10 Secret Genius Details Behind Wrestler Entrances

6. Kenny Omega Rubs It In Your Face

Malakai Black
AEW

Throughout 2019 and much of 2020, Kenny Omega was pelted with accusations that he was a failure on North American TV.

This accusation was bullsh*t - if he were, the episodic subtlety of his relationship with Hangman Page wouldn't resonate with the heft it does now that it has imploded - but you can see why it was made. Omega was positioned in the tag team division, he didn't cut too many promos, he wasn't the man. Everything he was doing informed his time as the man, but this is pro wrestling discourse. Patience and reason does not belong in it.

When Don Callis cuts promos telling the "insects" that Omega thinks in years, it's not heel schtick. Omega deliberately scaled his presence back to allow Chris Jericho to act as a bridge. All the while, he negged his partner Hangman Page with the aim of making him in year three.

Year two belonged to the Cleaner, and he switched his star power on almost as quickly as a light. Soundtracked by three separate phases of music in a display of piss-funny hyperbole, flanked by two telegenic dancers, Omega emerged as a caricature to underscore how silly the idea of being a wrestling star is. It's all illusory, it's all posturing, and it's all designed to eventually get Page over as the real, relatable babyface of these anxious 21st century times.

He thinks in years.

In this post: 
Malakai Black
 
First Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!