Former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kenny Omega, shared some insights about his tie with Hiroshi Tanahashi, his challenger at Wrestle Kingdom 13, during a candid conversation with NJPW. Below are key takeaways from this intriguing interview.
Discussing his bond with Hiroshi Tanahashi, Omega said, “There seems to be an unspoken camaraderie between us. Initially, I believe both of us were on a quest to be the best we could be for personal reasons. My drive was never about wealth; it was always about striving for excellence as a wrestler and winning titles. If you ask Tanahashi, his response would likely mirror mine. Money was never the object.”
Speaking about the essence they hoped to capture in their performances, Omega elaborated, “We reached a point where it wasn’t only about titles anymore; it was about being ambassadors for our respective wrestling companies. We questioned ourselves: What is our perfect wrestling form? What does wrestling signify to us? What is the wrestling narrative we wish to broadcast globally? When you pour your heart and soul into conveying your unique message, it can be devastating when you lose, as I did to Tanahashi.”
When asserting why he lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi, Omega admitted, “It wasn’t because I was an inferior wrestler, nor was it because I was weaker or slower. I didn’t falter due to a flawed strategy. I lost because my ambitions weren’t grand enough. My intentions were still excessively self-centered.”
Check out the complete interview with Kenny Omega at the link provided for more fascinating insights from this wrestling superstar.