As a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Shingo Takagi is one of the top stars in New Japan Pro Wrestling right now. Despite this, he spent the back half of 2022 chasing the KOPW 2022 championship, able to bring the belt some much needed respect with heated feuds against both El Phantasmo & Taichi. He would claim the newly created KOPW 2023 belt at New Years Dash, but has much bigger plans for 2023 – as he’s taken aim at both Kazuchika Okada & Kenny Omega.
Shingo Takagi Wants To Face Kenny Omega In 2023
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Shingo Takagi would respond to a challenge made by the new IWGP United States Champion, Kenny Omega – who name dropped Takagi as a potential contender in a post Wrestle Kingdom 17 interview. Takagi had the following to say about Omega.
“Kenny Omega, the U.S. champion, mentioned my name as a potential opponent, but time is running out if I keep saying, ‘Let’s do it someday.’ If the fans want to see it and Kenny wants to fight, I want to do it before the end of the year.”
While both men spent a lot of time in Japan at the same time, Takagi was mainly focused on Dragon Gate, while Omega focused on DDT and later New Japan Pro Wrestling. By the time Takagi would reach NJPW, Omega was on his way out to form All Elite Wrestling. They’re two of the best in the world, making the prospect of a match between the two potentially huge – a legitimate dream match for fans around the world.
Takagi Already Has Big Matches Set For 2023
Right now, it’s unclear when Kenny Omega will next wrestle for NJPW – with his first challenger as IWGP United States Champion set to be United Empire member Jeff Cobb. Takagi meanwhile already has two big matches booked for 2023. He will be defending the KOPW 2023 Championship against Great-O-Khan, which gives him a chance to earn a shot at the RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship. That match is set for January 22nd.
Takagi also will be getting the first shot at new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, the man who ended his first reign as champion. Okada never got around to giving Takagi his rematch, and this match is set for February 11th, same night as Jay White vs. Hikule’o in their “Loser Leaves Japan” challenge.
Will Shingo Takagi be a double or even triple champion by the time he faces Kenny Omega? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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