Kenny Omega bringing back The Cleaner ahead of AEW All In apparently wasn’t just a way to shake things up. Omega believed going heel was the best way to help give Will Ospreay the kind of crowning moment their title match is supposed to deliver.
Omega made the heel turn clear on last week’s AEW Dynamite, attacking Ospreay and putting him through a table with the One-Winged Angel. He also cut a scathing promo on the Aerial Assassin for good measure.
According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Omega increasingly leaned heel throughout the All In build because he felt it was the right direction for the match. The goal is to create a memorable crowning moment for Ospreay while delivering a match that can stand the test of time.
That explains why Omega suddenly went back to The Cleaner right before one of AEW’s biggest matches of the year. If Ospreay is supposed to have his moment, Omega apparently believes giving him a clear villain to overcome makes that moment mean more.
There’s also a pretty high bar here considering the matches Omega and Ospreay have already had together. This time, though, the story is different, with Ospreay potentially getting his defining win while Omega fully embraces being the bad guy. Omega will defend his AEW World title against Ospreay at AEW All In on August 30, so they only have two days left before finding out whether that approach pays off.
What do you make of Kenny Omega turning heel to help set up Will Ospreay’s crowning moment at All In? Let us know in the comments.
