Kota Ibushi’s dreams are bigger than AEW, and that’s okay
AEW is changing the game for professional wrestling and has all the buzz imaginable after a successful first show. Though Kota Ibushi could one day be a big part of this new promotion, it is awesome to see how Kenny Omega and “The Elite” are respecting Ibushi’s goal of winning the IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
The current IWGP Intercontinental Champion, Kota Ibushi seems to be on a crash course to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. He and Tetsuya Naito, who still has a score to settle with current title-holder Kazuchika Okada, are among the favorites to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14. This year’s G1 Climax over the summer will be as must-see as ever.
Ibushi, of course, has a special bond with Kenny Omega that is perhaps as tight-knit as any in wrestling today. The “Golden Lovers” have told some of pro wrestling’s most profound stories as either partners or opponents, so some fans were surprised when Ibushi didn’t sign with AEW.
Omega, however, explained everything in humble, heart-warming fashion at Starrcast II over Double or Nothing weekend.
“I knew that I couldn’t ask Ibushi to sign because I knew it was his time, and he deserved it. Anyway, I knew that if I asked for him to come here, that he would. And if I begged for him to come, that he would. But, I knew that his dream before anything that we ever did was to win the IWGP Heavyweight Belt.”
[Hat tip to Wrestling Inc.’s Joshua Gagnon for the transcription.]
It is wonderful to see this response from Omega and to see how he, despite being an executive and top star at AEW, is so supportive of his wrestling soulmate. Ibushi’s goal is to be the IWGP Heavyweight Champion first and foremost, and it is an honor he’s more than earned with his fabulous work in the ring. There’s always been immense fan support for Ibushi and it’s entirely possible that one of wrestling’s finest artists and babyfaces achieves his dream in 2020.
Next. AEW Double or Nothing Review and Grades. dark
Until then, Ibushi is the IWGP Intercontinental Champion, which is prestigious in itself, and has a June 9 match against Naito that will surely blow our minds.
As for Omega, he was unsuccessful against Chris Jericho at Double or Nothing and already has a match announced against CIMA at AEW’s second show, Fight for the Fallen. There’s no doubt that Omega vs. CIMA could be one of the most fiery matches of 2019.