Kenny Omega could have been left wrecked on reside tv, however what occurred after AEW Dynamite went off the air advised a really completely different story.
Following his brutal important occasion loss to Swerve Strickland on the February 18, 2026 episode of AEW Dynamite — and the vicious post-match assault involving a series and a Vertebreaker by means of the announce desk — followers watching at residence have been left with a stunning picture of Omega laid out. However inside the sector, the night time didn’t finish there.
After the published concluded, Omega returned to the ring alongside The Younger Bucks and addressed the reside crowd instantly. Nonetheless promoting the injury from the match, Omega admitted the loss stung and didn’t fake in any other case.
“Matthew stated it greatest. Neither he nor I anticipated to be standing for—sitting right here on this ring to inform you the dangerous information that I did not win this match. And it sucks to see that my journey for heavyweight title objective has come to an finish.”
That would have been the ultimate phrase — however Omega shortly shifted the tone. As a substitute of framing the loss as a collapse, Omega positioned it as a detour.
“No, is what I’d be saying if this story was over. If I sat right here counting my cuts, my bruises and my failures with you guys, I would not have sufficient time within the day.”
“So as an alternative of doing that and telling you a sob story and weeping in my sorrows, I am gonna do you one higher. I am gonna arise. And I am gonna inform you guys that no, it is not over.”
He even acknowledged that he is probably not headlining upcoming exhibits. However Omega made it clear he’s not fading into the background.
“Positive, we could be taking a little bit of a detour. Positive, I may not be the principle occasion of subsequent week’s Dynamite or subsequent pay per view. Heck, I may not even be the principle occasion of the subsequent pay per view after that.”
“However let me inform you one thing earlier than I grasp up my beginner wrestling footwear. Standing right here because the chief of not solely this firm, however all skilled wrestling… Positive, perhaps right this moment not a cheerful ending, however right this moment is simply however a footnote in the remainder of the story of the elite.”
“So tonight, as a loser, sadly, I need to bid you adieu. However there can be subsequent time. I promise you that. So goodbye for now and good night time.”
With experiences indicating Omega just isn’t at present scheduled to wrestle at AEW Revolution resulting from prior commitments, his off-air message feels much more important. Whereas Swerve Strickland could have stolen the highlight on tv, Omega made certain the Sacramento crowd left understanding his story isn’t completed.
Do you assume Kenny Omega’s loss to Swerve is only a pause earlier than an even bigger comeback, or is AEW formally shifting into a brand new period with out him in the principle occasion scene? Drop your ideas under and tell us what you assume.
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