Kenny Omega Leaving NJPW Is Probably A Work

Whatever its conclusion, the Omega saga will have a considerable impact on 2019's new wrestling war.

AEW need a star. Though they court the likes of Goldberg, they'll require a franchise player who can carry the load between the ropes if they're to fulfil their ambitions, as Chris Jericho and other linked names would only be capable of doing so in short bursts. Kenny is a star above everyone who's been signed so far, and he'd bring an ideal fusion of skill, name value, and the same sense of entrepreneurship present in Cody and The Young Bucks. This makes him a 'must sign.'

For NJPW, losing Omega (as well as the Bucks and Cody) probably means losing much of the progress made in America and Europe over the past couple of years. Much of their western expansion's success is down to The Elite. Guys like Juice Robinson and Jay White would step up in their absence; both are excellent performers, but not on Kenny's level. Domestic business would take a hit too, though the impact wouldn't be as pronounced.

The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion would be significantly less valuable to WWE, who, unlike AEW and NJPW, aren't going to make Omega 'The Guy.' He can absolutely go there and have a successful career, but the best case scenario is that he becomes a big fish in an enormous pond. Unfortunately, their biggest benefit to them signing 'The Cleaner' is denying the competition of someone who, to them, would be a money-drawing asset.

Expect the coming weeks to be rife with speculation. For better or worse, the wrestling business is changing, and Kenny Omega is at the heart of it. The question of where he lands will soon be answered. At the moment, though, it feels very much like a pro-wrestler exercising the performances skills that brought him to the dance in the first place.