Rocky Romero doesn’t think Kenny Omega‘s appearance at NJPW Power Struggle takes away from his AEW comeback.
Former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega has not wrestled since December 2023. He was hospitalized and diagnosed with diverticulitis. After making a one-off return to AEW in May, he underwent surgery, and he has been recovering ever since. Omega appeared at NJPW Power Struggle and said he wanted to compete at NJPW x AEW Wrestle Dynasty. This led to some criticism as to why Omega returned on a NJPW show, rather than on AEW programming.
In an interview with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Rocky Romero discussed Kenny Omega’s appearance at NJPW Power Struggle and the situation as a whole. (H/t Jeremy Lambert of Fightful)
“I think Japan, especially New Japan, is something very special to Kenny,” Rocky Romero said. “He doesn’t forget where this boom for Kenny Omega started. It was obviously New Japan many years ago. For that aspect of it, it’s very important and he is an [Executive Vice President] and he takes that role very serious, especially being one of the guys who founded the company.
“It’s a goodwill type of gesture to come back, and obviously, he’s a massive name in Japan. A massive, massive name. The first time doing Wrestle Dynasty on January 5 is a big deal and one of the biggest names, if not the biggest, we could have on the show is Kenny Omega. I thought that was really important.
Rocky Romero: NJPW/AEW Relationship Is Important To Kenny Omega
Romero continued by highlighting how the NJPW/AEW relationship was important to Kenny Omega. He shared his belief that Omega’s appearance at NJPW Power Struggle did not take away from his AEW return.
“Kenny has been influential in the relationship between New Japan and AEW since day one. Even the days where there was a Forbidden Door and nobody was going through, he was one of the guys trying to break that down. For him, it’s a relationship that is very important, especially now that (Hiroshi) Tanahashi is the President. They have an interesting relationship and we saw a month ago where they released a cool video where Kenny came back to Japan and talked about the future and past issues between them both.
“They are two guys that completely see professional wrestling in two completely different ways, and that was part of their story when they wrestled. Overall, it’s interesting, and I don’t think it takes away from Kenny coming back to AEW. It just makes the question even bigger of when he’ll come back to AEW.
WrestleZone will provide more information about Kenny Omega’s comeback as it becomes available.
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