Kenny Omega has pop culture references for you. Of the 1999 variety.
Speaking with NJPW for a new interview, he talked about the global expansion of New Japan and the need, as he sees it, for him to be the champion if the whole thing is going to work.
He also turned the whole thing into a Matrix metaphor.
“Ok, here’s the thing…if I’m the champion, then you can challenge the world. Because then you have the one guy that can lead this company to bigger things. If you have someone like Okada holding the belt, then just stay in Tokyo! Because then there’s no appeal out there. There’s no appeal for that anywhere, except your home base. I am the gateway drug. Do you want to take the Okada pill, or do you want to see just how FAR this rabbit hole goes? Then you’ll take the Kenny Omega pill! You enter that…O-Matrix!
And then you can see what makes New Japan so special. Because the guy that gets the most out of all of these wrestlers here is me! So you want to talk about me writing the playbook? Look, I’m not trying to be selfish. If I wasn’t the best wrestler, I’d say, “Look, you gotta give it to THIS guy! He’s the leader and I’ll be his warm-up act, that’s fine.” But I’m not an idiot. I know the truth, and the truth is I am the most creative, the best, the man of the hour! Put the belt on me, ’cause I should be the rightful champion. I can take this company to better things and bring in the big bucks.”
Omega also talked about his disappointing exit from the New Japan Cup tournament, how he's recovering from the shoulder injury he suffered back in February, and if he has any big plans for Sakura Genesis.
He sadly did not make any more Keanu Reeves movie references.
