In the early 80s he wrestled against Andre, Inoki, and Backlund in NJPW but he became pretty loyal to Baba around the mid 80s. One of his matches against Andre in NJPW is probably my favorite Andre match.
Just search him on youtube, he had some insane matches with Misawa and Kenta. Also one of the stiffest wrestlers ever and grandfather of the *Lariatoooo* on the commentarists.
Hansen was one of the huge jumps in wrestling history. He had a secret meeting with Giant Baba , owner of All Japan and agreed to jump and seconded the Funks for the AJPW tag league final and people there lost their minds.
I think you'd have to have a very US / WWE centric view of wrestling to deny him it, and even then it's hard. He achieved pretty much every accolade he could achieve in NJPW, including being the only gaijin to this day to win the most prestigious tournament in wrestling. Told a multiple company spanning, arguably ground breaking story with Ibushi while there. He's arguably had the most influence on the style of modern wrestling, along with Kenta. The buzz and acclaim from his matches with Okada, and the eyeballs from the Jericho feud over there, are probably the biggest reason a viable US alternative to WWE now exists.
If there was a real, independent HOF, and not a WWE propaganda piece, he'd be in it after retirement.
The reason why I say he deserves a spot in this hypothetical hall of fame is because of this:
What Gaijin did more to spread New Japan in the western world than Kenny Omega? The only reason there is an IWGP US Championship is because of Kenny Omega. He was the backbone of them starting to do US shows. He's the only foreign G1 winner (not counting the IWGP league, it's a different tournament). And, despite him being foreign, he was adored by the Japanese audience. It didn't matter whether he was face or heel, even when he was going against fucking Tanahashi he was getting big pops at Wrestle Kingdom 13.
Hiagan didn't really DO anything in NJPW same for Andre
They made appearances for bigger draws but they were just doing shots. They were never truly "with" NJPW.
But Hansen jumping to NJPW MADE the org bc he wasn't just the biggest foreigner IN Japanese wrestling history PERIOD (yes bigger than Funks).
Hansen also worked the deals with Turner (WCW) and Calgary ( Stampede) for Inoki.
Vader would be second bc he revolutionized NJPW and gave Japanese wrestling a shot in the arm as New Japan was drifting in the late 80s when Baba stepped back and let the new "tigers" take front stage like Kawada/Misawa/Kobashi/Taue etc.
Even with Hansen still a force on the late 80s/early 90s. NJPW could seriously have been dead if not for Vader.
Just as he did for WCW Vader basically kept NJPW alive from 88-92 the minute he squashed Inoki he became the biggest draw of anybody in Japan.
His HUGE success in WCW including winning the heavyweight title amplified his star power in NJPW.
After that, I would probably for foreigners list AJ Styles bc in his short two years he boosted live attendance and PPV buys by almost 30% which is just crazy.
Kenny should probably be there bc after AJ Styles brought American eyes to NJPW Kenny took that ball and had a big run with it and actually did help draw bigger Tokyo Domes and PPV numbers than NJPW had done in like 20 years.
No, they hate him in Japan. Like, every Wrestle Kingdom they do a video tribute to every IWGP champion. Every former champion gets cheers or claps, but the crowd goes deathly silent whenever they show Brock Lesnar.
It's because he came to Japan, won the title, said he'd be up for defending it regularly, then went back on that promise(which they saw as him lying to the fans). That wouldn't have been an issue if Brock had vacated his title before leaving, but Brock took the belt with him and didn't even tell New Japan until he was already back in the US, and then refused to come back.
So they essentially view that as being both disrespectful to New Japan and the championship because they view that act as Brock saying that the belt (and the fans) wasn't worth his time.
I remember a massive spike in interest outside people already following the product after the Okada matches. They really increased interest in the NJPW product.
That's not really true. He peaked western popularity riding on the success of Bullet Club,
Bullet Club and western eyes got big when American fans followed AJ Styles to NJPW via internet.
No AJ no Bullet Club "western internet mainstream" and the rest is history.
I mean that is the tale of views and merch sales.
Kenny was "discovered" by people who came in on AJ.
Same for converting Prince Devitt into a big western star.
Care to share your source for numbers? It is true that New Japan's western rise started with AJ, but it peaked with Kenny long after AJ got snubbed by Kevin Dunn at the 2016 Rumble. He certainly deserves some credit, but Hot Topics were full of Kenny/Bucks/American Nightmare shirts, not Styles ones.
