If you’re not familiar with New Japan Pro-Wrestling star Kenny Omega, then let me give you some background. Omega is a Canadian professional wrestling star who has made his name in the business with his ridiculous athleticism and desire to get better. Many believe that Kenny is one of the biggest stars in the world of wrestling, and the WWE offered him numerous contracts, but he has turned them all down in recent years.
In 2005, Omega signed a developmental contract with WWE and began appearing in Deep South Wrestling on a full-time basis. He made his debut on October 27, 2005, and remained with the company until August 2006 when he requested his release from his contract. Omega then returned to Premier Championship Wrestling where he competed prior to signing with WWE.
. @KennyOmegamanX : I would rather be the legend that never stepped foot in WWE https://t.co/4dxAOSJCET pic.twitter.com/csdCZgRTEk
— SI Extra Mustard (@SI_ExtraMustard) January 3, 2017
Kenny Omega has since been very critical of his time with WWE saying that he had a poor experience with the company and that he wasn’t a fan of promoters Bill DeMott and Jody Hamilton, nor trainer Bob Holly. The one positive from his time with WWE was meeting trainer Dave Taylor and getting to learn the basics and fundamentals of wrestling that helped him get where he is today.
Since leaving WWE, Omega has wrestled in Pro Wrestling Syndicate, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, Dramatic Dream Team (DDT) Pro-Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Ring of Honor, and NJPW. Kenny is currently signed to the ROH and NJPW rosters, he and is the leader of the Bullet Club, which used to feature AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows before the trio left for WWE in 2016.
“Kenny Omega Talks Wrestle Kingdom 11, Bullet Club in WWE, New Day | Bleacher Report” via @BleacherReport App: https://t.co/ztsb0eVZsv
— GioJustWrestlingnews (@Wrestlingtwi) December 27, 2016
The Bullet Club now features The Young Bucks, Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi, Tama Tonga, Adam Cole, Bone Soldier, Chase Owens, Cody Rhodes, Cody Hall, Hangman Page, Tanga Roa, and Omega. Prince Devitt was the first leader of the Bullet Club before Karl Anderson took over, then AJ Styles ran the show, and now Kenny Omega is in charge of the group.
Omega was offered a contract by WWE in 2014, and then three more times in 2015, but the NJPW and ROH star doesn’t have any interest in selling out to the largest wrestling promotion in the world. In a recent interview with Justin Barrasso, Kenny explains why he doesn’t want to be a “ cog in the machine ” that is WWE.
“I know there is a lot of younger talent floating around their roster—I’m wondering, “Why in the hell are these guys not rising up? Why are they not doing what it takes to be better? Are they so happy to be a cog in the WWE machine that they’re just happy to be where they are? Are they just satisfied to see WWE as the name on their paycheck every week? Why can I keep getting better and pushing the envelope to have these “Matches of the Year,” but no one else can even come close?” AJ Styles has been great, but he’s been great forever. Why is there no one else?”
Kenny Omega throws down the gauntlet to guys ‘happy to be a cog in the WWE machine’ https://t.co/b7xjBKIVah
— Cageside Seats (@cagesideseats) January 4, 2017
Omega would go on to say later in the interview that he would rather be the guy who never joined the WWE, yet was better than every wrestler in the promotion. He has no interest in joining the WWE to just collect a paycheck. Kenny Omega wants to push the envelopes of wrestling and become the best there ever was, and he doesn’t believe that’s achievable in the WWE.
If he keeps producing matches like the one he had at Wrestle Kingdom 11 on January 4 against Kazuchika Okada, then more power to him.
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