Subhojeet Mukherjee on October 7, 2025
The heated social media exchange between former TNA Star Gail Kim and AEW EVP Kenny Omega has taken over the wrestling conversation. What began as Kim sharing her honest opinion about AEW star Riho quickly spiraled into online chaos, fan backlash, and a cryptic response from Omega that reignited debate about professionalism and accountability in the wrestling world.
It all started when Kim replied to a fan on X asking her thoughts on Cornette’s comments. She requested examples and was sent a playlist of Cornette’s remarks about AEW star Riho. After watching the clips, Kim explained that while she didn’t agree with Cornette’s personal insults, she did have her own thoughts about Riho’s on-screen presentation.
“The only issue that I had was that he made a comment about her teeth. I will say, and I haven’t watched AEW in a very long time, but when I did watch Riho… I did feel uncomfortable watching her because the camera shots would go up her skirt and she was always dressed like a very little girl and it felt improper.”
Kim added that her opinion wasn’t meant as a personal attack but rather her preference for realism and believability in professional wrestling.
“I am also into very believable wrestling… and it was very hard for me to believe a little girl that was being portrayed of that size was fighting the women they had in that division. To put it into context, I find Io, Mia, Asuka, Kairi, and Lei Ying to be more believable and I don’t feel uncomfortable watching.”
Her comments immediately set off a storm of backlash from AEW fans. Critics accused her of hypocrisy for previously working with smaller wrestlers like Tessa Blanchard and for being part of booking decisions that featured size mismatches in Impact Wrestling. But Kim didn’t flinch.
“There are times when there are tiny wrestlers who don’t look believable against bigger wrestlers at times. That’s just the nature of our business so get over it.”
Fans also called her out for referring to Riho’s “schoolgirl” look despite the AEW star being 28 years old at the time. Kim clarified that her comments were based on what she saw during “a few shows” and that she wasn’t attacking Riho personally, noting that she still supports AEW’s women’s division.
“I love Toni Storm. I think she’s doing the best work of her career; I like Kris Statlander; but I do want to watch more. I have a bias with Deonna [Purrazzo] so I wish they would do more with her too.”
The situation intensified on September 24 when Kenny Omega seemingly threw shade with a cryptic post on X referencing “legends” pandering for attention.
“Another day and another ‘legend’ doing the splits on it for the yearly TKO gift basket…”
Omega didn’t name names, but fans immediately connected his post to Kim — especially given his close ties to Riho from their shared time in Japan. Kim didn’t let it slide.
“If you’re trying to beat around the bush and misinterpret things like the rest of the yahoos, let me clarify that you are wrong.”
She followed up by saying she’d apologize if Omega wasn’t referring to her, adding, “With all the tribalistic crazies out yesterday misinterpreting things, I was yes, assuming so.”
When asked about the situation on Heat Wrestling Podcast, Kim explained that Omega’s vague tweet poured gasoline on an already out-of-control situation, leading to a flood of harassment from AEW fans.
“So I woke up and I was like kind of under the weather… and I saw the first comment was from Kenny. I was like, he’s talking about me. And so I tweeted him back right away. I was like, don’t beat around the bush. If you’re trying to say something, say it, you know, ’cause you’re not even at me.”
She then took aim at Omega’s role as an executive in AEW, saying he should’ve known better than to stir up fan hostility.
“Listen, you’re an executive of a promotion company. I mean, you are setting the tone. That’s why all the AEW fans felt like it was okay to come after me. Honestly, if he didn’t encourage that behavior, I think that they wouldn’t be as, you know, aggressive as they are, honestly.”
Drawing from her own experience as a leader, Kim said that when she was in a management position, she always made sure to set a positive example.
“When I was part of that kind of position, I was very careful about what I do. I was very careful about how I represent and what kind of example I’m setting for the talent. Like that’s — I mean, you got to think about those things once you’re in that kind of position.”
Kim later said she never heard from Omega again and has since moved on, but the episode served as a reminder of how quickly online tensions can explode between wrestling fanbases.
Gail Kim’s confrontation with Kenny Omega shows that wrestling’s online tribalism runs deep — and when major figures get involved, even a single post can turn into a full-blown cross-promotional controversy.
Do you think Gail Kim was justified in calling out Kenny Omega, or did she take things too far? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let us know where you stand on this heated wrestling debate.
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October 7, 2025 6:29 pm
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