Chris Jericho appears at NJPW Dontaku show via video, challenges Okada for IWGP title

In a pro wrestling world where keeping a surprise is extremely difficult Chris Jericho has done it again.

Jericho showed up via video during the NJPW Dontaku event today and challenged Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight title at the June 9 Dominion event in Osaka. Jericho told Okada that he’s known as the Painmaker, a dig at Okada’s nickname of Rainmaker. Okada had just successfully defended the title against SANADA.

The first-ever Undisputed champion is now part of All Elite Wrestling but his deal with the new promotion allows him to still wrestle for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He will be wrestling Kenny Omega in a rematch from Wrestle Kingdom at the upcoming AEW Double or Nothing show later this month.

Jericho last wrestled for NJPW in January of this year where he lost the IWGP Intercontinental title to Tetsuya Naito.