Kenny Omega Suffers Nasty Injury at G1 Climax Event

Kenny Omega suffered a gruesome injury during his August 4, 2018 match against Tomohiro Ishii in the G1 Climax tournament, leaving fans stunned and cameras catching every moment of the bloody aftermath.

The match, held at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, was a hard-hitting war that pushed both men to their limits. In the final sequence, Ishii blasted Omega with a vicious lariat followed by his signature Brainbuster to score the pinfall victory. But the damage had already been done—Omega rolled to the edge of the ring immediately after the three-count, bleeding from the mouth.

Footage from the event clearly shows a piece of Omega’s lip dangling from his face as the referee quickly attended to him. Omega did not remain in the ring for long, instead heading straight to the back, where it was believed he received medical attention. Multiple sources at the time speculated that the injury would require stitches, though no official confirmation was ever issued by NJPW.

The moment quickly spread online, with fans sharing slow-motion clips and zoomed-in screenshots of the lip injury. Many noted that Omega appeared to have been busted open by Ishii’s lariat, not the Brainbuster itself. Regardless, it was one of the most graphic moments in Omega’s NJPW career.

Despite the loss and the injury, Omega continued competing in the G1 Climax without missing time, proving once again that he was willing to go through hell to deliver for the fans. The match itself was praised by many as one of the tournament’s most brutal and emotionally charged showdowns.

Kenny Omega has built a reputation for being one of the most resilient and theatrical performers in pro wrestling—but on that night, the pain was very real, and the price was literally written on his face.

Do you think matches like this go too far when it comes to physical risk, or is that what makes top-tier wrestling truly unforgettable? Share your thoughts in the comments below.