Kenny Omega Admits He Was Ready To Step Away From Wrestling During Health Battle

Kenny Omega is finally speaking openly about just how close he came to stepping away from the ring — and it wasn’t just a passing thought. While talking with CBC News Manitoba about his recovery and return to performing, Omega revealed that he had already made peace with the idea that his in-ring career might be over.

Omega has been battling diverticulitis, a condition that previously forced him to miss matches and left major questions about his long-term future. During the interview, he reflected on what it meant to now be back in position to compete again, especially after facing the possibility that he might never wrestle at the same level. He explained that part of what helped him push forward was accepting the reality that he might have to transition into a backstage role if his body didn’t recover the way he hoped.

“Yeah, I think that's great and good question. I think a big part of it too which I think helped me a lot in this journey was that I was at peace with being able to take a huge step back if I needed to. If I needed to have a complete non-physical role within the company and just be you know an office guy in the back that's never seen but is still contributing. I was happy to just been involved with this project that is AEW with this company with its wonderful fans its athletes.”

Omega continued by explaining that staying calm instead of panicking allowed him to make better decisions about his recovery. Rather than rushing into treatments or training changes without direction, he focused on staying honest with himself and trying different methods carefully. That mindset, he said, helped him keep moving forward even when the outcome wasn’t guaranteed.

“I think that having that sense of calmness and being able to accept the current situation actually helped me put forward more of an effort in the pursuit of getting back what I lost. Cuz I feel like if I was in a panic mode I would have kind of run around like a chicken with its head cut off not knowing whether to go left whether to go right should I try something new or should I keep really doubling down on what I'm currently doing.”

Omega also made it clear that part of his mindset during recovery was simply making sure he gave everything he had, even if the results didn’t go his way. For him, knowing he tried every available option mattered just as much as the outcome itself.

“I think just being honest with yourself in this in this case or honest with myself in this case and just being very open-minded to not only the fact that things may work if I try something new but if they don't work to be able to accept that okay I've tried everything that I could. I can't say that I didn't try.”

Omega’s comments reveal just how serious his health situation once was, and how close the wrestling world may have come to seeing him transition away from in-ring competition entirely. Now, with his health improving and major matches back on the table, his willingness to accept a different future may have ultimately helped him fight his way back.

What do you think about Kenny Omega admitting he was ready to step away from wrestling if his health didn’t improve? Do you think his comeback changes how fans view his career moving forward? Share your thoughts and feedback below.

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