10 Biggest Stories From NJPW's Destruction Events (And What They Mean Going Forward)
3. Kenny Omega Retains Over Tomohiro Ishii
The Stone Pitbull has been nipping at Kenny Omega’s heels since even before the Bullet Club leader captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Their frequent rivalry intensified, however, when Ishii laid down the challenge for Omega's belt on the final night of the G1 Climax -- after having defeated him earlier in the tournament.
In Hiroshima, Ishii finally got his shot and gave the champion perhaps his greatest challenge yet. The two men brutalized each other in a thirty-minute classic as the Stone Pitbull came closer than anyone to defeating Omega. Multiple times Ishii was just a fraction of a second from capturing the coveted gold, but eventually Omega battled back as he delivered multiple V-Triggers and a One-Winged Angel for the win.
Kenny walked away with his IWGP title, and in his closing statements, reminded his Golden Lover that he would defend against him when Kota Ibushi desired. For the time being, however, Ibushi seems unwilling to follow through on the championship opportunity. Furthermore, despite Ishii's loss, the forty-two year-old veteran will likely remain in the hunt for the IWGP belt as he will surely look to once again defeat Omega just as he did during the G1 tournament.