12 Biggest Stories From New Japan's Power Struggle And What They Mean Going Forward

Since Hiroshi Tanahashi's G1 Climax victory in August, he and Kenny Omega have repeatedly traded barbs and insults. However, the reigning IWGP Champion and the Ace had not yet squared off in the ring. Saturday's tag bout finally gave fans a taste of what's to come for Wrestle Kingdom 13's main event.

Tanahashi and Omega immediately faced-off before trading vicious forearm blows to start the match. A fast-paced sequence of continuous counters from both men followed, as they ended up right where they began, face-to-face and mouthing off. Things then slowed down a bit once David Finlay and Kota Ibushi were tagged in. Meanwhile, Omega’s attention continued to be diverted back to his Wrestle Kingdom challenger as he went out of his way to attack Tanahashi both in and outside the ring. Despite Finlay rallying back, he was eventually felled by a Golden Trigger to end the bout.

In the aftermath, Omega taunted Tanahashi as he nonchalantly tossed the G1 Climax winner his coveted briefcase before holding the IWGP Championship in his face. January's Wrestle Kingdom will see the two go head-to-head in what is sure to be an exciting bout of contrasting ideals and styles.