Kenny Omega at DDT Part 1
Dec. 10th, 2018 07:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cringekingsmashkoKenny first went to over to Japan to wrestle for DDT in the summer of 2008. He was there for just over a month and it was on this tour that he met and wrestled Kota Ibushi for the first time.
In late 2007/early 2008 Kenny Omega was starting to break out into the American independents, having regained his passion for wrestling after a pretty bleak experience in WWE developmental. Now he was finally venturing out of Winnipeg again he had his sights set firmly back on Japan.
He made a video of him doing a DDT style 'anywhere' match, the company saw it and wanted to bring him over. He also he cut this promo on Ibushi that is both cringey and totally adorable in classic Kenny Omega style.
In interviews Kenny has mentioned that he came to Japan determined to give 100% effort. The way he saw it, the tour was only a one off unless he could be so good that DDT would have to bring him over again. But although Kenny describes his ambition in quite aggressive terms and his position in DDT as fragile; after going through the blogs of the DDT staff and fans of the period the overwhelming picture is of a promotion and its fan base falling head over heels in love with him.
The day before Kenny’s arrival, Sanshiro Takagi, the president of DDT wrote this on his blog.
Takagi:
Reputation as a pedantic geek rightfully established, Kenny arrives on the 31st and Takagi, Kenny and Michael Nakazawa go to eat together. Check out that cute little ninja turtle shirt.
Takagi:
The match with Ibushi was not Kenny’s first match in Japan. The beer garden shows started up on the 4th and Kenny had a tag match that first night teaming with Ken Ohka against a masked wrestler ‘HERO!’ and a second, time traveling HERO! (welcome to DDT). Kenny’s team loses but the audience is impressed with his athleticism, and Takagi with his ability to adapt to the comedy match style. Kenny serves at the stalls among the rest of the DDT roster.
(source)
On the 6th of August, the 3rd night of the beer garden shows is when Kenny and Ibushi have their first match. It’s fantastic and you can watch it on DDT universe here: (https://www.ddtpro.com/universe/videos/2649) Or other places online if you are willing to search a little.
The Shin-Kiba 1st Ring where this match and all the beer garden matches were, holds about 290 people. Way more than that showed up to try and get in for Ibushi Produce Night so the place was packed.
The match was a 2/3 falls with the extra stipulation that one of the falls must take place outside of the ring and one inside. This suited the whole ‘Kenny Omega - Canada’s king of the streets’ gimmick Kenny was doing. (I think purely for the benefit of DDT?) Apparently, he regretted this later as everyone who booked him of the back of this wanted him to do scary outside matches. You live and learn I guess.
They start inside the ring but soon go outside.
Both score an outside fall and then head back into the ring. The camera man loses them in the crowd halfway through and has to scramble back through the food stalls to reach them again.
More facts about this match:
-This was actually Kota’s second match of the night. He fought Gota Ihashi in a boxing-type match earlier on.
-While Kenny and Kota were fighting outside, Nakazawa and Dino went into the ring and performed a strip tease for the people who hadn’t bothered to leave their seats. (Again - welcome to DDT)
(source)
- In 2017 Kenny ranked jumping off the bleachers through Ibushi as one of the 3 most painful bumps of his career. (The other two were from his second match with Ibushi in 2012)
Ouch.
Back in the ring Kota wins; beginning his streak over Kenny which remains unbroken to this day. Kenny lays on the mat beaten.
Kota gets up and calls for the mic. He thanks everyone and motions to the guys to help Kenny stand.
Kenny is holding it together up until this point. But then Ibushi claps and says thank you and the crowd starts chanting for him and Kenny just starts full on crying.
Kota cuts a promo to the crowd along the lines of: “Thank you very much for today. I feel a bad because I hit my head, so I will finish. The end.” Both of them stagger out. Kenny crumples on the way out of the ring still crying. Kota hugs him again and then leans on him to stand up. He’s kind of taken aback by the strength of Kenny’s emotional reaction I think.
