'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
IWGP US Champion Kenny Omega recently went to Twitter and informed his fans that he would be taking a break. This was because of an injury that he sustained that'll make him unable to compete at the forthcoming 'Destruction in Kobe' show.
Wrestling Inc. announced that his replacement would be Leo Tonga. This was the Tweet, that Omega posted on social media recently.
Trending
In case you didn't know...
Kenny Omega is probably the best-known wrestler outside of the WWE right now, and is best known as the leader of the Bullet Club. In this year alone, the man has had three 6-star matches against IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada.
Currently, he holds the IWGP US Championship and was supposed to defend it against Juice Robinson on September 24.
The heart of the matter
We understand that Kenny Omega is out for the immediate future with an injury to his left meniscus. We do not know how long he'll be out for, but he will be unable to defend his championship at Destruction in Kobe. Replacing him is Leo Tonga, brother of Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, both part of the tag team, Guerrillas of Destiny.
At 6' 8", Leo Tonga will be the tallest wrestler in the current NJPW roster, and will tower over all his competition. He is currently training at the New Japan Dojo.
What's next?
We await the much-anticipated return of Kenny Omega from injury. We are certain that some time away will do him a world of good, and will help him refocus his energy and get into the thick of things once again, without any real loss of momentum.
Author's take
Kenny Omega is the biggest star of New Japan Pro Wrestling, and therefore, his absence is an opportunity for others in the roster to step up their game and shine.
I love watching him in action, and hope he gets back into the thick of things soon. Let's hope he's back in action, sooner rather than later.
