For perhaps the last time in his profession, Kenny Omega is the reigning AEW World Champion, having dethroned MJF at “AEW Dynamite: Beach Break.”
There isn’t any doubt that Omega is staring down the tail end of his profession, admitting that himself on multiple occasions, especially since getting back from over a yr on the sidelines as a result of diverticulitis. Omega’s last World title reign lasted 346 days before “Hangman” Adam Page beat him at Full Gear 2021, which in itself preceded a spell on the sidelines to deal with injuries incurred within the years previous.
Omega himself, not less than on TV, had expressed doubts over whether he could even hold the title again before time runs out. Will Ospreay, a fellow pursuer of the World Championship on the time, had been the one to speak Omega out of that rut and encouraged him to return after MJF in the primary place.
So this title run feels of the identical ilk as that of Bryan Danielson’s previously, wherein the lack of the title communicates something in regards to the immediate future for the previous champion. So that is it. The road to terminus.
Omega already has two title defenses booked because it stands, with Kevin Knight as a result of challenge him at this weekend’s Redemption in Montreal, Canada. If he wins that, then he will certainly go on to defend the title against Owen Hart Cup winner Ospreay at All In in London, England.
Champions should lose eventually. The questions just remain over whether one in all those two previously mentioned challengers might be the one to beat him, whether an alternative choice is lurking within the wings, and whether there’s another person on the market who should be the one to finish his run.
So, with that in mind, let’s break it down.
Who Will Win: Will Ospreay
Omega might be going from a house national crowd at Redemption to an away crowd against Ospreay at All In if he beats Knight. A moment seemingly booked to be the crowning glory of the “Aerial Assassin” as he faces one in all his idols in his home nation, trying to grow to be the English World Champion.
Plus, that is an Ospreay that has been regularly mentored and shaped by Jon Moxley and the Death Riders with the expressed intent of getting him across that ending line. Put this version of Ospreay against an Omega ailed with injuries and the undeniable incontrovertible fact that his best years are behind him. It seems like basic arithmetic to say that Ospreay emerges the winner and finishes his story.
Were Ospreay to win, it will not only be his first World title but additionally level their singles saga at 2-2, naturally organising a rematch should that be desired. It could also end Omega’s second title reign at 53 days. That may be just 15.32% of his initial run with the title, and it will be the third title run in 2026 that ended before reaching triple digits.
So possibly it feels a little bit soon to be closing the book on Omega’s foremost event profession, if that’s the case. While it feels an almost foregone conclusion that Ospreay will, in actual fact, be the one to finish the title reign, there might still be a greater option. One which has the potential to step into the role of arch-villain with a win over “The Cleaner” and one which has already got a singles saga going with him this yr.
Who Should Win: Swerve Strickland
Initially of the yr, there have been a handful of challengers to emerge within the pursuit of the World Championship held by MJF.
Darby Allin eventually took the title from him before dropping it back at Double or Nothing. Omega lost his first opportunity on the title at Dynasty before happening to be the one dethroning MJF in his second run this yr. And Ospreay will now be difficult for the title at All In.
Omega and Ospreay each beat Swerve Strickland of their chase. First, Strickland got the win over Omega in February singles motion. Then, Omega beat Strickland to level their saga at Revolution in March, securing primary contendership in the method.
Strickland was last seen losing the Owen Hart Cup final to Ospreay, thus securing the All In title shot. But that is hardly going to be the last of him within the World title picture. In truth, one would argue that Ospreay as a babyface would work significantly better taking the title from Strickland eventually as an alternative, and that Strickland can be a greater than feasible choice to oust Omega.
Wrestling is founded on the thought of fine and evil, a hero and a villain, a face and a heel. It doesn’t have to have that to be good, however it actually helps. Strickland beating Omega, potentially even after costing Ospreay the title at All In, would establish him as the villain for the roster, namely Ospreay, to beat.
In that vein, Ospreay beating Strickland to avenge his rival-turned-friend would surely establish him as the hero, which is unquestionably what’s intended. Strickland seems like the bridge between two very compelling babyface champions, someone who deserves a run in his own right, but additionally can tell the story of a failing legend after which the coronation of that legend’s would-be successor.