Chris Jericho Wants To Face Minoru Suzuki At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16

Could Chris Jericho return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 2022? 

The Painmaker hasn't stepped inside an NJPW ring since he defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 14. Jericho's $100,000 per-match deal with New Japan expired following the January 2020 show and then NJPW President Harold Meij was reluctant to use the former IWGP Intercontinental Champion because of the cost. 

NJPW and All Elite Wrestling have since opened the forbidden door, though, and Jericho revealed on Tuesday that he wants to face Minoru Suzuki at Wrestle Kingdom 16. 

After a fan tweeted about the dream match, Jericho replied: "Me too. Let's do it! @njpw1972."

Suzuki has faced other AEW talents in recent weeks, including Jon Moxley, Eddie Kingston, Daniel Garcia and Bryan Danielson. The King Of Pro-Wrestling is currently on a tour of the United States and he will debut in IMPACT Wrestling at the company's upcoming TV tapings on October 24 and October 25. 

Wrestle Kingdom 16 will be a three-day event to open 2022. Two Wrestle Kingdom shows will take place inside the Tokyo Dome on January 4 and January 5. A third Wrestle Kingdom event will then take place on January 8 at the 17,000-seat Yokohama Arena.