Nic Nemeth’s ‘Wanted Man’ moniker fits him like a glove these days as the reigning TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Nemeth has vowed to be a fighting champion, and he’s not just waiting for top competitors to call him out. The company is asking fans on social media who they want to see step up and put themselves to the test. Nemeth wasted no time chiming in with his own pick for a future challenger: AEW star Kenny Omega.
If his World Title win was any indication, Nemeth has made the most of his opportunities outside of WWE, fully embracing his free agency by wrestling on the independents, but also in New Japan Pro-Wrestling before finding more of a residence in TNA. Nemeth has also flexed his commetary and comedic muscles by staying busy in stand-up comedy and as a host on Busted Open Radio.
Omega vs. Nemeth would certainly draw some eyes as Kenny happened to have a memorable heel run as TNA World Champion during the global pandemic. Omega took on several challengers while champion after he defeated Rich Swann for the title. Omega’s timetable for an in-ring return is quite blurry as he’s been aiming to recover from a bout with diverticulitis.
TNA is currently working relationship with WWE, which is the biggest factor prohibiting this TNA vs. AEW dream match. We’ll follow up if Kenny Omega replies to Nemeth’s call-out.
Omega spoke about the Marigold founder on a Twitch stream, calling him an “e-drone” over his working relationship with the WWE. Omega said that many people refuse to work with Ogawa and women stay away from him. He went on to add that Ogawa, “puts underage girls in very revealing swimsuit calendars.”
Ogawa addressed the claims while talking to Sports Graphic Number, a Japanese sports magazine. In the interview, Ogawa talked about how he was treated in Stardom, which he likened to being an “ornament.” He also talked about the meeting with Triple H, who Ogawa said encouraged and supported him.
Addressing Omega’s comments about him, the Marigold founder said, “I was feeling uncomfortable in Stardom. Things weren’t as I expected, and I felt I couldn’t exert my abilities. They told me to just ‘sit here,’ making me feel like an ornament. It became a general perception that I was causing issues in the one-man system of my predecessor, especially concerning AEW, but that wasn’t the case. Kenny Omega has attacked me with false claims from over there, which is defamation. He wants to be involved in women’s wrestling himself. Still, those who don’t know might think ‘So that’s how it is.’ If that were true, I couldn’t stay in this world.”
Ogawa added that people make various statements, but there is a lot of misinformation. He admitted that the nature of pro-wrestling and fame makes people associate stories like these, which become drama for them to enjoy. He added that even fans in America recognized him, likely due to the controversy, when he was invited to WrestleMania by WWE.
When talking on the Twitch stream, Omega had implied that he was holding back while talking about Ogawa, because he didn’t want “lawyers barking at my door.” It remains to be seen if the AEW VP will address these comments by Ogawa or not.
Kenny Omega reportedly underwent surgery last week to recover from diverticulitis.
The report comes from Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful. The surgery took place in New York on May 16, 2024. There were also some pictures shared online of the star in the city from that time.
Kenny Omega underwent surgery last week to help in the recovery from diverticulitis, @FightfulSelect has learned.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) May 24, 2024
Omega had confirmed earlier this month that he would be going under the knife. He said the following at the time:
“I will actually be getting surgery very very very soon… this guy is top in his field and I feel even though it’s a major surgery, I feel most comfortable with this individual. So even though there’s always worries going into a major surgery, if there’s one person the most confident with, I think it’s this dude.”
According to Mayo Clinic, “diverticulitis is inflammation of irregular bulging pouches in the wall of the large intestine.” The website states that severe diverticulitis needs antibiotic treatment in the hospital or surgery.
Regarding his plans for AEW, currently, there are no plans for the wrestler creatively in the company. His most recent in-ring plans, according to which he was set to partner up with Chris Jericho to face World Tag Team Champions Big Bill and Ricky Starks at Worlds End 2023, were thwarted due to Omega suffering from diverticulitis.
He did appear recently on Dynamite, where he declared his intentions to face AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada, so we can see him in the ring competing against the Rainmaker when he recovers.
Kenny Omega appreciates the knowledge and work of two legends that have came before him and one of those names is Triple H.
Speaking on his Twitch stream, Kenny Omega was asked about Triple H the wrestler and Paul Levesque the booker. Omega said he couldn’t really comment on him as a booker because he doesn’t specifically know what Triple H inputs creatively, but does like him in particular for his physique. He then compares Levesque to another WWE Hall Of Famer.
“I really like Ravishing Rick Rude. He’s one of my favorites, actually, from the yesteryear era and I think he was a very underrated wrestler. He always had Bobby, Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan so already his promos would be taken care of whether he said much or not, didn’t matter. He had Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan.”
“For Triple H, I kind of look at him in the same light … I liked Triple H as a body guy.”
Omega mentioned how Triple H was influential in his promos and some talent try to replicate that, but Omega knew that he wasn’t able to do that. He and Triple H have different voices.
“I can’t tell you one promo that really hit me off the top of my head, but I’m sure it was effect and his matches, he’s got some great ones.”
Omega notes of Triple H’s memorable matches including his Royal Rumble 2000 match and the triple threat match against Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit at WrestleMania XX.
