He’s been gone with his title for so long he kind of makes Brock Lesnar look like an iron man, but with Wrestle Kingdom 13 just weeks away, IWGP Intercontinental champion Chris Jericho is back with New Japan.
Jericho was finally baited into accepting the match with Tetsuya Naito that NJPW booked for him after Los Ingobernables de Japon’s leader called him “insignificant” and accused him of stealing his merch designs. They appeared together at a press conference, trash talk led to water spitting and, you know the drill...
Jericho vows to end Naito’s career on Jan. 4, and gets a head start on things by attacking the LIJ crew after the won their trios match at Korakuen Hall during the Road to Tokyo Dome show there today (Dec. 15):
12.15後楽園大会！後楽園が大激震！
— njpwworld (@njpwworld) December 15, 2018
第5試合終了後、狂乱のIC王者 @IAmJericho 乱入！
登録＆視聴▷https://t.co/ISyOy8hzk4 #njpwworld #njwk13 #njpw #JerichoVsNaito2 pic.twitter.com/jKACN9tZLN
He also stalked his way through the seats and jawed with some fans (accompanied by some young boy security guards to make sure we didn’t have any Tama Tonga-type trouble):
Chris Jericho vs. Fans#njwk13 pic.twitter.com/d0gvDQKlqe
— GIF Skull [6-1] (@GIFSkull) December 15, 2018
It’s not as novel and exciting as it was when he was doing this with Kenny Omega last year at this time, but it’s still time-honored gaijin heel stuff.
Is it working for you?