***Dates in bold feature key dates that the GL either tag together or interact***
May 31, 2008 – Omega named Ibushi as “my favorite Japanese wrestler right now” in an interview with Manhattan Drop
July 7, 2008 – Omega drops his anywhere match video on youtube, in hopes of catching the eye of DDT and Ibushi.
July 31, 2008 – Omega’s long-awaited first visit to Japan
August 6, 2008 – Ibushi and Omega wrestle each other for the first time at a DDT Beer Garden event. Ibushi gets the victory.
January 4, 2009 – Ibushi and Omega have their first tag match as part of a 6 person tag, partnering with Yasu Urano
January 24, 2009 – The first tag match as the Golden✰Lovers, where they capture the KO-D tag team title
May 10, 2009 – Golden✰Lovers lose their KO-D Tag championships to Francis Togo & PIZA Michinoku
August 23, 2009 – Ibushi seizes the KO-D indiscriminate title off of HARASHIMA at DDT Ryogokou Peter Pan
January 31, 2010 – The Golden✰Lovers’ first tag match in NJPW
May 2010 – Ibushi & Omega both participate in NJPW BOSJ
November 11, 2010 – Golden✰Lovers win the NJPW IWGP junior tag titles at Destruction in a match against Apollo 55. The match later wins an award for best match of the year.
January 4, 2011 – Wrestle Kingdom V – Ibushi participates in an IWGP Junior Championship match against Prince Devitt, while Omega participates in a tag match with Taichi against Koji Kanemoto & Ryusuke Taguchi
January 23 2011 – Golden✰Lovers lose their IWGP Junior Tag Championship to Apollo 55
March 10, 2011 – Omega loses the PCW Heavyweight title at the 9th Anniversary Spectacular. He had held it for 1085 days! Almost exactly three years.
May 15, 2011 – Omega wins the JAPW Light Heavyweight title by defeating Jushin Thunder Liger at NJPW Invasion Tour
June 2011 – Both Lovers compete in the NJPW BOSJ
June 10, 2011 – Ibushi wins the BOSJ championship in a finals match against Taguchi
June 18, 2011 – Ibushi wins the IWGP Junior Championship title off of Prince Devitt at NJPW Dominion
June 19 2011 -Omega & Nakazawa win the KO-D tag team titles at DDT What Are You Doing?
June 24, 2011 – Omega & Nakazawa lose KO-D Tag titles to HARASHIMA & HERO!
July 14, 2011 – The Experience (Omega & Chris Stevens) win the PCW Tag Team Titles at Boiling Point X
September 12, 2011 – Ibushi is forced to vacate the IWGP Junior Championship due to injury
October 23, 2011 – Kenny wins the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight title after defeating KAI at Pro-Wrestling Love at Ryogoku
May 27 2012 – Omega loses the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship to KAI at AJPW 40th Anniversary
June 24, 2012 – Ibushi wins the KO-D Indiscriminate title from Yuji Hino at DDT What Are You Doing
August 18, 2012 – The second singles match the Golden✰Lovers have since their first meeting. Ibushi defends his KO-D Openweight title against Omega at Nippon Budokan Peter Pan
September 30, 2012 – Ibushi KO-D Openweight title loss to El Generico at DDT’s Who’s Gonna Top?
