The Problem with Omega vs Ishii at NJPW DESTRUCTION in Hiroshima

From njpw1972.com

There’s a reason NJPW’s fans rarely complain about the product. The storytelling is consistent and rewarding, the wrestling is fantastic, and the production of it all is refreshingly simple. It’s great. It really is. With that being said, even though I basically worship the ground that Gedo walks on, I gotta be honest when I’m not feeling something, and I really wasn’t feeling DESTRUCTION in Hiroshima’s main event.

Overshadowed by the unbelievable greatness of the legendary Okada/Omega rivalry, Tomohiro Ishii and Kenny Omega have quietly engaged in a series of unbelievable matches over the past two years. They delivered a trio of MOTY candidates in 2017, culminating in an epic brawl on night 2 of G1 Special in USA. Omega triumphed in the end, winning two of their three bouts and becoming the inaugural IWGP United States Champion. However, the story doesn’t end there…

Their feud was reignited on night X of this year’s G1 Climax 28. Ishii left his heart and soul in the ring and managed to defeat Kenny, evening the series at 2-2 and earning a IWGP Heavyweight Championship opportunity in the process.

Then, in the pair’s fifth and most important match yet, Omega completely and utterly dominated Ishii, retaining the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in a match that just felt far too straightforward. The challenger showed resilience, taking a huge amount of punishment and continuing to fight, but he always does that. This match needed something more.

The Stone Pitbull was never going to win, and that’s fine. Even though I’m a massive Tom Ishii mark, I recognize the value of a lengthy Omega title reign. Unfortunately, it didn’t even feel like they were trying to make us believe he had a chance at all. Kenny absolutely bombarded his opponent with high impact offense for the vast majority of the match. Ishii was fighting from behind the entire time. He kicked out of just about everything, but never got close to a believable near fall for himself.

Kenny’s recently defeated Okada the demigod in decisive fashion. He’s the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. The Best Bout Machine’s on top of the world with nothing left to prove. He doesn’t need to be plowing through NJPW’s upper midcarders like this.

Sure, Ishii beat Omega in the G1. It was a nice moment for him, but it’s really just the same old same old for Tomohiro. He earns the main event matches, but never comes out on top when it’s all said and done. It’s his role on NJPW’s roster, and he’s been thriving in it for awhile now. However, eventually Ishii needs to win on a big stage, or at least be booked to come off as a legitimate threat to top stars and their title reigns. If not, he’s going to become stale and his matches could start to feel like nothing more than ceremony.

The Stone Pitbull is truly one of the greatest wrestlers on Earth, and NJPW would be terribly mistaken not to capitalize on his incredible talent before it’s too late.