Chris Jericho reveals that New Japan Pro-Wrestling booker, Gedo may have had the plan to give EVIL the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship a lot longer than previously believed.
Between 2018 and 2020, Chris Jericho had six matches in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Chris Jericho wanted to wrestle the four pillars I've New Japan Pro-Wrestling at the time, Kenny Omega, Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito, and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Chris Jericho wrestled all of those men but there was one wild card.
On November 3, 2018, Chris Jericho defended the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against EVIL in Osaka, Japan. On his most recent Saturday Night Special Q&A, Chris Jericho reveals that before that match, Gedo confided in him that EVIL would one day soon be given a chance to hold the top prize in NJPW.
“I'll tell you something right now. Gedo told me 18 months ago before I wrestled EVIL in Osaka, which I really enjoyed the match. By the way, I enjoyed all six of my New Japan matches. It was just a really cool, magical time,” Jericho admitted. “EVIL was the one kind of wild card. I did not know much about him, but I really enjoyed working with him. I thought he did a great job and Gedo told me, you know, 'over the next year or so, we're gonna give him a shot as the champ.' Lo and behold, they do. They always have a plan there and so does AEW. Trust me, I've always got a plan.”
Most recently, EVIL defeated Hiromu Takahashi to successfully retain both the IWGP World Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships.
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