Golden Lovers Explained

Article Name:Golden Lovers
Type:T
Members:Kenny Omega
Kota Ibushi
Names:Golden☆Lovers
Weights:326 lbs
Debut:January 2009
Years Active:2009–2014
2018–2019
2023–present

is the professional wrestling tag team of Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi. The team was formed in January 2009 in the Japanese DDT Pro-Wrestling promotion, where, over the next five years, they won the KO-D Tag Team Championship on two occasions. The team also made appearances for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where they won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship once. The team disbanded when Omega left DDT in October 2014. Omega and Ibushi reunited at The New Beginning in Sapporo in January 2018.

History

In July 2008, Canadian wrestler Kenny Omega started his first Japanese tour with the DDT Pro-Wrestling promotion, where he quickly became friends with Kota Ibushi,[1] with the two forming a tag team named "Golden☆Lovers" in January 2009.[2] On January 24, Ibushi and Omega defeated Harashima and Toru Owashi to win the KO-D Tag Team Championship for the first time.[3] After one successful defense, they lost the title to Francesco Togo and Piza Michinoku on May 10.[4] Over the following years, Omega and Ibushi established themselves as one of the top tag teams on the Japanese independent circuit.

On January 31, 2010, the Golden☆Lovers made their debut for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), defeating Gedo and Jado by referee stoppage, when Jado was legitimately injured.[5] Afterwards, the Golden☆Lovers engaged in a rivalry with Apollo 55, a tag team made up of Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi.[6] On October 11 at NJPW's Destruction '10 event, the Golden☆Lovers defeated Apollo 55 to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship,[7] in a match that was later named the 2010 Match of the Year by Tokyo Sports,[8] becoming the first junior heavyweight tag team match in history to win the award.[9] After making successful title defenses against Apollo 55 and the team of Gedo and Jado, with both matches taking place back in DDT,[10] Ibushi and Omega lost the title back to Apollo 55 on January 23, 2011, during NJPW's Fantastica Mania 2011 weekend.[11] The Golden☆Lovers received a rematch for the title on August 14, but were again defeated by Apollo 55.[12] [13]

Meanwhile, in DDT, Ibushi and Omega came together with Gota Ihashi to form the Golden☆Rendezvous~ stable, with the three holding the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship from May 26 to June 23, 2013.[14] [15] On January 26, 2014, the Golden☆Lovers won the KO-D Tag Team Championship for the second time by defeating reigning champions Yanke Nichōkenjū (Isami Kodaka and Yuko Miyamoto) and the team of Konosuke Takeshita and Tetsuya Endo in a three-way match.[16] On April 12, Ibushi and Omega became double champions, when the two, along with the newest member of the Golden☆Rendezvous~ stable, Daisuke Sasaki, defeated Team Drift (Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie and Soma Takao) for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship.[17] The trio's reign lasted until May 4, when they were defeated by Shuten-dōji (Kudo, Masa Takanashi and Yukio Sakaguchi) in their second defense.[18] Ibushi and Omega continued holding the KO-D Tag Team Championship until September 28, 2014, when they were defeated by Konosuke Takeshita and Tetsuya Endo.[19] [20]

On October 3, 2014, Omega announced he was leaving DDT and signing with NJPW, where Ibushi was already a semi-regular. However, with Ibushi having recently moved to NJPW's heavyweight division, Omega stated that the Golden☆Lovers were done as a tag team due to him wanting to remain in the junior heavyweight division.[21] The Golden☆Lovers wrestled their final match together on October 26, 2014, when they defeated Danshoku Dino and Konosuke Takeshita in Omega's DDT farewell match.[1] [22]

On January 28, 2018, the Golden☆Lovers were apparently reformed after Omega was seemingly kicked out of Bullet Club and attacked by fellow member Cody. Ibushi made the save for Omega as Bullet Club fled the scene. At first, Omega refused to shake Ibushi's hand, but moments after, both Omega and Ibushi emotionally embraced as confetti fell to the ring. At Honor Rising: Japan Night 2 on February 24, the Golden☆Lovers won their return match as a team against Cody and Marty Scurll. After the match, Omega and Ibushi were confronted by The Young Bucks and challenged to a match at Strong Style Evolved on March 25, which the Golden☆Lovers won.[23] [24]

At Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall, Omega defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. After the match, Omega reunited with The Young Bucks, forming the Golden☆Elite along with Ibushi.

On the finals of the World Tag League, Ibushi defeated Hirooki Goto to win the NEVER Openweight Championship.

At Wrestle Kingdom, Ibushi lost the NEVER Openweight Championship to Will Ospreay and Omega lost the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Hiroshi Tanahashi. At the end of January, Omega left NJPW to join All Elite Wrestling in the United States meanwhile Ibushi stayed in NJPW full-time, disbanding for the second time.

On the July 13 episode of All Elite Wrestling's Dynamite, Ibushi was announced as the mystery partner of The Elite in their Blood And Guts match against the Blackpool Combat Club, thus reuniting with Omega and reforming the Golden Lovers, now under the "Golden Elite" name (since Hangman Page and the Young Bucks also competed in Blood And Guts).