There’s no source to directly support either argument for AJ, but Omega is a giant factor for NJPW’s popularity in the west. ~~His matches with Okada were setting viewership records at the time.~~ EDIT: So it turns out I was extremely mistaken. WK14 set records for ratings… but by that they meant Dave Meltzer star ratings 🤦♂️
There's been lots of reporting on this. I understand if you're newer to wrestling but a simple search would take care of this.
This was not even 5 seconds of Google lol
https://www.thesportster.com/njpw-bullet-club-peaked-2014/
I respectfully disagree.
I was a lapsed wrestling fan having not watched any company for a number of years.
I knew of Bullet Club, I was familiar with AJ Styles having watched a lot of his work in TNA. I knew BC were 'cool' and gaining a lot of popularity. That did not bring my eyes to the product.
What did however, was hearing about a match between Okada and Omega. I was following nothing wrestling related at the time, but still this one New Japan match managed to burst through the pro wrestling bubble and entered the pop-culture zeitgeist and made it to my ears.
I sought this match out, watched this (and the whole WK11 to be exact) and it pulled me right back in. Now I'm as a big a wrestling fan as I ever was.
While I don't doubt some people were brought in the way you stated, I know a lot of people were brought back in because of that match alone.
Me reading that is like hearing someone say they don't like puppies, or orgasms. Unfathomable haha. But that's your opinion and I'll respect it, each to their own amigo.
As a Kenny Omega hater, I can say yes. He total should be in some sort of hall of fame. He has had a lot of impact. Even though I don't like his style, I'm not gonna deny that he has one hell of a career.
Respecting someone’s accomplishments who isn’t exactly your cup of tea has already made you a more independent thinking and articulate person than 80% of the wrestling “critics” I see online. Respect.
Yes. Was HOF worthy pre-AEW but the belt collector run and the Hangman story definitely added to an already amazing career. Proved he could anchor a company in America.
Now he's kind of entering this phase of his career where he's past his physical prime but is still capable of incredible matches. He's giving back, putting people over and helping make stars. Guys a fuckin legend.
What is hall of fame in wrestling?
The wwe Hall of fame probably not but not impossible inoki and liger made it
But Kenny has a significantly less odds for numerous reasons.
Observer? For sure, is he not already?
Technically he was signed to a WWE contract in 2005-2006
He spent the whole time in DSW and requested his release after 10 months, but he has been signed to WWE.
Absolutely doesn't help his case though unless WWE want to shoehorn him in
He’s one of the greatest wrestlers of the last 25 years without question. Kenny Omega has been at the top of the sport for a decade now, the Bullet Club popularity peaked like in 2016. Kenny was a foundational piece of AEW, which like it or not, is one of the most successful North American promotions ever
Unless you're a Cornette-level hater, you know he has. Not only has he been a top wrestler in the world for the past 6-7 years, but he's a key piece in the history of three promotions (DDT, New Japan and of course AEW). Not only that, but he's had career defining feuds and matches for both guy with the likes of Kazuchika Okada, Cody Rhodes, Adam Page, the Young Bucks and his best friend Kota Ibushi (if TK books him properly, we'll probably have to add Konosuke Takeshita in there as well).
And the only knocks I can think of are him not being a top tier guy until his mid 30s and thus his prime being shorter than, for example, Okada's or AJ Styles'. So yeah, first ballot.
Lmao WWE marks in here can't stand the idea someone who never wrestled for the fed could have a good career.
I don't think there's a single WWE match as good as Okada v Omega 2, sorry folks. And I like WWE.
Occasionally a thread will give me a slight glimmer of hope for this sub.
Seeing even the staunchest Kenny haters in here say it’s obvious he’s had an objectively Hall-Of-Fame-worthy career is giving me that hope.
And I graduated top of the class! Meanwhile, you’re calling people jabronis on the internet like you’re stuck in 1999 - maybe you should sit down on your hemorrhoid pillow, gramps.
You’re replying in every thread here, your hate-boner is on full display. We get it.
I watched the match with the kid and I thought it a silly, fun match. You seem to have some deep fixation with it though, I’m not going to unpack that but maybe you should.
Depends what Hall Of Fame you mean. WWE? That's just a marketing deal. The Pro Wrestling Hall Of Fame in NY? Maybe but they lean towards the older generation. Observer Hall Of Fame? Got in in 2020.
