Chris Jericho Isn’t Sure If NJPW Not Using He And Kenny Omega’s Services Is A Smart Business Move

Jericho says that New Japan knows the door is open if they want to walk through it.

Former IWGP Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho and former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega lost their respective championships at Wrestle Kingdom 13 and both men were announced to be signing with All Elite Wrestling several days/weeks after the company was brought to the public’s attention. In Kenny Omega’s interview with Tokyo Sports that broke the news that he was leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling, he stated that he hopes to mix it up in Japan again but that was not in the cards at the time of the interview. 

Chris Jericho has stated over various platforms that he would like to continue working dates for New Japan but NJPW is partnered with Ring Of Honor and they recently wrapped up their joint ‘Honor Rising’ shows on the road to G1 Supercard in April. Jericho joined Wrestling Observer Radio in February and stated that Gedo knows he wants to continue working for New Japan and added that he cannot speak for Kenny Omega, but thinks it would not be a smart business decision for New Japan to not to use he and Omega’s services if there is a possibility of that happening.

“Lets just go business wise here: You’re talking about two of the four guys from the last two Tokyo Dome main events. The top two matches of the last two Tokyo Domes, was Kenny and Chris at one, Kenny and Tanahashi at the other and Jericho and Naito at the other so, just me and Kenny alone have been in the main event of the top two matches of the Tokyo Dome the last two years. That’s half of your top guys, and I can’t speak for Kenny, but I’m sure he’s open to it, and for me, I wanna work for New Japan. I think that there’s a lot of matches there that we can do — Okada, Tanahashi, Suzuki and Jericho I think. We can sell out a small arena with that. Jericho/Ospreay, Jericho/Ibushi. I mean there’s a lot of guys that I can go there and work with and draw some big money.” Jericho said. “I don’t know though man. It’s very strange what’s going on because like you said, I understand both sides. I also don’t really think the new management quite understands the value of Omega and Jericho being involved there, and all the other guys on the roster. When I look at Ring Of Honor, yeah, great company. But who do they have on their roster that can do more business for them as a foreign guy coming in than Omega and Jericho could? I can’t see a lot.” Jericho said. “I know they’re home-grown building with Jay White and that’s awesome, but you gotta build guys by putting them over on established guys and I don’t know if it’s a smart business move for them to not use us especially when we want to do it and it’s not cheap to work there, but I think the business dividends is worth way more than the money… I can’t speak for them. I just know it hasn’t been much talk lately. After a lot of talk, they know where to find me and my door is open, and I’m interested and wanna do it but as far as anything further with them, I can’t say there’s anything on the horizon as of right now.”

Coming out of the NJPW and ROH ‘Honor Rising’ shows, a titles versus titles match was made official for G1 Supercard and to check out the updated lineup for the April 6th MSG show, head over to Fightful’s “events” page.

If the quote in this article is used, please credit Wrestling Observer Radio with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription.