Kenny Omega Opens Up on Life-Changing Illness and New Cautious Approach to Wrestling

Kenny Omega has revealed how a life-threatening illness drastically shifted his mindset, both in and out of the ring.
After a match with Ethan Page in December 2023, Omega was diagnosed with diverticulitis—a condition so severe it required surgery to remove two feet of his intestinal tract and left him just days from death.
Now back in AEW and holding the AEW International Championship, Omega told Adi Shankar that he’s approaching his career with much more caution.
He credited his longtime agent Barry Bloom for prioritizing his health over money, saying, “You need to be healthy,” and that Bloom wouldn’t let anyone “get their hands on [me]” until he had medical clearance.
“This is coming from someone now who is understanding of his own mortality,” Omega said, emphasizing how the experience has reshaped his priorities.
A potential clash with Kazuchika Okada looms at All In Texas, but it’s clear fans are seeing a wiser, more measured version of The Cleaner.