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Kenny Omega Throws Shot At CM Punk Following NJPW Return

Kenny Omega IWGP US Title

Kenny Omega hasn’t forgotten about CM Punk.

On November 4th, Kenny Omega gave the clearest indication yet that he’ll return to the ring in 2025. During an appearance at NJPW Power Struggle, Omega said he’d like to tackle one of the company’s young stars, potentially at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5th, 2025.

Shortly after delivering the good news, Omega was attacked backstage by Gabe Kidd.

During a new interview with Tokyo Sports, Omega discussed the attack calling it “dangerous,” adding he felt he needed to protect himself. Omega went on to compare the incident to the famous backstage brawl following AEW All Out 2022 involving himself, CM Punk, the Young Bucks, and Ace Steel. Omega said Kidd was “unfit to be a professional” like “that guy,” in reference to Punk.

“When we first met, I was able to greet (Robbie) X properly. But then Gabe said something like, ‘Who the hell do you think you are, thinking you want to enter this promotion when you want to?’…

It’s true that I’d gotten Gabe’s name wrong in an interview before, and that was my fault. But then he suddenly pushed me and took a fighting stance. I immediately remembered the incident that happened in AEW. I won’t say his name, but I thought that Gabe was unfit to be a professional, just like that guy. He said a lot of bad things about AEW, but that’s irrelevant now. For now, I can’t trust Gabe.

I’m not the vice president of New Japan, and I needed to protect my own safety. I had heard a lot of rumors about Gabe, so I felt it was dangerous. In the end, I was the one to make the first move, but that was to protect myself.”

Kenny Omega Keen On January Return

Continuing on, Omega said he remains focused on returning to the ring and NJPW on January 5th, but he’s unwilling to fight “people who aren’t professionals.”

“Of course, my desire to return on January 5th remains unchanged. I love the Japanese fans and the New Japan ring. But I don’t want to fight people who aren’t professionals. I don’t want to waste my time. There are lots of new faces. Oiwa (Ryohei), Narita (Ren), Tsuji (Yota), Unno (Shota), Callum (Newman), anyone would be fine. What’s more, I think Robbie X, who can greet people properly, unlike Gabe, would be good too,”

In a backstage segment following his appearance at Power Struggle, Kenny Omega admitted he’s not the wrestler he used to be, explaining he’s not sure what kind of performer he’ll be when he does eventually wrestle again.

Omega hasn’t wrestled since beating Ethan Page in early December 2023 on Collision. Shortly after the taping, he was diagnosed with diverticulitis.