Kota Ibushi opens up about his relationship with Kenny Omega.
On Feb. 7, Kenny Omega surprised no one when he showed up at the AEW Ticket Announcement Party and revealed he would be joining All Elite Wrestling. Days later, on Feb. 11, Kota Ibushi surprised many when he showed up at NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka and announced he would be staying in NJPW. The Golden Lovers reunited one year earlier and seemed destined to "change the world" together. But they chose different paths on how to do so.
Speaking to NJPW, Kota Ibushi discussed his relationship with The Best Bout Machine.
"Kenny has his own path to follow and I support him with it completely. I?d like to see Kenny change the world with wrestling, but I don?t want to lose to him. I?m going to fight my battles with everything I?ve got. Looking back now, I think Kenny really overshadowed me in New Japan, right?" questioned Kota. "When I look at what he?s achieved, Kenny?s won the G1 and was IWGP Heavyweight Champion, two things I?ve never done. Because I felt that I was not on the same level as him, I was always conscious about linking arms and teaming-up with him."
Prior to signing a two-year deal with NJPW, Ibushi revealed he turned down a contract offer from AEW. The paths of Omega and Ibushi could cross again sooner rather than later as Omega stated his AEW contract allows him to work for NJPW whenever he desires.