Kenny Omega on NJPW return: I don’t think AEW needs me right now

Image: AEW

When former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega said he would make his in-ring return after a long injury absence at this January’s NJPW Wrestle Dynasty against a “young NJPW star,” the obvious question was why that return wasn’t happening for the company in which he is an executive vice president.

Omega answered that and other questions about his health during a largely in-character interview with Fightful.

The 41-year-old hasn’t wrestled since a December 5, 2023, bout against Ethan Page on Collision. He was last on TV this past May on Dynamite when he was turned on and taken out by the new Elite of the Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry. He underwent surgery for diverticulitis that same month.

He said NJPW was “willing to facilitate a return for me” and that even though he was leery about how he felt and how he would look, he said they were “just happy to house my return.” He still hasn’t committed to an opponent and despite a backstage skirmish with Gabe Kidd at Power Struggle where he made his return proclamation, there was no commitment to that being his return match for January 5th.

“I owe New Japan a gigantic thank you (for giving him his big career break) and I do feel there’s a debt I have to repay in some way, shape, form or fashion. If by performing at the Tokyo Dome, making my comeback at the Tokyo Dome, it’s a way to help repay that and help do something for their business, then I’m more than happy to do that,” he said.

He said it was a “tough answer” as to why not AEW. He said there’s nothing wrong there, but chalked it up to everything “flowing like clockwork right now” in AEW and that he didn’t want to be “that guy” that just shows up and takes a spot away from someone else.

“When there’s an opportunity again and a chance, sure. I’d love to be back if you guys can have me, but right now, I think AEW has a good thing going and I don’t think they need me. So, I will make my return for New Japan instead…for now,” he said.

Of course, it’s entirely possible he makes his return for AEW before then, given there are two pay-per-views and plenty of TV before then.

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Omega opened up about the diverticulitis that nearly took his life because it was unchecked for so long. He said he felt “off” during training with low energy no matter what he did as “nothing was working in the midsection area.” He specifically referenced one in-ring segment where he wasn’t feeling well, saying that he asked the AEW makeup department beforehand to help him “look more tan” as his face was pale and his lips were blue.

He watched it back and said he was “not there, gone” and also felt it in the ring. It was a wakeup call for him to get the help he needed and admitted it took “quite a lot to take a step back.”

He said these days, he has more good days than bad and that while he isn’t as strong, explosive or fast as he used to be, he is seeing changes and that the inside of his body is matching what the outside is trying to do.