Kenny Omega being ‘way more cautious’ since health issues

After a life-threatening health issue kept him away from wrestling for more than a year, Kenny Omega is taking a more cautious approach to his job.

Omega suffered a diverticulitis attack in December 2023 that could have potentially been fatal. While it was initially unclear if he would ever be able to return to wrestling on a regular basis, Omega underwent surgery in May 2024 and has been back in the ring since January. He’s wrestled seven matches since his return, including dethroning Konosuke Takeshita for the AEW International Championship.

In a conversation with Adi Shankar (creator of Netflix’s “Devil May Cry” television series), Omega praised his agent Barry Bloom for how he handled Omega being out of action. Bloom wasn’t concerned with earning money from Omega but just wanted him to be healthy. Omega said the health scare made him aware of his own mortality, and he’s being more cautious because of that.

“He’s really like a family member to me, absolutely,” Omega said about Bloom. “It wasn’t like an obligation because he wanted my money, it was not that at all. It wasn’t, ‘Show me the money.’ It was like, ‘Show me your doctor’s report and tell me you’re healthy or if not, no one’s getting their hands on you.’ That kind of thing. I’d be like, ‘No, I think I can do it.’ He’s like, ‘No, no, you have to know you can do it. I don’t care about the money. You need to be healthy.’ And this is coming from someone now who like is understanding of his own mortality now. I’m being way more cautious, and as cautious as I am Barry is still more cautious than I am. Whether it costs me or him money or not, that’s not the primary concern. At all.”

Omega’s most recent match took place on Dynamite two weeks ago, teaming with Mark Briscoe, Kevin Knight & “Speedball” Mike Bailey in a loss to Kazuchika Okada, The Young Bucks & Ricochet. It was the first time iconic NJPW rivals Omega and Okada have faced off in an AEW ring.