Chris Jericho to headline Japan’s version of Wrestlemania

Chris Jericho will compete against Kenny Omega in New Japan Pro Wrestling. (Source: WWE)

Chris Jericho sprung a surprise on the wrestling world when he challenged IGPW United States champion Kenny Omega to a dream match at WrestleKingdom 12 on January 4 inside the Tokyo Dome. Away from the glamorous world of WWE, Japan is arguably the second biggest country in terms of interest in wrestling and Jericho looks to shift his focus to New Japan Pro Wrestling.

“I am the alpha of this business, and I’m going to prove it. Because I’m challenging you, Kenny. Jericho vs. Kenny. Alpha vs. Omega,” is what Jericho stated in the challenge.

Having started his career with the WWE in 1999, Jericho has vowed numerous times that he is a loyalist of the company which is headquartered in Connecticut, but this highlights a change of heart and possibly a feud between the Canadian and the WWE. It all began as a tongue-in-cheek Twitter conversation between Jericho and Omega and went on to explode into one of the most unlikely scenarios any wrestling fan could imagine. This would also pit two of this generation’s best in head-to-head contest for first time in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Jericho, now a free agent, is putting in his own funds into the pro wrestling cruise (labelled Rock N’ Wrestling Rager At Sea) seems to be the catalyst for working with outside promotions. His feud with the WWE could stem from the Japanese brand’s rise within the US or his association with Young Bucks – comprising former WWE defectors Cody Rhodes, Marty Scurll and Adam “Hangman” Page – which “invaded” a recent taping of WWE Raw.

New Japan Pro Wrestling has gathered plenty of noise in its hottest era with their promotion getting sold out immediately in the United States.