Kenny Omega is the new IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and has high aspirations as to what he can do to cross over and highlight the championship and New Japan Pro Wrestling as a promotion.
Fightful.com spoke to Kenny Omega on Thursday and asked about Omega's feud with Chris Jericho, and if he could see himself working into his late 40s like his rival. While Omega certainly seemed hopeful and optimistic at the idea, it was another aspect of Jericho as a person that he would like to pattern himself after.
"Chris Jericho was the original guy I modeled my own career after. It would almost be semi-poetic for it to end in the same way as well. I mean, I certainly don't see myself starting up a rock band in the near future or anything like that. I do really respect that Chris Jericho branched his own brand out. He was on Dancing With The Stars, wrote and article for Metal Band reviewing albums and such. In terms in what I want to accomplish as champion in New Japan, it's a lot like that, and E3 was the first step," Omega told us.
Omega says that he has full confidence in the depth of New Japan Pro Wrestling's roster. With the company expanding globally, Omega likely won't be on all of them, and doesn't see himself as necessary on some of the house shows. Instead, Omega said he's best served to utilize his skill set in a manner that helps gain more attention to NJPW.
One of those skills includes his following in the game community, which was parlayed into a high profile event against WWE tag team the New Day. When Fightful inquired in regards to how New Japan felt about the appearance, Omega said that he was completely honest with new NJPW President Harold Meij.
"I'd cleared the E3 appearance months and months before making it, and I don't think they'd understood the nature of how it would play out. Since then, our President had changed and I wanted to bring him up to speed, even though I'd already gotten the permission to do it. I wanted to make sure I was being transparent. When I told him the details, he was all for it and really excited. I really feel it came off successfully, even though I haven't spoken to it since. I can't imagine anyone else is mad," said Omega.
You can hear audio of Omega's answer above, and see full highlights from a media call that Kenny Omega, New Japan Pro Wrestling and AXS TV held at this link.
