AEW superstar Kenny Omega spoke about the current state of pro-wrestling during his latest appearance on the CEO Gaming Twitch channel, where the former world champion states that he believes storytelling has taken a backseat to physicality, and that talent needs to be careful so they don’t continue to harm themselves putting on intense physical matchups. Highlights are below.
On the story he did with Hangman, and how storytelling has taken a backseat to intense physical wrestling:
“That is why I was confident doing everything throughout the Hangman story. That was a story about human lives. I feel as wrestling has progressed, it’s become less about those, a lot. If we just become physical vessels that are supposed to throw each other at the wall until everyone goes ‘kersplat’ and don’t get up again, that’s the kind of wrestling I can’t do anymore, and when I have to know that it’s time to pack it in. We’re going there already and there are people trying to convince you that those are the best matches and five star matches. We have to be careful.”
How today’s wrestlers perform at a higher-level than those in the past, but that character and storytelling take a backseat:
“It’s not to say it isn’t possible, I just feel, this entire generation is gearing towards that one side of things. Now that the athlete in wrestling is of a higher level and there’s less emphasis on character and physical presence, as difficult as it is to be that athletic daredevil in the ring, we have so many gifted and natural athletes that it actually is the easier route. Peak satisfaction, for a lot of fans, is when they do get those storylines and when those storylines pay off. Maybe some fans have forgotten about that, but I would like to have the chance to remind them when I come back while hopefully still being able to deliver in the ring.”
(H/T and transcribed by Fightful)
