Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay set for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17

Kenny Omega is returning to New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

Omega appeared via video promo at Sunday’s NJPW X STARDOM Historic X-Over event to challenge Will Ospreay to a match at Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4, 2023. Ospreay accepted the challenge, and the bout for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship is set. 

In his video promo, Omega said that once AEW began, there was nothing keeping him in NJPW. He said that Ospreay replaced him, and blamed Ospreay for smaller crowds and lack of cheering at NJPW events. Omega said that people blame the pandemic for that, but that he knows there is another reason — Ospreay. 

Omega said that he was surprised to receive a phone call from NJPW, and that he was not particularly interested in the match, but for the sake of the fans and the good of pro wrestling, he would face Ospreay at the Tokyo Dome. 

In a brief retort to the video, Ospreay said that he stayed with NJPW while Omega left and kept the heartbeat of the company going, then accepted the challenge. 

Omega last wrestled for NJPW on January 4, 2019 in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 13, dropping the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Hiroshi Tanahashi on his way out of the company. 

Omega’s promo and Ospreay’s response can be seen via the embedded tweets below. 

The Wrestle Kingdom lineup so far: 

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17, Wednesday, January 4 —

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jay White (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada
  • IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Kenny Omega
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado vs. Master Wato
  • IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: FTR (c) vs. TBA
  • NJPW World Television Championship tournament finals: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ren Narita
  • IWGP Women’s Championship match