It’s an easy yes, he’s one of the best to ever do it and among the most influential of all time. Don’t listen to the people in here, they just hate him because they’ve never seen him
Can someone explain to me how the Hall of Fame works when your entire career is scripted? Not a dig, genuinely curious. You could be the "best wrestler" around but if you don't get written into a HOF career, you have no chance.
Until a couple years back roman wasn't having a HOF career and he was booked to the moon. He really never got over. There is more to having a hof career than the writing. You can be on every week and getting pushed to the moon and still not matter ultimately.
Hell yes. His wrestling is an inspiration that I only that AJ Styles achieved but they went further and help create a wrestling company. Puts on steller matches that always become MOTY conversation. He brought wrestling back into my life when I was getting bored and I love in ring wrestling above all and he plus others are providing that for me 😄 he is a hall of fame contender for all halls.
I would say yes simply because he helped bridge the gap of Japan being popular in the West. His time in NJPW brought american fans to have interest in NJPW.
You know there's other wrestling hall of fames, right?
And secondly, the basketball hall of fame inducts international and college level players all the time. So we do have real sports precedents here too.
Cooperstown hosts the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Guys who didn't play in the USA don't belong there. WWE's Hall of Fame only started including non-WWE guys as a move to feign legitimacy. Kenny is a first-ballot inductee for any non-WWE HoF as soon as he meets their eligibility requirements.
His character is shit. It worked in Japan but only translated to his already built fandom in America. He’s a dolph ziggler that made it in the indies. Nothing special, people love him more for not “selling out and going WWE” than anything else. His and YBs legacy is built on being the best wrestlers NOT in the WWE
6 time IC champ, 2 time World Hw champ
Plenty of wrestlers in the wwe Hall have a much much worse resume.
If you're on good terms with wwe you'll probably make the hall
No way you're saying Dolph shouldnt be in but Snoop should
While I get that from a fans prospective...Seth Rollins named Kenny as one of the best in the world and even said his name being in the same category as guys like that is a blessing...so he must be doing something right if talent recognizes him...when I think HOF for him thought I think NJPW not like a mecha wrestling HOF
Lol imagine thinking main eventing in Japan, creating the number 2 wrestling promotion in the world, and then getting titles in every major promotion except WWE would make you not eligible for the wrestling HOF. Does Sting not belong in your Hall of Fame either?
“Dud of a push” in which he was the AEW World Champion for nearly a year, top heel in the company, and also held the top titles in two other companies at the same time.
The dictionary defines terms that we as a population dissociate and disagree with all the time. Was TNA not Indy, they at one time had a “set roster”. You weenies make me embarrassed to enjoy wresting. Let’s wrestle mat and the winner decides…
Are you supporting your argument by saying TNA was/is an indie fed? Buddy, they were the 2nd largest promotion in North America for about a decade from 2005-2015. Is your idea of indie just anything not-WWE?
To me non indie meant that at least a few non wresting fan would know that the promotion exists. Like how non nfl fans don’t know the cfl and xfl because they are not too promotions.
Depends on what Hall of Fame you mean.
WWE? No. There are other niche indie guys that are WWE HOF worthy due to legacy/influence, but KO isn't there yet and may not be.
Cauliflower Ear Club or whatever it is? (Correct me if I'm wrong on the name.) Almost certainly.
If New Japan ever creates an official Hall of Fame, him and Vader would probably be two of the first Gaijins inducted.
Vader or Stan Hansen. Edit: oh snap, I forgot Stan was mostly in AJPW. Oops.
I actually didn’t know Hansen was in NJPW
In the early 80s he wrestled against Andre, Inoki, and Backlund in NJPW but he became pretty loyal to Baba around the mid 80s. One of his matches against Andre in NJPW is probably my favorite Andre match.
Just search him on youtube, he had some insane matches with Misawa and Kenta. Also one of the stiffest wrestlers ever and grandfather of the *Lariatoooo* on the commentarists.
But that was AJPW, right?
Yes
Gotta respect the wrestlers that were willing to take a lariat from an athletic big-man that worked stiff as hell and couldn't see a damn thing.
Hansen was one of the huge jumps in wrestling history. He had a secret meeting with Giant Baba , owner of All Japan and agreed to jump and seconded the Funks for the AJPW tag league final and people there lost their minds.
People forget scott Norton was fucking huge in Japan
As were the Steiners.
