4 ways Kenny Omega could get the Roman Reigns Presentation upon his return
After a long absence from in-ring competition, Kenny Omega will return to pro wrestling at NJPW's Wrestle Dynasty pay-per-view. The Cleaner will wrestle Gabe Kidd at the crossover event, marking his first in-ring bout in over twelve months.
The absence of The Best Bout Machine has greatly affected the quality of the AEW product. Many fans, who also consider Omega to be the glue that binds AEW, have expressed their displeasure at his booking in the Jacksonville-based promotion so far.
Tony Khan has been at the receiving end of criticism for not acknowledging Kenny Omega's star power. During one of his Twitch streams in April 2024, The Cleaner stated that he wishes to have the same presentation as Roman Reigns in WWE.
Omega applauded the Stamford-based promotion for presenting The Tribal Chief as a strong character, helping him become the focal point of the company's booking. As The Best Bout Machine nears his return to the Jacksonville-based promotion, it would be intriguing to see if Tony Khan operates upon the suggestions of the former AEW World Champion.
In this article, let's look at four ways Kenny Omega could get the Roman Reigns presentation in All Elite Wrestling upon his return.
#4. Kenny Omega must dissociate himself from The Elite
Since the implosion of The Shield, Roman Reigns has drastically improved as a performer. Following his exit from the iconic faction, The Big Dog allowed himself to explore new rivalries against fresher opponents.
The former Undisputed WWE Champion gradually developed into a reliable singles star, who was no longer in the shadow of his former stablemates. By the time he turned heel, Reigns' character had dissociated from his Shield persona to a great extent.
Kenny Omega must take the same approach as Roman Reigns and cut his ties with The Elite for a while. The Best Bout Machine has constantly been involved with The Young Bucks and Hangman Page for the majority of his AEW stint, which has had a long-term impact on his career.
Omega's association with The Elite also lowered the credibility of his Belt Collector persona in 2020-21. As The Destiny Flower prepares for an AEW comeback, separating himself from The Bucks and Hangman Page could be a great way to reset his character.
The former AEW World Champion could go on a proper solo run, separated from all his former allies. The Best Bout Machine could feud against stars like MJF, Swerve Strickland, and Bobby Lashley, who could push Omega to bring out his A-Game. With no familiar faces in his corner, The Cleaner would be forced to fight for his spot in the main event picture.
#3. Kenny Omega must not lose to any mid-card talents going forward
Roman Reigns has been one of the most protected talents in WWE since his debut in 2012. The Head of the Table has rarely come up short against his opponents, as WWE has always portrayed him as an invincible force.
It is always treated as a huge deal when The Tribal Chief loses against any superstar. Meanwhile, Kenny Omega's recent win-loss record in AEW has not been as impressive as Roman Reigns.
Before taking a break from pro wrestling, The Cleaner went through a struggling phase in the fall of 2023. The Best Bout Machine lost to the likes of Jon Moxley, Konosuke Takeshita, and MJF, which weakened his onscreen persona.
While these stars benefitted from a win over Omega, these matches also raised questions about Omega's ability to keep up with younger stars.
Tony Khan must rectify his past booking mistakes and have Omega go on an undefeated run in All Elite Wrestling. The 41-year-old star must register several victories to rebuild himself as a dominant entity in the singles competition. The Canadian native is one of the biggest assets Tony Khan currently has, and his character must be protected on television.
#2. Kenny Omega should follow in Roman Reigns' footsteps and only wrestle on pay-per-views
Kenny Omega has earned the moniker of 'The Best Bout Machine' due to his ability to consistently churn out amazing in-ring spectacles. However, the pressure to maintain the quality of his in-ring performances has taken a toll on The Cleaner's body.
The Canadian native should look to prioritize his physical health when he eventually resumes his wrestling career. The 41-year-old should take a page out of Roman Reigns' book and limit himself to competing on pay-per-views and marquee events. It would be a solid way for Omega to prolong his stay in the business, without compromising on the quality of his in-ring work.
Similar to The Tribal Chief, Kenny Omega should be reserved as the main attraction for AEW's major shows. The decision would allow Omega to preserve his physical well-being, while also giving him ample time to craft his storylines.
#1. Kenny Omega must go on a proper babyface world title reign down the line
Many fans have argued that Kenny Omega should be the center focus of all the major storylines in AEW. The audience wishes to see The Cleaner being treated like Roman Reigns, who is the root of several ongoing conflicts in WWE.
The Destiny Flower's iconic run as The Belt Collector is regarded as the peak of his AEW career. However, Omega's reign of terror only impacted the stories he was involved in, as other top stars like MJF, CM Punk, and Chris Jericho did not show any concern towards the chaos created by the 41-year-old star.
The Best Bout Machine must spend the next few months building himself up as a deserving contender for the AEW World Championship. While he might not be the one to dethrone Jon Moxley, Kenny Omega must eventually reclaim the prestigious world title at some point.
As AEW continues to struggle on the ratings front, it would be a great decision to crown Omega the new face of the brand. That way, The Cleaner would be able to lead the Jacksonville-based promotion from the front as a babyface World Champion.
It could end up being the start of a career-defining run for Omega, where he would be elevated to being the main protagonist of All Elite Wrestling. Any superstar that would go up against a babyface Cleaner would instantly become a top star in the eyes of the fans.
Roman Reigns' historic reign as the Undisputed WWE Champion is what essentially kicked off the Renaissance Era of WWE. Strapping the AEW World Championship on Kenny Omega upon his return might accomplish the same for AEW.