Kenny Omega: ‘I Still Feel As Attached To NJPW As I Ever Have’

Of all the wrestlers who could make a New Japan Pro Wrestling/All Elite Wrestling partnership exciting, Kenny Omega is at the top of the list. Of all the AEW stars, he has the longest and richest history with the promotion.

Since Omega left New Japan in 2019, fans have been clamoring to see the two promotions work together. This has not been lost on Omega, who has said he feels as attached to the Japanese scene as he ever has.

In his recent interview with Dave Meltzer and Garrett Gonzales, Omega spoke about storylines continuing on even without him in the company. Primarily, his long-term storyline with Kota Ibushi. Here is the full quote, courtesy of Fightful:

“As life goes on and you separate from these individuals, it’s like those stories kind of get put in the back burner a little bit, but they don’t really ever die out. No one I believe ever really forgets. So you have me exiting New Japan for a period of time after losing to Tanahashi. Then, you see Ibushi team up with Tanahashi. They have their storyline together and of course, then [Kota would end up] winning the G-1 for the second time in a row and just developing more into a megastar that he deserves to be. It’s like even though we’re not linked or connected right now in the wrestling world, there are these things that definitely add to the story, even even though they’re not directly connected to one another. These are all things that could play into a series of matches, not necessarily even singles. Yeah, it could lead to that. But these are all things that work hand in hand with one another.

But for the sake of Ibushi, it’s like our life experiences, being apart from one another, all play into a larger story. I could just press the unpause button [and] It’ll be interesting. Just because there’s so much material to use from our careers that have existed outside and apart from one another. So, it’s a shame we couldn’t continue the story right away, but I just feel that, you know, I had so many memorable moments with a lot of their roster that by Ibushi having memorable moments with their roster as well, it sort of fuels future storylines if we are ever to return to it. So I never feel like we’ve grown too far apart or now it doesn’t make sense anymore. I still feel as attached to that scene as I ever have, even though I’ve been gone for so long.

I feel like it would be so easy for guys to show up here or us to show up there. There’s so many common threads, Moxley’s got the US title and all that. You know, Ibushi had the thing with Jay White, who is Bullet Club and I was Bullet Club and now I’m not, you know what I mean? There’s so many things to play off of.”

Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi have always said they will one day have another singles match on a large stage. Of course, Omega left New Japan before that could happen. It has been previously reported that Ibushi and Omega would have wrestled at Wrestle Kingdom 14 had he stayed.

Fans will have to wait and see whether Omega ever does return to New Japan and if the Golden Lovers ever have their climactic match.

What are your thoughts on the above story? Let us know in the comments on Twitter or Facebook.

• kota ibushi
• NJPW
• Kenny Omega
• AEW

Share this article with friends