SEScoops

Tag: Kenny Omega

  • WWE References Major AEW Star During Hell in a Cell

    WWE References Major AEW Star During Hell in a Cell

    It appears WWE referenced a big-time AEW star during the Hell in a Cell broadcast.

    The general consensus online is that HIAC was a premium live event that overdelivered. The show started off with a fun triple threat match for the Raw Women’s Championship, which saw Bianca Belair retain against Asuka and Becky Lynch.

    Theory and Mustafa Ali also had a good United States Title match with Theory retaining the gold.

    There was also some good action featuring AJ Styles, Finn Balor, and Liv Morgan taking on The Judgment Day (Edge, Damian Priest, and Rhea Ripley).

    Kenny Omega Reference

    Kenny Omega
    (via AEW)

    Then there was the main event, which won’t soon be forgotten. Cody Rhodes revealed the gnarly after-effects of his complete pectoral tear during his match with Seth Rollins.

    The left side of Cody’s body from the pec to his arm was almost completely bruised. He still toughed it out and won the match.

    During that match, commentator Corey Graves dropped quite the reference to AEW star Kenny Omega.

    Graves described Cody’s condition as, “a fallen angel with a broken wing.”

    Of course, Kenny Omega’s finishing move is the One-Winged Angel. Some may think Corey simply made a reference to the iconic Final Fantasy VII game since Cody is a video game buff.

    Omega is currently dealing with a slew of injuries. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and was having issues with his hernia. He had also been dealing with neck problems and he isn’t close to returning to action.

  • Update On Kenny Omega’s Double Or Nothing Status

    Update On Kenny Omega’s Double Or Nothing Status

    Former AEW World Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega hasn’t been seen on AEW TV for months.

    On May 18, it was reported that Omega was present backstage at AEW TV tapings for some weeks, and even produced some women’s matches.

    Some took this as a sign that Omega could be making his return to the ring soon. A further report stated that Omega’s return date is nowhere near close to being set.

    Now, Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has provided an update on his health.

    According to the report, the travel to the tapings was too early for the healing needed for Omega’s injuries.

    Omega has said that he is able to train parts of his body that are healthy and is pushing himself hard every week.

    As for the other parts of his body, the healing is said to be “slow.”

    Furthermore, Omega has resigned to the fact that physically, he will never be 100%.

    Owing to all of this, Omega will not be able to recover in time to appear at Double or Nothing in Las Vegas. He is okay with missing the May 29 event.

    Kenny Omega’s last appearance on AEW programming was at Dynamite after Full Gear, where he had just lost his world title to Hangman Page. He also informed The Young Bucks and Adam Cole of The Elite that he will take some time off, asking The Young Bucks to “hold down the fort”.

  • Don’t Expect Kenny Omega Back Inside The Ring Anytime Soon

    Don’t Expect Kenny Omega Back Inside The Ring Anytime Soon

    Kenny Omega doesn’t appear to be anywhere near ready for a return to in-ring action.

    This past week, PWInsider reported that Kenny Omega has been around the backstage area at AEW TV shows. He’s been helping behind the scenes and has even produced some women’s matches.

    Some took the report as a sign that Omega could be back in the swing of things on TV soon.

    It turns out that isn’t the case.

    Latest On Kenny Omega

    Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio has a new report on Kenny Omega’s in-ring status and it isn’t ideal for fans of the “Best Bout Machine.”

    Meltzer reports that a date for Omega’s return isn’t even close to being set.

    Omega has been dealing with a slew of injuries. He had to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery. He had been on a waitlist for hernia surgery, which took longer to address than he hoped.

    On top of that, Omega is also having neck and shoulder problems.

    Omega’s last match took place on Nov. 13, 2021. He lost the AEW World Championship to Hangman Adam Page in the main event of Full Gear.

    Kenny Omega Update: Injury, Surgery & Return
  • Cody Rhodes and Kenny Omega Comment on Missing AEW Double or Nothing 2022

    Cody Rhodes and Kenny Omega Comment on Missing AEW Double or Nothing 2022

    Both Cody Rhodes and Kenny Omega are okay with missing next week’s Double or Nothing 2022 Pay-Per-View.

    Next Sunday’s event will be headlined by AEW World Champion ‘Hangman’ Adam Page defending his title against CM Punk, in the latter’s first World title match since 2013.

    The show will go on without either Rhodes, who left AEW in February and returned to WWE in April, or Omega, who is continuing to recover from injuries.

    Omega hasn’t appeared in AEW since Full Gear 2021, where he lost the World Championship to Page.

    On Twitter, a fan expressed their disappointment that neither will be appearing next weekend saying it isn’t the same without them, earning a response from both Rhodes and Omega.

    AEW Double or Nothing 2022

    In addition to the AEW World Championship match, AEW Double or Nothing 2022 will also see the finals of the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s and Women’s Tournaments.

    In the men’s finals, Adam Cole will face either Kyle O’Reilly or Samoa Joe, who will face off on next week’s Dynamite to earn a spot in the finals.

