5 Reasons why Kenny Omega choosing AEW over WWE could have been a mistake
The biggest free agent heading into the start of 2019 had to be Kenny Omega. He had been routinely having 'Match of the Year' bouts against practically everyone he faced in New Japan Pro Wrestling - from Kazuchika Okada and Chris Jericho to Tetsuya Naito and Tomohiro Ishii.
He also finally captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in June of 2018, besting his long-time rival Okada for the title. He reign lasted until he dropped it to Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 13 this year, and after two title changes already, the belt is once again around Okada's waist.
Since he probably felt he had done all he could in NJPW, Omega was slated to be perhaps the most coveted free agent since AJ Styles in 2016. The fans waited until his contract with NJPW officially expired at the end of January 2019, but a month later at the ticket rally for Double or Nothing, Omega made his signing with All Elite Wrestling official.
For some, it was the right move because they felt he wouldn't be booked the way he should in WWE. For others, it was disappointing not to see, quite arguably, the best wrestler in the world join the biggest promotion in the world.
While it is ultimately his choice and his career, there will always be the 'what ifs' associated with what would have happened had he signed a contract with thE. Since we'll have to wait for a few years until he's a free agent again, here are five reasons why not signing with WWE might have been a mistake.
#5. Potential dream matches he'll miss out on
Omega is singed to AEW for four years, which will keep him with the company until 2023. Since he was born in October of 1983, that would make him 40 years old by the time his AEW contract ends. Now I know some athletes (Tom Brady) are testing the limits of science by playing sports or wrestling (Triple H, John Cena, R Truth) well into their 40s, but it's likely that his best years will probably be behind him.
By not signing at least a one-year deal with the WWE, he misses out on several potential dream matches with current WWE superstars. He won't face AJ Styles again, nor will he face the originator of the Bullet Club, Finn Balor. And he'll miss out on what even he described as a dream match against Seth Rollins.
That's not to say he could have great matches with any number of other superstars like Andrade, Ricochet, Buddy Murphy, Cedric Alexander, Cesaro, Aleister Black, Ali or even Roman Reigns had he signed with WWE. By forgoing the WWE, he'll stay in his comfort zone but will be leaving a lot of great matches on the table.