10 Wrestlers Who Were Secretly Promo GODS
9. Kenny Omega
Kenny Omega, quite possibly the greatest in-ring talent ever, is...mixed on promos.
He never feels particularly comfortable with a microphone in his hand on AEW screens, at least in the babyface role. He isn't one to fire up or sell a match with a huge degree of conviction, preferring a well-crafted multi-man brawl to sell his matches, which often spin off from the context of a stable war. He was magnificent as a caricature of a big time heel in 2021 - his work opposite Evil Uno was hilarious - but even then, his arch delivery style and lack of composure negatively affected certain segments. The man who walked a pioneering route into national US television, understandably, isn't madly into the idea of doing things the traditional way. This is both feature and bug.
In the less controlled and performative setting of a NJPW press conference or a post-match promo, Omega, who treats wrestling as a sport more than most, was far better. Without the time constraints, he was incredible, in fact.
As good at selling the devastation of a loss, soaked in sweat and exhaustion, as he was putting himself over as an obnoxious, swear-happy wrestling God, Omega spoke with conviction and an above-it-all, mischievous tone. The arch anime villain quality was still there, but his line readings - best when he was bug-eyed and incredulous at the idea that anybody could beat him - worked far better in the context of a grand post-victory celebration than the reveal of a twist in a TV angle.