    For the women’s tournament, Toni Storm will face Britt Baker and Ruby Soho will face Kris Statlander, with the winners advancing to the finals at the Pay Per View.

  • Will Ospreay on Kenny Omega: ‘We’re Not on Good Terms’

    Will Ospreay on Kenny Omega: ‘We’re Not on Good Terms’

    Will Ospreay says that he is on bad terms with Kenny Omega.

    As the AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door approaches June 26, there has been talk of Ospreay vs. Omega happening.

    The two butt heads on social media regularly, and trade shots at each other in interviews too. This time, in an interview with Wresthings, Ospreay has decided to call out Omega for cutting him off online.

    Ospreay stated that Omega “buried” him to his “sh*tty” fans and wants Omega to stay away from him (transcription by Fightful):

    “Obviously, people want Kenny Omega, we’re not on good terms right now. When you leave the building and leave New Japan and pull me aside and say, ‘You need to step up for this company, I believe in you,’ and gas you up and gas you up hard, and you put your heart and fucking soul in trying to make this…the bar was high.

    “For both myself and [Jay White], the bar was high. I actually care and want the fans who watch New Japan to be like, ‘this is professional wrestling.’ I’m doing it and destroying my body to do it, and then you cut me off online? What type of a cunt is that? I look at you and actually hold you in high regard, actual high regard, and I respect everything you’ve done.”

    Ospreay then added that he does not get along with Omega because he buries him to his fans. At this point, the current RevPro British Heavyweight Champion prefers Omega to stay away from him.

    “Even when you did the barbed wire exploding match that went to fucking shit, I actually was the type of guy that was like, ‘I hope they’re alright.’ The bombardment of tweets, I was probably the only guy that did that, and instead, you retaliate by burying me to your shitty fans. I’m literally doing my fucking best.

    “That’s why me and Kenny don’t get along. I’m sure he has something else to say, but it’s one of those things where I prefer him to stay away from me at this point. It’s not even funny. You can destroy guys like that. You’re saying this and you’re saying that, I don’t like two-faced people. Be real, just be real, that’s all I ask for,” Ospreay said.

    Interestingly, Ospreay alluded to wanting Omega in the ring with him at the AEW-NJPW collaborative event Forbidden Door last month. When Ospreay tweeted about his upcoming match with Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestling Dontaku, he wrote that he will “pay homage to a wrestler that largely impacted my career, to show my appreciation for his contribution & sacrifice.”

    Omega responded to the tweet, assuming Ospreay is talking about him. Omega seemed embarrassed by Ospreay, writing, “You’re making it way too obvious, but thanks, I guess.”

    To this, Ospreay asked if he was going to be alright for June, which is when Forbidden Door will take place.

    Omega hasn’t been wrestling since late 2021. His last match was at AEW Full Gear where he lost the AEW World Title to Adam Page. During his time off, he went through multiple surgeries. It remains to be seen if the match between the two can actually take place at the supershow.

  • Update On Kenny Omega

    Update On Kenny Omega

    Former AEW World Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega has been out of action for months but he isn’t totally out of the picture.

    Omega was last seen on AEW TV during the post-Full Gear episode of Dynamite. He had just lost the world title to Hangman Page and he told fellow members of The Elite, Young Bucks & Adam Cole, that he needed some time off.

    He left The Young Bucks in charge of the group, not Cole.

    Kenny Omega
    Kenny Omega (Photo: Scott Lesh)

    Latest On Kenny Omega

    PWInsider is reporting that Kenny Omega has actually been present backstage at AEW TV tapings over the past few weeks. He’s also reportedly been producing some of the women’s matches.

    At this time, there is still no word on when Omega will be able to return to action.

    Omega had been battling a slew of injuries, which explains the time off. The most severe injury was a hernia issue, which Omega had been on a waitlist for surgery. He also underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.

    Neck problems have also plagued the “Best Bout Machine.”

  • Rush Teases In-Ring Return, Wants to Wrestle AEW’s Top Stars

    Rush Teases In-Ring Return, Wants to Wrestle AEW’s Top Stars

    Former Ring of Honor World Champion Rush is ready to return to in-ring competition and is looking to compete in All Elite Wrestling.

    After suffering a knee injury at Glory By Honor on Aug. 21, 2021, Rush has shared that he recovered. However, Rush isn’t signed to ROH. Before the sale to AEW President Tony Khan, ROH had released all talent from their contracts.

    Now a free agent, Rush hopes to compete for AEW and wants to compete against the company’s biggest stars. In a tweet on May. 7, Rush expressed a desire to wrestle against Kenny Omega, Bryan Danielson, and CM Punk.

    “For all my fans in America, after 8 months out of the ring, I’m back and stronger than ever. I want Rush vs. Kenny Omega, Rush VS Daniel Bryan, and Rush VS CM Punk,” wrote Rush.