Gosh! I would have to say, this is going to be controversial. Kenny Omega. When you watch him, he’s hurt right now, he’s one of the most fantastic wrestlers you’ll ever see.
When it was brought up that many will feel Bret Hart is more deserving of the accolade, Bryan was quick to share his respect for the Hit Man.
“It’s going to be controversial. I mean I’m a huge Bret Hart fan. But when you watch Kenny Omega… Love Bret Hart, love the Hart Family… but when you look at Kenny Omega, his best stuff is just incredible.”
Danielson’s appreciation for Omega is hardly a secret. When the former WWE World Champion joined AEW, he wasted no time in selecting Omega as his first opponent. The duo faced off at AEW Grand Slam 2021 to a time-limit draw. The pair have traded wins in multi-man matches since then at AEW Dynamite’s second-anniversary show in 2021 and Double or Nothing 2023.
It remains to be seen if fans will see Danielson face Omega one more time. The American Dragon is currently in his final year as a full-time talent but intends to continue resting after 2024. Omega is currently out of action with diverticulitis and there’s no word on when he’ll be back in the ring.
Kenny Omega will go under the knife to deal with his ongoing health concerns as the AEW EVP remains on the shelf for the time being.
The former AEW World Champion hasn’t competed since late 2023 due to a battle with diverticulitis and there has been speculation as to whether he’d undergo surgery. While surgery would mean a lower chance of the issues with diverticulitis returning, it would also mean he’d have to spend longer out to recover from the operation.
Now, Omega has made his decision. Taking to his Twitch channel, the Cleaner spoke about the surgery he is set to undergo.
“I will actually be getting surgery very very very soon… this guy is top in his field and I feel even though it’s a major surgery, I feel most comfortable with this individual. So even though there’s always worries going into a major surgery, if there’s one person the most confident with, I think it’s this dude.”
Omega did share the bad news to his viewers that this surgery will likely mean he won’t be streaming for a while. With that said, the AEW EVP said he intends to keep fans informed within days after the operation.
Kenny Omega injured
What’s to Come?
While Omega won’t be competing for some time, it’s no secret what the future holds for him in the ring. During his recent appearance on Dynamite, Omega made clear he would face AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada in the future. The two have faced off in a series of highly-acclaimed matches in the past which resulted in Omega ‘breaking’ Dave Meltzer and his star ratings system.
Omega isn’t the only notable name missing from AEW programming. MJF hasn’t competed since losing the World Championship at Worlds End in December 2023. MJF underwent shoulder surgery in April 2024 and there’s no word on when fans can expect him back.
AEW EVP Kenny Omega believes that Dave Meltzer was never quite the same after the Cleaner ‘broke’ the wrestling reporter’s much-discussed match ratings system.
For years, Meltzer used a standard five-star ranking, with one representing a terrible encounter and five representing the absolute best a match could be. For Omega’s Wrestle Kingdom 2017 showdown with Kazuchika Okada, Meltzer broke his ratings system and awarded the bout six stars. That same year, Meltzer would go against his own system again, awarding Omega Vs. Okada at Dominion 6.25 stars.
Ever since then, Meltzer has gone beyond his standard five-star rating, which has spawned a debate as to whether his previous five-star matches are now seen as less than perfect. Speaking on his Twitch stream, Omega took the blame (or credit) for breaking the ratings system.
“He’s jumped the f*cking shark so it doesn’t count for much anymore. He has jumped the motherf*cking shark, and guess who is to blame for that? Me. I’m the guy.
“I broke the scale, it f*cked up something in his brain where he doesn’t even know what good match is anymore… I think he just doesn’t understand it anymore, he cant comprehend what’s going on.”
Omega went on to describe his situation as akin to Pandora’s Box; which once opened, cannot be re-sealed. Meltzer’s highest-rated match stands at seven stars and saw Omega defeat Okada in a ‘No time limit two out of three falls’ match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Dominion 6.9 in 2018.
As for when Omega’s next five-star (or more) match will be, that remains to be seen. The Cleaner has been out of action since late 2023 due to a battle with diverticulitis. Despite recently appearing on AEW programming, there’s no timeframe for when fans can expect the former AEW World Champion back in the ring.
One of All Elite Wrestling’s most chaotic matches is returning later this month at AEW Double or Nothing: Anarchy in the Arena.
Former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega appeared on this week’s AEW Dynamite to address the violent attack he sustained last week at the hands (and feet) of The Elite. Omega, who is out indefinitely recovering from diverticulitis, checked in from a hospital bed to deliver an important announcement. The Elite will face justice for attacking him last week on Dynamite. At Double or Nothing, The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry will face FTR and two additional partners in the Anarchy match. Later in the show, they were revealed to be Bryan Danielson and Eddie Kingston.
Anarchy in the Arena involves two teams battling in a no-rules falls-count-anywhere match. Often involving two warring factions, the unique stipulation combines elements of hardcore and cinematic matches and is dubbed ‘Stadium Stampede’ when held in larger stadium venues. We got a preview of Anarchy in the Arena when the two teams brawled at the conclusion of this week’s Dynamite:
Double or Nothing Coming Together
Anarchy in the Arena joins the growing card for the upcoming AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view on Sunday, May 26 from Las Vegas.
