Post by HMARK Center on Feb 3, 2018 16:01:38 GMT -5
From Sports Illustrated this week:
www.si.com/wrestling/2018/01/31/wwe-news-ric-flair-tom-brady-kenny-omega
This is a really interesting point here, given the way a lot of conversations about Omega and a potential move to WWE seem to go.
Kenny starts out making clear how much he likes New Day; his friendship with Xavier/Austin is well known, and he digs Big E's and Kofi's work and thinks they could easily be singles champions on top of being a major tag team.
To me, though, it's interesting how he responds to the idea that their booking has been kind of stagnant; yes, they're a top level act, they've had a number of very strong matches the past couple of years, and they are undoubtedly well paid and respected, but it's also fair to point out that they haven't gotten much chance to evolve as characters since taking on the gimmick and haven't gotten to work outside the box of the WWE's tag scene.
This seems to reiterate a major factor in what drives Kenny; the guy is hugely invested in both creativity in pro wrestling and in not settling too long on a single characterization. While WWE could always give him the AJ treatment and guarantee him a ridiculous amount of money that he'd have a hard time saying no to, I have to think this may be the key factor that keeps him happy where he is: it is, after all, tough to ignore that a lot of times WWE falls into a creative rut and just has their various acts do a lot of the same things over and over for, well, a really long time.
Kenny Omega lost the IWGP United States championship to Jay White and was attacked by fellow Bullet Club member Cody Rhodes this past weekend, so expect the rampant speculation that Omega will leave New Japan Pro Wrestling for WWE–even though he is signed up to January of 2019–to only intensify in the coming weeks and months.
Omega shared with Sports Illustrated that, unlike years past, he has kept a close eye on WWE programming, particularly The New Day.
“They’re three of my favorite guys in the entire company,” said Omega. “They clearly know how to entertain, and they’re all great athletes.”
Despite the individual and collective talent between Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods, Omega was asked why The New Day’s storyline within the company has not evolved over the past three years. Does WWE have the stars boxed in to a certain role?
“When I see Big E, I clearly see someone who could be world champion,” said Omega. “The guy is on another level. Kofi is one of those guys who is good in all situations and can challenge for all titles, and Xavier is another great athlete who is talented in the ring and confident on the mic.”
The New Day’s character arc is an interesting one to follow. The trio is undeniably part of WWE’s upper echelon in terms of talent and popularity, but there has been no evolution, move to the main event, or segue into featured singles programs for any of the three stars.
“It’s things like that that really make me think twice about what I would be getting into if eventually I do go there,” said Omega.
Omega, who was Sports Illustrated’s Wrestler of the Year for 2018, remains a must-see attraction in 2019.
Omega shared with Sports Illustrated that, unlike years past, he has kept a close eye on WWE programming, particularly The New Day.
“They’re three of my favorite guys in the entire company,” said Omega. “They clearly know how to entertain, and they’re all great athletes.”
Despite the individual and collective talent between Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods, Omega was asked why The New Day’s storyline within the company has not evolved over the past three years. Does WWE have the stars boxed in to a certain role?
“When I see Big E, I clearly see someone who could be world champion,” said Omega. “The guy is on another level. Kofi is one of those guys who is good in all situations and can challenge for all titles, and Xavier is another great athlete who is talented in the ring and confident on the mic.”
The New Day’s character arc is an interesting one to follow. The trio is undeniably part of WWE’s upper echelon in terms of talent and popularity, but there has been no evolution, move to the main event, or segue into featured singles programs for any of the three stars.
“It’s things like that that really make me think twice about what I would be getting into if eventually I do go there,” said Omega.
Omega, who was Sports Illustrated’s Wrestler of the Year for 2018, remains a must-see attraction in 2019.
www.si.com/wrestling/2018/01/31/wwe-news-ric-flair-tom-brady-kenny-omega
This is a really interesting point here, given the way a lot of conversations about Omega and a potential move to WWE seem to go.
Kenny starts out making clear how much he likes New Day; his friendship with Xavier/Austin is well known, and he digs Big E's and Kofi's work and thinks they could easily be singles champions on top of being a major tag team.
To me, though, it's interesting how he responds to the idea that their booking has been kind of stagnant; yes, they're a top level act, they've had a number of very strong matches the past couple of years, and they are undoubtedly well paid and respected, but it's also fair to point out that they haven't gotten much chance to evolve as characters since taking on the gimmick and haven't gotten to work outside the box of the WWE's tag scene.
This seems to reiterate a major factor in what drives Kenny; the guy is hugely invested in both creativity in pro wrestling and in not settling too long on a single characterization. While WWE could always give him the AJ treatment and guarantee him a ridiculous amount of money that he'd have a hard time saying no to, I have to think this may be the key factor that keeps him happy where he is: it is, after all, tough to ignore that a lot of times WWE falls into a creative rut and just has their various acts do a lot of the same things over and over for, well, a really long time.
