Report: Kenny Omega Claims He is Leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling, Next Landing Spot Could be WWE or AEW
Kenny Omega, who is the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion after losing an outstanding match to Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 13 on Friday, is apparently moving on from New Japan Pro Wrestling when his contract with the organization expires at the end of the month. Omega did not appear at the New Year’s Dash event one day after WK13.
Omega opened up in an interview with Tokyo Sports to reveal that he’s leaving NJPW. Here’s the quote from Omega:
“There is no real place for me to fit, so it’s best for me not to be in (NJPW). I can’t be there working under Tanahashi. I don’t think he’s surpassed me, don’t think he’s better. If we can, I want to face him again. But I need time away, and not just from New Japan. If I go to WWE, the fans there will be pleased. If I go to AEW, the fans there will be happy. I want to be in a place where I’m going to be happy.”
Let me start out by asking: Could this all be a work? Of course. It’s pro wrestling, so using Kenny’s real life contract situation in a storyline would be smart. It could lead to Kenny coming back as a heel that attacks Tanahashi and builds to another match between them.
Omega going to WWE is a possibility because they have a lot of money to spend due to WWE stock reaching record heights last year. There was also a report from the Wrestling Observer that Omega received a huge contract offer from WWE.
Omega could also go to All Elite Wrestling, which is a new company financed by billionaire Tony Khan and led by Kenny’s close friends Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson). Chris Jericho is rumored to have a role in the company too, but that’s not official. Jericho posted these photos from Wrestle Kingdom on his Instagram.
There’s a lot that we don’t know about AEW that we may learn more about on Tuesday when they have a rally with fans in Jacksonville. A key thing will be is if they are able to having a working relationship with New Japan (like ROH does) because if they can do that, it’s easy to see why Omega would want to work for AEW and NJPW.
TJR Thoughts: I have no idea what Kenny might do, but he’s the most sought-after free agent in wrestling if he is really free. We think he is, but in wrestling…you never really know.
If you only watch WWE and don’t know much about Kenny Omega, trust me when I tell you that he’s as good as the best guys in WWE like AJ Styles, Seth Rollins and Daniel Bryan. He might even be a notch above all of them. Kenny would be worth every penny for WWE or AEW if he went to either company.