Swerve Strickland puts the AEW World Championship on the line against Christian Cage, Mercedes Moné Makes her AEW in-ring debut and challenges Willow Nightingale for the TBS championship, Will Ospreay goes for gold against International Champion Roderick Strong and more.
Anarchy In The Arena: The Elite vs. FTR, Bryan Danielson and Eddie Kingston
Current match lineup for AEW Double or Nothing:
Swerve Strickland (c), with Prince Nana, vs. Christian Cage with The Patriarchy for the AEW World Championship
Mercedes Moné vs. Willow Nightingale (c), for the TBS Championship
Will Ospreay Vs. Roderick Strong (c) for the International Championship
‘Timeless’ Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb
Anarchy in the Arena match: The Elite vs. Team AEW.
Watch Kenny Omega’s address from AEW Dynamite 5/8/24:
Kenny Omega will share something very important with the fans during the upcoming May 8, episode of AEW Dynamite.
On Twitter, news of Omega’s importance announcement was shared by the official AEW account. Whatever the EVP has to say will happen inside the Rogers Place Arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
It’s unknown what Omega will have to say on Dynamite, though it will likely refer to the actions of The Elite. The group (which now includes Jack Perry), attacked Tony Khan recently and ambushed Omega during last week’s episode of Dynamite.
AEW Announcements
AEW is no stranger to announcements but these have often been met with mixed reviews from fans. Some announcements have certainly been massive, such as the reveal of AEW All In in April 2023, or the announcement of AEW Collision the following month.
Some announcements, however, have fallen flat with fans who expected much bigger revelations from the company. In November 2023, a much-hyped announcement revealed that tickets for All In 2024 would be going on sale the following week. Many fans found this news to be a dud and hardly needed teasing as an announcement first.
AEW Dynamite – 5/8/2024
Dynamite will see much more than an announcement from Kenny Omega. Orange Cassidy will face off against Trent Beretta in the latest chapter of their deeply personal rivalry.
Mariah May will look to continue proving herself to AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm when she takes on Harley Cameron. The Australian will likely have Saraya in her corner.
Mere days after defending his TNT title against Buddy Matthews, Adam Copeland will put his gold on the line again. This time it’ll be the House of Black’s Brody King who gets a shot at the gold.
Keep checking in to SE Scoops for all the latest from AEW Dynamite as the company builds towards their Double or Nothing pay-per-view.
Jack Perry has made it clear that The Elite no longer needs the services of Kenny Omega. A new era is upon us led by The Elite. They have made it clear that nobody is going to control AEW except for them. Yes, that includes Tony Khan, especially after what went down last week. On last night’s Dynamite, Kenny Omega finally made his return in his hometown, Winnipeg, Canada. However, things didn’t go well for ‘The Cleaner’ as he was brutally assaulted by The Elite members (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson, Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry). The assault continued backstage, as Omega was being stretchered away on the AEW Rampage that aired immediately following Dynamite.
The Elite sends Kenny Omega packing on AEW Rampage (5/1/2024)
In a Digital Exclusive, Jack Perry sent a stern message to the former AEW World Champion.
‘The Scapegoat’ mocked the Canadian wrestler by saying that it might be the last time he did his old moves in his hometown. Perry said that ‘The Best Bout Machine’ was not the hero they needed and he’s only a “coward”. He concluded his message by saying that The Elite doesn’t need him anymore as they would change the world without him. He said:
“Kenny Omega, is this the best that you got? You know, you’re not as bad as you think you are. But I hope that you had fun, hitting all your old moves in your hometown for what’s probably the last time in your entire life. The thing that hurts me the most, Kenny, is that you were not the hero that we needed you to be. When it came down to it, you were a coward, like everybody else.
The truth is, The Elite doesn’t need you anymore. Neither does AEW. Because we are going to change the world without you. We all have to sacrifice, and you just made yours.”
Fans might be thrilled to witness Kenny Omega back on television, but he’s unlikely to wrestle anytime soon. He has been on the sidelines for several months while recuperating from diverticulitis. While uncertainty looms over surgery, Omega is fighting to make a comeback to the ring. During his promo on Dynamite, ‘The Cleaner’ divulged that his bout with Diverticulitis took a serious turn and the doctor informed him that fortunately, he was hospitalized in time or else he was potentially 24 hours from death.
Kenny Omega will seek revenge on The Elite when he’s healthy to return to AEW
Upon his return, Omega also had a face-off with his NJPW arch-nemesis Kazuchika Omega and told him to give him a few months before he could return. Well, AEW All In: London takes place on August 25 and these two could once again lock horns at the show – if he’s medically cleared by then.
It’s time for the Daily Drop on Thursday, May 2. Last night saw AEW present a very interesting three-hour block of programming, and there is a lot to unpack.