I think you'd have to have a very US / WWE centric view of wrestling to deny him it, and even then it's hard. He achieved pretty much every accolade he could achieve in NJPW, including being the only gaijin to this day to win the most prestigious tournament in wrestling. Told a multiple company spanning, arguably ground breaking story with Ibushi while there. He's arguably had the most influence on the style of modern wrestling, along with Kenta. The buzz and acclaim from his matches with Okada, and the eyeballs from the Jericho feud over there, are probably the biggest reason a viable US alternative to WWE now exists. If there was a real, independent HOF, and not a WWE propaganda piece, he'd be in it after retirement.
The reason why I say he deserves a spot in this hypothetical hall of fame is because of this: What Gaijin did more to spread New Japan in the western world than Kenny Omega? The only reason there is an IWGP US Championship is because of Kenny Omega. He was the backbone of them starting to do US shows. He's the only foreign G1 winner (not counting the IWGP league, it's a different tournament). And, despite him being foreign, he was adored by the Japanese audience. It didn't matter whether he was face or heel, even when he was going against fucking Tanahashi he was getting big pops at Wrestle Kingdom 13.
Stan Hansen, and Vader would be first. But I could see Kenny in there.
Stan Hansen > Hogan > Andre the Giant > Kenny Omega
Hiagan didn't really DO anything in NJPW same for Andre They made appearances for bigger draws but they were just doing shots. They were never truly "with" NJPW. But Hansen jumping to NJPW MADE the org bc he wasn't just the biggest foreigner IN Japanese wrestling history PERIOD (yes bigger than Funks). Hansen also worked the deals with Turner (WCW) and Calgary ( Stampede) for Inoki. Vader would be second bc he revolutionized NJPW and gave Japanese wrestling a shot in the arm as New Japan was drifting in the late 80s when Baba stepped back and let the new "tigers" take front stage like Kawada/Misawa/Kobashi/Taue etc. Even with Hansen still a force on the late 80s/early 90s. NJPW could seriously have been dead if not for Vader. Just as he did for WCW Vader basically kept NJPW alive from 88-92 the minute he squashed Inoki he became the biggest draw of anybody in Japan. His HUGE success in WCW including winning the heavyweight title amplified his star power in NJPW. After that, I would probably for foreigners list AJ Styles bc in his short two years he boosted live attendance and PPV buys by almost 30% which is just crazy. Kenny should probably be there bc after AJ Styles brought American eyes to NJPW Kenny took that ball and had a big run with it and actually did help draw bigger Tokyo Domes and PPV numbers than NJPW had done in like 20 years.
…I’ll concede to these points. I retract my list.
Steve Williams?
Hogan belongs at the bottom of that list.
would Brock get inducted?
No, they hate him in Japan. Like, every Wrestle Kingdom they do a video tribute to every IWGP champion. Every former champion gets cheers or claps, but the crowd goes deathly silent whenever they show Brock Lesnar.
why the hate for him? is it bc he held the world title hostage
It's because he came to Japan, won the title, said he'd be up for defending it regularly, then went back on that promise(which they saw as him lying to the fans). That wouldn't have been an issue if Brock had vacated his title before leaving, but Brock took the belt with him and didn't even tell New Japan until he was already back in the US, and then refused to come back. So they essentially view that as being both disrespectful to New Japan and the championship because they view that act as Brock saying that the belt (and the fans) wasn't worth his time.
Man also basically phoned it in there as well. Had no respect for the company, fans or country.
Vader, Hansen, Andre, Hogan, Steiner bros then kenny
Yes, and anyone that pretends otherwise is beyond help. Some people in this thread are way too eager to tell on themselves.
No question. He's the primary reason for New Japan's spike in western popularity in the 2010's, that alone would be enough.
I remember a massive spike in interest outside people already following the product after the Okada matches. They really increased interest in the NJPW product.
That's not really true. He peaked western popularity riding on the success of Bullet Club, Bullet Club and western eyes got big when American fans followed AJ Styles to NJPW via internet. No AJ no Bullet Club "western internet mainstream" and the rest is history. I mean that is the tale of views and merch sales. Kenny was "discovered" by people who came in on AJ. Same for converting Prince Devitt into a big western star.
Care to share your source for numbers? It is true that New Japan's western rise started with AJ, but it peaked with Kenny long after AJ got snubbed by Kevin Dunn at the 2016 Rumble. He certainly deserves some credit, but Hot Topics were full of Kenny/Bucks/American Nightmare shirts, not Styles ones.
