Kenny Omega is sidelined indefinitely.
Kenny Omega took to social media to say he is out indefinitely, posting a photo of himself in the hospital. Omega wrote, “I tried to keep pushing past the pain for as long as I could until it became too much. Luckily doctors caught me when they did.”
Omega did not say what he is sidelined with.
I can’t really sugar coat this. I’m out indefinitely. I tried to keep pushing past the pain for as long as I could until it became too much. Luckily doctors caught me when they did. I’ll be here so in the mean time, please enjoy wrestling! pic.twitter.com/kn9ZKUgSls — Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) December 15, 2023Omega dealt with a laundry list of injuries that kept him sidelined from November 2021 to August 2022. During that time, Omega underwent hernia and knee surgeries. He returned in August 2022 to compete in trios action alongside The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson).
He has wrestled only 12 singles matches since his return.
Omega last wrestled on the December 9 episode of AEW Collision, defeating Ethan Page. He was scheduled to team with Chris Jericho to challenge Ricky Starks & Big Bill for the AEW Tag Team Championships at AEW Worlds End on December 30.
Fightful will update fans on Omega’s condition when more is known.
We wish Kenny all the best as he recovers.
I wish wrestlers would stop pushing past the pain. Just rest without breaking yourself. We want to see you good long term.
It isn’t brave to sacrifice yourself. It’s dumb and not good for the wrestlers or their fans.
Might be a consequence of the contract structure, too. Isn’t WWE, for example, treating their talent legally as independent contractors?
“Legally” independent contractors.
Legally employees until you wanna spend the money in court to get it overturned on an individual basis lol.
But it’s doubtful contract terms and stipulations would have anything to do with it. A contract can’t legally force you to neglect your own health, nor would a single wrestler worth their salary be willing to sign such a contract as it would be…well stupid.
When you’re wrestling, pain can be a constant thing, especially when you have a history of high-level wrestling and are increasing in age. Get banged up on a Monday, you’ll still be sore on a Friday but the show goes on if you aren’t actually injured. The more you do it year after year (and keeping in mind lots of wrestlers are really fucking stupid), you end up ignoring the little things until they can pose to be bigger problems. Hell I’m not a wrestler and even I do that shit (hence my bad…well name it.)
Point is this pressure to keep on pushing is structural.