Kenny Omega made his return to AEW television last night in Winnipeg, but things did not turn out too well for him. After receiving a rousing welcome in his home city, The Elite inserted themselves into the situation to make sure The Cleaner left on a stretcher. Then, the Young Bucks chased that stretcher down and tipped it over like the dastardly heels they are.
Now, let’s get into today’s edition of the Daily Drop!
AEW:
Nyla Fires Back: The Native Beast, Nyla Rose, released a t-shirt to fire back at The Oklahoma State Athletic Commission, who said she cannot wrestle cis gendered females as a transgender woman. That new merchandise will go to help Freedom Oklahoma, a 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy group.
Pressure on Swerve: The new AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland spoke on the pressure that is on him now. He also said that all of his endeavors outside pro wrestling helped prepare him to carry the heavy ball for Tony Khan.
The Bounty Hunter: Bryan Keith confirmed that he inked a multi-year deal with AEW. He will be around for years to come. Keith signed a deal with AEW in February 2024 after competing against Eddie Kingston on an episode of AEW Collision. Since then, he has faced wrestlers like Kyle O’Reilly, Malakai Black, Top Flight, and Private Party on AEW television.
Bryan Danielson Can’t Travel: Brie Garcia revealed on the Nikki and Brie Show that Danielson hurt his neck at AEW Dynasty. She made a point to say that it wasn’t too bad, and it is the kind of bump that comes with being in the ring. Despite Garcia trying to play it down on her podcast, it was announced on AEW Dynamite that Danielson didn’t make the Winnipeg Dynamite because he was not medically cleared to travel.
Taz Gets Bad News: Taz recently visited an orthopedic surgeon due to severe knee issues. After tests and X-rays, he learned that both his shoulders and knees need replacements. He has opted not to undergo surgery immediately and will instead continue with regenerative procedures to manage the pain.
Went to a highly acclaimed orthopedic surgeon yesterday to discuss my knee. It’s been brutal for a couple of years, he did testing & X-rays on me. So, both of my shoulders & knees need to be replaced. 4 joints. I am not doing this right now. I’m gonna keep trying regenerative…
WrestleMania London: Triple H did not throw any kind of wet blanket on the idea of London hosting the show of shows. At this point, The Game stated that all locations are on the table.
Mandy Rose Gets Lips Dissolved: The former NXT Women’s Champion logged onto Instagram to update her fans about a cosmetic procedure that she’s having reversed, her lip filler. In the post, she revealed, “We did some lip dissolving today! I’ve always been a little afraid to do this ngl but it was definitely needed and really wasn’t that bad! Swollen at first but a couple hours later the swelling went down, and honestly with the numbing cream I barely even felt it.”
Drew Brings Up AJ: In a very bold move, Drew McIntyre said that he would steal AJ Mendez from CM Punk if he wasn’t already married. This was a big shot, and it will only add to the rivalry that Punk and McIntyre are destined to have once the Second City Savior returns to the ring. He later tweeted and deleted a quote retweet of that video saying: “It’s a general statement, not specific. Even when comes [sic] to Punk there’s some lines you don’t cross.”
WWE Speed For Women: Triple H confirmed that WWE is looking heavily into featuring women in upcoming versions of WWE Speed. No word on whether they will introduce a WWE Speed Women’s Title as a part of this.
Tony Khan rode a wave of attention when he wore a neck brace during the NFL Draft. He had plenty of chances to plug Dynamite this week, as he promised that fans will find out what is next in the obvious power struggle going on within the company.
Tony Khan opened this week’s AEW Dynamite via satellite from Jacksonville, Florida. As he was explaining that he couldn’t be in Winnipeg due to The Elite’s actions last week, his feed got choppy and cut out. Matthew and Nicholas Jackson appeared in a production truck and made it clear they were in charge of the broadcast. They explained Khan can’t fire them due to a ‘founder’s clause’ in their AEW contracts. Since they’re the highest ranking officials at the show, they’re in charge and rolled a customized Dynamite opening video package featuring only The Elite.
Later in the show, Jack Perry explained his actions against Tony Khan last week. He said he did what was best for AEW in this “new era” as the Winnipeg arena filled with “CM Punk” chants.
"We are entering a new era under The Elite" – Jack Perry
Kenny Omega took the ring during the final segment of AEW Dynamite. After explaining his ordeal with diverticulitis, The Cleaner admitted that he couldn’t watch AEW television for the longest time. The former AEW World Champion stated that he’s not done wrestling, and he will do whatever it takes to return.
Then he brought up The Jackson Brothers, saying that they don’t call the shots by themselves in AEW, because the Best Bout Machine is still an EVP of the company. Kazuchika Okada made his way to the ring after that, as fans chanted “holy sh*t” before either of them said a word.
Okada said, “I’m sorry Kenny, I’m the best bout machine now” right before Jack Perry jumped Omega from behind.
Although Omega mounted a bit of a comeback, Perry whacked him in the gut with a steel chair, sending him down to the mat. The Young Bucks soon came down to nail him with an EVP Trigger. FTR ran down for the save, chasing The Elite off, but the damage was done. AEW signed off Dynamite this week with Omega laying in the middle of the ring. When Rampage started immediately afterward, they led Omega off on a stretcher. After the initial assault, The Elite stopped EMTs from loading Omega onto an ambulance. They then tipped over the stretcher while Kenny was strapped in, adding insult to injury.
