Kenny Omega calls Hiroshi Tanahashi “the next Roman Reigns”

In what is quickly becoming one of New Japan’s most heated rivalries, Kenny Omega took another shot at Hiroshi Tanahashi in an interview with NJPW this week. This insult also is the latest one at the WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, a man Omega has taken jabs at on Twitter in the past.

When asked about Tanahashi stating that a recent match between the ‘Cleaner’ and tag team partner Kota Ibushi against fellow Golden Elite members, the Young Bucks, does not represent NJPW and that it was wrong was fans to chant that during the match, this was Omega’s response:

“Here’s the thing, Tanahashi has this idea that wrestling has to be a certain way. There are borders that you shouldn’t cross. Wrestling should be wrestling, there’s a ‘classic’ way. But the thing is when I watch a Tanahashi match, I feel nothing. When I show a Tanahashi match to my friends, to my father, to my fans; they are f****** bored. But when I show some of my matches, they feel something in their hearts, it makes them think about something. When a Tanahashi match ends, you’ve already f****** forgotten it. I wanted matches that stay with me forever, more than 24 hours, more than one week. Why they f*** do you think they call me the best bout machine?! It’s not because I’m the greatest athlete in wrestling. Because I can create emotion and I can create a memory and because Tanahashi could never f****** do that. Really Tanahashi belongs in the WWE. He can be the next Roman Reigns. So, don’t think for a second that’s New Japan style. What Tanahashi should do is f****** thank me because you actually think a Tanahashi main event could ever go to America? You never could. You can go to America once, because it’s an interesting name, it’s a novelty for New Japan to come to America. Do you think if you put Tanahashi and Billy Gunn as a main event do you think he could ever come back? Of course not. So, with this worldwide movement, with the boost in numbers for New Japan World, somebody should tell this a****** to think about business.”

Prior to this interview with Omega, Tanahashi gave an interview to a Japanese radio station, with some very harsh words towards his rival, stating not only that his matches aren;t worth watching until the final five minutes because there is no story in them, but also that Kenny has a bad attitude.

Following his win of this year’s G1 Climax, the ‘Ace of New Japan’ won title shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at next year’s WrestleKingdom 13. Considering Omega is the current champion, this feud is very likely to continue until then and become even more acrimonious in the months to follow.

What do you think of what Kenny Omega had to say? Let us know in the comments below, on Twitter, or on Discord.

• Hiroshi Tanahashi
• Roman Reigns
• NJPW
• Kenny Omega

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