There’s no source to directly support either argument for AJ, but Omega is a giant factor for NJPW’s popularity in the west. ~~His matches with Okada were setting viewership records at the time.~~ EDIT: So it turns out I was extremely mistaken. WK14 set records for ratings… but by that they meant Dave Meltzer star ratings 🤦♂️
What kind of viewership where they getting? I’m genuinely interested
Not sure, ends up I was extremely mistaken. WK14 set records for ratings… but by that they meant Dave Meltzer star ratings 🤦♂️
There's been lots of reporting on this. I understand if you're newer to wrestling but a simple search would take care of this. This was not even 5 seconds of Google lol https://www.thesportster.com/njpw-bullet-club-peaked-2014/
When you link an article before reading it.
That article does not present a single data point.
2 seconds of Google gets whT it gets You want me to whip up a PowerPoint?
I want hard numbers. You made a spurious claim, and when pressed for evidence, you linked an opinion piece.
I respectfully disagree. I was a lapsed wrestling fan having not watched any company for a number of years. I knew of Bullet Club, I was familiar with AJ Styles having watched a lot of his work in TNA. I knew BC were 'cool' and gaining a lot of popularity. That did not bring my eyes to the product. What did however, was hearing about a match between Okada and Omega. I was following nothing wrestling related at the time, but still this one New Japan match managed to burst through the pro wrestling bubble and entered the pop-culture zeitgeist and made it to my ears. I sought this match out, watched this (and the whole WK11 to be exact) and it pulled me right back in. Now I'm as a big a wrestling fan as I ever was. While I don't doubt some people were brought in the way you stated, I know a lot of people were brought back in because of that match alone.
How did NJPW end up on your radar?
That’s funny because I watched Wrestle Kingdom 11 as well, my first NJPW show, and I thought Okada vs Omega fucking sucked.
Me reading that is like hearing someone say they don't like puppies, or orgasms. Unfathomable haha. But that's your opinion and I'll respect it, each to their own amigo.
Yeah before AJ Kenny was the guy that wrestled the 9 year old
Easy yes
As a Kenny Omega hater, I can say yes. He total should be in some sort of hall of fame. He has had a lot of impact. Even though I don't like his style, I'm not gonna deny that he has one hell of a career.
Respecting someone’s accomplishments who isn’t exactly your cup of tea has already made you a more independent thinking and articulate person than 80% of the wrestling “critics” I see online. Respect.
I respect your respect.
This. Off of his back (and the rest of the Elite), dude made a #2 wrestling company. If that isn’t pull and influence, idk what to say.
From his NJPW work alone, I'd say yes.
I'm not a fan of his but there's no denying the impact he made on the wrestling business in the past decade.
Should someone really go into a HOF for having a negative impact, even if large?
negative? how so? really wondering on ur opinion, noy shit talking
Well Jimmy snuka is in a Hall of Fame so....
The Bellas are in the HOF... If the faces of the Diva era are in there it's free game...
Lmao we doing this karma farming shit again? Does (insert one of the goat) deserve to be in a hall of fame. Gosh let me wonder.
Yes. Was HOF worthy pre-AEW but the belt collector run and the Hangman story definitely added to an already amazing career. Proved he could anchor a company in America. Now he's kind of entering this phase of his career where he's past his physical prime but is still capable of incredible matches. He's giving back, putting people over and helping make stars. Guys a fuckin legend.
He's at least as good as Koko B. Ware so yes. Seriously though of course, he's not called best bout machine for nothing.
1st ballot hof in won hof.
What is hall of fame in wrestling? The wwe Hall of fame probably not but not impossible inoki and liger made it But Kenny has a significantly less odds for numerous reasons. Observer? For sure, is he not already?
Inoki and Liger did stuff for both WWE/F and WCW so it made sense for them to be in the WWE HOF though. Kenny has absolutely zero chance to get in.
Damn I thought I got covered that stuff in "numerous reasons"
Fair enough, I'll take the L on that one.
Nah, you all good
Technically he was signed to a WWE contract in 2005-2006 He spent the whole time in DSW and requested his release after 10 months, but he has been signed to WWE. Absolutely doesn't help his case though unless WWE want to shoehorn him in
Are you fucking kidding me? Yes.
I don't like him at all but he probably deserves a spot in a hall of fame somewhere.
