Why Dave Meltzer Is RIGHT About Kenny Omega

Hiroshi Tanahashi Kenny Omega
NJPW1972.com

His last match with the company, against Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 13, was a stunning philosophical war that beautifully realised its meta premise.

Tanahashi was the storytelling purist, Omega the gratuitously dangerous fireworks factory, and Tana had to put over Omega's style to defeat him. In one amazing out of character moment, one that was so, so much better and earned and congruous than virtually any cool spot ever, Tana, the man repulsed by head drop excess, levelled Omega with a poison 'rana. It was heart-stopping.

Omega's best work in New Japan was with Kazuchika Okada. Their climactic encounter at Dominion 2018 remains by acclimation the greatest pro wrestling match ever. Not only did they work the greatest wrestling match ever, they registered it as they greatest match ever before it was done. After 50 minutes of scorching dark arts pacing - how that epic built after blowing everyone away in minute 20 remains the sort of genius no observer could ever accurately articulate - Okada and Omega, exhausted, spent a long, drawn-out sequence deliberately failing to execute what remained of their arsenals.

It was worked almost in slow motion, and yet it was more electrifying and heated than the most insane of short-form sprints, which, incidentally, Omega and Okada had somehow conspired to work for almost an hour.

CONT'D...(5 of 6)

Advertisement
In this post: 
Kenny Omega
 
Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!