10 HUGE NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 Predictions You Need To Know
2. Alpha Trumps Omega
If you're a casual western viewer, much of your interest in Wrestle Kingdom 12 likely comes from its 'co-main event': Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho.
This is perfectly understandable. 'Y2J' is easily the biggest name on the card for fans of a certain persuasion, and the bout has featured heavily in NJPW's American and European promotion, with the company delivering several white-hot angles in recent weeks. It's laced with intrigue, too. Omega is a wrestling genius, and proved himself among the best in the world in 2017, but will be able to deliver the goods against a performer as far beyond his athletic peak as Jericho?
The No DQ stipulation helps, and with both participants promising a fight rather than a great match, we have a rough idea of what to expect. Alpha vs. Omega will be scrappy, heated, and chaotic. 'Y2J' probably can't reach his opponent's level athletically, and New Japan were smart to realise this by not forcing him to keep up with 'The Cleaner.'
Conventional logic suggests the full-timer should go over here, but no. If Jericho loses, there's nowhere else for NJPW to go with the feud, but his victory opens up all kinds of long-term booking prospects, including a huge rematch somewhere down the line.
Winner: Chris Jericho