February 1st will be another big day in pro wrestling because that is when Kenny Omega will be free from his contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling. As he said last weekend, he is choosing to step away from NJPW and he is apparently going to take a break from wrestling.
New Japan found out like the rest of us – in the interview he did with Tokyo Sports. That didn’t go over well with management but they would still like to keep him on board because he is a major star and because of their plans to expand around the world and the United States expansion is a big deal.
In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it was confirmed that he turned down an offer from WWE. The feeling is that All Elite Wrestling is his likely destination and that was strongly hinted on the latest “Being The Elite” episode. The contract expiration date is the reason why he didn’t appear at the rally in Jacksonville on Tuesday.
Since AEW is his likely destination, that may force New Japan to work out a working relationship with them. New Japan is locked in with Ring Of Honor at least until April because they have the joint show at Madison Square Garden during WrestleMania weekend.
It will be interesting to see if they would want to maintain a relationship with two United States wrestling companies at the same time.
Omega’s WWE contract offer was said to be very generous and he would have made main event level money had he signed with them.
