Kenny Omega & Kazuchika Okada have staredown at AEW Dynasty
The slow build to what many expect will be another meeting at July’s AEW All In Texas continued at Sunday’s AEW Dynasty.
Following Kenny Omega’s victory in a three-way with “Speedball” Mike Bailey and Ricochet to retain the AEW International title, reigning Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada’s music hit. He and Omega had a brief staredown in the ring before Omega left.
It was a scene reminiscent of a similar situation at last December’s World End. After Okada won the Continental Classic tournament with a win over Will Ospreay, Omega made his return to AEW following an extensive break due to multiple injuries to go face-to-face with his old rival.
Okada and the Young Bucks took Omega out in May 2024 to write him off in storyline, forming the new-look Elite along with Jack Perry. Both the Bucks and Perry have been off TV for months, leaving Okada as the lone remaining member.
The two had a legendary run of matches in NJPW from 2017 to 2018 that ended when Omega defeated his rival for the IWGP Heavyweight title in a best-of-three falls match at June 2018’s Dominion.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.