Earlier this year, Hiroshi Tanahashi voiced his criticism of Kenny Omega’s in-ring style. The G1 Climax 28 winner said that only the last 5 minutes of a Kenny Omega match matter because there is no story to them.

He said Omega’s matches are “like watching a movie with no Kishotenketsu (dramatic arc of traditional Japanese narratives).”

Omega recently responded in an interview with Rolling Stone Japan. NJPW commentator, Chris Charlton, provided the translation:

“To suggest that mine is a style that isn’t New Japan is a big problem,” Omega said. “It’s saying Tanahashi’s style, the style that presents himself as the ace, is the only style that’s correct.”

Omega then takes a shot at his Wrestling Kingdom 13 challenger.

“I absolutely understand and respect that Tanahashi did so much to pull NJPW out of the dark ages,” Omega continued. “Recently, the ones that have brought us to this awesome level have been Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito, and of course, the best bout machine, Kenny Omega.”

Omega defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the title in a best 2-of-3 falls, no time-limit match in Osaka, Japan on June 6th, 2018. He followed up the win at NJPW Dominion by defeating Cody in his first title defense at the G1 Special in San Francisco. Omega then defeated rival, Tomohiro Ishii, at Destruction in Hiroshima in September. In his latest defense, he defeated Cody and Kota Ibushi in a triple threat match at King of Pro Wrestling.