Will Kenny Omega Sign With The WWE?
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For the past few years, rumors have speculated that Kenny Omega was going to join the WWE around the time of the annual Royal Rumble. After losing the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 13, Omega confirmed that he is taking a break from wrestling.
Since joining New Japan Pro Wrestling, Omega has held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, IWGP Intercontinental Championship, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, IWGP United States Championship, and the Never Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship. Along with all those titles, Omega is also the winner of the 2016 G1 Climax.
Seeing everything that he has accomplished, there is no doubt that Kenny Omega is one of the best wrestlers in the world today. Along with his style in the ring, Omega’s ability on the microphone has been among the best in New Japan.
Omega changed the independent wrestling landscape by creating success outside the WWE. In 2014, Kenny Omega joined the ‘Bullet Club’, and that is where his success began.
Despite being the biggest wrestling company in the world, the WWE has gained a reputation of not giving talented wrestlers the right treatment. This has proven to be evident with stars such as Finn Balor, Shinsuke Nakamura, The Revival, Luke Gallows, and more. While going through his contract offer, Omega needs to take all matters into account.
Despite that reputation, wrestlers such as AJ Styles have been treated appropriately and have even earned a main title push. Hypothetically speaking, Omega would likely be treated in a similar manner as Styles.
Although he is being heavily recruited by the WWE, that is not the only option on the table for Kenny Omega. Perhaps he joins his friends Cody Rhodes and the ‘Young Bucks’ and joins All Elite Wrestling. For those who aren’t aware, All Elite Wrestling is a company being backed by Tony Khan, the co-owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars. In addition, the company is also backed by Fulham FC. Even with support for AEW, there is still the thought of what will happen if they don’t live up to expectations.
Several sources reported that the contract that WWE has offered Omega is a 3-year, $3.5M deal. Omega also reportedly was dealt an opt-out clause in his contract, which would allow him to leave the company after his first year.
Since inking a deal with FOX for over $3 billion over the next 5 years, FOX has been pushing to make the WWE more like typical sports programming. If the WWE is looking to attract more relatable personas, then signing Omega would make perfect sense.
At the age of 35, signing with the WWE is more of a “now or never situation”. Omega has stated on multiple occasions that being happy is more important than any contract offer.
Next Sunday night, the WWE will host the Royal Rumble. Although it would be pleasing to the fan base to see Kenny Omega, his contract with New Japan is still in motion, so it would ultimately be unlikely.
While we await the decision of Kenny Omega, Dave Meltzer has reported that Omega has declined the WWE’s offer and will be joining All Elite Wrestling once his contract with New Japan expires. Unless a major turn of events take place, expect for Omega to continue to avoid the WWE.
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