NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12: Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho Betting Odds

Written by Jim Murphy

– For wrestlers and serious fans Japan is considered the apex of the sport.

– New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) is the hottest promotion in pro wrestling worldwide.

Wrestle Kingdom is NJPW’s biggest show of the year similar to the WWE’s Wrestlemania

The rest of the world–and particularly the United States–is starting to figure out what serious wrestling fans have known for years. The best pro wrestling on the planet is in Japan. This isn’t to say that there aren’t great matches and workers in the US, Europe, Mexico and elsewhere. In fact, the quality of pro wrestling in the US is higher now than its been in years. The reality, however, is that ‘pound for pound’ Japan has the best workers, best matchups and a serious subculture of aficionados that support not only the top promotion (New Japan Pro Wrestling) but any number of smaller groups. Japan was also the first country to feature women’s wrestling as anything more than a time filler or ‘fan service’ for leering fans. During its prime years in the early 1990s, All Japan Women’s (AJW) featured not only the best women’s wrestling in the sport but was considered by many to be *the* best wrestling promotion in the world. If all you know of women’s wrestling is ‘Divas’ you owe it to yourself to check out some All Japan Women’s archival footage on YouTube.

New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) is starting to make inroads outside of their home country. They now simulcast major events in both Japanese and English and have promoted a couple of very successful shows on US soil as well as working with the top North American ‘Indy’ promotion Ring of Honor (ROH). This year they’re making a big move to make their biggest show of the year a ‘must see’ event outside of the Japanese hardcore fan circuit. Wrestle Kingdom 12 is scheduled for January 4, 2018 at the Tokyo Dome and features a packed card. While most longtime puroresu aficionados are most looking forward to the IWGP Championship match between Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito the match getting the most mainstream publicity features ‘The Cleaner’ Kenny Omega facing Chris Jericho, who will be wrestling in New Japan for the first time in twenty years.

I’ll be covering the entire Wrestle Kingdom card but wanted to devote special attention to this match which has gained even more ‘intensity’ in the past few hours.

KENNY OMEGA VS. CHRIS JERICHO AT WRESTLE KINGDOM 12

Here’s a bit of backstory–Chris Jericho is by most accounts not currently under contract to the WWE though he remains on good terms with Vince McMahon’s promotion. His primary focus over the past few years has been his rock band ‘Fozzy’ which has found considerable success. For example, the video for their song ‘Judas’ has 11.7 million views. Even so, he’s made at least one WWE appearance every year since 2007. There’s any number of ‘behind the scenes’ accounts of how his participation in Wrestle Kingdom came about but he all but certainly cleared it with Vince McMahon out of respect if nothing else. Jericho suggests that he didn’t ‘ask permission’ but that he ‘talked to Vince’ who reportedly was excited about the match.

Since Jericho has been focused on his music career of late there’s little to suggest that this is anything more than a ‘one shot’ opportunity for Y2J. If he is too busy with music to be even a part time performer for the WWE there’s no way he’d do so in Japan–and particularly given the far more physically demanding nature of Japanese wrestling. That detail is crucial to my handicap of the match and the odds I’ll post on it. This isn’t to say that he won’t turn in an excellent performance but that he’s not coming in for even a short stint in NJPW. Physically, he’s still capable of it but given his interests outside wrestling it’s just not logistically viable.

‘THE CLEANER’ KENNY OMEGA AKA ‘BEST BOUT MACHINE’

Pro wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer has been rating every wrestling match on every major event since the early 1980’s. He rates them on a scale of 1 to 5 stars and historically has been very discerning about giving out his highest rating. At last count, only 70 matches have been awarded five stars or more. Only five matches have been awarded more than five stars. Kenny Omega was in four of those with three coming against current IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada. Okada’s Wrestle Kingdom 12 opponent Tetsuya Naito was Omega’s opponent in the other. Omega vs. Okada main evented last year’s Wrestle Kingdom and Meltzer’s response was: “Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada may have put on the greatest match in pro wrestling history”. If you’ve never seen it you owe it to yourself to check it out. If you haven’t seen a pro wrestling match since Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior you need to see it even more. You can find it on the excellent ‘NJPW World’ website along with a ton of archives and live streaming of every NJPW event with big events simulcast in English (easily the best 999 yen or $8.80 US you’ll ever spend). In the meantime, you’ll find a fan made video with highlights at the bottom of this post.

Omega could have a great match with a mop and while Jericho might not be a ‘full timer’ anymore he’s still very capable. Omega is the perfect opponent for him in a one shot return–he’ll cover up any weaknesses and make him look great all the while putting on a killer match. Jericho has been in 6 WWE matches of 4 stars or higher since 2016. Only two of his last 17 WWE matches have been lower than three stars but even those were really due to circumstances beyond his control (eg: opponents, bad gimmick matches). It’s not like Jericho just ‘phones it in’ due to his limited schedule–put him in with a capable opponent and you’ve got a good match. Omega really takes pride in his reputation as a ‘best bout machine’ so you know he’ll leave it all in the ring.

THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS MATCH

From a ‘storyline’ standpoint it is of limited significance. Initially, it was expected to be a non-title match but according to the lineup at the official New Japan Pro Wrestling website Omega’s IWGP US Title will be on the line. The match got a huge reaction when it was announced as it was a major surprise to see a superstar that has been identified with the WWE for the past 20 years in NJPW. From a ‘logical booking’ standpoint there’s no reason for Jericho to win this match. You don’t bring in an ‘outsider’ for a one time shot and have a top tier wrestler from your company ‘do the job’. One way to book a match like this is to have the wrestlers ‘trade victories’ with the ‘outsider’ winning the first match and the ‘company guy’ getting revenge in the second match. Two reasons that won’t work here–Jericho’s status as a part time (at best) wrestler and the setting. There are other big NJPW cards throughout the year but all pale in significance to Wrestle Kingdom. If Omega loses here he’ll either have to a) wait a year to get revenge at WK13 or b) get his win back on a much lower profile card. I guess there are other wild card scenarios such as NJPW agreeing to put a Omega/Jericho rematch on the Wrestlemania card but that still diminishes one of their top stars that they no doubt have plans for in the coming year. A draw could work–Omega and Okada tore the house down in a 60 minute draw last June (NJPW Dominion)that earned a 6.25 rating from Meltzer making it the highest rated match in history. Two problems with that–from a booking standpoint a draw against an outsider *still* weakens Omega and particularly if he doesn’t get his ‘win back’. A more practical concern–Jericho is 47 and wrestling a limited schedule. It would be tough for him to turn in a 60 minute match at the pace expected in a Japanese promotion. Since his best singles matches in the past couple of years have been 20 minutes or less it’s a stupid way to book it.

On a ‘meta’ level this is a very important match for all concerned. Omega always ‘brings it’ on big shows and he’s facing a legend, a fellow Canadian, and a huge name among more casual fans in the US. Jericho has never appeared on a Wrestle Kingdom show and–interestingly–has never had a five star match. This might be his best–if not his last–chance to reach that level of excellence. He’s had five 4.75 star matches in the early 2000’s against the late Chris Benoit both as a single and in a tag team. New Japan has a chance to get even more US media coverage and bring in at least some viewers from the casual fan/WWE audience. There’s a lot of ‘meta’ at stake but the good news is that everyone concerned is very much capable of delivering.

NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING WRESTLE KINGDOM 12 BETTING ODDS

TO WIN KENNY OMEGA VS. CHRIS JERICHO MATCH

Kenny Omega: -350
Chris Jericho: +300

If the match ends in a draw or no decision bet will be graded as a ‘push’

TO WIN KENNY OMEGA VS. CHRIS JERICHO MATCH W/ DRAW

Kenny Omega: -300
Chris Jericho: +200
Draw: +500

Any outcome where no official winner is declared will be graded a ‘draw’ including time limit draw, double count out, no contest, etc.

KENNY OMEGA TO WIN WITH HIS ‘ONE WINGED ANGEL’ FINISHING MOVE?

Yes: -300
No: +250

Kenny Omega to use his ‘One Winged Angel’ move immediately before scoring pin or submission will be graded ‘Yes’. Any other outcome including a no-decision or loss will be graded ‘No’

CHRIS JERICHO TO WIN WITH HIS ‘CODEBREAKER’ FINISHING MOVE?

Yes: +375
No: -450

Chris Jericho to use his ‘Codebreaker’ move immediately before scoring pin or submission will be graded ‘Yes’. Any other outcome including a no-decision or loss will be graded ‘No’

KENNY OMEGA TO KICK OUT OF CHRIS JERICHO’S ‘CODEBREAKER’ DURING MATCH?

Yes: -250
No: +210

Move must be successfully executed and not blocked or countered. Kenny Omega must kick out of Chris Jericho’s ‘Codebeaker’ finisher at any time during match to be graded ‘Yes’.

CHRIS JERICHO TO KICK OUT OF KENNY OMEGA’S ‘ONE WINGED ANGEL’ DURING MATCH?

Yes: +180
No: -210

Move must be successfully executed and not blocked or countered. Chris Jericho must kick out of Kenny Omega’s ‘One Winged Angel’ finisher at any time during match to be graded ‘Yes’.

TIME OF KENNY OMEGA VS. CHRIS JERICHO MATCH

Over 15:00 minutes: -350
15:00 minutes or under: +300

TIME OF KENNY OMEGA VS. CHRIS JERICHO MATCH

18:00 minutes or over: -300
Under 18 minutes: +270

TIME OF KENNY OMEGA VS. CHRIS JERICHO MATCH

Over 30:00 minutes: +210
30:00 or under: -250

THE WRESTLING OBSERVER/DAVE MELTZER’S STAR RATING FOR CHRIS JERICHO VS. KENNY OMEGA NJPW WRESTLE KINGDOM 12 MATCH?

5 Stars or higher: -180
Under 5 Stars: +150

THE WRESTLING OBSERVER/DAVE MELTZER’S STAR RATING FOR CHRIS JERICHO VS. KENNY OMEGA NJPW WRESTLE KINGDOM 12 MATCH?

4 Stars or higher: -500
Under 4 Stars: +425

THE WRESTLING OBSERVER/DAVE MELTZER’S STAR RATING FOR CHRIS JERICHO VS. KENNY OMEGA NJPW WRESTLE KINGDOM 12 MATCH?

6 Stars or higher: +300
Under 6 Stars: -350