They make it out of the ring. Kota goes through the curtain and Kenny follows, after a final applause from the crowd.
The DDT fans love the match and they love Kenny Omega.
Post-match comments translated by M-Drop.
Sanshiro Takagi: “It was the most craziest match I’ve ever seen. Every move in and out of the ring was totally amazing. Although Kenny lost the match, I believe he gets lots of applause and attention from Japanese fans in just one night. I was so thrilled to watch the match. I will wrestle against Kenny on Sunday with “Street fight-anywhere fall” match for my Extreme Championship as ex.King of out-of-the-ring match. I promise to retain the belt. Everybody, get ready!”
Kota Ibushi: “Kenny Omega is an AWESOME wrestler! Power, speed, craziness, intelligence – everything is perfect. He is really a nice guy! He is the real Pro-wrestler. I couldn’t keep up with him during the match actually. Also I felt something common between us. It’s like “Yes! That’s it!!” He was great not only out of the ring but in the ring. I lost my memory after Michinoku Driver and then I noticed I was in the ring – now I’m pretty sure Michinoku Driver on the road is very dangerous! Also I noticed fans were crazy as well. I’m so glad Pres. Takagi told me it was legendary match. I love Kenny Omega! He’s great!”
Kenny Omega: “To be honest with you, I was a little bit nervous before the match as this is the one against Kota Ibushi. But I am so glad that we had a great match tonight. Ibushi is an awesome wrestler as I thought. And I feel we understood each other from the bottom of our heart after this great match and we are now best friends. I want to team up with him and wrestle together!”
Part 2
In late 2007/early 2008 Kenny Omega was starting to break out into the American independents, having regained his passion for wrestling after a pretty bleak experience in WWE developmental. Now he was finally venturing out of Winnipeg again he had his sights set firmly back on Japan.
He made a video of him doing a DDT style 'anywhere' match, the company saw it and wanted to bring him over. He also he cut this promo on Ibushi that is both cringey and totally adorable in classic Kenny Omega style.
In interviews Kenny has mentioned that he came to Japan determined to give 100% effort. The way he saw it, the tour was only a one off unless he could be so good that DDT would have to bring him over again. But although Kenny describes his ambition in quite aggressive terms and his position in DDT as fragile; after going through the blogs of the DDT staff and fans of the period the overwhelming picture is of a promotion and its fan base falling head over heels in love with him.
The day before Kenny’s arrival, Sanshiro Takagi, the president of DDT wrote this on his blog.
Takagi:
August 4 Kenny Omega who is participating in DDT from beer garden wrestling has pointed out a mistake about the previous report.
“You wrote my special skill was "Kamehameha”, which is a mistake, that is “Hadouken ” That isn’t right. I think that the rest is largely in line.“
It is said that. We are sorry for your inconvenience, but we appreciate your patience as we will revise your recognition.
hm….
Is it not the same thing as the Dragon Ball strike? He is something like the American version of Ibushi.
Reputation as a pedantic geek rightfully established, Kenny arrives on the 31st and Takagi, Kenny and Michael Nakazawa go to eat together. Check out that cute little ninja turtle shirt.
Takagi:
Kenny Omega arrived Japan today and we had dinner together. I was worried how crazy he is but basically he’s okay except mentioning he wants to wrestle at Yoshinoya. [Beef bowl restaurant]
Anyway I was relieved and took some pictures for this blog but suddenly he was trying to throw Michael Nakazawa by German Suplex. I managed to stop it somehow but I understand why he’s claiming he’s off-ring champ.
Oh, but I think I shouldn’t have stopped it because it’s Michael Nakazawa (LOL)
Also he knew FU☆CK will have a show at DDT Dojo on 8/3, and asked me if he could see it. I really think he has so many things in common with Ibushi.
I’m so happy to have him this time!
