10 Wrestlers Who Have Changed The Most Since AEW Launched
2. Kenny Omega
Even when AEW was a mere pipe dream, Kenny Omega was its go-to top star. A name synonymous with New Japan Pro Wrestling, Omega had a lore with Western wrestling fans to which he was required to live up to. With his technical prowess and a quiet likeability, Omega wowed fans and was a big part of AEW's inherent "must see" product. He became the promotion's third World Champion, though outside of the ring, Omega was being eclipsed by the more traditionally "larger than life" sports entertainers.
However, wrestling has ways of dealing with this very dilemma: 1) a heel turn, or 2) a manager match-up.
In allowing Omega to explore his new gargantuan ego, AEW scored themselves a genuinely compelling heel champion. Arrogance and d**kish disdain pair perfectly with championship gold. No other booking position packs the potential for equal amount of fun and score.
Don Callis is a manager cut from weasel skin, treated with snake oil. He is the classic smarmy presence stuck to the champ's side. Omega embracing evil, while a drastic change to the beloved babyface of his debut, has made him a compelling character worthy of what he lays down in the ring.