Kenny Omega, who has not wrestled since December 2023 after being diagnosed with diverticulitis and undergoing surgery, returned to NJPW earlier this month at the Power Struggle event to shoot an angle for an upcoming match.
The top AEW star did a promo segment about the state of NJPW and how he would like to be back in NJPW. Although Omega was unsure when he would be able to return, he asked, “How about January 5th?”
Later in the night, Gabe Kidd did an angle with Omega, during which he confronted Omega, leading to a brawl between the two stars. While speaking with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, the top AEW star discussed why he made his return to New Japan Pro Wrestling instead of AEW.
Omega stated, “I would like to take baby steps into that role again and I think that’s sort of why I’m happy that it worked out in the way that it did with New Japan is that they were willing to facilitate a return for me and I kind of told them I was a little leery about how….I wasn’t sure how it would look, and I wasn’t sure if I could give them the kind of Kenny Omega performance that maybe they’re looking for, but they weren’t looking for that. They’re just happy to house my return, and um, I guess that’s why I couldn’t really list an opponent. Number one, I don’t know if I can do it. Something may turn up, you know a couple of weeks out, which would put me out of doing the match, and I wouldn’t want it to look like false advertising or anything like and not only that, but I mean, there’s a there’s an entry-level opponent, and then there’s you know another tier of the opponent and then there’s a tier above that and a tier above that and a tier above that and I really kind of wanted to leave it to how I felt. As of right now, certainly, I probably feel good enough to attempt one of those.”
Omega continued, “The way I look at it is that a lot of people, not only in Japan, but internationally, never knew who I was until I did big things in New Japan, so I really do owe New Japan a gigantic thank you. I do feel that there’s a debt I have to repay in some way, shape, form or fashion. I think that 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. I’m sure, naturally, the next question is, ‘Well, why not AEW first?’ That is the company that I helped create. That is the company that I’m contracted to. It makes sense. It’s tough to answer because why not AEW? There’s nothing wrong with AEW at all. 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. I feel like if I just kind of showed up and said, ‘Hey guys, I’m back, so one of you is going to have to, you know.’ I don’t want to be that guy. 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 will make my return to New Japan instead, for now.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit Fightful with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
