NJPW News: Chris Jericho has a fiery message for Tetsuya Naito
What's the story?
During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, former WWE World Champion Chris Jericho decided to fire verbal shots at Los Ingobernables de Japon leader Tetsuya Naito regarding his match against Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 12.
Jericho asserted, "If Naito is pissed off at me, then go out and prove it. It makes me want to work harder. Worldwide, and I’m just telling the facts, Alpha-Omega is the main event."
In case you didn't know...
Former WWE superstar Chris Jericho is all set to step into an NJPW ring for the first time in over two decades. He is preparing to go one-on-one with Bullet Club leader Kenny Omega for the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship.
Recently, there have been several claims of Wrestle Kingdom 12 being a double main-event show comprising Okada versus Naito and Omega versus Jericho. However, according to Naito himself, there is only one true main-event for the show and it is his match against Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
The heart of the matter
Jericho decided to impart some scathing words to Tetsuya Naito. The latter had received a lot of backlash from "The Ayatollah of Rock 'n' Rolla" for affronting his IWGP Heavyweight Championship match against Okada as the one true main event for the show.
Also Read: NJPW News - Major stipulation added to the match between Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho
Jericho stated that Naito should not be worrying about his role in NJPW but should instead focus on himself and worry about he is doing. The Winnipeg native also said that Naito is not the main event despite going in at last at next year's Tokyo Dome show. Additionally, the 47-year-old asked the G1 27 winner to watch Wrestlemania 18 should he wishes to know more about the double main event scenario.
What's next?
Despite having on-screen issues with each other, both Jericho and Naito will be taking part in one of the biggest Wrestle Kingdom shows in NJPW history. As for Jericho, he will look to become the second ever IWGP US Champion as he gets to step into the ring with Kenny Omega.
On the other hand, Naito will look to dethrone 'The Rainmaker' Kazuchika Okada and win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in the process.
Author's take
One feels that Wrestle Kingdom 12 has only one main event and it is Kazuchika Okada versus Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Nonetheless, WK 12 promises to be a really solid show and it is something every wrestling fan will be looking forward to on January 4.