Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay - Destiny Awaits
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.” ― William Shakespeare
Will Ospreay entered the Tokyo Dome on the 4th of January with one thing on his mind; proving Kenny Omega wrong. For years Omega has belittled the leader of the United Empire and looked down upon him, going as far as saying he's not capable of carrying NJPW forward like he once did himself. The hatred Ospreay has towards Omega is like no other, and it's been a detriment to him in the past, as we saw when The Elite collided with Ospreay & Aussie Open on Dynamite. He's determined, but perhaps too determined. Omega meanwhile is tranquil. He's aware of what he's doing and it's playing out just how he had imagined. And beneath it all, Omega obtains what Ospreay hasn't gotten quite yet; recognition. Obviously there are those that will heap praise upon Will and rightfully so, but he still has doubters despite his accomplishments. You could argue this is why he turned on Kazuchika Okada to form the United Empire, he didn't feel appreciated and needed a change desperately. When Omega layed the challenge to Ospreay, you could sense the frustration and aggresion building up within Will. He's at the peak of his powers yet Kenny Omega still looms over him. This burden may never be shaken, but that wasn't going to stop him from trying.
Kenny Omega made his return to the Tokyo Dome with a Final Fantasy inspired entrance as the fans welcome their king back to his home. His facial expressions ooze confidence, he's not phased by this monumental bout he's about to endure. Omega is willing to acknowledge Ospreay has developed to an impressive level, but he doesn't consider him a real threat. Ospreay's entrance told us a lot of things. He reverted back to his former theme, 'Elevated', which he used during a time where he was this rising star that seemed unstoppable. He was putting on classics in the United Kingdom and Japan, and trying his very best to perfect his craft. Currently he's a more completed version of himself, but him bringing this back seemed like one final statement before he stepped into the ring. He wanted to prove to Kenny that he was always ready to lead New Japan forward, even when it seemed like he wasn't.
The seconds that passed by before the bell rang to begin the contest were eerie yet thrilling. This match-up seemed unlikely to happen at times, but this was destiny. The action was breathtaking and meaningful. Every movement had thought behind it, and if one was to describe every excruciating storytelling detail within this match they'd be evaluating it for hours on end. The DDT from Omega on the top rope was one of the standout moments, with the aftermath leaving you speechless. They hit each other hard, with Omega controlling the pacing for the most part. And that right there was the key factor throughout this entire thing. No matter how you analyse this one, Omega was the overall more impressive competitor. He was dominant and efficient with his offense, and Ospreay was surviving by the skin of his teeth. But despite this, Ospreay couldn't afford to let Omega have this over him. He'd feel a sense of injustice by accepting defeat, and in his mind it would prove Omega's theories regarding him correct. The championship was secondary in this circumstance, outdoing Omega was the main objective. Ospreay fought with pride and aggression but suffered the same faith as many have before him, and fell victim to the One Winged Angel. Omega basked in his glory with Don Callis, whilst the United Empire came to the aid of their leader.
This is a story that is yet to reach it's conclusion, and instead can be described as just another crucial chapter in the tantalising tale between these two extraordinary athletes. Who knows when or where this series will resume, but whatever the case may be it'll surely add even more depth to an already wonderful story.