October 8, 2012 – Ibushi loses the IWGP Junior Heavyweight championship to Lo Ki at NJPW 40th Anniversary King of Pro Wrestling
October 25, 2012 – Omega loses the PCW tag titles at PCW Hellbound
December 23, 2012 – Omega obtains the KO-D Openweight title in a win against El Generico (who had held it since he defeated Ibushi a few months before) at DDT Nevermind
January 27, 2013 – Omega defeats Isami Kodaka at DDT Sweet Dreams to obtain the DDT Extreme title, making him a simultaneous KO-D Openweight and Extreme Title holder
March 20, 2013 – Omega loses the KO-D Openweight title to Shigero Irie at DDT Judgement
March 16, 2013 – The Experience (Omega & Chris Stevens) regain the PCW Tag Team titles by defeating Mentallo and Tyler Colton at PCW’s 11th Anniversary Spectacular
March 20, 2013 – Omega losses the KO-D Openweight championship to Shigehiro Irie at DDT Judgement
May 26, 2013 – Golden Rendezvous (Gota Ihashi, Omega, Ibushi) win the KO-D Six Man Tag titles at Road to Ryogoku in Hiroshima
June 2013 – Omega participates in BOSJ XX
June 23, 2013 – Golden Rendezvous lose their KO-D Six Man Tag titles to team Monster Army
August 2013 – Ibushi participates in the NJPW G1 Climax 23
August 25, 2013 – Omega loses the Extreme Title to Dino at DDT Memories of Summer Vacation
January 4, 2014 – Ibushi obtains the IWGP Junior Championship title off of Prince Devitt at Wrestle Kingdom 8
January 26, 2014 – Golden✰Lovers win the KO-D Tag Team titles at DDT Sweet Dreams (the last time they would hold it together)
April 4, 2014 – Golden✰Lovers and Daisuke Sasaki win the KO-D Six Man Tag championships at DDT Road to Saitama Super Arena
May 4, 2014 – Golden✰Lovers and Daisuke Sasaki lose the KO-D Six Man Tag titles at Road to Ryogoku in Sendai
June 2014 – Omega participates in NJPW BOSJ
July 4, 2014 – Ibushi loses the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship to KUSHIDA at NJPW Kizuna Road. He announces he has a concussion and has to cancel plans to participate in the G1 Climax.
September 28, 2014 – Golden✰Lovers lose their KO-D Tag Team titles to Happy Motel at DDT Dramatic General Election
October 26, 2014 – The Golden✰Lovers wrestle their final match together in DDT, as Omega exits the company to head to New Japan
November 2014 – Omega reveals himself to be a member of the Bullet Club
January 4, 2015 – Omega wins the IWGP Junior Heavyweight championship for the first time, defeating Taguchi at Wrestle Kingdom 9 (Ibushi won it off of Taguchi’s partner Devitt just the year before at Wrestle Kingdom 8)
February 25, 2015 – Ibushi defeats HARASHIMA to win the DDT KO-D Openweight title
March 15 2015 – Ibushi is the NJPW New Japan Cup winner
April 5, 2015 – Ibushi tries for the IWGP Heavyweight title in a match against AJ at Invasion Attack, but loses the match due to Omega’s interference
April 29, 2015 – Ibushi loses the KO-D Openweight title to HARASHIMA at DDT Max Bump
July 5, 2015 – Omega loses the IWGP Junior Championship to KUSHIDA
September 23, 2015 – Omega recaptures the IWGP Junior Championship from KUSHIDA at Destruction in Okayama
October 2015 – Ibushi begins a long-term absence, not returning to the ring until March 2016
January 4, 2016 – Omega loses the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship to KUSHIDA at Wrestle Kingdom 10
January 5, 2016 Omega declares himself the leader of the BULLET CLUB
January 23, 2016 – Omega wins the 4FW Junior Heavyweight title from Mark Haskins at New Years Wrestleution
February 14, 2016 – Omega IWGP Intercontinental title capture
February 15, 2016 – Omega says “I still have things to do in Japan. I have an important person and I have to wrestle against him.”
February 20, 2016 – Bullet Club (Omega & Young Bucks) obtain the Never Openweight 6-man Tag Team titles at Honor Rising
May 21, 2016 – Ibushi returns to wrestling at DDT Judgement
April 10, 2016 – Bullet Club (Omega & Young Bucks) lose the Never Openweight 6-man Tag Titles at Invasion Attack
June 2016 – Ibushi participates in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic tournament
June 19, 2016 – Kenny loses the IWGP Intercontinental title to Michael Elgin at Dominion 6.19 after 126 days as champion
July 2016 – in an interview Ibushi states, “I would rather team up and wrestle a variety of wrestlers, rather than going against Kenny.”
August 14, 2016 – Omega defeats Goto to become the only gaijin to win the G1 Climax by using some of Ibushi’s technique and signature moves – including the Golden Star Press – to do so
August 15, 2016 – In the G1 Climax post event press conference, Omega states he will not “talk about that other person” – referring to Ibushi.