Kenny Omega will be at AEW Dynamite tonight as the show will hail from his backyard of Winnipeg, Manitoba after an extended absence. While fans will be excited for the return of ‘The Cleaner,’ they will have to wait a bit longer before he’s back in action. According to Fightful Select, Omega has a ways to go before he’s medically cleared after a major health scare with diverticulitis diagnosis. Omega revealed that he was pretty close to death after initially believing his ailment was a hernia. The report adds that Omega is strictly being brought back to help boost ticket sales for AEW Dynamite and add some additional star power to the show as they combat the NBA and NHL playoffs.
AEW can take several routes with Omega’s role on the show as he was recently “fired” from his EVP position by his Elite brethern in The Young Bucks. Omega could have some added aggression as The Bucks are a week removed from rocking AEW President Tony Khan with a Meltzer Driver.
Tony Khan hinted in build to the show that with him on the shelf, there should be a “power struggle” within All Elite Wrestling. Will that involve Omega? From how it seems AEW could get a new authority figure in play while Khan “recuperates” from his injury. Omega being in that new role would make sense from a storyline standpoint, but him also being on television consistently as he literally tries to get healthy may slow his progress down.
Tony Khan says The Elite has ignited a “power struggle” in AEW and the company plans to have a new “highest-ranking official” onsite for Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite. The Elite shocked the pro wrestling world last Wednesday by attacking Tony Khan one night before his participation in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars owner generated a ton of media attention for the neck brace he wore at the Draft to sell the effects of the unconscionable attack he sustained.
During an interview with SEScoops correspondent Scott Fishman for TV Insider, Khan said how lucky he is to work with the NFL and appreciates all the concern about his condition. He said he won’t be present for Wednesday’s Dynamite from Winnipeg, but he’s worked remotely in the past throughout the pandemic. The big question is, who will be on top of the totem pole in his absense?
“We all have experience working outside the office. During the lockdown, we got used to meetings on Teams and Zoom. I’ll still be overseeing AEW and managing the show remotely.
As for who will be the highest-ranking official onsite, stay tuned Wednesday. It will certainly be addressed this week on TBS. This power struggle that is happening in AEW.”
As Kevin Nash spoke about on his podcast this week, Tony Khan fired CM Punk when he felt physically threatened. The Elite have taken things much farther than Punk did. What repercussions will they face, if any?
TK Welcomes Kenny Omega’s Return
Kenny Omega is advertised to make his AEW television return when they go to Winnipeg. As another EVP of the company, this could throw a wrench in the Young Bucks’ plans. After all, they did fire him from The Elite a few weeks ago. This will be a big moment for AEW, and Tony Khan is also very excited about that, as he continued plugging the upcoming episode of Dynamite on TBS.
Omega has been out of action due to a diverticulitis attack, one that reportedly required surgery. Although The Cleaner is far from his in-ring clearance, he won’t miss Dynamite in his home city. Khan says, “I can’t wait to have Kenny Omega back in AEW. It’s the perfect time for Kenny to return. I know Kenny Omega has been recovering at home since he was fired from The Elite by The Young Bucks last month. It’s the perfect time for Kenny Omega to return on May 1.”
AEW Dynamite Preview (5/1)
You can find the current lineup for the May 1 episode of AEW Dynamite below.
Chris Jericho vs. Shibata
Adam Copeland vs. TBA
Mariah May vs. Serena Deeb
Kenny Omega’s TV return
Due to a scheduling conflict with the NHL Playoffs, AEW Rampage will air at a different time this week. A three-hour event will air this week on Wednesday, May 1, with a live Rampage following Dynamite. Also, AEW Collision will not broadcast on May 4, due to this conflict with the NHL. AEW’s Saturday night show is set to return to its regular time slot on Saturday, May 11.
Kenny Omega isn’t afraid to acknowledge Roman Reigns.
‘The Cleaner’ is a man who happily gives his thoughts on pro wrestling during his livestreams on Twitch and this week one fan in the chat was hating on what Roman Reigns does in WWE. Omega pushed back at that notion, appreciating what ‘The Head Of The Table’ brings to the one true sport.
“I really think he’s incredible. I don’t think he’s boring either. I actually would say I’m pretty jealous because Roman Reigns is presented the exact same way that I would love to be presented. He’s presented as the man who’s the champion to have big matches on PPV where you’re really cheering for him or you’re cheering for someone else. That’s professional wrestling. He’s getting to do what I did in New Japan so I can’t be a hater on that. I’m a fan.”
WWE fans haven’t seen Roman Reigns since he dropped the WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes night two at WrestleMania 40 and Omega has been on his own extended hiatus due to a diverticulitis diagnosis.
However, wrestling fans will at least get to see Kenny Omega return to television next Wednesday on AEW Dynamite as the show will hail from his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
It will be interesting to see how Omega is utilized as he was “fired” from his EVP position by The Young Bucks and a ripple was added into the storyline with them also attacked AEW President Tony Khan.
