AEW's blockbuster plans for Kenny Omega upon imminent return revealed - Reports

AEW continues to patiently await the return of Kenny Omega after a year of significant uncertainty surrounding his future. The international star recently shocked the world of wrestling with an announcement on his in-ring return. Now that Omega is just weeks away from finally making a comeback, sources have revealed new details on what Tony Khan might have planned.

The Best Bout Machine last wrestled on December 5, 2023, defeating Ethan Page on Collision. Omega was then put on the shelf indefinitely with a serious case of diverticulitis, and at one point there was concern that his career might be over. The AEW EVP recently announced he will wrestle a non-title match against NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd, at the Wrestle Dynasty event on Sunday, January 5 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. NJPW is co-producing the event, along with AEW, ROH, CMLL, and Stardom. Many fans were shocked at Omega returning for NJPW, but he did offer an explanation amid talk on AEW-NJPW relations.

Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada is now being rumored for All Elite storylines in the near future. It was noted during a Fightful Select Q&A podcast how Khan had plans for Omega and Okada to work together, going back to the time Omega was written off due to his health.

While it's been implied Omega could work with All Elite Wrestling's current Continental Champion when he returns to the All Elite ring in early 2025, nothing is official. Omega previously teased a big tag team storyline in AEW with another major name that has been out of action as well. It should be noted that Khan's company has teased something with the two NJPW legends at times, including this past May when Omega appeared on Dynamite.

The Cleaner and The Rainmaker had a legendary rivalry in NJPW, which included four singles bouts with numerous multi-man matches as Omega and The Bullet Club battled Okada and CHAOS. The singles series has Omega leading with two wins, while Okada has one, and there was also a time-limit draw.

The last Okada vs. Omega singles bout came at NJPW Dominion in June 2018, where Omega captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in a 2 of 3 Falls Match with no time limit.

---

Kazuchika Okada set for AEW Winter Is Coming match

All Elite Wrestling will return to the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on Thursday to tape the Winter Is Coming edition of AEW Collision. The episode will air on Saturday in its normal TNT timeslot.

The 2024 Continental Classic will continue on Collision with Blue League action. Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada will face The Beast Mortos for the first-time-ever. Okada currently has four points in the tournament, while Mortos is at zero.

The Winter Is Coming edition of Collision will also feature Jamie Hayter vs. Willow Nightingale. The winner will represent the Jacksonville-based company in the International Women's Cup Four-Way at WrestleDynasty, joining ROH's Athena, plus to-be-named representatives from Stardom and CMLL.