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What’s the story?
Well, it had been coming - but it was always going to shock the wrestling world - Cody Rhodes has turned on Kenny Omega!
At NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo, the event well and truly lived up to its name as a new IWGP United States Champion was crowned in Jay White. But perhaps the biggest shock came after the match with a betrayal and a reunion following!
In case you didn’t know…
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Well, tensions had been running high in the Bullet Club after New Year Dash on January 5th when Cody and Omega couldn't decide how to deal with Kota Ibushi.
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but Cody quickly took to Twitter to cool rumours of a rift in the faction.
But in wrestling, you should always know that nothing lasts forever, and everything came to a head in Sapporo after Kenny Omega's United States title loss.
The heart of the matter
Well, the match was an absolute knock-down drag-out instant classic, as we've come to expect from Omega. White slammed him onto the bare concrete before Omega hit an incredible V-Trigger, followed by another on the apron before powerbombing Jay onto the first row of chairs in possibly one of the most vicious showings we've ever seen from The Cleaner.
It looked like the match was headed for a pretty straightforward successful defence, with Omega even delivering a couple of snap Dragon Suplexes and another V-Trigger. White managed to swiftly avoid the OWA and delivered a series of side suplexes to Omega before hitting the Blade Runner. Not to be, though, as Omega kicked out, but one more would seal the deal. Jay White is the new IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion!
After the match, a new challenger for the belt emerged when Hangman Page made his way to the ring and grabbed the belt, but the drama wasn't over there.
Cody sprinted to the ring, got in Kenny’s face, and the pair started shoving each other. Kenny pushed Matt Jackson to the mat, and then Nick helped his fellow Buck to the back, but Cody wasn't finished...
A simply stunning Cross Rhodes looks to have effectively crowned a new leader of the Bullet Club, with Cody's wife taking to Twitter immediately to tell the world that Rhodes is gunning for Omega's role as leader.
But it wasn't just a Cross Rhodes that sealed the deal, as we had yet more shocks to come when Hangman Page set up Omega for a finishing blow...
Not to be, though, as everything always comes full circle!
Here comes Kota Ibushi - the man who was in a very similar predicament to Omega when The Cleaner and The American Nightmare almost came to blows earlier in the month - making the save and offering a hand to Omega...
But Kenny shook his head.
But we then get something even better. A hug, streamers - the Golden Lovers are reunited!
Ibushi then helps Omega to the back and all seems well with the world again.
What’s next?
This seemed like the perfect end to this angle, but I guess it may just truly be the beginning.
Omega and Rhodes will no doubt cross paths soon, but have we seen a new leader of the Bullet Club emerge tonight? Are Ibushi and Omega ready to team up to try and end the Bullet Club's dominance? And what next for the IWGP United States Championship?
Tonight was definitely a New Beginning in more ways than one.
Author’s take
Well, like I said before, we all knew it was coming - but my jaw still hit the floor! An absolutely crazy ending to New Beginning, and one which definitely leaves us all asking some pretty huge questions!
I was certain we were building to Cody versus Omega in September at ALL IN for control of the Bullet Club, and that may still be the case, but it looks like the trigger has been pulled on this rivalry much, much quicker than everyone expected - and we could just have witnessed the start of one of the hottest rivalries in pro wrestling this year!