Kenny Omega will be back in AEW and it’s going to happen in seven days time.
This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite hailed from All Elite Wrestling’s backyard of Jacksonville, FL. However, next week the show will take place in Kenny Omega’s backyard of Winnipeg, Manitoba. During the Swerve Strickland eliminator match against Kyle Fletcher, AEW revealed that Omega will be in attendance next week.
Fans haven’t seen Omega since late 2023 as the former AEW World Champion has been out of action due to diverticulitis, something that Omega has cited as that was life-threatening.
Lingering Storylines For Kenny Omega
Omega has a lot to address since he made his AEW exit. When we last saw Kenny he was tag partners with Chris Jericho who is now currently a heel and the FTW Champion. Additionally, Omega will always have a long-standing rivalry with Will Ospreay who is now right in the thick of being a full-time member of the AEW roster. Not only that, but Ospreay just became the number one contender for the International Championship. He’ll be facing Roderick Strong at Double or Nothing in Las Vegas.
However, the big matter of note will be Omega’s status with The Elite. After losing to Sting and Darby Allin at AEW Revolution, The Young Bucks suspended Hangman Page and effectively fired Kenny Omega from his position as EVP. Omega reacted in-time to the news by “meme”-ing himself, but now we’ll likely receive his reaction in person next week.
We may also get an actual update regarding Omega’s health and perhaps a timetable for when we could see him return to in-ring action.
Fans attending the May 1, episode of AEW Dynamite are in for a treat as they’ll get to see the return of none other than Kenny Omega.
On Twitter, the Canada Life Centre confirmed the news that Omega will be at the upcoming show in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It’s fitting that Omega will be at AEW’s upcoming event in the Great White North given that he is from Winnipeg.
The big question for Omega is whether he’ll undergo surgery to deal with his diverticulitis. Doing so will extend how long he is out of action and he has already been out for months. On the plus side, going under the knife will decrease the risk of this issue happening again. Ultimately, Omega will have to weigh up what he thinks is in his best interest both in terms of his health and on a professional level.
This isn’t the first time that Omega has been advertised for an event in his native Canada during his absence from AEW. While Omega was advertised for an event in March 2024, Tony Khan made clear that fans shouldn’t have expected him at the show. Sure enough, AEW’s recent tapings in Canada came and went without the AEW EVP.
More on Kenny Omega
Here are some recent articles about Kenny Omega and what the former AEW World Champion has had to say during his break from the ring:
Ogawa was present at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver alongside Giulia who is set to officially join WWE later this year. Giulia will be a part of Marigold’s first event and is set to make occasional appearances for the promotion after becoming a fully-fledged WWE Superstar.
During a recent Twitch stream, Kenny Omega didn’t hold back with his comments about Ogawa, who he dubbed an ‘e-drone.’ Omega went further and said that women in wrestling are wise to keep away from Ogawa and his business practices.
“There are a lot of people who refuse to work for him for the very same reason. Some of those people are in WWE. Some are in AEW. They have a very good reason.”
Later in the stream, Omega said that Ogawa “puts underage girls in very revealing swimsuit calendars.” The AEW EVP insinuated that there were even worse actions being committed but didn’t want “lawyers barking at my door.”
Omega ended his comments by wishing Marigold performers look and that he’d be “very hesitant” if he was in their shoes. Omega also said that he’s ‘with’ Asuka and that the pair of them are ‘bros.’ The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion has previously stated that Ogawa created STARDOM to defeat her.
“I don't care about Rossy bring an E-Drone. That is not even the tip of the iceberg. Just you freaking wait… when it finally comes out.”
These are certainly some shocking claims against Ogawa, ones that WWE should take seriously when looking at their impending working relationship with Marigold. While fans are excited to see WWE partner with other promotions in their new era, the deal with Marigold could be under serious scrutiny given Omega’s claims.
Will Ospreay downplayed Dave Meltzer’s five-star match philosophy while with the Dick Cavett of our time, RJ City.
Ospreay was the latest guest on RJ’s “Hey! EW” and City, the longtime adversary of David Arquette, noted that Dave Meltzer must really like Ospreay. He asks Will if he thinks he’s as good as Meltzer really thinks Ospreay is. Instead of putting himself over, Ospreay decided to make sure Kurt Angle was given the praise worthy of an Olympic Gold Medalist.
“No, cause when you talk about guys like Kurt Angle and he hasn’t got like one five-star match, I’m nowhere near the level Kurt Angle is.
“Stuff that Kurt Angle could never do, I could do, but stuff that I could never do, Kurt Angle could do.
“I think it’s just his opinion, you know what I mean? Opinions are like a**holes, everyone’s got one.”
Ospreay very much shares the same sentiment as his rival Kenny Omega, who on several occassions noted how much he appreciates the in-ring work of Kurt Angle. Kurt has also reciprocated Omega’s praise, putting “The Cleaner” over for the work he does in the ring as well.
Much ado has been made about Meltzer’s star-ratings system and it’s validity, but Meltzer himself did reiterate Ospreay’s thoughts in that those ratings are just his opinion.