Translation from M-Drop
The match with Ibushi was not Kenny’s first match in Japan. The beer garden shows started up on the 4th and Kenny had a tag match that first night teaming with Ken Ohka against a masked wrestler ‘HERO!’ and a second, time traveling HERO! (welcome to DDT). Kenny’s team loses but the audience is impressed with his athleticism, and Takagi with his ability to adapt to the comedy match style. Kenny serves at the stalls among the rest of the DDT roster.
(source)
On the 6th of August, the 3rd night of the beer garden shows is when Kenny and Ibushi have their first match. It’s fantastic and you can watch it on DDT universe here: (https://www.ddtpro.com/universe/videos/2649) Or other places online if you are willing to search a little.
The Shin-Kiba 1st Ring where this match and all the beer garden matches were, holds about 290 people. Way more than that showed up to try and get in for Ibushi Produce Night so the place was packed.
The match was a 2/3 falls with the extra stipulation that one of the falls must take place outside of the ring and one inside. This suited the whole ‘Kenny Omega - Canada’s king of the streets’ gimmick Kenny was doing. (I think purely for the benefit of DDT?) Apparently, he regretted this later as everyone who booked him of the back of this wanted him to do scary outside matches. You live and learn I guess.
They start inside the ring but soon go outside.
Both score an outside fall and then head back into the ring. The camera man loses them in the crowd halfway through and has to scramble back through the food stalls to reach them again.
More facts about this match:
-This was actually Kota’s second match of the night. He fought Gota Ihashi in a boxing-type match earlier on.
-While Kenny and Kota were fighting outside, Nakazawa and Dino went into the ring and performed a strip tease for the people who hadn’t bothered to leave their seats. (Again - welcome to DDT)
(source)
- In 2017 Kenny ranked jumping off the bleachers through Ibushi as one of the 3 most painful bumps of his career. (The other two were from his second match with Ibushi in 2012)
Ouch.
Back in the ring Kota wins; beginning his streak over Kenny which remains unbroken to this day. Kenny lays on the mat beaten.
Kota gets up and calls for the mic. He thanks everyone and motions to the guys to help Kenny stand.
Kenny is holding it together up until this point. But then Ibushi claps and says thank you and the crowd starts chanting for him and Kenny just starts full on crying.
Kota cuts a promo to the crowd along the lines of: “Thank you very much for today. I feel a bad because I hit my head, so I will finish. The end.” Both of them stagger out. Kenny crumples on the way out of the ring still crying. Kota hugs him again and then leans on him to stand up. He’s kind of taken aback by the strength of Kenny’s emotional reaction I think.
They make it out of the ring. Kota goes through the curtain and Kenny follows, after a final applause from the crowd.
The DDT fans love the match and they love Kenny Omega.
Post-match comments translated by M-Drop.
Sanshiro Takagi: “It was the most craziest match I’ve ever seen. Every move in and out of the ring was totally amazing. Although Kenny lost the match, I believe he gets lots of applause and attention from Japanese fans in just one night. I was so thrilled to watch the match. I will wrestle against Kenny on Sunday with “Street fight-anywhere fall” match for my Extreme Championship as ex.King of out-of-the-ring match. I promise to retain the belt. Everybody, get ready!”
Kota Ibushi: “Kenny Omega is an AWESOME wrestler! Power, speed, craziness, intelligence – everything is perfect. He is really a nice guy! He is the real Pro-wrestler. I couldn’t keep up with him during the match actually. Also I felt something common between us. It’s like “Yes! That’s it!!” He was great not only out of the ring but in the ring. I lost my memory after Michinoku Driver and then I noticed I was in the ring – now I’m pretty sure Michinoku Driver on the road is very dangerous! Also I noticed fans were crazy as well. I’m so glad Pres. Takagi told me it was legendary match. I love Kenny Omega! He’s great!”
Kenny Omega: “To be honest with you, I was a little bit nervous before the match as this is the one against Kota Ibushi. But I am so glad that we had a great match tonight. Ibushi is an awesome wrestler as I thought. And I feel we understood each other from the bottom of our heart after this great match and we are now best friends. I want to team up with him and wrestle together!”
Part 2