    What’s Next for the Ring of Honor Brand Under AEW

    Since the purchase of ROH, Khan has featured ROH title matches and had former talent in AEW. On the May. 4 episode of AEW Dynamite, the main event had Mercedes Martinez vs. Deonna Purrazzo for the Undisputed ROH Women’s World Championship. However, it doesn’t seem like a weekly ROH show isn’t happening soon.

    Free agents like Rush want to return to ROH or sign with AEW, but it’s unclear if Khan will sign former ROH talent. Wrestling fans are also speculating if ROH will turn into a developmental system like NXT is to WWE. The AEW President shared after the purchase that he’s still unsure about the immediate future of ROH.

    Rush
    (via ROH)

    Could Another Wrestling Company Sign Rush?

    While Rush is interested in AEW, it’s possible that another wrestling company could sign him. A wrestling fan expressed interest in other companies like Impact Wrestling or New Japan Pro Wrestling hiring Rush, which the former ROH champion retweeted. Impact Wrestling has also had former ROH talents wrestling competing for them.

    MLW CEO Court Bauer has also expressed interest in Rush. In an interview with Busted Open last year, he shared that he tried to sign Rush before ROH did.

    “Rush because I had him before and with my fans, I mean, I have a Spanish language show on beIN Espanol, we always go down to Mexico. We offered him a deal, Ring of Honor countered, and he went with Ring of Honor. I sold out Cicero Stadium with RUSH. I know his [drawing] power. I know the guy’s injured, but I think he’s gonna come back strong”(h/t Fernando Quiles Jr).

    The free agent could have plenty of options on who he will sign with next.

  • Kenny Omega Frustrated With Yuke’s During AEW Fight Forever Development (Report)

    Kenny Omega Frustrated With Yuke’s During AEW Fight Forever Development (Report)

    It appears things aren’t exactly rosy between Kenny Omega and developer Yuke’s.

    Omega has played a big role in the AEW Games division. Many credit him with pushing AEW to release the upcoming Fight Forever title.

    While Kenny has shown great enthusiasm publicly, as Kofi Kingston used to say, “Looks like there’s trouble in paradise.”

    Kenny Omega Not Pleased With Yuke’s?

    • Kenny Omega AEW game

    Sports Gamers Online is reporting that throughout the making of AEW Fight Forever, Kenny Omega and Yuke’s haven’t been on the same page.

    The report notes that the feeling is Yuke’s has been taking advantage of Kenny due to his inexperience in the video game business.

    The report also notes that Omega has gone as far as “hating” working with the developer. It’s been said that the game is “way over budget” and even needed an extra investment.

    Issues with the budget have reportedly led to some features being scaled back or removed entirely.

    As far as the relationship between AEW, specifically Omega, and Yuke’s is concerned, sources told SGO there is a chance it can be repaired. With that said, some people on both sides wouldn’t be surprised if this is a “one and done” deal.

    Yuke’s had been the longtime developer of WWE games until the two parted ways back in 2019. Omega initially wanted the team who made the WWF No Mercy game for the N64 but ultimately, Yuke’s got the call.

    The AEW Fight Forever roster is expected to feature around 50 playable characters, which means there will inevitably be some disappointing omissions from the core roster.

  • Kazuchika Okada Questions If There’s A Need For Him To Wrestle Kenny Omega Again

    Kazuchika Okada Questions If There’s A Need For Him To Wrestle Kenny Omega Again

    Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega have put on some classic matches under the NJPW banner. Omega’s bouts with Okada helped him become a worldwide star among fans. However, their rivalry ended when Omega left NJPW in 2019 to sign with AEW. 

    The top New Japan Pro Wrestling star has no problem running it back with Omega in the United States, but only if that’s what the fans want to see. AEW and NJPW will host their first joint pay-per-view event, AEW X NJPW: Forbidden Door, on June 26th. 

    While speaking with Sports Illustrated about whether or not he will wrestle Omega at the pay-per-view, Okada stated that if there’s enough support from fans for the bout then they will go in that direction. 

    “Is there still unfinished business there?” Okada asks. “I’ve already wrestled a lot of great opponents. It was an honor for me last month to team with Tatsumi Fujinami and wrestle against a legend like Yoshiaki Fujiwara. There are a lot of truly great professional wrestlers out there and a lot of possible dream matches. If running me and Kenny back really is a dream match, well then that’s definitely a direction to take.”

    Okada also stated in this interview that he feels confident the day will come when he wrestles CM Punk and Bryan Danielson.

  • Will Ospreay Wants Kenny Omega at AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door

    Will Ospreay Wants Kenny Omega at AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door

    Will Ospreay is making it known that he wants to face Kenny Omega at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door.

    Omega has been out of action since late 2021. He worked through multiple injuries as AEW World Champion. Omega underwent multiple surgeries during his time off, including for his knee and a sports hernia.

    Ospreay and Omega have exchanged a lot of trash talk on social media and in interviews. On Tuesday morning, Ospreay tweeted about his upcoming match against Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestling Dontaku (5/1/22). He wrote, “I will be paying homage to a wrestler that largely impacted my career, to show my appreciation for his contribution & sacrifice.”