Perhaps the more controversail discussion point was that Meltzer decided to break his own ratings system by adding more stars to his judging criteria, giving Omega a whopping seven-star match.
Kenny Omega has provided an update on his health and it seems surgery remains on the card.
Omega has been on the shelf for four months as he recuperates from diverticulitis. During his latest live video game stream on Twitch, the former AEW World Champion reveals he’s still battling the effects of diverticulitis and diverticulosis.
He’s been focusing on milder treatments for his injury and general wellness, including gut health and healing peptides. Omega says this has helped reduce inflammation but may not be enough for him to be able to avoid surgery.
“With these supplements, a lot of my inflammation has gone down,” he said. “I’m able to eat properly and drink more fluids without feeling discomfort. Aside from feeling sensitive to the touch, for a quick second I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, is it possible I’m able to go back without surgery?’ Nah. The first time I take someone’s double foot stomp, even if it’s Marko Stunt or Riho, something is probably going to blow. Even if Dobby walks on my belly, that’s a 21-pound cat.”
Omega has added that he feels good for day-to-day training but things “get dangerous” when he does heavy lifting. He added:
“As good as I feel right now in my day to day and training, once impact starts to get involved or you have to use your core to do heavy lifts, that’s when things start to get dangerous. I’m going to have to make sure it’s all taken care of.”
Omega was diagnosed with diverticulitis after his match as Ethan Page last year. He went on to miss the AEW Worlds End pay-per-view where he was set to join forces with Chris Jericho to challenge then-AEW World Tag-Team Champions Big Bill and Ricky Starks.
Kenny Omega’s future
There is no timetable for Omega’s return as he remains on the sidelines to recover from the illness. Meanwhile, he was fired from The Elite with his arch-rival Kazuchika Okada being named the replacement.
Though Kenny Omega’s future is up in the air he has teased a potential boxing match:
Kenny Omega has said that sometimes, a backstage fight or two is what it takes in wrestling for wrestlers with grievances to let it all out.
Since 2022, the topic of backstage fights has cast a dark cloud over AEW, of which Omega is an Executive Vice President. Speaking about All Out 2022 during a recent Twitch stream, Omega admitted that he is of the belief that sometimes, a fight is needed to let things out, but admits this isn’t the right stance in 2024.
“I’ve played a lot of contact sports and I’ve gotten into jiu-jitsu and boxing and mixed martial arts… Sometimes emotions will get the best of you and people will want to throw hands. I am unfortunately, or fortunately a believer of it, I think that if it’s decided ‘Hey, this is the best way to solve things’ and you can shake hands after and move on after, I’m actually a believer of fighting.
“I am and it sounds terrible to say and that’s why, don’t make me an EVP in 2024. You can’t do that stuff anymore. I just feel that sometimes that’s how you have to settle things. Sometimes.”
AEW All Out 2022’s backstage fight, now known as ‘Brawl Out,’ would not be the last backstage fight, as Jack Perry and CM Punk would get physical at AEW All In: London less than a year later. Footage from the fight was recently aired on AEW Dynamite though many believe the move to ‘stick it’ to Punk has backfired on Tony Khan.
During the stream, Omega didn’t mention the All In fight or Khan’s decision to air the footage directly, but said that such fights aren’t meant to be shown on screen.
“I don’t mean you have to settle it and then it be shown on screen to everyone or people have to brag online about who won [or] who lost. No, it’s not for that purpose. It’s for the purpose of getting that stuff out that you need to get out.”
Ultimately, AEW has aired the footage from All In and that can’t be undone. Many now believe though that AEW and Khan are regretting the decision, as many videos of the footage shared online are being flagged by the promotion.
As for Omega, he is continuing to recover from diverticulitis and it remains unclear when he will be back in the ring. We’re continuing to wish him a full and speedy recovery.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Cody Rhodes loved his time in AEW and views his old boss a little differently than CM Punk.
Ariel Helwani played host to CM Punk earlier in the week where Punk mentioned to him that he thinks Tony Khan is a nice guy, but not a boss. Rhodes happened to be Helwani’s guest on Wednesday’s edition of the MMA Hour and asked ‘The American Nightmare’ if he felt the same way.
“That’s his assessment. It is not my assessment. It is always important for me to remind people that I am so proud of what me Matt, Nick, Kenny, Tony, Bernie [Cahill], Brandi, and Dana, and Chris [Harrington], and I name all these people, because I was in those meetings. As much as the Internet will try to spin a narrative one way, if one of those people had not been at that start-up level, the company would not have happened. And I am so proud of what was created. I am so insanely proud of what it does for the industry overall.”
Rhodes says he has an unbelievable love for so many people there. Rhodes reiterated that it was a start-up company and he wishes AEW nothing but the best as it goes forward.
Cody Rhodes Believes The Tension In AEW Was A Misunderstanding
Helwani then followed up by asking if Cody Rhodes can envision Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks getting abrasive with an outsider and established star like CM Punk.
