First off, yes, Japanese news outlets report on pro graps, or puroresu, like other sports.
Two, Kenny Omega’s conversation with Tokyo Sports (translated for us here by the essential Chris Charlton) about Wrestle Kingdom 11 and his Tweets which shook up the wrestling world shortly after he was defeated in the main event by IWGP Heavyweight champ Kazuchika Okada, sure are interesting:
As hard as I trained, as hard as I prepared, I lost. Something’s missing and until I figure out what, I can’t wrestle. I’m just not motivated now.
I don’t have the confidence to guarantee victory so I don’t have a problem with Suzuki-gun challenging next.
I won’t do Fantasticamania, and it’s possible I may miss New Beginning as well while I form a concrete plan of what to do next. I devoted all of 2016 to taking the belt in the Dome. That not coming true means I have to rethink everything.
While there are a lot of hopes/fears among fans that Omega could leave New Japan, this reads to me as an angle for a big return to the company after some time off - possibly even as a babyface.
If that is what’s going on, it’s pretty exciting stuff. It’s actual character development following a milestone event in the ongoing story, which is what fans such as myself are always saying we want out of wrestling.
I have no inside information, so that’s just one guy’s opinion. But we should probably spend as much time picking apart Kenny’s words as we do John Cena’s photo collection, so...
What do you think, Cagesiders?