The main event of New Japan Pro Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom12 is IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito but the match everyone is actually interested in seeing is IWGP United States Champion Kenny Omega vs. WWE Superstar Chris Jericho. The two traded barbs on social media before Y2J appeared on screen at a NJPW event to challenge Omega.
During a recent edition of his podcast, Jericho shed some light on why he's excited about this match and had nothing but good things to say about the man he will face at this non-WWE PPV.
"It’s something that I’ve been working on for a couple of months. I’m very excited about this. It’s the first match that I’ve had outside of the WWE since 1999 and the timing couldn’t be better. I mean, Kenny Omega is the best performer in professional wrestling today, the most critically acclaimed, the most buzz, and I came off the greatest run of my career back in 2016, 2017, so I think you really do have best in the world versus best in the world type of situation.
"But I’ve been saying that I’m the alpha of pro wrestling, by far the greatest of all time, the best in the world, so it is the Alpha versus Omega January 4th at the Tokyo Dome. If you’re not going to be in Japan, you can watch it on New Japan World, which is their live streaming service and we are working on other ways for you to see it as well."
Jericho also went on to discuss how much attention the match has generated and it appears as if that's serving as a great deal of inspiration for him as he looks to step in the ring with Omega.
"It [has] definitely caused the whole [pro] wrestling world on its head. It’s the biggest talk of the wrestling world, and, once again, Chris Jericho right in the middle of it. That’s what I do, baby! The last couple of months, I’ve been working on it. Keeping it a secret from all of you was actually so surprised and happy that it ended up staying a secret. Nobody knew until the match was announced at the end of Kenny’s match in Osaka [Japan] the other day, which was in the middle of the night for everybody.
"It’s going to be one of the biggest matches in [pro] wrestling history happening at the Tokyo Dome. It is a co-headlining main event along with [Kazuchika] Okada and [Tetsuya] Naito, so yep, working on top at the Tokyo Dome. The kid’s still [has] got it!"
Are you excited to see these two go head to head? As always, share your thoughts down below.