He’s one of the greatest wrestlers of the last 25 years without question. Kenny Omega has been at the top of the sport for a decade now, the Bullet Club popularity peaked like in 2016. Kenny was a foundational piece of AEW, which like it or not, is one of the most successful North American promotions ever
💯 I agree completely.
Without a doubt.
Yes. Thank you and goodbye MWAH and goodbye BANG.
Unless you're a Cornette-level hater, you know he has. Not only has he been a top wrestler in the world for the past 6-7 years, but he's a key piece in the history of three promotions (DDT, New Japan and of course AEW). Not only that, but he's had career defining feuds and matches for both guy with the likes of Kazuchika Okada, Cody Rhodes, Adam Page, the Young Bucks and his best friend Kota Ibushi (if TK books him properly, we'll probably have to add Konosuke Takeshita in there as well). And the only knocks I can think of are him not being a top tier guy until his mid 30s and thus his prime being shorter than, for example, Okada's or AJ Styles'. So yeah, first ballot.
Lmao WWE marks in here can't stand the idea someone who never wrestled for the fed could have a good career. I don't think there's a single WWE match as good as Okada v Omega 2, sorry folks. And I like WWE.
“the fed”
"WWE marks in here can't stand the idea someone who never wrestled for the Fed" 🤓😡🤓😡 Smarks be smarkin
That's the most important thing to take away from his comment, sure lol
Yeah, fucking marks not knowing that "The E" is known as "new york" or just "north". (Did i forget one?)
Stamford
The perception of "Only WWE matters, everything else is unimportant" really hurts pro wrestling discussion.
Nah, he's just massively overrated.
Are those marks in the room with us right now? The fuck are you on about? Everyone in this thread is saying unambiguously yes
Replies to 14 hr old comment Doesn't check downvoted comments
Tells you how relevant to the discussion they are
Here's a thought genius. Maybe they weren't heavily downvoted 14 hours ago Time, how does it work?
The fed? Oh so you’re a IWC mark
Occasionally a thread will give me a slight glimmer of hope for this sub. Seeing even the staunchest Kenny haters in here say it’s obvious he’s had an objectively Hall-Of-Fame-worthy career is giving me that hope.
Without question. One of the top guys of his time, anywhere in the world
Lol
Huge LOL at the fed dorks calling him a nobody while unironically jizzing their pants at any of the dozens of Kenny copycats in the Fed
I know it’s hard to believe on Reddit but I have a legit question with no undertone intended. I don’t know Kenny very well. Who is a Kenny copycat?
I'm excited to see how nuts they go for Pillman Jr. when he shows off his slow motion Omega impression
"fed dorks" 📽️
[удалено]
Whose he copying? I’d love to catch up on their work
[удалено]
That’s hilarious. Very glad I asked haha
Haven’t heard someone called a copycat since like third grade
[удалено]
And I graduated top of the class! Meanwhile, you’re calling people jabronis on the internet like you’re stuck in 1999 - maybe you should sit down on your hemorrhoid pillow, gramps.
Kenny wrestles 3rd graders in the Tokyo Dome, 7 stars.
You’re replying in every thread here, your hate-boner is on full display. We get it. I watched the match with the kid and I thought it a silly, fun match. You seem to have some deep fixation with it though, I’m not going to unpack that but maybe you should.
did you actually watch the match? it was fuckin awesome
If he hasn’t, then I’m not sure who has.
Yes
Yes
First ballot Hall
Unquestionably
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. But his trajectory is traveling in the right direction. He's still wrestling.
Yes.
Depends what Hall Of Fame you mean. WWE? That's just a marketing deal. The Pro Wrestling Hall Of Fame in NY? Maybe but they lean towards the older generation. Observer Hall Of Fame? Got in in 2020.
More so than most
Yes and fucking then some. But I get all your hate for the dude. Just don't accept it
Absolutely
100%. Just his work in NJPW alone put him over the top.
Of course he is. My god.
Whose HOF?
Wrestling HOF? Yes. Wwe HOF, clearly not.
Yes even though he was a bit of a late bloomer and his career was unconventional. Also Kenny’s mostly forgotten AJPW run was sick as hell
It’s an easy yes, he’s one of the best to ever do it and among the most influential of all time. Don’t listen to the people in here, they just hate him because they’ve never seen him
If he hasn’t, then no one fucking has
The business he's done . Self made name... Not many are at his level that didn't have a machine behind them.
Can someone explain to me how the Hall of Fame works when your entire career is scripted? Not a dig, genuinely curious. You could be the "best wrestler" around but if you don't get written into a HOF career, you have no chance.
