Kenny Omega is back, and he appreciates the fans.
The former AEW World Champion returned on the August 17 episode of AEW Dynamite to team up with the Young Bucks to face Andrade El Idolo, RUSH, and Dragon Lee in a first-round bout in the AEW World Trios Championship Tournament. Omega and The Bucks won the match, and after the show went off the air, he cut a passionate promo.
Omega started by recalling the last time he wrestled at an AEW show in West Virginia and stating that it's always a pleasure to perform in front of the fans.
"Now, for some of you, this may very well be your first live AEW show. If this is your second time, I very much appreciate you because if memory serves me correctly, last time we were here for a Halloween spectacle, where we saw The Elite against Jack Evans, Angelico, and he was here before, I swear he could literally be in the crowd right now in the front row with a box on his head, and I wouldn’t be able to recognize the guy. Long story short, it’s always a pleasure to be performing in front of you fellows," he said.
He continued by noting that he wanted to take the chance to say a few words in a relaxed format after the show ended. Omega described how he's only human, as he has been doubting whether he can return and compete at the same level as his peers.
"I thought, hey, with a rare main event slot tonight, I might as well take the microphone and say a couple words to you guys because I’ve been gone for quite some time. If I do it in this format, I don’t have to worry about how much time I take. I don’t have to worry about how tired or hurt I am. I can just speak to you guys like a normal human being because really, that’s all I am. So for the past seven, eight, nine months, whatever it’s been, it’s been pretty grueling. Many times, I questioned myself. Am I really gonna be able to come back to AEW and perform at the level of these professional wrestlers?" Omega said.
Omega emphasized that it will take him some time to get back up to speed, and this journey is a work in progress. He also pointed out that he's not a "good guy", but fans can always expect him and the Young Bucks to deliver a genuine performance.
"Certainly, it’s gonna take me a while to catch up to these guys. It might be a while before I’m able to challenge for a singles title again. But this very much is a work in progress, and I’m very glad that all of you are joining me on this journey. Don’t get it confused, however. I’m not a good guy. I might even cheat to win every now and then. But one thing that I will say is when we’re in this ring, you’re getting a genuine Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, an elite performance from the genuine Young Bucks and Kenny Omega. We’re not pretending to be somebody that we’re not. We’re not a tribute act. We’re not a parody. We’re not selfish, and we’re not in this for selfish means and for selfish gains," he said.
He then explained that their goal has always been to leave a legacy by changing the world of wrestling, and they will continue to deliver on AEW's mission statement. As for their win, he credited a stroke of luck and the Bucks' excellence as the reasons they survived.
"We are here to leave a legacy, and that legacy isn’t titles. It’s not even match ratings. It’s not even how much money we make for our families and ourselves. It is changing the world via changing [the] wrestling world and the way that you guys consume it. So maybe heck, you don’t like six-man tags. That’s fine because we’re gonna give you the greatest singles matches. We’re gonna give you guys the greatest hardcore matches, mixed matches, women’s matches, all different kinds of matches. It’s going to be a smorgasbord of wrestling. That was always the mission statement, and as long as The Elite are here, we will make sure that you guys get that variety every time we perform. Win, lose, or draw, you’re gonna get our greatest effort. Win, lose, or draw, taping, athletic tape, medical devices or not, you’re gonna get Kenny Omega, too. Somehow, by a stroke of luck and because these guys are better than you even know that they are, they’re incredible, we were able to survive tonight. We’re alive in this tournament," Omega said.
When Matt Jackson told the fans not to suddenly start cheering them, the former AEW World Champion also noted that he could be mad at the fans because they're the reason he keeps performing and putting his body on the line. But he liked the audience to a cat that pees and poops a lot; while he gets mad when he finds the poop, he could never hate the cat. The former champion made it clear that he might blame the fans on TV, but deep down, he actually appreciates them.
"Maybe I should be mad, too. Maybe I should be mad too because the reason why I’m in this state right now, the reason why I have to have three, sometimes four sessions of physical rehab every single day is because of you. Maybe I should hate each and every one of you because I come back out here for you guys. So what I’m gonna do right now is I’m gonna be a little strange. I don’t get out much, so I became a strange individual. I’m gonna liken you fans to a very mischievous cat that pees and poops all over the house. Boy do I get mad when I find it. Not do I get mad because I have to clean it, but heck, how could I hate a little kitty cat? So on TV, I may blame you guys. I may hold resentment towards you guys. Perhaps, deep down inside, as long as this never gets aired, I do very much appreciate you. Thank you very much," Omega said.
Due to their victory on Wednesday, Onega and the Young Bucks will face the winner of United Empire vs. Death Triangle, which wil be held on the August 24 edition of AEW Dynamite.
Fans can find Fightful's coverage of AEW Dynamite by clicking here. Check out the post-show podcast for a full review of the show by clicking here.