Championships and accomplishments

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/327047/ . ja:DDTから新日移籍…オメガが日本を愛する理由 . October 27, 2014 . July 22, 2016 . . ja.
  2. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/detail_profile.php?f=580 . ja:ケニー・オメガ . July 22, 2016 . . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141124092437/http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/detail_profile.php?f=580 . November 24, 2014 .
  3. Web site: Dramatic 2009 Special . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706094233/http://www.ddtpro.com/result/ddt/article/1214283662/ . July 6, 2011 . July 22, 2016 . . ja.
  4. Web site: http://www.ddtpro.com/result/ddt/article/1214283679/ . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706093924/http://www.ddtpro.com/result/ddt/article/1214283679/ . ja:レスリングとんこつ2009 . July 6, 2011 . July 22, 2016 . . ja.
  5. Web site: Circuit2010 New Japan Ism . July 22, 2016 . . ja.
  6. Web site: The Man In Japan: Kenny Omega's Road To The Tokyo Dome, pt. 3 . Counihan . Alan . November 16, 2016 . July 14, 2017 . Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  7. Web site: http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/report/2010/nj_101011.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20101015225341/http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/report/2010/nj_101011.html . ja:新日本プロレス「Destruction'10」 . October 15, 2010 . October 11, 2010 . July 22, 2016 . . ja.
  8. Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/wrestling/wrestling_past5/ . ja:2010年プロレス大賞 . July 22, 2016 . . ja.
  9. Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/201109/ . ja:宮本がV3戦にGLを指名 . November 7, 2013 . July 22, 2016 . . ja.
  10. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/detail_championship2.php?c=4&ne=2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160722113927/http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/detail_championship2.php?c=4&ne=2 . ja:第27代 飯伏幸太&ケニー・オメガ . July 22, 2016 . July 22, 2016 . . ja.
  11. Web site: Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly . Boutwell . Josh . January 29, 2011 . July 22, 2016 . Wrestleview.
  12. Web site: http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/live/2011/2011081401/index.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20110824162915/http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/live/2011/2011081401/index.html . ja:新日本プロレス「G1 Climax XXI ~The Invincible Fighter~」最終日 . August 24, 2011 . August 14, 2011 . July 22, 2016 . Sports Navi . . ja.
  13. Web site: 8/14 NJPW results in Tokyo: Finals of G1 Climax tournament - MVP, Bernard (A-Train), Hoyt, Anderson, top New Japan heavyweights . Charlton . Christopher . August 14, 2011 . July 22, 2016 . Pro Wrestling Torch.
  14. Web site: http://www.ddtpro.com/ddtpro/2967/ . ja:Road to Ryogoku 2days in Hiroshima~ドラマティック・ドリーム・とうかさん~ . July 22, 2016 . . ja.
  15. Web site: http://battle-news.com/battle/2013/06/001851.php . ja:石井、佐々木にKO-D王座を連続防衛した入江は、名古屋で高木と防衛戦へ!8月の両国大会に向け色々決定!衝撃発表! . June 23, 2013 . July 22, 2016 . Battle News . ja.
  16. Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/228177/ . ja:飯伏が華麗にKO―Dタッグ王座奪取 . January 27, 2014 . July 22, 2016 . . ja . March 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042130/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/228177/ . dead .
  17. Web site: http://battle-news.com/fight/index.php?QBlog-20140412-1 . ja:【DDT】三大タイトルマッチ、インフォマーシャルマッチ . April 12, 2014 . July 22, 2016 . Battle News . ja.
  18. Web site: http://www.ddtpro.com/ddtpro/9549/ . ja:Road to Ryogoku in Sendai〜ドラマティック・ドリーム・タン〜 . July 22, 2016 . . ja.
  19. Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/317421/ . ja:竹下、遠藤組大金星!飯伏組破りKO―Dタッグ王座奪取 . September 29, 2014 . July 22, 2016 . . ja . June 11, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160611042554/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/317421/ . dead .
  20. Web site: http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/sports/fight/all/2014/columndtl/201409280003-spnavi . ja:竹下組が飯伏組を破りKO-Dタッグ奪取 ディーノ、チームドリフがまさかの王座陥落 . September 28, 2014 . July 22, 2016 . Sports Navi . . ja.
  21. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=12473 . ja:「新日本に100パーセント集中したい」ケニー・オメガが10月でDDTとの契約終了、"主戦場"を新日本プロレスへ!【会見全文】 . October 3, 2014 . July 22, 2016 . . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006072117/http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=12473 . October 6, 2014 .
  22. Web site: http://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2014/10/27/0007452265.shtml . ja:オメガ有終星「新日本行き応援して」 . October 27, 2014 . July 22, 2016 . Daily Sports Online . . ja.
  23. Web site: NJPW-ROH Honor Rising Night Two Results: Omega-Ibushi vs Cody-Scurll. Rose. Brian. 2018-02-24. 2018-03-26. Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  24. Web site: NJPW Strong Style Evolved Live Results: Golden Lovers vs. Young Bucks. Renner. Ethan. 2018-03-25. 2018-03-26. Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  25. Web site: http://www.ddtpro.com/ddtpro/18649/ . ja:【後楽園リポート】トーナメント決勝戦は宮本裕向&木高イサミvs火野裕士&岡林裕二!!/インディー大賞MVPはHarashima/Takaのパートナーは小鹿 . December 31, 2014 . July 22, 2016 . . ja.
  26. Web site: Jr. Heavy tag weight class . May 5, 2015 . . ja.
  27. Web site: Nikkan Sports Awards - 2010. wrestlingscout. September 10, 2016. July 30, 2018. August 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200826122604/https://sites.google.com/site/wrestlingscout/home/updates/nikkansportsawards-2010. dead.
  28. Web site: Southern California Match of the Year . January 30, 2019 . SoCal Uncensored.
  29. Web site: And The Award Goes To…. dramaticddt.wordpress.com. DDT Pro-Wrestling. 2011-01-26.
  30. Web site: 週プロ読者が選ぶ「2010プロレスグランプリ」が発表に~駆け抜けたニュージャパン・クオリティ!. 2011-01-19. ja.