Kenny Omega Addresses NJPW US Title Contenders
Kenny Omega isn’t worried about the next challenger for his IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.
Omega won this title back at Wrestle Kingdom 17 from Will Ospreay in a critically-acclaimed match that was rated 6.25 Stars by the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer.
Since then, Omega has only defended the title once, which was against Jeff Cobb on the March 29th edition of AEW Dynamite.
To keep interest on that title, NJPW announced a four-man tournament to crown a new #1 Contender for Omega’s title. The four men involved are Ospreay, Juice Robinson, Lance Archer, and Hiroshi Tanahashi.
But even though there’s some big names involved here, Omega isn’t too concerned. In response to the tournament announcement, Kenny Omega spoke to NJPW and vowed to retain his title regardless of whoever becomes #1 Contender.
“So what have you done? You’ve set up an interesting little four-man tournament: Tanahashi, Will Ospreay, Lance Archer, Juice Robinson. All four of these men I respect. All four of these men, I’ve tangled with before.
The problem is all four of those men I’ve already beaten them. So wherever it’s going to be, I’m sure it’ll be a great match. It might even be the best bout. It might even be something that people talk about far and wide all around the world, but make no mistake about it, I will retain the belt. I will walk into the next Tokyo Dome just the way I walked out with the championship belt.
There’s really nothing you can do about it. So until then, I must bid you adieu. Goodbye New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and good night! Muah!”
The winner of this four-man tournament will face Kenny Omega at NJPW Dominion, which takes place on June 4th this year.
h/t 411Mania for the transcription