    Omega assumed Ospreay was talking about him, and said, “thanks, I guess.” Ospreay reacted with an inquiry about Omega’s health, and whether or not he’ll be healthy by June.

    AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door takes place Sunday, June 26th from Chicago, IL.

    No matches have been announced as of this writing, but wrestlers from both companies are already making challenges and dropping hints about who they want to face. Omega vs. Ospreay would be a match worthy of this inter-promotional super-card.

    Will Ospreay Ready for AEW’s Top Stars

    A few months ago, Will Ospreay spoke to SEScoops and expressed his desire to work with AEW stars. To put it more bluntly, Ospreay expressed his desire to “embarrass” the likes of Kenny Omega, CM Punk and Bryan Danielson.

    “If you guys really want it that bad, you know what to do,” Ospreay told SEScoops. “You just gotta call my number and I’ll show up. I’ll show up. But 9 times out of 10, these guys don’t want me to show up. Because A, I’ll embarrass them. I’ll embarrass them.”

    “Guys like Bryan Danielson made a living being one of the best wrestlers in the world. But if I showed up, he would not last in the ring with me. Kenny Omega was THE guy in New Japan Pro Wrestling. He left. I took over. Nobody could compete with me in 2019. If I got in the ring with him, I’d embarrass him.”

  • Darius Martin Denies Injury Report, Kenny Omega Update

    Darius Martin Denies Injury Report, Kenny Omega Update

    Darius Martin of Top Flight has reacted to the Fightful report that he recently suffered a leg injury and will miss significant ring time.

    On Friday, he posted a tweet and gave a different perspective:

    https://twitter.com/DariusMartin612/status/1517677102211940359

    The 22-year-old from Minneapolis, Minnesota just got back to AEW after over a year on the sidelines due to an ACL tear. He returned on March 2nd. Top Flight is 6-1 since then. The team wrestled in the main event of the latest episode of AEW Dark. They teamed with The Hardys in an 8-man tag match against Private Party, The Blade & Angelico.

    Kenny Omega Injury Update

    Kenny Omega continues to rehabilitate his various injuries, but he probably won’t be back in time for AEW’s next pay-per-view event.

    The former AEW World Heavyweight Champion has been out of action since late 2021. Last month, it’s believed that Omega had arthroscopic knee surgery and also went under the knife to correct a sports hernia. Both procedures have a recovery time of approximately 8-10 weeks.

    In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer said he doesn’t expect Omega to be healthy in time for AEW Double or Nothing in late May.

    “I don’t know where Omega is as far as recovery on everything. But I don’t think he’s gonna make the May PPV. I don’t know that, the last I heard, it didn’t sound promising for May.”

    – Dave Meltzer on Kenny Omega’s stauts

    Kenny Omega is not your average athlete, but he should not rush his return. At this stage of his career, staying healthy is a top priority.

    The June 23rd AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view would be incomplete without Kenny Omega, so it’s probably best that he plays it safe and gives himself that extra month of recovery time.

  • Latest On Kenny Omega’s Health

    Latest On Kenny Omega’s Health

    Many expected Kenny Omega to be back by the time for Revolution when he first took time off from AEW programming.

    The PPV came and went without a sign of the former AEW champion. Latest reports now suggest that fans will have to wait even longer for the Cleaner’s return.

    Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter recently provided some update on the AEW star. He noted that Omega is currently recovering from an arthroscopic knee surgery which takes about 10 weeks.

    In addition to the knee surgery, Kenny Omega is expected to undergo procedure for a sports hernia at the end of March. The usual recovery time for this is two months.

    Meltzer noted that apart from this “there’s also other things he’s taking care of.” With all the issues he has been dealing with, there is currently no timetable for his return.

    The former IWGP heavyweight champion himself commented on his hiatus last month. He had noted how they initially expected him to be back by February but it doesn’t appear to be the case anymore.

    Though this doesn’t mean Omega is not involved with the company in other capacity. He has been working on the AEW video game in the meantime and has also been thinking about his post wrestling career.

  • Kenny Omega On Post-Wrestling Career: “I’m Always Thinking About It”

    Kenny Omega On Post-Wrestling Career: “I’m Always Thinking About It”

    Kenny Omega knows that being an in-ring competitor doesn’t last forever.

    Omega has put on a slew of classic matches but he has not gone unscathed. “The Best Bout Machine” is currently out of action as he is awaiting hernia surgery. Omega revealed he can actually work through the hernia issue but didn’t want to risk aggravating the injury.

    Kenny Omega Talks Life After Wrestling

    Kenny Omega appeared on Wrestling Observer Radio and admitted he constantly ponders what the future might hold once his in-ring run is up.

    “I’m always thinking about it, especially now because you see how fragile everything is and how it could end. I don’t necessarily mean from a personal standpoint. I could be injured, and it’s over, or one of the procedures could go wrong.

