Kenny Omega Forms DREAM Tag Team At NJPW New Year Dash

Kenny Omega's surprise appearance for NJPW today yielded Devil's Sky - and a legendary tag team.

by Andy H Murray
Kazuchika Okada Kenny Omega
NJPW

Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada is a legendary pro wrestling rivalry, but the duo were tag team partners at NJPW New Year Dash!! today.

Having defeated Will Ospreay in an acclaimed IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship war at Wrestle Kingdom 17 yesterday, Omega wasn't expected to be at New Year Dash!!, which was once considered NJPW's Raw after WrestleMania equivalent. That United Empire's Jeff Cobb and Aaron Henare hit the ring after the intended main event (a KOPW Title four-way) was surprising enough, as viewers were led to believe that there wasn't anything else on the card - but there was.

Omega then strode out to his magnificent 'Devil's Sky' theme, doing so in a wrestling arena for the first time since 2019. And then came his era-defining rivalry.

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Kenny looked as surprised as anyone as Okada, who beat Jay White in the Wrestle Kingdom main event, came out. They showed respect by bumping belts and working together harmoniously, however, delivering a V-Trigger/Rainmaker combination before Okada blasted Henare with another Rainmaker, making the three-count elementary.

A golden combination of two wrestlers who have never been on the same side of a tag team before, and whose iconic in-ring rivalry set new standards for NJPW business and acclaim.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.