Kenny Omega Oblivious To Industry-Changing Moment
Kenny Omega has admitted he had no idea the gravity of an event eight years ago that changed the pro wrestling world forever.
At NJPW Power Struggle on November 5th 2017, Kenny Omega successfully defended his IWGP US Championship against Trent Beretta. But that match was not what made the headlines at that show.
A video played after that match featuring Chris Jericho – who, as far as anyone knew, was still a WWE Superstar at the time – as Jericho laid down a huge challenge to Kenny Omega for 2018’s Wrestle Kingdom. That match is widely seen as the catalyst for the beginning of All Elite Wrestling one year later.
Jericho was the biggest name to sign up to Tony Khan’s upstart promotion, joining Omega, The Young Bucks, Cody Rhodes, Adam Page, and Jim Ross.
Kenny Omega Had No Clue Of The Stakes
Taking to social media, Kenny Omega has reacted to the eight-year anniversary of Power Struggle and admits he’s glad he didn’t know the full weight behind the moment that he was confronted by Jericho:
This moment and the match with Trent that preceded it meant a lot. T’was a big night for me. Wrestling for NJPW as a champion at that time didn’t allow for strike outs, or even base hits. You had to hit home-runs non stop or just accept that a top spot wasn’t meant for you. 8 years later I can easily say I had no clue just how high those stakes were. In a way, I’m glad I didn’t.
This moment and the match with Trent that preceded it meant a lot. T’was a big night for me.
Wrestling for NJPW as a champion at that time didn’t allow for strike outs, or even base hits. You had to hit home-runs non stop or just accept that a top spot wasn’t meant for you.
— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) November 5, 2025
Chris Jericho is widely expected to return to WWE when his contract with AEW expires at the end of 2025.
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