Why Dave Meltzer Is RIGHT About Kenny Omega

Kenny Omega Hangman Page
AEW

The real hero in this ongoing saga was very subtly revealed on February 29, months and months before it was made explicit in the narrative. The very best professional wrestlers master the space between moves to extract the most from the moves themselves. Omega does this too, but he also doubles the meaning of his moves. And if you did not detect the story beat, it did not matter.

It was, to those unfamiliar with the mythology of the Golden Lovers, a perfectly-timed moment of badass babyface fire. Omega's work is at once esoteric and primal. There are - yes - levels to this sh*t. Kenny Omega is a professional wrestler capable of placing subtext into his matches to deepen their narrative heft. We are so far removed from blading to get the marks onside in the carny days that it's not even funny.

The version of Kenny Omega that fans have wanted - the conquering singles Ace - manifested last night in an absolutely sublime top-to-bottom presentation. What a heel turn. What a magnificently cruel heel turn this was and is; Omega, with his deliberately, hilariously on-the-nose grandiose "I'm a big star" presentation has turned himself into a caricature to mock you. You wanted this version of Kenny Omega in AEW? You fools. He is going to make you resent the living sh*t out of that which you once loved. Drenched in detail, everything about this act - already - radiates mega-heel star power.

This analysis hasn't yet covered Omega's legendary run in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

CONT'D...(4 of 6)

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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!