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What's the story?
Kenny Omega is officially the hottest free agent in pro wrestling as his contract with NJPW effectively expired on February 1st, 2019. Speculations regarding his next move have naturally been dominating wrestling news circles with Omega now open to offers. So where is the former NJPW megastar headed to next?
We've compiled the most noteworthy updates on The Cleaner's immediate future.
In case you didn't know...
The former leader of the Bullet Club bids adieu to New Japan Pro Wrestling after spending nine years with the Japenese promotion. His impressive list of accolades with the company includes winning the IWGP Heavyweight, IWGP United States, IWGP Intercontinental, IWGP Junior Heavyweight, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team, and NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team titles.
Omega was previously part of WWE's developmental system in 2005 but left after an unsatisfactory one-year spell. Omega is an indie darling who is by far one of the most recognizable names in the industry who made his name by solely wrestling outside WWE.
His exploits in NJPW, which spawned a classic trilogy with Kazuchika Okada amongst other memorable matches and feuds, have consequently attracted the attention of all the major promotions.
The heart of the matter
As per Dave Meltzer, Omega has already turned down a big-money offer from the WWE, predictably in favour of a deal with All Elite Wrestling.
AEW executive vice president Cody Rhodes expressed his desire of signing Omega and mentioned he is inarguably the hottest free agent in all of pro wrestling. He spoke about how Omega is an Elite original and irrespective of the company he joins -- WWE, AEW or NJPW, will always be a member of The Elite.
Rhodes stated that for Omega, time and creative freedom hold more weight over money and those factors would determine the company he would end up joining. The general consensus is that Omega will be unveiled as the next big signing at AEW's Double or Nothing ticket announcement party scheduled to take place at the MGM Grand Hotel on February 7th.
A mysterious phone call on the 136th episode of Being The Elite series on Youtube pretty much confirmed Omega's association with AEW, which will be spearheaded by his good friends Nick and Matt Jackson.
Check out the episode below from the 20th minute onwards for the teaser. For those who don't know, Omega had lost his phone in the episode prior to this and the countdown at the end is most likely leading up to his revelation as an AEW talent the ticket announcement party on February 7th.
What's next?
Omega is currently enjoying his time off from wrestling as he stated that he needed the break to rejuvenate himself both physically and mentally. While he is not in a hurry to make a move, Omega did confirm that a big announcement is certainly on its way.
With the WWE deal reportedly off the table as well as the possibility of a contract renewal with NJPW, AEW seems like the ideal destination for the most sought-after talent in pro wrestling. Will WWE pull off a major coup at the end though? Let's wait and watch as the next few months promise to change the entire landscape of pro wrestling.
