WWE/NJPW News: Chris Jericho talks about criticism surrounding his match with Kenny Omega regarding part-timers
What's the story?
Chris Jericho is set to take on Kenny Omega at the Wrestle Kingdom 12 of New Japan Pro Wrestling. In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Jericho revealed his thoughts on NJPW promoting Wrestle Kingdom 12 as a Double Main Event, and the criticism this decision has faced from Tetsuya Naito.
In case you didn't know...
Chris Jericho is scheduled to face Kenny Omega in a Double Main Event at the Wrestle Kingdom 12 pay-per-view special of NJPW. Jericho has never wrestled in any promotion other than WWE, ever since his debut for the company in 1999.
His match against Omega is set to be his first match outside a WWE ring since 1999. Jericho's face-off against Omega at the Wrestle Kingdom 12 pay-per-view, will mark the first time a WWE wrestler at Jericho's level will wrestle in NJPW.
The heart of the matter
Jericho had a lot to say regarding Naito's criticism of NJPW promoting the Wrestle Kingdom 12 pay-per-view as a Double Main Event.
He compared it to Wrestlemania, where he said that people complained about Brock Lesnar and Rock coming to 'steal' their spots. Jericho said that at the end of the day, part-timers, or full-timers, were all money makers.
"That's like when people b***h and complain when Brock Lesnar and The Rock wrestle at WrestleMania, saying, 'These part-timers come to steal our spots.' Part-timers, full-timers, single-timers, whatever the f*** you want to call it, they're money-makers."
He went on to point out that it was not he who was calling it a Double Main Event, but NJPW. NJPW has sold more tickets this year three weeks before the show than last year, and this was due to them being 'smart' in bringing in Jericho and making the Jericho Omega match a double main event.
Jericho addressed Naito and said that the Japanese star should be concentrating on his own actions, instead of on Jericho's. He challenged Naito to prove that he and Okada were the main event, saying that he did not 'give a s**t' about who went on last.
What's next?
Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega are set to collide at the Wrestle Kingdom 12 co-main event No Disqualification match, with the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship on the line.
Tetsuya Naito is set to take on Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the Wrestle Kingdom 12 pay-per-view in the other Main Event.
Author's take
There is no question about the Jericho and Omega match being one of the most revolutionary wrestling matches of all time. Given the background, there was bound to be some controversy surrounding it. It will be interesting to see how the Wrestle Kingdom 12 pay-per-view plays out.