September 26, 2016 – Omega tweets the following about Ibushi:
October 10, 2016 – Omega becomes the IWGP Heavyweight number one contender at King of Pro-Wrestling
November 2016 – Ibushi states in an interview “I’m worried about Kenny’s trend”
January 4, 2017 – Omega challenges Okada’s IWGP Heavyweight championship at Wrestle Kingdom 11, but does not capture it.
January 19, 2017 – Omega states in an interview, “I want to surprise the world by teaming up with, rather than fighting, Ibushi”
June 21, 2017 – Ibushi announced entry to his first G1 in two years, and Omega states on Twitter, “You’ve finally decided to come back…It’s a completely different world…how late you are. I’ll show you what I’m doing, but please forgive me.”
July 2, 2017 – Omega wins the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship at the G1 Special
July 17, 2017 – Day 1 of the G1 Climax, Omega states, “The goal of this year’s G1 is to fight the man who is the final” Ibushi would come close but not make it to the final
August 13, 2017 – In the G1 Final, Omega wears a costume with the symbol of Ibushi during his match with Naito. Ibushi speaks to Kenny, who lost, after the match
August 16, 2017 – In an interview with Omega states “Both of us lost in G1, so we’re back to zero again. I’m the king, so I have to start a defensive battle. I’ll take another path. I feel that way.” (source needed)
October 25, 2017 – In an interview, Omega states, “There is no longer a big difference between me and Ibushi”
November 2, 2017 – Ibushi states in an interview: `There is an opponent who wants to [challenge me] if I take the Intercontinental title” (source needed)
November 4, 2017 – Ibushi tweets, “I’m not as interested in Kenny as everyone thinks”
January 5, 2018 – Cody attacks Ibushi with a chair, but Omega stops him
January 28, 2018 – Omega is defeated by Jay White for the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship, and he is banished from BULLET CLUB
February 13, 2018 – Golden✰Lovers special training video release
February 23, 2018 – At Honor Rising, the Golden✰Lovers pair up with Chase Owens to face the Bullet Club for their first match together in 3 years and 4 months
February 24, 2018 – Golden☆Lovers first tag match after their reunion
March 23, 2018 – “I can’t help but feel that the Golden Lovers being back together is kind of destiny.” Kenny reflects on the Golden Lovers reunion and history in a Sports Illustrated article.
April 5, 2018 – Golden✰Lovers debut in America
June 9, 2018 – Omega defeats Okada to win the IWGP Heavyweight title in a no time limit match at Dominion
August 11 2018 – in the G1 Climax 28 Block B, Ibushi defeats Omega. The third and final time the two would face each other in singles competition.
October 8, 2018 – Omega defeats Ibushi and Cody Rhodes for the IWGP Heavyweight title at King of Pro-Wrestling
December 9, 2018 – Ibushi wins the NEVER Openweight title at World Tag League, and celebrates with Omega
January 4, 2019 – Omega loses the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 13. Ibushi loses his Never Openweight Championship to Will Ospreay
January 7, 2019 – Omega leaves New Japan for AEW
April 6, 2019 – Ibushi defeats Naito for the IWGP Intercontinental championship
May 25, 2019 – Omega debuts at the first AEW PPV against Chris Jericho
June 9, 2019 – Ibushi is defeated by Naito and loses the IWGP Intercontinental championship
August 12, 2019 – Ibushi wins the G1 Climax by defeating Jay White, Bullet Club leader
September 16, 2019 – Ibushi defeats Kenta to become number one contender for the IWGP Heavyweight title at Destruction in Kagoshima
October 14, 2019 – Ibushi defeats Evil to be IWGP Heavyweight Title No.1 contender
October 19, 2019 – Omega wins the AAA Mega title at Heroes Immortales 8 in Mexico
January 21, 2020 – Omega and Hangman Adam Page defeat the Young Bucks to win the AEW Tag Team titles during an AEW Dynamite
February 21, 2020 – Ibushi and Tanahashi become IWGP Tag Team champions by defeating Guerillas of Destiny at New Japan Road
July 12, 2020 – Ibushi and Tanahashi, now calling themselves Golden Ace, lose their IWGP Tag Team titles to Dangerous Tekkers at Dominion
August 18, 2020 – Omega reminisces about his match against Ibushi in 2012 for the Openweight Championship on twitter.
