Kenny Omega hasn’t wrestled in an All Elite Wrestling (AEW) ring ever since he took a break to receive treatment for diverticulitis in December of 2023.
The last team he was seen on AEW television was in May of 2024 when he appeared on AEW Dynamite to address his health.
Since then, fans have been eagerly waiting for the former AEW Champion to make his in-ring return. According to Omega, that won’t be anytime soon.
Lee South/AEW
In November of 2024, Omega revealed that he plans to finally make his in-ring return at the Wrestle Dynasty event for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
While this surprised many AEW fans, Omega explained in an interview with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select that he felt he owed NJPW for helping kickstart his career.
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“Yeah, the way I look at it is a lot of people, not only in Japan, but internationally, they never knew who I was until I did big things in New Japan. So I really do owe New Japan a gigantic thank you,” Omega said.
“I do feel that there’s a debt I have to repay in some way, shape, form, or fashion. And I think that if by performing at the Tokyo Dome, by making my comeback at the Tokyo Dome, is a way to help repay that, if it can help something for their business, then I’m more than happy to do that.”
This left an important question: what about AEW? According to Omega, they don’t need him right now.
“And I’m sure naturally the next question is, why not AEW first? That is the company that I helped create, that is the company that I’m contracted to,” Omega continued. “It makes sense. It’s tough to answer, because why not AEW? There’s nothing wrong with AEW at all. I mean, if you watch any of the episodes of our TV recently, everything is flowing like clockwork right now.”
“I feel like there’s a spot for all of the hard-working men and women that are on those shows. They’ve all worked incredibly hard to earn their spots and keep their spots. And I feel like if I just kind of showed up and said, ‘Hey guys, I’m back, so one of you are going to have to be done.’ I just don’t want to be that guy.”
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“So I feel like when there’s an opportunity again, when there’s a chance, sure, I’d love to be back if you guys can have me. But right now, I feel like AEW has got a good thing going. I don’t think they need me. So I’ll make my return to New Japan instead…for now.”
Obviously, this doesn’t prevent Omega from ever returning to AEW. Hopefully, he’ll be able to get back to the company he founded with Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks soon after his match at Wrestle Dynasty in January.
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