The gastrointestinal condition had kept Kenny out of action since December 2023.
Highlights
- Kenny Omega was diagnosed with diverticulitis in December 2023, which led to a significant hiatus from wrestling and impacted his career and personal life.
- Omega received unwavering support from his fellow wrestlers and close friends, particularly Michael Nakazawa, who provided updates on his condition and expressed optimism about his recovery.
- WWE Hall of Famer Sean Waltman, also known as X-Pac, revealed that he was diagnosed with diverticulitis in 2024 and received assistance from Omega during his recovery
- Omega made a victorious return to the ring at Wrestle Dynasty, defeating Gabe Kidd and marking his comeback with a new entrance theme composed by Masayoshi Soken.
Kenny Omega, the 41-year-old Canadian pro wrestler, recently made a triumphant return to the ring at Wrestle Dynasty after a challenging battle with diverticulitis.
This condition, characterized by inflammation of the digestive tract, sidelined Omega for over a year, impacting both his career and personal life.
Kenny Omega tonight opened up about his injuries and Diverticulitis saying that he was just 24 hours away from death… and doctors told him that he would have to retire. But he's still here despite all that.
— Drainmaker 🌧️ 💵 (@DrainBamager) May 2, 2024
SENDING ALL THE LOVE TO KENNY. ❤️pic.twitter.com/yHkM4Bg16l
Omega Was Out Since December 2023
In December 2023, Omega was diagnosed with diverticulitis, a serious gastrointestinal condition that led to his indefinite hiatus from wrestling.
The diagnosis came after he experienced severe abdominal pain, prompting immediate medical attention and surgery in early 2024.
WON: Kenny Omega was told when diagnosed with Diverticulitis that he was very lucky he went in because the situation could have been catastrophic, such as getting a blood infection, if he wasn’t diagnosed at the time he was, which would have something like a 50% chance of death.… pic.twitter.com/GlWo8OYEsM
— Drainmaker 🌧️ 💵 (@DrainBamager) December 22, 2023
Omega’s absence was deeply felt in the wrestling community, as he was at the peak of his career, delivering high-caliber matches and holding championship titles.
Michael Nakazawa Supported Omega Through The Battle
While Omega maintains his personal life secret, his fellow wrestlers provide steadfast support during his recuperation.
Notably, his close friend and fellow wrestler, Michael Nakazawa, provided updates on Omega’s condition and expressed optimism about his recovery.
This support network was vital to Omega’s recovery and return to health.
His Return Debut At Wrestle Dynasty Was A Success
Omega’s return to the ring was marked by a victory against Gabe Kidd at Wrestle Dynasty, a collaborative event featuring promotions like AEW, NJPW, ROH, STARDOM, and CMLL.
He debuted a new entrance theme composed by Masayoshi Soken, known for his work on Final Fantasy XIV and XVI, with vocals by Jason Miller and a special appearance by Nobuo Uematsu.
Gabe Kidd and Kenny Omega slapping the shit out of each other as fans in Tokyo Dome go crazy, and then BOOM… V-TRIGGER.
— Drainmaker 🌧️ 💵 (@DrainBamager) January 5, 2025
I WILL REMEMBER THIS MATCH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFETIME.
KENNY OMEGA IS THE GOAT.
GABE KIDD IS TRULY A MADE MAN.
pic.twitter.com/m68gcn18kt
Sean Waltman Thanked Kenny For Helping Him Through His Own Diverticulitis Battle
Kenny Omega’s experience with diverticulitis impacted his career and enabled him to support fellow wrestlers facing similar health challenges.
WWE Hall of Famer Sean Waltman, known as X-Pac, revealed that he was diagnosed with diverticulitis in 2024 and received assistance from Omega during his recovery.
Waltman quoted in an interview,
He [Kenny] helped me with it. I was in the hospital, texting with him, and he’s telling me what’s going on and what I should expect and everything. He’s great.
wrestlezone.com
Kenny Omega helped Sean Waltman following diverticulitis diagnosishttps://t.co/yvCo733CxG
— Cultaholic Wrestling (@Cultaholic) January 8, 2025
Kenny Omega First Gained Fame Through NJPW
Kenny Omega, born Tyson Smith, has had a distinguished career in professional wrestling.
He gained international fame through his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), where he became the first non-Japanese wrestler to win the G1 Climax tournament in 2016.
Omega’s tenure in NJPW was highlighted by his reign as IWGP Heavyweight Champion and his involvement in the Bullet Club faction.
Kenny Omega to every single wrestler in the world after having the Match of the Year pic.twitter.com/0AxKyuJIrA
— AIR (@AIRGold_) January 5, 2025
In 2019, Omega joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as both a performer and an executive vice president.
His tenure in AEW has been marked by memorable matches and storylines, solidifying his status as one of the industry’s top talents.
Additional Information
- Kenny Omega is a huge fan of video games and has even incorporated his love for gaming into his wrestling persona. His first wrestling gimmick was as an “otaku gamer,” and he has participated in various gaming events, including a memorable showdown against WWE’s New Day at the E3 2018 convention.
- Before becoming a professional wrestler, Omega was an ice hockey player. Growing up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, he played hockey during his youth, which helped him develop the athleticism and agility he later brought to the wrestling ring.