    “They have to give me the bad news, ‘you’ll never be the same, and you can’t be the person you want to be in the ring,’ or, we wake up tomorrow, and everything digital has been hacked, and there’s an alien life form, and there is no way for material to get out there. It could happen; who knows. It could all end, go out of our control; sorry guys, AEW isn’t a thing, all wrestling isn’t a thing, what is that I do?”

    Kenny is an EVP of AEW and one of the promotion’s founding members. His contract with AEW will expire in Feb. 2023.

    Omega’s legacy is pretty much sealed at this point. His popularity exploded thanks to his work in NJPW. While his AEW run got off to a slow start, he became the true “Best Bout Machine” fans were hoping for during his AEW World Heavyweight Title reign.

    H/T to Fightful for the transcribed quotes

  • Kenny Omega On How The AEW Video Game Will Compare To WWE 2K22

    Kenny Omega On How The AEW Video Game Will Compare To WWE 2K22

    It’s no secret that AEW is developing a video game to end WWE’s dominance in the segment and Kenny Omega is one of the top executives working on the project. The former AEW champion recently had an interview with Wrestling Observer Radio. He first provided some updates on his health and recovery.

    Speaking about how their game would fare against the competition, Omega admitted that their product would never be able to compete with WWE’s production:

    “We’ll never be able to compete with the production values of WWE’s game. 2K22 is absolutely gorgeous, I’m excited to see all their bells and whistles when it finally releases. For us, rather than pushing the envelope drastically or anything like that, we just want the wrestling to feel how it used to feel for the people” said Kenny Omega, “who would play wrestling games back in the day and just have fun with fellow wrestling fans.”

    The AEW star also mentioned how it’s been a while since they have provided an update on the game. He claimed that they are working non-stop, around the clock on it. Omega teased we will hopefully have an update on it soon. He said that he doesn’t want to promise it but suggested that we may get some new details around the time for their next PPV in revolution.

    Kenny Omega Comments On Cody Rhodes’ Departure From AEW

    Thanks to Fightful for the transcribed quotes

  • New Details On AEW Video Game Possibly Coming Soon

    New Details On AEW Video Game Possibly Coming Soon

    AEW fans have been clamoring for new information regarding an upcoming console game and they might get it soon.

    Back in Nov. 2020, it was revealed that AEW handed Yuke’s the keys to develop a console game. Yuke’s used to be the developers of the WWE 2K series before cutting ties with 2K Games.

    Fast forward to 2022 and while we’ve had some details and gameplay footage emerge, things are still being kept under wraps with the game. Could we be in for some fresh info and an update on the roster?

    More AEW Video Game News Soon?

    Kenny Omega appeared on Wrestling Observer Radio and while he didn’t make any promises, he did say that the hope is that something can be shown off as soon as the AEW Revolution PPV, which is set for March 6 (h/t Wrestle Purists).

    “I don’t wanna promise at the PPV or in that PPV week but we were hoping to possibly show a little more of where we’re at & little bit more progression, reveal possibly new characters”

    Kenny did mention that the goal was for matches in the game to have a fast pace similar to what fans witness on TV every week.

    “We want it to feel like how a match would flow but within a video game, so the matches will probably, in general, go a little bit quicker. But we want them to feel like the user is able to assume the role of their favorite AEW Superstar.”

    SEScoops will keep you posted when any new info on the AEW console game surfaces.

  • Kenny Omega Open To Another Match With “New” Version Of Jay White

    Kenny Omega Open To Another Match With “New” Version Of Jay White

    Kenny Omega isn’t opposed to mixing it up with Jay White again, although the circumstances would be far different this time.

    On night two of NJPW’s The New Beginning in Sapporo event back in 2018, Omega put the IWGP United States Championship on the line against White. Omega suffered an upset loss after he was hit with the Blade Runner and pinned.

    Omega vs. White Again?

    At the time of Jay White’s victory over Kenny Omega, fans weren’t entirely sold on “Switchblade.” It wasn’t until Jay began to develop his character more that he was truly embraced as a top player in NJPW.

    Speaking to Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer, Omega expressed his belief that the immediate expectations for Jay may have been unfair (h/t Wrestle Purists).

    “I really feel that he was sort of unfairly compared to me and or others when he was given this incredible responsibility of being a top guy when maybe it was really soon, too soon.”

    Omega went on to say that he is quite impressed with how Jay was able to grow into his role and thinks another matchup with “Switchblade” is an exciting thought.

    “He was able to transform his look, his character, his wrestling style to really be something unique and something that fits him. So I would love to have that rematch with Jay (White), but the current version of the new Jay.”

    White has been appearing on AEW television the past couple of weeks. He’s fresh off a victory over Trent Beretta on the Feb. 18 episode of Rampage.

    Omega has been out of action since losing the AEW World Heavyweight Championship to Hangman Page at Full Gear back in Nov. 2021. Kenny told Meltzer that the targeted February return time frame is likely off the table.

  • Kenny Omega Comments On Cody Rhodes’ Departure From AEW

    Kenny Omega Comments On Cody Rhodes’ Departure From AEW

    Kenny Omega spoke about Cody Rhodes’ departure from AEW on a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio. During the discussion, Omega noted that perhaps Cody’s idea of what AEW would be was different from Tony Khan’s and different from what Omega and the Young Bucks envisioned.

