Kenny Omega ready to face Gabe Kidd at Wrestle Dynasty

  • Ian Carey
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Kenny Omega says that if the fans want it and NJPW requests it, he’ll wrestle Gabe Kidd at Wrestle Dynasty.

Omega returned to NJPW at Power Struggle earlier this month. He cut a promo in front of the live crowd, expressing interest in facing one of NJPW’s younger talents at the January 5 show in The Tokyo Dome. Omega was later attacked backstage by Gabe Kidd.

In an interview recently posted by NJPW1972.com, Omega says he’s spoken with NJPW executives and has decided that if Kidd wants a match, he’ll wrestle him in the Tokyo Dome.

Omega said:

“Well, I’d like to address recent circumstances, and things that have happened with Gabe Kidd. I’ve had time to reflect after Power Struggle, and I feel I would regret not being able to make things right. I would hate for this situation to cause a rift between AEW and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. So after conversations I’ve had with President Tanahashi and other executives in NJPW, I’ve decided that if New Japan requests it, if Gabe requests it, and if the fans want it, then I will wrestle Gabe Kidd, as a professional at Wrestle Dynasty January 5.”

He later added:

“I wasn’t even sure if I would be medically cleared for January 5, but what Gabe did and said was enough to push me over the finish line. I might have been known as the Best Bout Machine in the past, but my goal isn’t to elevate Gabe Kidd to a world class performance. My goal is to show Gabe Kidd the reality of the situation he’s in right now, and show what embarrassment in front of 20, 30, 40,000 people and many thousands more watching around the world looks like.”

The backstage confrontation at Power Struggle was partly due to Omega accidentally referring to Kidd by the name “Greg” rather than “Gabe.”

“I wanted to talk about the young talent in New Japan. I wanted to shine a light and say something positive, and I started listing a bunch of names. Now, I know way more Gregs than I do Gabes, and when I tried to say Gabe Kidd’s name, ‘Greg’ popped out. I chuckled about it, because I didn’t think it was going to come out, and I said we should cut it, but it was left in.”

Omega also addressed concerns that his return to NJPW is an opportunity for AEW to scout and perhaps sign away more wrestlers from the promotion.

“I can tell you as someone that knows: someone like Gabe Kidd will not set foot in AEW. Maybe if we’re passing through town, grab your boots kid, have a dark match. He will never see the light of TV unless he gets a very positive review from yours truly. I would love to forgive and forget one time years from now, but I don’t see it happening.”

“For anyone that thinks that Gabe might end up the same way as Jay White, or Kazuchika Okada, or Will Ospreay? Gabe Kidd is all your responsibility. Look, I’m throwing my hat in here, I’m taking the bigger step. I’m saying to NJPW that if this is what the company wants, if it’s what’s the fans want and if it’s what Gabe wants. If this is what’s most interesting, then let’s do it, I’ll give you that chance, Gabe. Let’s see what your answer is.”

NJPW has yet to make the match official.

Wrestle Dynasty (Sunday, January 5) —

  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ricochet
  • Jack Perry vs. Yota Tsuji
  • Tomohiro Ishii challenges either Shingo Takagi or Konosuke Takeshita for the NEVER Openweight Championship (will be a double title match with the AEW International Championship also on the line if Takeshita is still champion going into Wrestle Kingdom 19)
  • International Women’s Cup four-way