Kenny Omega responds to criticism of the Tiger Driver 91 that he took against Will Ospreay at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.
While the match between Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door was an instant classic, the moment when Ospreay dropped Omega with a Tiger Driver 91 became the most talked about spot from the match, with a debate around whether or not it was too reckless.
Now, Omega is responding to the criticism and, in a new interview with Sports Illustrated, clarifies that the move was performed carefully, but they both understood that it would invoke emotion.
“There are people who want to complain and put themselves on a pedestal by saying what we did was dangerous,” says Omega. “Well, you think? So I’ve been asked, why did we do it? It made sense in the match and evoked emotion. And we both knew I would end up coming out of the move unscathed. Is there a risk? Sure. There’s always a risk.
“Look at the way Mike Tyson boxed. His style was so dangerous, he stayed so close to his opponent," continues Kenny. "What was he doing boxing in-style? Shouldn’t he have fought more stick-and-move and waited for the counterpunch? Wouldn’t that have been better for his brain? Didn’t he understand how dangerous it was? But that’s what made him Mike Tyson.”
Kenny Omega would further say that people should not tell him how to wrestle and should just shut up.
“Don’t tell me not to wrestle the way I know how to wrestle,” says Omega. “Is there a risk? Was there a risk when Mike Tyson was fighting within inches of space between another championship-level boxer throwing power punches? Of course. But Tyson was confident in his abilities, and he knew he was the best. So don’t tell Mike Tyson how to box, and don’t tell Tyson Smith how to wrestle. You aren’t even close to being qualified. Just shut the f--- up.”
Matt Hardy, who is no stranger to dangerous spots, also commented on the move, saying he understands why they took that risk. Read his comments here.
Will Ospreay has also commented on that match, saying that he would like to leave the slate between me and Kenny Omega at 1-1. Read his thoughts on that match here.
