Chris Jericho returns to NJPW and challenges IWGP champion Kazuchika Okada to a title match at Dominion.
If there’s one wrestler you can count on to continuously make headlines in the wrestling world, it’s Chris Jericho. Back in 2017, Chris Jericho shocked the world when he appeared on NJPW in a pre-taped vignette to challenge Kenny Omega for his United States championship.
The mercurial superstar has done it once again. This time he appeared on the screen at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku event in Fukuoka. He challenged the reigning IWGP champion Kazuchika Okada following the rainmaker’s successful title defense against SANADA.
The video opened with scary visuals that included porcelain dolls and black balloons. Jericho stared in the mirror creepily as he applied his Gothic make up. With screams of ”I’m gonna win” echoing, the once “Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla” looked to the camera.
“I am Chris Jericho. I am the Painmaker. And on June 9th at Dominion in Osaka, I will challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. And I’m gonna win” he said menacingly.
The video ended with Jericho repeatedly saying that he would win.
Also read: Chris Jericho get’s attacked at an Indie event.
When Jericho faced Omega he called himself the ‘Alpha’. This time he has adopted the moniker of ‘Painmaker’ in what is essentially a mock wordplay on Okada’s nickname, ”The Rainmaker”.
Jericho is currently signed with AEW and has not made an appearance with NJPW since his IGPW Intercontinental title loss to Tetsuya Naito at Wrestle Kingdom 13 on January 4. However his contract allows him to continue to work dates for NJPW.
Jericho is set to face Omega at AEW’s ‘Double or Nothing’ on May 25th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He is now also set to return to NJPW to take on Kazuchika Okada at ‘Dominion’. This will be his first IWGP title match. The NJPW pay per view will take place on June 9 at Osaka-jo Hall.
