Yota Tsuji Says His Match Against Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 21 Is An ‘All-Out’ NJPW vs. AEW War

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji believes that his match against AEW’s Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 21 is an “all-out war” between NJPW and All Elite Wrestling, and he must win for the sake of the future of the relationship.

As noted, Kenny Omega defeated Yota Tsuji and Boltin Oleg in a three-way match at NJPW Power Struggle, thereby earning a shot at Tsuji’s IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the January 4 event. The rivals came head-to-head at the November 4 press conference, where Omega claimed that Tsuji doesn’t have the experience to represent NJPW globally.

Tsuji fired back, lamenting the fact that his first Tokyo Dome outing in the post-Hiroshi Tanahashi era isn’t against an NJPW talent. The reigning champ subsequently declared that his match with Omega is a full-fledged war between the two companies, and he must emerge victorious to salvage the relationship. Tsuji added that if other NJPW talents win their respective matches against AEW wrestlers at Wrestle Kingdom and he ends up losing to Omega, then that would be a loss for New Japan.

Here’s what he said [quotes via NJPW’s website]:

“It’s my first Tokyo Dome without Hiroshi Tanahashi. It should be me against a homegrown NJPW wrestler, but I have to accept the result from last night. I don’t know how everyone else feels, but to me this is an all-out NJPW vs. AEW war, and one I must win. I’ve said before that if things stay the way they are, we would be better off ending this relationship, but the point is, that’s if things stay the way they are. This match could change the relationship between NJPW and AEW entirely. If all the other NJPW wrestlers win their matches, but I lose, then that’s a loss for New Japan overall.”

Check out the card for Wrestle Kingdom 21 RIGHT HERE.