4 Potential ways Kenny Omega can make his return to AEW

Kenny Omega is one of AEW's most important stars. The Cleaner has played a key role in establishing the credibility and popularity of the Jacksonville-based promotion through his widely celebrated in-ring work. Unfortunately, Omega has been missing from action since December of last year due to a life-threatening diverticulitis infection.

Fans were thus naturally surprised when the Canadian star returned on Dynamite last month to confront The Young Bucks for attacking Tony Khan. After facing Kazuchika Okada in the ring and being struck by Jack Perry with a chair in his mid-section, Omega suffered an EVP Trigger from Matthew and Nicholas Jackson.

The following week, the former AEW World Champion revealed from a hospital bed that The Elite would take on a team of All Elite Wrestling stars in an Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing 2024, which the heel stable went on to win.

Since then, The Best Bout Machine has remained absent from All Elite Wrestling programming. Omega revealed last month that he was poised to undergo surgery very soon. Keeping that in mind, let us consider four ways Kenny Omega can make his return to AEW.

#1: Kenny Omega could make a non-wrestling appearance at Blood and Guts 2024

On the June 12, 2024, edition of Dynamite, Nicholas Jackson listed The Elite's recent accomplishments and fired back at the locker room for not giving them their due acknowledgment. He then issued a challenge on behalf of his faction to the "best" competitors of the AEW locker room to face The Elite in the 2024 edition of Blood and Guts.

Considering the expected recovery timeline for a severe diverticulitis infection, Kenny Omega may not be able to participate in the grueling matchup. However, he could make an appearance, representing All Elite Wrestling. He could even potentially take a couple of bumps in the ring, given how he proved himself capable of a degree of physicality on Dynamite last month.

#2: Kenny Omega could become an authority figure in AEW (like Christopher Daniels)

After defeating the team of Matt Sydal and Christopher Daniels in an AEW World Tag Team Title Eliminator Match last month, The Young Bucks fired The Fallen Angel in a shocking announcement. On the episode of Dynamite following Double or Nothing 2024, The Jackson Brothers were about to award the vacant TNT Title to Jack Perry, but they were interrupted by Daniels, who revealed that he had been appointed as an interim Executive Vice President by Tony Khan himself.

CD's engagement as interim EVP could serve as a model for Kenny Omega's return. Considering the lack of exact information currently available regarding the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion's recovery status in relation to his in-ring return, Omega could conceivably make his All Elite Wrestling comeback as an on-screen authority figure standing up to The Elite, similar to Daniels.

#3: Kenny Omega could be back in the ring for All Out or Grand Slam

All Out is one of AEW's iconic annual pay-per-views, and it generally takes place in September every year. Kenny Omega has been involved in every single edition of the pay-per-view in singles, tag team, and trios matches. Last year at the event, he lost in a one-on-one bout against Konosuke Takeshita. All Out 2024 is scheduled for September 7 in Chicago, Illinois. Considering the show is almost three months away, the possibility of Omega returning to action in The Now Arena at All Out cannot be entirely dismissed.

If the former IWGP US Heavyweight Champion does miss the pay-per-view, however, he could potentially make his comeback to the squared circle at AEW Grand Slam 2024, which is likely to take place later that month.

Omega had wrestled Bryan Danielson to a time-limit draw on the very first edition of the event in 2021, and this year's iteration of the show could be an ideal stage for the 40-year-old star's return.

#4: Kenny Omega could enter the 2024 Continental Classic

Last year, AEW held the first Continental Classic tournament to determine the first modern American Triple Crown Champion. The tournament was a star-studded affair featuring numerous top stars. It was eventually won by Eddie Kingston, who thus laid claim to the NJPW Strong Openweight Title, the ROH World Title, and the new Continental Title. The Mad King would lose all three championships in the year, dropping the Continental Championship to Kazuchika Okada earlier this year.

Tony Khan has since revealed that the Continental Title will be up for grabs in the 2024 Continental Classic tournament. Kenny Omega, who has experience participating in such tournaments from his time in NJPW, could conceivably make his in-ring return by entering the C2. This could also lead to a blockbuster bout between the 2016 G1 Climax winner and Okada, especially if The Rainmaker succeeds at holding on to the Continental Championship until then.

It remains to be seen how and when Kenny Omega returns to active competition in AEW.