Kenny Omega shares his thoughts ahead of his match with El Hijo del Vikingo.
Omega, a former AEW World Champion, will face El Hijo del Vikingo, the reigning AAA Mega Champion, on the March 21 episode of AEW Dynamite. The match will mark Vikingo’s AEW debut, and it will deliver the long-awaited match between the dynamic competitor and Omega; they were set to clash in 2021, but Omega was taken out of the bout because he had to take some time away due to a number of injuries.
Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Omega discussed the match and expressed his excitement. Barrasso noted that AEW CEO Tony Khan reached out to Masked Republic’s Lucha Libre Agency, as they manage Vikingo’s bookings outside of Mexico. Omega noted that he was picked as Vikingo’s opponent, and he feels a sense of pride that he has been given the opportunity to help introduce the high-flying star to a broader audience. Omega sated that Vikingo deserves a major stage to show the world what he can do.
“I thought our eventual clash would happen in AAA on Mexican soil, but it’s an opportunity that fell into my lap,” Omega said. “I’m not the booker, I’m not the matchmaker, I don’t make the rules, but I have been given a chance to wrestle someone that’s going to change the way people think about wrestling and change the way we think about lucha libre. There is a sense of pride to help with this introduction of a new power player in professional wrestling. The way Vikingo’s captured people’s attention and conquered AAA, he deserves a world stage to show what he has to offer.”
Omega also noted that he enjoys showcasing different wrestling cultures, and lucha libre is a unique art in the wrestling world. He called Vikingo “a modern-day innovator and an incredibly talented practitioner of lucha libre.” The former AEW World Champion then stated that he hopes that the marriage of their in-ring styles will create a distinct visual experience.
The former champion described how he’s somewhat selective with the singles matches he signs off on, as he wants to ensure that they mean something. He explained that the match with Vikingo is set to be a special bout, and he hopes that fans will see the AAA star in AEW again.
“At this stage in my career, I’m not quick to put my name on a singles match unless it means something,” Omega said. “There’s not a belt on the line, I’m not contending for a title. It’s all about the opportunity to put my style against someone I think can be one of the greatest luchadores of all time. This is very much a personal test, but I also take pride in being part of the introduction of someone I think will have a very successful career. Vikingo is going to be known worldwide, so it’s an honor for me to be part of this. I hope we’ll see him in AEW again.”
Omega made it clear that Vikingo is special, and he emphasized that he is honored to have the opportunity to face him in this buzzworthy match.
“Vikingo piqued my interest, because no one does it like him,” Omega said. “Wrestlers crowd around the monitor in the back to watch him. He’s something special. Competitively, I know he’s coming to take my throne. Or at least trying to—I’m aware of that, which makes it even more exciting.
“It’s a rare singles match for me on Dynamite. This would have been special with a lot of wrestlers on our roster. I’m the one that’s first in line with Vikingo.”
WrestleZone will have coverage of AEW Dynamite as it airs on Wednesday.
