Kenny Omega Returning To NJPW

Kenny Omega is heading back to New Japan Pro-Wrestling!

Following Will Ospreay's successful defence of the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship at NJPW x Stardom Historic X-Over, Omega appeared on the titantron to cut a scathing promo on The Commonwealth Kingpin and challenge him to a match at Wrestle Kingdom 17.

"It's been a long time New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Now, why do you think I'm here? Once AEW was built, nothing was keeping me in New Japan. So I had to be replaced, and just who was that replacement? Oh, it just had to be the masterful William Ospreay. And how did that turn out? Take a look, the crowds have gotten smaller, we can't hear them cheering. 'Oh, that's because of the pandemic.' That's the line you want to trot out, right? But is it really? You see, there's one real virus here, and that's you Will. You and all your auto-translate-loving foreign pals. All of you are second-rate Kenny Omega knockoffs. 

"I have to say, I was surprised to get the phone call from NJPW and to be honest, I'm really not interested but one more time for the fans, for the good of pro wrestling, I'll show you what separates Kenny Omega from Will Ospreay. I will save the promotion. I will once again change the world. I haven't forgotten what you've done and I'm coming for you. Wrestle Kingdom, Will, I'll see you then. Until then, I must bid you adieu. Goodbye, good night, bang!"

While Omega did not explicitly challenge Ospreay for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, NJPW noted on social media that Omega will face the champion for the gold at Wrestle Kingdom 17 inside the Tokyo Dome on January 4.

The match between Omega and Ospreay comes about after over a year of both men criticising each other on social media and in interviews. They then came face-to-face in All Elite Wrestling in August as The Elite defeated Ospreay and Aussie Open to advance in the AEW World Trios Title Tournament.

Omega became a full-time member of NJPW in October 2014 and he established himself as one of the promotion's top stars after becoming the leader of Bullet Club in 2016. The Cleaner then had a classic feud with Kazuchika Okada which culminated with Omega becoming IWGP Heavyweight Champion at Dominion 2018. Omega would remain champion until dropping the gold to Hiroshi Tanahashi in his final NJPW appearance at Wrestle Kingdom 13 in January 2019. Omega then exited New Japan to form All Elite Wrestling with Tony Khan, Cody and Brandi Rhodes, and The Young Bucks.