Various: Kenny Omega AEW Update, Kyle O’Reilly on Decision to Leave WWE & Sign with AEW, Indies

Kenny Omega AEW Status Update

As noted before, Kenny Omega has been out of action for AEW since this past November due to him having surgery to fix several injuries.

Dave Meltzer reported in a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio that besides rehabbing from his injuries, Omega had also tested positive for COVID-19 a few weeks ago.

Meltzer reported that AEW officials originally had planned for Omega to make his in-ring return this March but those plans and the date for his return is currently “up in the air.”

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Kyle O’Reilly Comments on Decision to Leave WWE & Sign with AEW

A recent episode of the Talk Is Jericho podcast had Kyle O’Reilly as the guest. One of the topics discussed included O’Reilly’s thoughts on his recent decision to leave WWE and sign a deal with AEW.

“Seeing Bobby and Adam come [to AEW], how could you not want to be back with these guys and part of a group like AEW where every week it’s like a TakeOver crowd, just on TV. We talk about the natural progression and next steps of one’s career and it felt like, for me, it was the next logical step for me. NXT 2.0 rebrand happened and it felt like, before the rebrand, Kyle O’Reilly was a top guy in NXT and after the rebrand, plans shifted. That’s fine, it’s business. I’m totally willing to do what I can do get anyone else get over and for the last few months there, I tried my damndest to do so with everyone I worked with. I just wanted to be excited about going to work again and I felt like I left a ton on the table with New Japan and then here, I know there is a good relationship with New Japan. It seemed like a new frontier. There are so many talented guys, so many exciting matchups, so many exciting tag matches because the tag division is stacked and I love tag team wrestling and my tag team partner, the company released and now he’s [in AEW]. My deal was done, it was coming up in December, and I ended up doing a week extension just to finish up and do good business by them and finish with WarGames and TV to put Von Wagner over and do business right. I’m happy to do so. The opportunity came to come here, sorting a deal out with Tony (Khan) a day or two before my debut and here we are.”

O’Reilly also gave his thoughts on the reaction backstage from several NXT officials when he informed them that he was leaving WWE.

“Everyone was very encouraging of, ‘go where your heart is leading you.’ That’s what got me into WWE in the first place. They were all very supportive of doing what’s best for me and my family. Everyone was cool about it all.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Pro Wresting Guerilla announced that they have pulled Jonathan Gresham and Davey Richards from tonight’s Battle of Los Angeles 2022 tournament due to Gresham recently testing positive for COVID-19 and Richards being unavailable for the event. The company also announced that Wheeler Yuta and Blake Christian will be replacing Gresham and Richards for their previously scheduled first round match at the tournament.

Japanese women’s promotion Ice Ribbon announced that seven of their talents recently tested positive for COVID-19 and as a result, they have officially cancelled their scheduled events on January 29th and January 30th in Japan.

Pro Wrestling NOAH announced that current GHC Heavyweight Champion Katsuhiko Nakajima recently developed fever symptoms and as a result they pulled him from this past Thursday’s event in Tokyo and this Sunday’s event in Hamamatsu, Japan. (English translation via PostWrestling.com)

AEW talent Marko Stunt recently announced on Twitter that he is currently accepting indies bookings.

Major League Wrestling recently announced that they will be holding this year’s Intimidation Games event on March 31st in Dallas, Texas.

Game Changer Wrestling recently announced that their next Spring Break event, Joey Janela’s Spring Break 6, will be taking place on March 31st and April 2nd in Dallas, Texas.

GCW also recently announced several new matches for the cards of their Fightclub 2: Houston event on February 4th in Houston, their If I Die First event on February 5th in Dallas, Texas, and their Don’t Tell Me What To Do event on February 20th in Atlantic City, New Jersey:

• February 4th, Fightclub 2: Houston – Four-way match – Mascara Dorada (former Gran Metalik in WWE) vs. Gringo Loco vs. Blake Christian vs. ASF
• February 5th, If I Die First – “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Jimmy Lloyd
• February 20th, Don’t Tell Me What To Do – Gringo Loco vs. 2 Cold Scorpio