“I just think what happened there was a ton of misunderstanding, a ton of miscommunication, you will see on indies and wrestlers that aren’t properly trained and I’m not talking about bullying etiquette or anything like that, but you do need to have a little ‘old school’ in you to know the collaborativeness of what this is, and I just think they were ships in the night. I know I was Switzerland the last time you asked me, I love Matt, Nick and Kenny and I love CM Punk. I don’t know how, but I do. I’m just happy for everyone involved.”
Several times since leaving AEW, Rhodes has tipped the cap to his former AEW EVPs and they’ve done the same in exchange.
AEW star Kenny Omega might be away from in-ring action but he has now teased a potential Boxing bout against WWE Superstar Xavier Woods.
Omega and Woods have a fair share of history together and their friendship goes beyond the boundaries of pro wrestling companies. They have shared rivalry in video games and wrestling in general but they have remained good friends in real life.
On a Twitch livestream, Omega was questioned about the possibility of stepping into a boxing ring for a celebrity match.
“Who knows though? Maybe in a Triller card, somewhere in the future, I’ll be celebrity boxing someone. I don’t know. We’ll find out, who knows? So if I was to take a real boxing match, who would you like to see me fight? Any wrestlers you think I might be able to fight in a real boxing match?
Kenny Omega vs Xavier Woods in a boxing match?
Soon, the fans pointed to Xavier Woods, and ‘The Cleaner’ was in favor of the idea. He showed great interest for a potential match against Woods and reckoned that an actual shoot fight would be an entertaining affair. He said:
“Creed (Xavier Woods). Actually, you know what? Creed, I honestly — it would be a good match. I actually think that’d be a really good match… But in an actual shoot boxing match. I think it’d be a good fight. I think it really would be. That’d be actually really good.”
Despite their on-screen rivalry, Omega stressed that he wouldn’t want to physically hurt the New Day member. He said:
“I wouldn’t wanna hit him though. I hate him, I don’t wanna hit him. I hate his guts but I don’t wanna hit the guy (Omega jokingly said). I don’t think he wants to hit me either. I don’t think it’s like that. I don’t think it’s like that.”
Kenny Omega is currently sidelined
Omega is recuperating from diverticulitis. As he has been absent from AEW programming, he was fired from The Elite, and his arch-nemesis Kazuchika Okada was revealed as his replacement. As of now, surgery is likely on the cards for Kenny Omega as uncertainty looms over his pro wrestling future.
Meanwhile, Omega also fired back at his critics. Check out his comments below:
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Monday, April 1. We are officially less than one week away from WrestleMania 40. Let’s get right into today’s Daily Drop!
Okay, it’s April Fools’ Day, but you won’t find anything like that here at SEScoops. That being said, be careful what you see today on social media, because we live in a day and age where it’s getting easier to get fooled.
Days Until WrestleMania 40: 5
WWE
– WrestleMania 40 Change: WWE is discussing the idea that they may have to change one WrestleMania title match. A meeting is set up to talk about it later this week.
Eight-man tag match: DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) & The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh)
Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell vs. Ivy Nile & Maxxine Dupri
Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed
AEW
– Parker Boudreaux’s AEW Status: A new report came out yesterday that broke down Parker Boudreaux’s current AEW contract status. He’s apparently still with the company, even though he hasn’t appeared on television in over a year.
– Omega Fires Back: Kenny Omega had something to say to anyone who wants to drag his ability to tell stories.
AEW star Kenny Omega has responded to the critics who believe he’s ‘bad’ at delivering promos and storytelling.
Without question, Kenny Omega is one of the most talented wrestlers. He has showcased impressive in-ring prowess and delivered many instant classics over the years. While the fans have commended his performances inside the squared circle, some critics believe he lacks storytelling abilities and doesn’t have the ‘promo game’
Kenny Omega responds
During a recent Twitch Live Stream, Omega took a shot back at the naysayers, saying:
“Everyone’s wondering, Kenny, ‘Why is Kenny so bad at promos? He doesn’t have promo game. He needs to cut a promo. That’s all I care about.’ Shut the f**k up!… Jesus Christ.”
In addition to this, ‘The Cleaner’ addressed the critics who compare him with The Rock. ‘The Great One’ has the ability to have arenas sold out but the former AEW World Champion believes he has his own way of storytelling and tries his best. He said:
“You’re trying to talk about a guy who sold 45,000-seaters with my storytelling? You’re trying to tell me I don’t know how to tell stories? Because I don’t have a yelling promo voice? Yeah?
You tell me and then you’re gonna say, oh well, The Rock sold more. Of course he f**king did. He’s The Goddamn Rock and you know what? I’m not f**king bad myself. I try my best.”
Kenny Omega further stressed the fact that he has a particular way of narrating a story and if the critics don’t approve of that, he doesn’t care. He said:
“Honestly though, guys, when I wanna tell a story and I have a way to tell it, I’ll tell it in my ways. That’s all there is to it and maybe if something that I’ve done isn’t exciting or my American-style promos just aren’t doing it for you, well, I got news for ya, because I don’t care.
I don’t care. It sucks. Hey, I got out there feeling like, man, what am I even doing out here? Why am I even wasting my Goddamn time?”
