4th of January 2017, Tokyo Dome. The very first gaijin G1 Climax winner, Kenny Omega, will face IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada. What is on the line? Everything.

You know, after almost 10 years with WWE I felt literally bored to death. I completely lost interest in wrestling overall, I was tired of being treated like a dumb person, who doesn’t know basics of this industry. I was looking for something unique, for something more realistic and more athletic. I wanted to see real best wrestlers in the world. I was thinking: “I’m going to give the wrestling last shot”. Then I saw G1 Climax 2014. And AJ Styles vs. Minoru Suzuki.

This was my first NJPW experience and I absolutely fell in love with Styles. His style was something that I’ve been looking for after I decided to stop watching WWE – he was athletic, high-flying badass, leader of the Bullet Club. He was the draw, the ultimate all-star all over the world. I felt it almost immediately after I tuned to his fight against Suzuki.

What I saw? Something completely different than I used to see in WWE. Stiff strikes and submissions by Suzuki, high-flying stuff by Styles and great crowd. Japanese crowd doesn’t need to chant all the time – they remain silent most of the time, cheering only in specific moments – and when they do it, you know that something special is happening.

Meltzer rated Styles vs. Suzuki as a ****3/4. 2014’s G1 went pretty fast and I knew that I was going to stay with NJPW for a longer period of time.

Then we’re coming to January 2016, only 10 months ago. What’s happening? AJ Styles is leaving for the WWE, Kenny Omega is taking over BC. The other NJPW’s main eventer leaving company is Shinsuke Nakamura. Roster got to the point where they had only three well promoted main eventers – young champion Okada, absolute draw Naito and good ol’ Tanahashi. We can also count in Goto, but he’s somewhere away on the skyline, even though he had won Climax few years ago.

This was the moment when I was “free” – Styles and Nakamura left and I needed someone else to cheer for. Omega filled the gap for me really quick – athleticism, great gimmick, Youtube channel with many backstage videos (plus Super Street Fighter clashes!) got me right after his victory over Tanahashi for IWGP Intercontinental Championship.



If you would ask me what mean more in my opinion – winning a IC title or just beating Tanahashi, I don’t think i would give you a quick answer. For me Omega defeating Tanahashi would be the beginning of Kenny’s main-event march even without the IC title on the line. Living legend of NJPW, man, who changed this promotion is losing to the guy who is switching from junior heavyweight to heavyweight, only aspiring to get to fight for the highest prizes.

He won the title in February to drop it to Elgin on June. First ever NJPW’s ladder match that took place on Dominion was a great example of Omega’s in-ring abilities and, in my opinion, if anyone had any doubts about Kenny being in main event, I think that after Dominion everyone knew that he IS the man.

G1 Climax 2016. I was so hyped I picked Kenny as a winner in /r/NJPW Pick’Em Game. There were only a few people who did the same, everyone was counting on Naito (and, to be honest, deep inside I also thought that Tetsuya will be the winner). I think Kenny was an underdog, especially after losing to YOSHI-HASHI and Shibata in the group. Everything was on the line in his last group match, when he was to face Naito.

Let’s stop for a second. In my opinion Omega vs. Naito was so far the best match of 2016 and I highly doubt that we will get another match worth placing at the 1st place. When I sat before the screen on saturday morning, 13.08., I knew that this was going to be one of the best matches of my life. And I wasn’t disappointed.

This match had it all. Psychology, kick-outs, crazy spots, fast pace. You could feel the pressure of time going down on Omega – he had to beat Naito before 30th minute of the match – draw meant a win for Naito.

I think that this ↑ was the moment when everyone at least moved in their seats. I literally jumped out of my couch and grabbed my head – this was insane! It wasn’t just a normal dive – Naito didn’t even had a chance to grab Omega correctly.

But the best thing about this spot is that it was just a part of something bigger. In my opinion, the first thing that comes to mind of most of the wrestling fans that saw this match is incredible psychology and synergy between those two fighters.

Then we’re coming to probably so far the biggest victory in Omega’s career – G1 Climax, clash with Hirooki Goto, who got to the final thanks to Okada – Tanahashi draw. Another great match with tribute payed to Devitt and Styles – two former BC leaders, by using their finishers on Hirooki. This Climax finally proved Omega as reliable main eventer and I wasn’t afraid that he’ll drop the case to YOSHI or Goto on Destruction and King of Pro Wrestling. This guy has it all. But will he be able to beat Okada?

Okada is being prepared to take Tanahashi’s place at the top of the pyramid of babyfaces in NJPW. He had some great matches with Tana, Naito and Marufuji in this year, but, in my opinion, Omega will walk out from Tokyo Dome as a champion, and I’m saying that not only because Omega is my favourite wrestler at the moment, but because he’s incredibly over. Look at it – he’s a heel, and fans are still cheering for him even in matches with huge babyfaces – damn, they boo-ed Goto in Climax final only because he was taking his advantage of Omega’s injured knee!

Ok guys, that’s it for today. In the next part we will talk about the Rainmaker – Kazuchika Okada. As I wrote on Reddit, if you have any feedback, please give it to me by /r/NJPW or in the comments below.

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