’s an athletic phenom. But as finely tuned as he is physically, he still hasn’t doesn’t have the knowledge or experience.
I pushed my own physical boundaries in All Japan and DDT, but that’s not what I’m known for. My mind is my greatest asset, not my athleticism. That’s what’s allowed Hiroshi Tanahashi to have such a long and flavorful career. I needed someone to take my place in New Japan, I wanted someone to take my place–and it was Will, Jay White, and Kota Ibushi. Will is the only one to have a problem with that.”
Will Ospreay met Kenny Omega recently in AEW, during the AEW World Trios Championship tournament, with The Elite defeating Ospreay & Aussie Open in the semi-finals. Their lone singles encounter came nearly a decade ago in Pro Wrestling Guerilla, with Omega claiming the victory.
Will Kenny Omega return to AEW from Wrestle Kingdom 17 as the IWGP United States Champion? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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