Kenny Omega recently shared how a singles match against a current WWE star transformed his career. In an interview with CBS Sports, the AEW star discussed AJ Styles’ significant impact on his journey, reflecting on his early days when he was signed to WWE’s developmental territory, Deep South Wrestling (DSW).
During his time at DSW, Kenny lost his passion for wrestling. He became disillusioned with the rigid professionalism and micromanagement at the developmental level, feeling creatively stifled. This frustration led him to request his release and contemplate leaving wrestling altogether.
“I thought, ‘This isn’t fun anymore, so maybe it’s not for me.’ I felt like the creativity you find in indie wrestling just doesn’t exist at that level. Everything is micromanaged,” Kenny explained. “Even the micromanagement was micromanaged. I felt that I couldn’t be myself, and I enjoyed being myself.”
After leaving DSW in 2006, Kenny explored Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and considered a potential mixed martial arts career. However, he never entirely walked away from wrestling, as he was booked for a match against AJ Styles by the indie promotion Premier Championship Wrestling.
Initially, Kenny planned to end his wrestling career with this match, but the experience reignited his passion. He found a natural chemistry with Styles in the ring, which inspired him to continue honing his wrestling skills.
“There was a moment during the match where we really connected—the give and take was symbiotic,” Omega said. “I thought, ‘Wow, this is what it’s like to wrestle someone at this level.’ I wasn’t ashamed of myself; I might not have been right on their level, but I wasn’t embarrassed either. If I keep working, I can reach this level.”
AJ Styles’ influence didn’t stop there. Kenny reunited with Styles in New Japan Pro Wrestling around 2015-16, where he learned how to carry himself as a world champion from the seasoned veteran. The leadership of the Bullet Club was eventually passed from Styles to Omega, a pivotal moment that cemented key relationships within The Elite and laid the foundation for All Elite Wrestling’s creation.
Fan Take: This revelation highlights how critical mentorship and key matches are in shaping a wrestler’s career. For AEW fans, it reinforces the importance of storytelling and evolution in wrestling, showing how legends like Kenny Omega continue to raise the bar for the sport’s future.
