10 Secret WWE Pasts Of AEW Wrestlers
8. Kenny Omega
In what was a rather transparent attention-grab from WWE during a white hot spell for The Elite man in 2018, a Network 'Hidden Gems' upload included Kenny Omega - then a mere five years into his industry-altering career - cutting a promo on and wrestling fellow Deep South Wrestling trainee Cru Jones from September 2006.
'The Best Bout Machine' spent less than a year in the territory and WWE system altogether, later criticising trainers Bill DeMott and Jody Hamilton for what he felt was a poor learning and professional experience. The career he's since mapped out speaks to this - Omega's very clear belief in his own methods has alienated traditionalists aplenty despite captivating new and existing audiences with a hybrid style made up of superlative sporting prowess and knowing theatrical performance.
The Jones clash was one of Omega's last for the group before requesting his release to go back to the independent circuit, having never even gotten close to a potential call-up. He turned down offers to rejoin WWE ahead of AEW's formation, but thankfully elected to keep perfecting his art away from a micromanaged system that almost certainly would have destroyed it.