    “When this thing (AEW) first started, the most passionate person of our revolution, the most passionate person of creating an ‘us vs. them’ mentality, that was Cody. It was strange for him to just choose to up and walk away,” Omega said. “However, that being said, feelings change. The environment around you is ever-changing.”

    Omega continued to say that he thinks Cody had a different vision for AEW than Tony, Omega, and the Young Bucks did.

    “Maybe, in the end, we had the Bucks and their vision, my vision, and Cody’s vision. All of our visions are different. I would say mine was more similar to what the Bucks had envisioned and Cody’s was much different,” Omega continued.

    Kenny Omega On Cody Rhodes’ Departure From AEW

    Omega also said that he enjoys a good professional relationship with Cody. He’s not a guy he hangs out with on his off time, however. Omega also said that Cody was more prone to wanting to go to war with WWE, while the Young Bucks wanted to just present a different product.

    “When Cody had his way of going about things, I wasn’t sure how to follow up with that, nor was I interested. There was Kenny doing his thing, the Bucks doing their thing, and the Codyverse over there, doing whatever it is that he does,” Omega continued.

    Omega also mentioned that he heard Cody is on a flight to Saudi Arabia, perhaps to officially join WWE.

    “I heard he’s (Cody Rhodes) on a flight to Saudi Arabia, if that makes him happy, that makes him happy. Again, the Bucks and I, we weren’t in this for the war. All the guys and gals in WWE doing their thing, always wishing for the best for those guys,” Omega continued.

  • Kenny Omega Gives Update On Return From Injury

    Kenny Omega Gives Update On Return From Injury

    Kenny Omega was a guest on Wrestling Observer Radio recently and gave an update on his various injuries and potential return to the ring. According to Omega, he had originally hoped to be able to return in February. He noted that he ran into trouble booking appointments for treatments, however, and this caused his return to be pushed back.

    “I was hoping to be back by February. It’s not looking that way anymore,” Omega said. “That’s not to say there was a huge snag or something that is terribly wrong, it’s not that. It’s just, trying to get appointments and things fixed.”

    Omega noted that he is dealing with a hernia as well as knee and neck issues. Some of his training has been impacted as well by not being able to use his legs as much for cardio.

    “The training is going well, once I’m able to try to get the knees fixed, get the neck fixed, the hernia, & all that stuff,” he continued. “Hopefully I’m able to move around much better than I was before & I look like a guy who was doing what he was doing 10 years ago.”a

    He didn’t provide an updated timeline for his return, however. Omega hasn’t wrestled since dropping the AEW World Championship to Hangman Page at Full Gear back in November.

  • Tony Khan Updates Kenny Omega’s Hiatus from AEW

    Tony Khan Updates Kenny Omega’s Hiatus from AEW

    Kenny Omega has been out of action since November 2021. After losing the AEW World Championship to Adam Page at Full Gear, the Best Bout Machine announced he’d need to step away from AEW. He told the Young Bucks, “I feel like there is things I gotta fix and there is things I gotta change and I can’t do it here.”

    Omega had been working through injuries for months. During his reign as AEW champion, he dealt with issues affecting his knee, shoulder and an abdominal hernia.

    AEW President Tony Khan spoke about Kenny Omega’s situation this week while doing the media rounds for Wednesday’s Dynamite from Atlantic City. During a discussion with PWInsider, Khan said Omega is greatly missed behind the scenes.

    Kenny Omega Update

    “He’s one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and was a dominant champion in AEW for almost a year,” said Khan. “I personally miss Kenny Omega being around very much. He’s healing from a bunch of injuries, significant injuries.”

    “He wrestled through all of that and had some of the best matches in the history of the company while he was really beat up. And he really cares a lot about wrestling and he worked his ass off to fill up and make his matches great even when he was in a ton of pain.”

    It’s believed that Kenny Omega has undergone all the necessary procedures for him to begin a road back to recovery and full health. Tony Khan still can’t believe what he was able to do in the ring while battling such extensive injuries.

    “Now it’s time for him to rehabilitate and heal and he’s going to come back stronger, and comeback, I hope as good or even better than ever. I really believe the stuff he did while he was physically limited was so impressive.”

    “He was coming in with major injuries and then he worked a really hard schedule here in AEW too. I think he was absolutely the wrestler of the year for 2021. And I’m very excited for Kenny Omega’s return in 2022. It’ll be a long time coming and we’d be excited to have him back.”

    It will be interesting to see how Kenny Omega conducts himself when he returns. Prior to his hiatus, Omega was entrenched in the Elite with the Young Bucks, but there was tension with Adam Cole. We could see Omega and Cole jockey for control of The Elite, or he could go in an entirely different direction.

  • Jim Cornette Rejects Kenny Omega’s Apology: “Piss Off”

    Jim Cornette Rejects Kenny Omega’s Apology: “Piss Off”

    There’s no love lost between Jim Cornette and AEW star Kenny Omega. The two had their latest online scrap this week, with Omega issuing an apology that was strongly rejected by the WWE Hall of Famer.

