Kenny Omega
A Canadian-born star who held the IWGP Heavyweight and United States Championships while leading Bullet Club in NJPW.
Tyson Smith (born October 16, 1983), known as Kenny Omega, is a Canadian-born professional wrestler who performed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) from 2014 to 2019. During his tenure, he held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, among other titles. He was a former member and leader of NJPW's Bullet Club stable. Omega incorporates elements from video games into his persona. He is regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, and was named Sports Illustrated's Wrestler of the Year in 2017, topping Pro Wrestling Illustrated's list of top 500 male wrestlers in 2018 and 2021.
- Affiliation
- Bullet Club
- Major Title
- IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Omega's NJPW tenure began in 2014 and ran through 2019, a period during which he captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. As a former member and leader of the Bullet Club stable, he became a central figure in the promotion. One of his most celebrated matches came at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall in June 2018, where he faced Kazuchika Okada in a two out of three falls match. Sports journalist Dave Meltzer awarded that match a seven-star rating, the highest rating Meltzer has ever given a professional wrestling match. Omega's work in NJPW earned him recognition as Sports Illustrated's Wrestler of the Year in 2017 and the top spot on Pro Wrestling Illustrated's list of top 500 male wrestlers in 2018 and 2021. He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2020.
In Their Own Story
The crowd at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall was electric as Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada prepared for their two out of three falls match in June 2018. Omega, the leader of Bullet Club, stood across the ring from his greatest rival. The match would go on to receive a seven-star rating from Dave Meltzer, the highest he has ever awarded. It was a defining moment in Omega's NJPW career, cementing his legacy as one of the promotion's most celebrated performers.
Reader's Guide
Kenny Omega performed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling from 2014 to 2019. During this time, he held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. He was a former member and leader of the Bullet Club stable. Omega's matches are known for their technical prowess and in-ring ability. His rivalry with Kazuchika Okada produced one of the most highly rated matches in professional wrestling history: their two out of three falls match at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall in June 2018, which received a seven-star rating from Dave Meltzer. Omega was named Sports Illustrated's Wrestler of the Year in 2017 and topped Pro Wrestling Illustrated's list of top 500 male wrestlers in 2018 and 2021. He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2020.
Did You Know?
- Omega's match against Kazuchika Okada at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall in June 2018 received a seven-star rating from Dave Meltzer, the highest rating Meltzer has ever awarded a professional wrestling match.
- Omega was named Sports Illustrated's Wrestler of the Year in 2017.
- He topped Pro Wrestling Illustrated's list of top 500 male wrestlers in 2018 and 2021.
- Omega was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2020.
- He held both the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship during his NJPW tenure.
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