Felix Upton on April 10, 2026
The AEW–TNA situation just got another major update—and this time, it’s coming from Kenny Omega, who isn’t hiding his frustration over how things played out.
After Tony Khan revealed he was caught off guard by TNA pulling talent from indie shows, Kenny Omega weighed in during an interview with The Takedown on April 10, 2026—and made it clear he sees this as a bigger issue about how promotions view each other. Omega started by addressing what he believes is the root of the problem, pointing to a mindset that prevents collaboration across companies.
“If you're in a bubble for too long and you failed to realize what exists outside your bubble and how small your bubble is, and in this case, we're talking about professional wrestling, I think you start to run into problems like this where someone will think that they're better than somebody else, and that there is no reason to work together, and they don't see the upside.”
He expanded on that point, saying the focus on negatives instead of opportunities is what ultimately holds the industry back. Omega then made it clear that he believes cooperation between promotions could benefit everyone involved—not just one side.
“They can only look at the negatives and the downsides. And I still think that we're in a place where professional wrestling can still be more than what it is. And I do think that if there were situations where we could all play nice with each other, then I really do think that business as a whole would move in towards more of a positive direction, we'd see more of a positive trend.”
At the same time, he acknowledged why situations like this aren’t as simple as they sound, especially with the financial stakes involved in modern wrestling. He pointed out that once cross-promotional matches enter the picture, it creates complications that go beyond just booking a match.
“I understand with the amount of money that's at play, that's a very sensitive subject and a very sensitive issue. And if we get to a point where we're starting to cross-promote or we're having wrestlers wrestle against talent affiliated with WWE, for example, it becomes a sensitive topic as to how do we promote that? Who wins? Who loses?”
The Best Bout Machine clarified that the issue isn’t just about match outcomes, but about perception and positioning between companies.
“And I don't say that, specifically as a who wins, who loses on paper, but I mean, who wins, who loses as a promotion? Who's going to come out looking like the stronger promotion, who's going to come out looking like they gained something from this scenario?”
Omega’s comments come right after multiple indie matches—including MJF vs. Nic Nemeth and Ricochet vs. Leon Slater—were scrapped due to TNA pulling talent amid its partnership considerations. With Khan already stating AEW believed there was an understanding in place, Omega’s remarks now push the conversation beyond miscommunication and into a broader critique of how wrestling companies operate.
This isn’t just about a couple of canceled matches anymore—it’s about whether promotions are willing to work together at all, or if the walls between them are only getting higher. If more stars start echoing Omega’s stance, this situation could turn into a much bigger debate about the future of cross-promotional wrestling.
Do you think wrestling companies should be working together more, or is protecting their own brand the smarter move? Let us know your thoughts below.
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