Kenny Omega Believes WWE Star Inspired AEW

Kenny Omega has been looking back at his battles with a top WWE star.

Although he’s spent his career as a centrepiece of New Japan Pro Wrestling and AEW, Kenny Omega’s life in wrestling was almost very different.

In 2005, just five years into his career, Omega signed a developmental contract with WWE. During this period, he competed in Deep South Wrestling before requesting his release in August 2006, and later returned to the independent scene.

During a new interview with CBS Sports, Omega looked back on leaving WWE and a match with AJ Styles a month later. That bout with Styles is the only time the pair have met in singles action, and Omega admitted that before he stepped in the ring, he was ready to retire.

“I wasn’t sure if I’d continue wrestling after I left developmental… [Thought the bout with Styles would be] a good last match.

We had no interactions ever before, but there were moments in that match that really felt like the give and take felt so symbiotic. The chemistry was naturally there. I thought, ‘Wow, this is what wrestling someone at this level feels like. I’m not embarrassing myself. Maybe I’m not exactly keeping up, but I’m not embarrassing myself. Maybe if I push myself harder, I can reach this level.’”

Kenny Omega Gives Credit To AJ Styles

After that match in Winnipeg, Omega and Styles went their separate ways. But their paths crossed once again in 2014, with both men now part of The Bullet Club. In January 2016, Styles was kicked from the group as Omega took over as the leader, paving the way for the Phenomenal One to join WWE.

Omega explained that the angle in 2016 set the ball rolling for The Elite and the eventual creation of AEW.

“AJ, having a keen sense of what’s best for business, knew exactly how to go along with it. In a way, by his turning his back and allowing for that moment to happen, whether he knows it or not, that led to the forming of The Elite.”

Ultimately, it kind of led to AEW. Him being involved in our lives is very pivotal for [AEW] and our careers.”

Next up for Kenny Omega is AEW Full Gear, where he’ll team with Jurassic Express to face The Young Bucks and Josh Alexander, with an eye-watering $1 million on the line.

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