Kenny Omega Vs Kazuchika Okada 2 is hyped through the roof with good reason. Here are 10 reasons why you should watch NJPW DOMINION’s sequel.
1) The first match between Kenny Omega / Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 11 tore the house down. Renowned wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer gave the match 6 stars (never happened before). It was an absolute spectacle featuring jaw dropping spots and a feel of true athletic competition.
2) They say the sequel is always better than the first, and while a six-star match will be difficult to top. You can bet Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada will go all out in an effort to do so. Omega has cited IWGP Heavyweight championship as the crown jewel of titles in wrestling today.
3) Every podcast, wrestling forum, message board, Facebook group, website, dirt sheet you name it had something to say about Omega / Okada at Wrestle Kingdom afterwards. From Steve Austin to Jim Cornette, it got people talking. Even John Cena posted an Instagram photo of Omega following the match. Hinting at being 2 for 2 at predications that Omega would arrive at the WWE, like Cena’s photo of AJ Styles a bit prior to the WWE. You want to stay on top of the latest and greatest in Wrestling if you’re reading this.
4) The match put NJPW and Kenny Omega on a grander stage internationally. It’s no secret Kenny Omega’s appeal overseas has lead to NJPW’s ability to now tour in the USA at Long Beach, California. LA locals who have their curiosity peaked about NJPW’s upcoming G1 Special should check Omega/Okada 2 tonight out to see what’s in store. Tickets are sold out at Ticketmaster but still available over at Stubhub.
5) Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino on English commentary helped sell Omega/ Okada 1’s surreal air of realism, it was almost like watching a classical athletic competition. Boxing-like. Quite different than mainstream wrestling overseas promotional shilling. The closest thing recently in the WWE would have to be NXT’s commentary by Jim Ross/Nigel McGuinness during the UK Championship match. Needless to say you will not be left out in the cold on commentary today with NJPW commentary staple Kevin Kelly and Don ‘Cyrus’ Callis.
6) New Japan Pro Wrestling’s audience/fanbase is quite a contrast to wrestling fans in the US. You might catch fans genuinely crying tears of joy like when Okada defeated Omega back at Wrestle Kingdom 11. The fans in the US needs an Undertaker/Lesnar Wrestlemania loss to evoke such emotion these days after years of desensitization of wrestling as sports entertainment. The Japanese fanbase appear to treat the art of wrestling in earnest sincerity.
AJ Styles has spoken about the difference before, “Just because people weren’t making a lot of noise doesn’t mean they weren’t paying attention. The Japan crowds are very different from the UK and American crowds; they’re really paying attention, watching and loving professional wrestling for what it is. ” in an interview with The Tag Rope Magazine.
7) The Bullet Club merchandise is gradually going mainstream. No longer exclusive to the indy fan, soon you’ll find Kenny ‘The Cleaner’ Omega, Young Bucks, and Bullet Club t-shirts over at Hot Topic. Along with the Club in WWE, Ring of Honor presence, NJPW USA shows and general mystique (even Hulk Hogan has spoken about joining the Bullet Club)… NJPW might be the #2 wrestling organization in the world at this rate. You want to be apart of it all as it’s beginning, when it’s cool as they say.
8) Internet streaming like on NJPW World is opening wrestling to an untapped market. Potentially going around the previous obstacle of getting major TV networks to carry a program. Fans who might never have been able to experience NJPW easily now can. Kenny Omega has made it known he is loyal to New Japan Pro Wrestling and he could be the man that takes NJPW to unprecedented status internationally. Change the whole game so to speak.
The Elite faction with the Young Bucks is only gaining popularity day by day with the young generation of fans. There is always the chance too he might entertain an offer from the WWE eventually and join AJ Styles in the WWE’s upper echelon. Omega, however, loves Japan and its culture, becoming fully fluent in the language. As mentioned before, there’s just something about being a fan who was there from the beginning and saw a career’s pages turn chapter by chapter.
9) Kenny Omega recently interviewed with Sports Illustrated regarding this second match with Okada. He mentioned ‘wanting to create a very different experience in feeling, rather than copying a ‘5 star formula’ from the Tokyo Dome match’. Wrestling fans can only imagine what Omega has in store for what will likely be another classic.
10) Okada has been IWGP Heavyweight champion since June 19, 2016 (his 4th reign) at last year’s DOMINION. Thats a long time, almost a year. Can Kenny Omega finally capture the title from Okada? Remember this title has a storied lineage of champions including AJ Styles, Brock Lesnar, Vader and Shinsuke Nakamura to name a few. The stakes couldn’t be higher over at New Japan Pro Wrestling DOMINION.
Today is the day! Watch it all live with English commentary only on @njpwworld Sign up now▶︎ https://t.co/cEFFsYKcrQ pic.twitter.com/CZi3GdXhw4
— njpw_global (@njpwglobal) June 10, 2017
