Old School WWF Legend Chris Jericho commented on his NJPW return and match with IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega:
“The announcement of Alpha versus Omega…..Jericho versus Kenny…. January 4th at the Tokyo Dome, New Japan Pro Wrestling. Yes, I am going to New Japan for the Tokyo Dome to face Kenny Omega in a dream match of all dream matches.
I’ll tell the whole story on another show, but needless to say – it’s something I’ve been working on for a couple of months. I’m very excited about this. It’s the first match that I’ve had outside of the WWF/E since 1999. And the timing couldn’t be better.
I mean Kenny Omega is the best performer in professional wrestling today. The most critically acclaimed, the most buzz and I came off the greatest run of my career back in 2016/2017. So I think you really do have the best in the world versus the best in the world type situation.
But I’ve been saying that I am the Alpha of Pro Wrestling by far, the greatest of all time, the best of the world.
So it’s the Alpha versus the Omega… January 4th at the Tokyo Dome. If you’re not going to be in Japan, you can watch it on New Japan World which is their live streaming service. It’s definitely caused the whole wrestling world to turn their heads.
It’s the biggest talk of the wrestling world. And once again, Chris Jericho is right in the middle of it. That’s what I do baby. Last couple months, I’ve been working on this, keeping it a secret from all of you. And actually so surprised and happy that it ended up staying a secret.
Nobody knew until the announcement at the end of Kenny’s match in Osaka. Alpha versus Omega is gonna be one of the biggest matches in pro wrestling history happening at the Tokyo Dome.”
Speaking of the Jericho vs. Omega match, below is what Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer said about the backstage details of this match:
“So the Omega-Jericho match….They started talking in August and it was Jericho’s idea. He got the idea from watching the build-up to the McGregor and Mayweather fight.
And his idea was that this thing (Mayweather vs. McGregor) is gonna be so big, so how can I do something just like this. And his idea was that it’s got to be a match that people think that they could never see and his decision on that match would be Kenny Omega.
So he went to Don Callis, mutual friend, who pitched it to Kenny Omega. And then they talked to Gedo, who Jericho used to tag team with about 20-plus years ago.
They had some meetings in New York. The New Japan officials and Jericho met and negotiated for several weeks, came to a deal and there we are.
Right now, it’s a one time thing. If it’s any more than a one time thing and it’s two show thing, you’d probably want to do the rematch in April.
If you did the rematch in April, because that would be the Sakura Genesis show, that takes Jericho out of WrestleMania. And I don’t think he’s gonna miss WrestleMania.
I mean he could. I mean he’s missed WrestleMania before. It’s just that’s just one of the considerations. That’s all.”
