In a move that makes sense as a storyline development, New Japan has added a no disqualification stipulation to Wrestle Kingdom 12’s IWGP United States championship match between Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho.
Y2J surprised Kenny and the fans up at a show in Fukuoka last week and bloodied up the champ, and then Omega returned fire by attacking his rival at a press conference the following day. The moves did a lot to make what seems like it will be a one-off appearance in the promotion for Jericho feel more personal, something adding a No DQ stip continues.
It’s also pretty unusual for New Japan. They don’t rely on disqualification results to the extent WWE does, and therefore don’t label matches as allowing DQ-triggering tactics that often. “Alpha vs. Omega” will stand out a little bit more as a result.
No DQ isn’t what I wanted, but it’s what we both need in order to settle this... #AlphaVsOmega https://t.co/5G9ogJULoC
— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) December 18, 2017
NJPW also clarified that Cody Rhodes’ match with Kota Ibushi remains on the Jan. 4 card even though Cody is no longer Ring of Honor World champ.
Here’s where the card for the Tokyo Dome now stands:
- Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight championship
- Kenny Omega (c) vs. Chris Jericho in a No DQ match for the IWGP United States title
- Jay White vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) for the IWGP Intercontinental championship
- Marty Scurll (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. KUSHIDA vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title
- The Killer Elite Squad (c) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL and SANADA) for the IWGP Tag Team titles
- Roppongi 3K (c) vs. The Young Bucks for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team championship
- Cody Rhodes vs. Kota Ibushi