Kenny Omega addresses recent events
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‘I’ll give you the chance, Gabe’: Kenny Omega interviewed
Kenny Omega addresses recent events
November 4 at Power Struggle, Kenny Omega returned to NJPW in front of a rapturous Osaka crowd. Though not yet physically cleared from a career and life threatening illness, Omega vowed that his comeback match would be in an NJPW ring, and that he was aiming for January 5 at Wrestle Dynasty.
Then, a backstage incident involving Gabe Kidd cast everything into question. Amid attention from the wrestling media, Kenny requested the time to give his side of the story.
The invitation’s open
–So Kenny, you’ve requested this time with us today. What would you like to address?
Kenny: Well, I’d like to address recent circumstances, and things that have happened with Gabe Kidd. I’ve had time to reflect after Power Struggle, and I feel I would regret not being able to make things right. I would hate for this situation to cause a rift between AEW and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. So after conversations I’ve had with President Tanahashi and other executives in NJPW, I’ve decided that if New Japan requests it, if Gabe requests it, and if the fans want it, then I will wrestle Gabe Kidd, as a professional at Wrestle Dynasty January 5.
–Let’s take a step back for a second. There has been a lot of news coming out of what happened at Power Struggle November 4, and we’ll get to Gabe in a second, but it was a very heartfelt message to the Osaka crowd that you delivered.
Kenny: Yeah. This sickness I’ve had has allowed me to see things in a new light. I’ve been feeling nostalgic, and grateful, and I would hate not being able to pay things forward before I have to call an end to my career. Before I do have to have my last match, I think there’s more I can do in Japan, and more I can do in a positive way for NJPW and its fans. I do want to help the younger talents in New Japan. Things haven’t played out the way I envisaged, but maybe in some sense, the beating Gabe Kidd gets from me will benefit him in the long run, and he’ll be able to grow up and act like an adult afterward. Now the invitation’s open.
Gabe wanted a headline off my name
–There has been a lot of talk in the media about what happened after you made your address. As far as you’re comfortable with, can you talk about what happened backstage in Osaka?
Kenny: Well, I guess there is one piece of back story, which is the interview we did.
–The video that was released after you were announced for Osaka.
Kenny: I wanted to talk about the young talent in New Japan. I wanted to shine a light and say something positive, and I started listing a bunch of names. Now, I know way more Gregs than I do Gabes, and when I tried to say Gabe Kidd’s name, ‘Greg’ popped out. I chuckled about it, because I didn’t think it was going to come out, and I said we should cut it, but it was left in.
–We apologise.
Kenny: It was nobody’s fault, just an oversight. But Gabe? Maybe he was angry for real, maybe he took it as an opportunity, but… I was on cloud nine, so happy to come back to Osaka, a place I have so many happy memories, but when I turned the corner, there was Gabe, and there was Robbie (X). I shook Robbie’s hand, but Gabe went on this rant, yelling and getting in my personal space. I’ve heard rumours that he isn’t quite right, you know? And he’s getting real close. I wasn’t a fan of the disrespect, the unprofessionalism. I was shocked.
Long story short, he tries to blow me off. He goes ‘oh, forget it,’ and doesn’t even allow me the chance to say my piece. So I made my mistake. I pulled him back. He tried to slap me, but I was on guard for that. And yeah, he took me down. To him, I guess he thought he won the fight, which I think is ridiculous. I’m a gold medalist in Jiu-jitsu, I could have exposed him right there, but I didn’t. I didn’t want that video to get out, it didn’t have to, but here we are. It’s a shame.
–Hiroshi Tanahashi announced two days later at a press conference that Gabe Kidd had been fined for ‘conduct unbecoming of a professional’. You’ve used the word ‘professional’ yourself in this interview, as has Gabe Kidd in defending his own actions in the media.
Kenny: Yes…
–To play devil’s advocate, Gabe could have made this confrontation very public in the ring, but he chose not to, and that while it’s unfortunate footage managed to leak out, he was trying to keep this a private matter.
Kenny: Has someone ever forgotten your name? Or flubbed it?
–Sure.
Kenny: Why is it that Gabe felt it necessary to pick a fight the way that he did because of a simple mistake? He was just using that to take what he wanted, which is a headline off of my name. I wasn’t looking to make any other news than I wanted to make my return in NJPW, and I left things open ended, because I really wasn’t sure how much I would be able to do at Wrestle Dynasty.
I’m not looking to make anything other of him than an example
–You certainly didn’t disrespect Gabe in your comments.
Kenny: I don’t doubt Gabe’s ability. He is here in NJPW for a reason. I just truly didn’t think that he was someone I should be facing at the moment. That isn’t for a lack of talent, it’s a lack of maturity… and yeah, professionalism. it’s the fact that he will do anything in his power to see his opponents in a hospital.
Look, I want to make it very clear that I’m not taking this match to make anything other of Gabe than an example. I wasn’t even sure if I would be medically cleared for January 5, but what Gabe did and said was enough to push me over the finish line. I might have been known as the Best Bout Machine in the past, but my goal isn’t to elevate Gabe Kidd to a world class performance. My goal is to show Gabe Kidd the reality of the situation he’s in right now, and show what embarrassment in front of 20, 30, 40,000 people and many thousands more watching around the world looks like.
–There have been some voices from NJPW fans, and to an extent Gabe himself, high profile, cross promotional singles matches can become a chance for AEW to scout or sign talent away. I think it’s evident that this situation with Gabe is anything but that.
Kenny: I can tell you as someone that knows: someone like Gabe Kidd will not set foot in AEW. Maybe if we’re passing through town, grab your boots kid, have a dark match. He will never see the light of TV unless he gets a very positive review from yours truly. I would love to forgive and forget one time years from now, but I don’t see it happening.
For anyone that thinks that Gabe might end up the same way as Jay White, or Kazuchika Okada, or Will Ospreay? Gabe Kidd is all your responsibility. Look, I’m throwing my hat in here, I’m taking the bigger step. I’m saying to NJPW that if this is what the company wants, if it’s what’s the fans want and if it’s what Gabe wants. If this is what’s most interesting, then let’s do it, I’ll give you that chance, Gabe. Let’s see what your answer is.
