Top AEW Star Says NJPW Is Still Their Home

A top AEW star says NJPW is still their home.

At NJPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over, Kenny Omega made a video appearance to challenge IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay at Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4.

With Ospreay accepting the challenge, this will mark Omega’s first bout for NJPW since Wrestle Kingdom 13 in January 2019 when he lost the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Omega left New Japan Pro Wrestling following the match to help create AEW.

Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Omega discussed his NJPW return.

He said:

“I’m returning to New Japan as an ambassador of AEW.”

“I’m returning to New Japan as an ambassador of pro wrestling. I’m also returning home. I left to start this new, exciting opportunity, but it’s still home.”

“Now the things Will can do are things I cannot. He’s an athletic phenom. But as finely tuned as he is physically, he still hasn’t doesn’t have the knowledge or experience.”

The former AEW World Champion continued on to discuss his history and how he has adapted this late in his career, saying:

“I pushed my own physical boundaries in All Japan and DDT, but that’s not what I’m known for.”

“My mind is my greatest asset, not my athleticism. That’s what’s allowed [Hiroshi] Tanahashi to have such a long and flavorful career.”

Omega concluded by mentioning how Ospreay was one of a few stars chosen to replace him upon his NJPW departure. He did not that the current IWGP U.S. Champion seems to be the only one with a problem though.

He said:

“I needed someone to take my place in New Japan, I wanted someone to take my place–and it was Will, Jay [White], and [Kota] Ibushi.”

“Will is the only one to have a problem with that. I had to speak in Japanese to remind him that he doesn’t have home court advantage. This is still my home.”

Will Ospreay defeated Shota Umino to retain the IWGP United States Championship at NJPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over ahead of Omega’s challenge.

Meanwhile, Kenny Omega is currently embroiled in a best of seven series for the AEW World Trios Championship with The Young Bucks against Death Triangle. The Elite is currently down 0-2 in the series.

Stay up to date with the AEW roster’s win-loss record (for televised matches) at this link.

Check out WrestleShop.com for all your favorite WrestleTalk merch, the WrestleTalk Magazine, wrestling shirts for grown-ups, and more!