    It started when Cornette took issue with being mentioned by Omega in a tweet that was directed at someone. Omega originally said in response to someone who asked him to disavow Marty Scurll: 

    “Will you bump up Corny’s oxygen so he can maybe get through a podcast without wheezing through every word? It’s harsh on the ears from what I hear.”

    Cornette fired back: “not sure why Twinkletoes is referencing me in a completely unrelated conversation I’m not involved in, but he needs hobbies/attention. Hey dipshit, I’m not as harsh on the ears as your ballet routines are on people’s eyes, & I’m wheezing from laughing at your attempts to wrestle.”

    Omega revealed that he has been dealing with the effects of COVID-19. He then apologized by writing: “Shouldn’t have brought up any breathing issue. I, as well as many friends/acquaintances in other sports, are suffering due to Covid after effects. Not sure if you’ll accept, but I do apologize.”

    Realizing he may have taken things too far, Omega walked back his remarks about Cornette’s labored breathing.

    On Tuesday morning, Jim Cornette reacted Omega’s apology. Cornette says he wants nothing to do with Omega and his phony brand of pro wrestling.

  • Tommy Dreamer Shares His Top Male & Female Wrestlers Of 2021

    Tommy Dreamer Shares His Top Male & Female Wrestlers Of 2021

    Tommy Dreamer has unveiled his picks for the top male and female wrestlers of 2021.

    Wrestling fans had plenty to smile about this year. Fans eventually were back in arenas at full force in the United States and we saw plenty of fantastic matches and moments.

    Whether you’re a fan of WWE, AEW, NJPW, Stardom, Impact, AAA, or the indies, you were likely satisfied at least a few times.

    Tommy Dreamer’s Number One Picks

    On an episode of Busted Open Radio, Tommy Dreamer made a top 10 list for the men and women of wrestling in 2021. His top pick on the female side is Becky Lynch, who he gave the nod to over Mickie James.

    “My number one on the top 10 women is ‘The Man’ Becky Lynch. Another person who came back unexpectedly, had a child, is in amazing shape and, I feel even though she’s a way better babyface than as a heel, is still thriving in the role that is given to her.

    “I had big debate over Mickie and Becky but Becky is on a larger scale so that’s where I came with my top 10.”

    Dreamer admitted that he had one heck of a time making his top choice on the men’s side. Ultimately, it was down to Kenny Omega and Roman Reigns.

    “My number one is Kenny Omega. Why? Because he held three titles for three different companies and was a drawing factor on PPVs and a drawing factor in attendance for three different companies.

    “Not only was he killing it on the microphone, not only was he killing it in the ring, he did it for three different companies and he too was banged up.”

    Who is your pick for the top male and female wrestlers of 2021? Let us know in the comments!

    Please H/T SEScoops with a link if you use any quotes from this article

  • Update On AEW Contracts Expiring Soon

    Update On AEW Contracts Expiring Soon

    Several members of the AEW roster who signed 3-year deals with the promotion in late 2018 or early 2019 are about to have their contracts come up for renewal. This was the case recently with the Young Bucks. Matt & Nick Jackson recently confirmed they are now under contract with AEW for 2 more years.

    According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the Young Bucks’ contracts included an option for Tony Khan to renew for an additional 2 years. Khan picked up the option and they are now under contract until December 31st, 2023.

    “The original contract also gave Tony Khan the option for two more years, which included a raise both of those years, which he picked up,” wrote Dave Meltzer.

    Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes, Brandi Rhodes, Adam Page and Chris Jericho also signed similar 3-year deals. Their deals are also said to include the option for AEW to renew by 2 more years. Provided Tony Khan chooses to exercise that option, they would all remain under contract until the end of 2023. There is no word on if those options have been officially picked up as of yet, however.

    “I would expect all will be renewed but factually can’t confirm anything past many of them have,” Meltzer continued.

  • Cody Rhodes Still Speaks With Fellow AEW EVPs

    Cody Rhodes Still Speaks With Fellow AEW EVPs

    Cody Rhodes insists he’s still in communication with the core members of AEW.

    Rhodes is one of the key figures that started a movement that would eventually lead to AEW. The others were Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks. Their efforts ultimately led to Tony Khan gaining the confidence to start a new wrestling promotion.

    While everything seemed to be smooth sailing between the four, it had been rumored that Omega and Young Bucks have distanced themselves from Cody. It’s even been speculated that Cody doesn’t talk to his fellow EVPs anymore.

    Cody Rhodes’ Relationship With AEW EVPs

    During an interview with Sports Illustrated, Cody Rhodes claimed that he’s still in contact with Omega and The Young Bucks.

    “As of now, my future is with AEW. AEW would be very strange without the core members of the revolution. We all still talk. We all have this admiration for each other. I can’t see myself anywhere else, and I’m very optimistic about what the future holds.”

