AEW International Champion Kenny Omega recently appeared on Wrestling Observer Radio, where he discussed various topics. One of the key points he addressed was his comments from last May regarding the direction of pro wrestling, specifically his remark that it might lead to a main event featuring Logan Paul and Mr. Beast at WrestleMania.
Omega said, “Much like a wrestling analyst would view wrestling, I try to analyze and predict the trajectory of where things are headed. I took a little bit of heat for this, and I didn’t mean it in a negative way, but I said, ‘Hey, we’re kind of shifting towards an ADHD version of pro wrestling where it’s going to be TikTok clips and special guests and influencers that are going to garner most of the attention of pro wrestling.’ I don’t mean in just pro wrestling, it’s across the board. My interest in video games, TV shows, everyone kind of wants things compressed and they want to be able to digest it as quickly as possible and just get the gist of it right away. I don’t look at it as a positive or negative; it’s just evolution. That’s where society is headed.”
On the way that wrestling is evolving:
“I do think that, which is why I brought it up before, the way I approach a match in Japan would be much different than the way I would approach it here because I think it’s more of a Western philosophy to want to digest things as quick as possible. That’s just become the norm. I brought up Logan Paul, and I didn’t mean it in a negative context whatsoever when I said, ‘We could be looking at Logan Paul’ and I said Mr. Beast. That was in jest. I was just bringing up a name that has a homogeneous following and people would recognize immediately. With the amount of time that you have for preparation, I have no doubt in my mind that Logan Paul, with the creative minds behind the driving force of WWE, they would be able to put something together that was probably pretty entertaining. Is it going to be pro wrestling as the way we knew it and grew up? No, of course not, but if the fans like it and they are willing to buy it and they are selling it by the hundred thousands, then that’s just how history is going to dictate pro wrestling moves forward.”
(H/T to Fightful for transcribing the above quotes)
