MOTW 68: Kenny Omega vs Gabe Kidd

“M.O.T.W. #68: Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd" - ink & digital illustration

Hi pals! I'm back again for week 68 of our 'Match of the Week' illustration series. This past week I finally got around to the big Wrestle Dynasty show - so I hope you're all buckled up for another week of Tokyo Dome goodness!

This super intense, epic, bloody classic of a match took place just a few weeks back on January 5th, at the big New Japan Pro Wrestling / All Elite Wrestling/CMLL collab dome show in Tokyo.

So watching this on a bit of a delay, I of course heard everybody rave about this one. And when that happens, sometimes those matches can't possibly live up to the hype. But for me, this totally did! Having been on the shelf for quite some time, there were a lot of questions about where Omega was at for his first match back. I remember hearing they were doing a big, heated match with Gabe after that backstage angle & thinking "man, maybe this is going to be a bit much for Kenny". Given the level of expectation of physicality of a big Gabe Kidd match. But man, they sure shut me up with this BANGER!

There was so much about this to love. Obviously some top notch, highly physical wrasslin', but also some tremendous drama (that felt organic & not too schticky for my liking), the blood, the antagonistic side of Kenny coming out to play & I really loved the bit of Gabe proudly reppin' real NJPW 'Tokon Spirit' against the Shin Nihon gaijin modern-day legend who left for greener pastures. Man they got me good with that Cobra Twist! Same for the Inoki Brain-Kick/Enziguri/Ghetto-Blaster!!

In conclusion, this was rad! I'm stoked to see 'The Cleaner' back in big time, epic matches in Japan & even more stoked to see Gabe taking things to that next level & really seeing that love from the Japanese fans. Can't wait for a rematch down the road! ...hope I sort of did it justice. I thought this crimson mask adorned face to face moment was way cool!

ENJOY!!

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