    Rhodes went on to discuss how far AEW has come in a short period of time.

    “We’re essentially at the three-year point of AEW, and our stability is the tell-tale sign that our vision was the proper vision. We have such a stable company that Bryan Danielson decided to cross that line, that CM Punk decided to join after seven years away, that Adam Cole—who was being groomed to be a massive star in WWE—decided to cross the line. And that’s not a knock on them, it just shows that we have built a very stable infrastructure.”

    Cody has been involved in a storyline with PAC, Malakai Black, and Andrade El Idolo. On the Dec. 1 episode of AEW Dynamite, Cody will be taking on Andrade in a street fight.

    The last time Cody was in the ring with Andrade El Idolo, he ended up getting pinned thanks to interference from FTR.

  • Update On AEW Looking To Re-Sign Talent With Expiring Contracts

    Update On AEW Looking To Re-Sign Talent With Expiring Contracts

    It was recently revealed that the Young Bucks have signed contract extensions with AEW that will take them into 2024. According to comments made by Wade Keller of PW Torch, some talent in the company with expiring contracts are wondering what type of deal they will get when their current contracts expire.

    “There are people I’ve talked to in AEW who are looking at their contracts and wondering what their deal is gonna be next time when their first deals come up,” Keller said. “And how much leverage they’re gonna have with WWE or New Japan or heck, GCW with their ticket sales these days or the indie scene as an option to book yourself. It’s gonna be interesting to watch.”

    With the Young Bucks now having re-signed, AEW reportedly wants to get the other 2 EVPs to re-sign as well. Keller continued to say that he’s heard Tony Khan wants to lock up Cody Rhodes and Kenny Omega for more years as well.

    “I have heard the intent and the hope is that Cody and Kenny and Tony all come to deals,” Keller said. “There’s not signs that any of them want to leave or are disgruntled to the point that they shouldn’t be able to come to an extension but I don’t know the situation.”

    “Maybe Cody and Kenny already signed extensions and they kept it quiet. Actually, I’m pretty sure that hasn’t happened now that I think about it from people I’ve talked to. I think Cody and Kenny might be next in terms of signing extensions.”

    The Elite Sign With AEW

    Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, and the Young Bucks were all named EVPs of the company in addition to signing as talent in early 2019/late 2018. The promotion was officially announced on New Year’s Day in 2019. The announcement was made in a video posted to the “Being the Elite” YouTube channel. Hangman Page signed with AEW as a talent only. Then-Elite member Marty Scurll was still under contract to Ring of Honor and would eventually re-sign with that promotion before being officially released in early 2021.

    H/T To Wrestling Inc. for transcriptions.

  • Kurt Angle Compares AEW Star To AJ Styles: “They Have The It Factor”

    Kurt Angle Compares AEW Star To AJ Styles: “They Have The It Factor”

    While Kurt Angle has retired from active competition, the Olympic gold medallist still keeps an eye on the happenings of the wrestling world. The rise of AEW has been the biggest wrestling stories of the past few years and the former world champion has big praise for one of the stars that helped start the promotion.

    Chris Jericho interviewed Angle for an episode of Talk Is Jericho on Wrestling Rager At Sea Triple Whammy. The episode that was released recently saw the two long-time friends discussing a number of topics including Kurt’s TNA run. Speaking about his decision to join the company, Kurt Angle said wrestling with AJ Styles was one of the things that inspired him to join the promotion:

    “You know, I got to wrestle with AJ Styles. That was my inspiration coming into the company. I had my eyes set on AJ. He was one of the greatest overall performers I’ve ever seen. The stuff he can do in the ring. He was great at technical stuff. He was great at high-flying. He had the whole ball of wax.

    The great thing about AJ was you didn’t have to do any work. I mean, when you wrestled him it was like a night off. He did all the bumping. He did all the selling. He did all the flying around. All you did was catch him. And I could go an hour and a half with AJ and not even break a sweat.  But he’d be exhausted.”

    Angle Praises Kenny Omega

    Kurt Angle has long history with AJ Styles
    Kurt Angle has a long history with AJ Styles

    Kurt Angle also had some big praise for the former AEW world champion Kenny Omega. He said that Omega reminds him of the Phenomenal one. The former WWE star claimed that both these stars have the it factor:

    “Another wrestler that reminds me of AJ is Kenny Omega. Very much so. These guys are a step above everybody. For whatever reason. I don’t know what it is, but they have the it factor. These guys put on tremendous matches.

    I’m not buying all the six and seven star matches by Dave Meltzer, but the only person that gets like six, seven, eight, nine stars is Kenny Omega, and he deserves it. It’s really incredible how good he really is.”

    Apart from this, Kurt Angle talked about his feud with Samoa Joe. He revealed that he wanted to wait a few months after joining TNA and build the rivalry before finally having a match. Though the officials decided that they didn’t want to wait. Angle ended up facing Joe in his first PPV match for the organization at Genesis 2006.

    If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with a H/T for transcription

    Kurt Angle Reveals Most Dangerous Moonsault He Ever Landed