September 5, 2020 – Omega and Page are defeated by FTR and lose their AEW Tag Team championships at All Out
October 18, 2020 – Ibushi wins the G1 Climax by defeating SANADA in the final round
December 2, 2020 – Omega defeats Jon Moxley to win the AEW World Title at AEW Winter is Coming, and reveals his alliance with IMPACT Wrestling’s Don Callis
January 2, 2021 – Ibushi states in an interview that if he wins both his matches at Wrestle Kingdom 15 and defeats Jay White, he will become god.
January 4, 2021 – Ibushi defeats Naito to win both the IWGP Intercontinental and the Heavyweight titles at Wrestle Kingdom 15. He would be the last to hold the IWGP Intercontinental title, as it is merged with the Heavyweight title in March 2021 to become the IWGP World Heavyweight championship. Omega tweets: “Finally. Congrats.” to Ibushi
January 8, 2021 – Don Callis in an interview states that Ibushi is stuck in an IWGP bubble, and that Kenny no longer needs him.
January 29, 2021 – Ibushi tweets:
January 30, 2021 – Omega Tweets “Oh so the new God still has a soul after all …I’m touched. Already feeling lonely in the Kingdom I left for you? Shall I destroy it? Take my hand, we’ll build a new one.”
Nakazawa remarks on the two lovers interaction:
February 4, 2021 – Ibushi tweets to Omega: “I may not be able to make it in the world anytime soon, but as long as I’m a god, there are so many things I want to do, so many dreams I have. A new kingdom. You have a kingdom of your own to build. I got my soul on a different path. I chose New Japan Pro Wrestling. Do you understand? You can destroy me all you want, but there are others, like WWE.”
March 16, 2021 – Don Callis begins calling Omega a god of pro-wrestling, mimicking Ibushi’s prior statements.
April 4, 2021 – Ibushi loses the IWGP World Heavyweight championship to Will Ospreay at Sakura Genesis.
April 25, 2021 – Omega wins the Impact World Title in a title vs title match against Rich Swann at Impact Rebellion, making him a triple champ (AAA Mega Champion, AEW World Champion, Impact World Champion)
May 30, 2021 – Ibushi tweets a customized TS Eliot quote to Omega: “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far me and you can go.”
August 13, 2021 – Omega loses the Impact World Championship to Christian Cage at the first AEW Rampage show
September 8, 2021 – In a PWI podcast Omega asked if his story with Ibushi was over. “I doubt it. I doubt it,” Omega stated. “If I were a betting man, I would say it’s safe to say that — when real life is involved, when it’s more than just the wrestling in the ring, and now, as time goes by, promotions and fans are listening more and responding more to what they want to see in professional wrestling….That story is yet to close, and I would love, with however long on my health allows me to, I would love for that book to have its final chapter written….And for someone who as influential as Ibushi was to my career inside and outside of it, I feel that it would just be an injustice to for it to die. So who knows?” [transcription credit: Wrestling Inc ]
February 3, 2022 – Kenny re-tweets a photo of himself and Ibushi from 2018 when Ibushi faced Tanahashi in the G1 Climax Finals.
March 25, 2022 – Omega recalls the Golden Lovers tag match against the Young bucks at Strong Style Evolved, and Ibushi reacts:
April 23, 2022 – Omega tweets about the first (perfect) Double 450 Splash the Golden Lovers do.
September 4, 2022 – Omega becomes AEW’s first Triple Crown Champion after winning the AEW World Trios titles with the Young Bucks at All Out.
September 14, 2022 – Omega and Ibushi reunite during Omega’s trip to Japan to promote the AEW video game.
November 23 2022 – Omega tells SI.com after the announcement of his return to NJPW: “I needed someone to take my place in New Japan, I wanted someone to take my place–and it was Will, Jay [White], and [Kota] Ibushi. Will is the only one to have a problem with that.”
December 14 2022 – Continuing to tease the fans with his imminent NJPW contract ending, Ibushi tweets the following:
But I can’t choose, because I only have one body.”
July 5 2023 – Kenny tells the audience after Dynamite that he had recently visited a friend (not in Canada) who cares deeply about him and the wrestling business, and fans start chanting Ibushi’s name:
Kenny-Omega.com 