A four-year rivalry will be reborn Wednesday on Dynamite, as a former New Japan Pro-Wrestling icon locks up in a steel cage against someone who was once a major superstar in WWE.
The beauty of AEW will be on full display as Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley trade blows, fighting for supremacy in the next chapter of the promotion’s signature feud.
The two share ideologies with many of the same core tenets, but Omega and Moxley are two exceptionally distinct performers. That juxtaposition will be clear and center in the cage, with Omega representing The Elite—his vision of the heights pro wrestling can reach with The Young Bucks—while Moxley delights in harnessing a hardcore, tempestuous version of the time-tested art form, which has shined in the BCC.
“There is a mutual respect,” says Omega. “We respect where we’ve been, what we’re trying to do and where we’re going.”
A kinship was built through both of their burning ambitions. Part of the core for both men is their devotion to being the outright best. Even for a realm as subjective as pro wrestling, there can be only one who holds that distinction.
“I feel blessed to be in a conversation where there is chatter from people saying Kenny Omega is the best in the world,” says Omega. “Whether it’s warranted, whether it’s deserved, that’s up to the person saying it and the criteria they’re using. If they’re saying it’s because of these great singles epic matches that make you feel something, I’m honored.”
Omega conducted an honest assessment of both characters’ trajectories over the past four years. In the short but meaningful history of All Elite Wrestling, he believes that Moxley has earned the honor of being the top star.
“If I’m being honest, the MVP of AEW hasn’t been me,” says Omega. “It’s Jon Moxley.”
He reflected on the beginning of their feud, which started at Double or Nothing, AEW’s first pay-per-view, in May 2019. Moxley emerged at the end of the night and physically assaulted Omega after he lost to Chris Jericho in the show’s main event.
“I remember watching the Bucks wrestle the Lucha Bros. that night, and to me, I felt there were so many high-risk maneuvers,” says Omega. “It took such a high barrier of entry to perform these moves and in an aggressive manner. It really was exactly what we wanted to show as professional wrestlers. Even the battle royale was so much fun, getting a taste of so many wrestlers you hadn’t seen on mainstream wrestling. You had a great story between brothers with Cody and Dustin [Rhodes]. In its own way, that became something you wouldn’t see anywhere else because of the blood. It was a friggin’ bloodbath. I hadn’t seen blood like that in a long time. I wasn’t sure if I’d have my own moment on that show.
“I felt like my contribution was once Jon showed up. He lifted me up and threw me off the chips. Maybe people thought I would be more of a difference-maker on that show. I lost against Jericho, then I got my ass beat by Jon Moxley. Sort of the final shot was seeing me through the stage that never broke—I just hit it hard—and Moxley was on top atop those chips. What I was able to give to that show was less than I hoped for. Moxley overshadowed me. Jericho really overshadowed me. Coming in with my notoriety from Japan, I had the highest standards for myself.
“For AEW, Jon’s been the one. He’s been at almost every show. He’s bled at almost every show. There is no one higher on the blood-giving list. Maybe that’s what makes this feud so interesting. It’s someone with the notoriety from Japan against someone who was a top player from WWE. And Jon hasn’t stopped working. I was injured, but now that I’m healed up, it’s beautiful that we can restart the song and dance between Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley.”
Courtesy of AEW
Moxley and Omega built to their first singles bout, which was a memorable Lights Out match at Full Gear in November 2019. The hardcore setting fit Moxley like a glove, and he was ultimately victorious. The story line shifted after Moxley became champion, and Omega desperately wanted the belt. He cheated the rule book to dethrone Moxley and win the title on Dynamite in December ’20, before finally tasting victory in the hardcore sphere by outlasting him in the Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch at Revolution in March ’21.
Providing an analytical look at their feud, Omega detailed the motivation and story arc of both characters.
“We go out of our comfort zone and see if we can thrive in the world of our opponents, and that’s really important to remember when examining Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley,” says Omega. “Our first-ever match was the Lights Out match, which is not supposed to be in my wheelhouse. Oppositely, after Jon came to AEW, he went out to Japan in the G1 [Climax tournament] to see what it was like to be Kenny Omega.
“The dichotomy of our characters is interesting, as is the evolution of it. If you really dive deep and analyze what makes us who we are, I lost that Lights Out match. So what’s the next progression from there? For me, it was to take shortcuts. After that, I decided to flip it on its head and deliver an even more violent match, the Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch. It’s like I’m always chasing the dragon. It’s not enough for people to say I’m the best professional wrestler. I want to beat Moxley at his strong suit. I want to thrive in a world of violence, even more so than Jon. That’s what I’ll convey in the cage this week. I want to be better than Jon.”
The next chapter will begin in a cage on this week’s Dynamite. This particular stretch is unique, as is the feud pitting The Elite’s Omega and the Bucks against Moxley’s BCC.
“Time is running thin on the Kenny Omega clock,” says Omega. “I can guarantee anyone that sees me perform live that there is a reason for that performance, and I work to make every one special. I wanted this one to be unique and very fun for people who tune in and people who are there live. And I know how competitive Jon is. This will be a grueling, physically demanding and violent cage match.”
Even with new wrinkles and nuances, the backstory persists. Each and every time Omega and Moxley share the ring, there is that extra gear in play by two ultracompetitive athletes who seek to be the very best.
In a steel cage setting, it is time to watch Omega and Moxley stake their claim to who truly is AEW’s most valuable player.
“Jon isn’t looking at this as just another show or just another Dynamite,” says Omega. “He’s looking at this as a reason to show he’s the best. I’ll be there to do the same, to remind people why I am.”
Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.
