NJPW superstar Kenny Omega recently spoke with ESPN about his upcoming rematch with Kazuchika Okada at NJPW Dominion on June 11th, North American fans of NJPW finally getting to see the product during a normal time of day and more.
Here are the highlights:
Omega’s Thoughts On Omega vs. Okada II:
“If I’m going to give you a personal opinion, I would say that, I personally think it’s too soon to revisit that match. I would have liked to just let that performance be, come back to it at a later date. But there comes a time in business when it’s just important to move numbers, put asses in seats, as the saying goes, and you have to come out guns blazing.”
“I knew eventually there would be a second match, regardless of how good or bad it was. I think there’s going to be a third, I still think there’s going to be an Omega-Okada four. I’ve been called to duty sooner than I would have liked to have been and I’m put into a situation where that match is still very fresh in everyone’s minds.”
What Will Be Different In The Rematch Opposed To Their First Encounter:
“My goal with Okada is going to be very similar with how I dealt with the G1. I’m not necessarily going for ‘match of the night’, I’m going to try and tell a very different, unique story. In that, we’ll sort of lay the ground work for not just the match, but for probably the next match and the match after that. I’m not going to add some sort of crazy thing just to say that, ‘Hey, we did something crazy, we went longer.’ That doesn’t necessarily equal better. I’m lucky that my best strength as a wrestler has always been my brain. As naturally athletic as I’m gifted to be, where certain things came easily, I always rely on my brain first.”
North American Fans Getting To See NJPW At A Normal Time Of Day:
“I am willing to accept the pressure. I actually don’t even feel pressure, because it’s a sure bet. For me, I feel it more as a celebration, a homecoming. People have really wanted to see our product live. People aren’t sick of staying up to watch us, but I’m pretty sure they’ve wished that, ‘Why can’t they do a show at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. instead of 4 a.m.’, you know what I mean? This is their chance and I really want to bring a very energetic, sort of revolutionary style that I’m trying to craft right now. I want to show them that this is the chance to see this live. This is the only place you can see it.”
Kenny Omega Also Noted: “We’re not mimicking anyone, this is New Japan. It’s an option aside from the other wrestling brands that are around and I don’t just mean WWE, but it’s different from TNA, it’s different from Ring of Honor, it’s really its own thing, it’s got its own distinct look, its own distinct style.”
Kenny Omega On His Goals In Helping Japan Pro-Wrestling:
“I really want to be an integral part of the New Japan brand in the United States and other countries, for that matter, too. I feel that I have a certain versatility that other wrestlers do not. I think that, as an all-around wrestler, even as an all-around human being, I am someone who could accept the responsibility and not drop the ball in this particular situation and I’m not afraid to fail.”
“Being able to man that ship would be an incredible honor and I feel that with me doing it, it’s a no-fail situation. Whereas, if someone else is trusted with the responsibility of doing it, I don’t know how it would go. But, I have a very precise vision that I can’t see failing and I really want to be the guy to give my all and make this thing truly worldwide.”
If you are going to use the quotes above, give credit to ESPN with a H/T to eWrestlingNews
