This is a very interesting post MJ!
One thing I will say is that when Kenny Omega has a storyline, it pretty much always plays out in a very interesting and logical way, and I definitely do not think that the Undertale video was just to “get people talking” like John and Wai mentioned during the podcast.
When you watch Kenny Omega closely over time it’s very clear that he is not that kind of guy, and instead of treating fans like “marks” to be played, he rewards those who watch closely with these little Easter eggs that always seem to pay off. How many other people can you say that about in pro wrestling? Very few.
Also, I don’t think there is much of a chance of NJPW “screwing” Naito. I think hardcore Naito fans feel he was already sort of screwed a couple of years back when he lost at Wrestle Kingdom 12.
When Okada beat him at Wrestle Kingdom 12, the air went out of the entire building- people were very disappointed, and I honestly don’t think he has recovered from that moment. Attendees at that show had so much LIJ merchandise, and SO MANY grown-assed men cosplaying as Naito, and I haven’t seen that level of fan interest in him since. It really felt like he was at his popularity peak, and losing there definitely hurt him.
Naito has been talking about being a double champion all year, and if he doesn’t even get the opportunity to achieve that goal, although it could create another storyline, I think it would leave a very bad taste in the mouth of LIJ fans, and NJPW fans overall.
It also would send a poor message to the locker room that the guys who have been working hard all year in NJPW could get the rug pulled out from under them by a guy who no longer works for the company full time.
They can definitely do a great storyline with Omega and Ibushi, but they don’t need to screw over Naito to do so, and I don’t think that will happen.
All that being said, this pre-match Omega video was an awesome bonus for people who have been following this story for a long time- I really like that about Omega, the guy finds a way to tell long form stories in a way that you don’t see much in modern wrestling.
I feel rewarded for paying close attention, which is the exact opposite of what happens when you watch some other wrestling products.
All the criticism of Omega over his minor idiosyncracies mean very little to me ultimately, because at the core of it all, this guy respects fans and treats them like intelligent human beings, and I have always been very thankful for that.
Also I’m happy I decided to go to Wrestle Kingdom (for the fourth time in five years), there may be some amazing surprises on these two shows!
I may be wrong about some or all of the above, but I’m excited to find out over the next few months!