10 Booking Steps For Kenny Omega As IWGP Heavyweight Champion
3. Toppling Tetsuya
A recent controversy threatened to overshadow the afterglow of Kenny Omega's post-Dominion IWGP Title victory thanks to a comment made by 'The Best Bout Machine' in an interview about overseas performers allegedly working harder than their Japanese counterparts, It touched nerves globally, though accusations of racism were rapidly countered with reminders of Kenny's deep-rooted integration into the country's culture over the last decade.
The decision to draw a distinctive line between the two sides was a slightly unnecessary move from the new Champion, but the words weren't without work - Omega was taking a thinly-veiled shot at Tetsuya Naito.
Omega - out of kayfabe - rapidly raced to clarify the narrative as was intended. He noted that international competitors hit the gym harder than the home country heroes as a rationale for why so many had experienced such success. This lay in contrast to the 'Tranquilo' former Intercontinental Champion, having surrendered his title to Chris Jericho off the back of damaging defeats elsewhere in 2018.
It was this divide Omega was aiming to exploit. Naito at his peak robbed Omega of a second G1 win in 2017, but wasn't the man he believed himself to be when he lost to Kazuchika Okada at the following year's Wrestle Kingdom. In an effort to prove his point, Kenny will defeat Naito, but a rejection of his closest confidant's help will subsequently provide a crushing blow ahead of his biggest test...