Kenny Omega has begun 2023 with a bang, not only with AEW but also with New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Kenny Omega returned to NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 17 where he defeated Will Ospreay to win the IWGP United States championship. The bout earned a great deal of acclaim across the board and many fans online have touted it as a potential match of the year candidate.
Fresh off the back of that success, Omega wrapped up the Best of Seven series alongside the Young Bucks for the AEW World Trios Titles. The Elite overcame Death Triangle four wins to three with the last coming in a Ladder Match.
During a recent appearance on the Swerve City podcast, Omega reflected on his bout with Ospreay. The former AEW World Champion said that his British counterpart can perform as he does due to feeling invincible. Omega added that as he has got older he’s found himself questioning what he does in the ring, even admitting that he’s getting scared at times during matches.
“I was scared about that. You had a guy in Will Ospreay being heralded as one of the best in-ring guys in the world. He is incredible. He’s a machine, he can do it all. He’s strong, fast, and agile. He’s smart enough to get by on his tools. Will’s intellect and I love Will, at times it’s helped him more than being a detriment to him.
There are thoughts that don’t cross his mind, and because they don’t cross his mind, he’s able to commit to something so crazy that he could end his own career.
Now, I’m too old and have seen so many terrible things in my life, the hamster wheel is always turning, and I get gun shy sometimes.
Before, it was like, I get gun shy when I think about it in the preparation phase or in training. Now, sometimes, I’m in the thick of it, I’m in the match, and I know I have to or might do this thing, and I’m getting scared.
I need to get that out of me. That’s one of the cruxes of getting old. It’s getting old, wiser, but at the same time you kind of get a little soft.”
Kenny Omega Praises Cody Rhodes For His Work In Launching AEW
During the same podcast, Omega also discussed now-WWE star, Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare famously helped start the promotion before heading to WWE in early 2022. Omega praised Rhodes for his knowledge of the business and for putting together a framework backstage that he himself wouldn’t have been capable of doing.
H/t to Fightful