Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega have been going back and forth on Twitter for a few months and now they have a date in the ring. Jericho and Omega will square off at Wrestle Kingdom on Jan 4, 2018 for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Jericho made it official on his Twitter account this morning.
See you there @kennyomegamanx… #AlphaVsOmega #Jan4 #TokyoDome https://t.co/J3SLS319zu
— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) November 5, 2017
Jericho finished up his last stint in the WWE earlier this summer after a great program with Kevin Owens which culminated in a match between the two at Wrestlemania 33. Since then Y2J has made a few appearances on Smackdown but now is touring with his band and promoting his new book, “No is a Four Letter Word”.
Now Jericho is headed to Japan to face fellow Canadian, Kenny Omega for NJPW. Both men are from Winnipeg and are friends outside the ring. Omega is one of the hottest pro wrestlers not signed to the WWE and Jericho will be helping him further his career by taking him on in Japan.
Omega has quietly become one of the biggest stars outside of the WWE after his match with Okada at Wrestle Kingdom earlier this year. Longtime wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer gave the match six stars out of five, the highest rating he has ever given a match.
You have to wonder what Vince McMahon thinks about the match. Jericho hasn’t competed outside the WWE since 2003 when competed in OVW. Even then, OVW was affiliated with the WWE and was under McMahon’s umbrella. Even if the WWE isn’t happy with Jericho’s decision to compete with New Japan he is still a free agent and allowed to wrestle anywhere.
I would imagine we will see Jericho back in the WWE sooner than later. After he gets done in New Japan and finishes all his dates touring with his band we will see Y2J back in the WWE next year. If he could only get Omega to to come with him…