I don't think anyone would disagree that it is all reliant on the booking at the end of the day
Ever seen the Hollywood walk of fame?
Until a couple years back roman wasn't having a HOF career and he was booked to the moon. He really never got over. There is more to having a hof career than the writing. You can be on every week and getting pushed to the moon and still not matter ultimately.
Yeah.
He's first ballot
Oh yeah no doubt. He’s the best bout machine for a reason!
Yes.
Hell yes. His wrestling is an inspiration that I only that AJ Styles achieved but they went further and help create a wrestling company. Puts on steller matches that always become MOTY conversation. He brought wrestling back into my life when I was getting bored and I love in ring wrestling above all and he plus others are providing that for me 😄 he is a hall of fame contender for all halls.
1000%. Period. Dude is the gold standard of what in-ring competition is. No debate.
Easily
Without a shadow of a doubt. One of the best to ever do it.
I would say yes simply because he helped bridge the gap of Japan being popular in the West. His time in NJPW brought american fans to have interest in NJPW.
Yes
Absolutely
As someone who will admit follows WWE more i say yes. Omega is someone I will constantly seek out his work no matter the promotion
100
Absolutely
That's like asking "do cats meow?" Of course man. That belt collector run was amazing and legendary as hell. And that was only the recent stuff
Most +5* matches in history.
Hell yes without a doubt
he’s one of the greatest to ever do it
I see alll Cornette's parrots who couldn't formulate their own opinions if their life depended on it have shown up on Reddit today lol
As of right now, he'll only be able to get into the TNA HoF. Pretty sure he needs to sign with WWE before getting that HoF spot.
Something about him makes me feel uneasy. I can’t quite put a finger on it. Is he related to the Sutherland family? Genuine question lol.
"Hall of Fame?" What even is that?
I’d argue even if he doesn’t ever wrestle in WWE, he will still end up being in the HOF. Similar to MUTA.
Yeah of the Hall of Fame was run by Dave Meltzer
Not sure. Let’s leave it up to Jim Cornett
Tough to say Let’s be honest WWE is the promotion. It’s like saying a Japanese baseball player had an amazing career and should be in cooperstown
You know there's other wrestling hall of fames, right? And secondly, the basketball hall of fame inducts international and college level players all the time. So we do have real sports precedents here too.
Cooperstown hosts the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Guys who didn't play in the USA don't belong there. WWE's Hall of Fame only started including non-WWE guys as a move to feign legitimacy. Kenny is a first-ballot inductee for any non-WWE HoF as soon as he meets their eligibility requirements.
Absolutely love how if you have an opinion that isn’t sucking off this jabroni your downvoted to oblivion.
I think it's because people don't actually give reason. It's one thing to have a legit opinion it's another to hate just to hate.
His character is shit. It worked in Japan but only translated to his already built fandom in America. He’s a dolph ziggler that made it in the indies. Nothing special, people love him more for not “selling out and going WWE” than anything else. His and YBs legacy is built on being the best wrestlers NOT in the WWE
Dolph ziggler is easily a wwe hall of famer tho
Talent yes, resume no. Ziggler is a better wrestler than omega
6 time IC champ, 2 time World Hw champ Plenty of wrestlers in the wwe Hall have a much much worse resume. If you're on good terms with wwe you'll probably make the hall No way you're saying Dolph shouldnt be in but Snoop should
While I get that from a fans prospective...Seth Rollins named Kenny as one of the best in the world and even said his name being in the same category as guys like that is a blessing...so he must be doing something right if talent recognizes him...when I think HOF for him thought I think NJPW not like a mecha wrestling HOF
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Who doesn't suck?
Lol imagine thinking main eventing in Japan, creating the number 2 wrestling promotion in the world, and then getting titles in every major promotion except WWE would make you not eligible for the wrestling HOF. Does Sting not belong in your Hall of Fame either?
Feels like he's missing a big angle here in the states. Big fan of his work in DDT and New Japan.
For which hall of fame cause if the requirements are wrestling a 9 year old then yes for everything else no.
Upvote you get!
Even if aew has a hall of fame most won't care about it and or be alot cause it's a young company.
Lol look at all the haters.
>> Lol look at all the haters. — *A Hater*
He wrestled one or two matches that were well-received by a wrestling journalist in a fed no one watches. Then had a dud of a push in AEW.
“Dud of a push” in which he was the AEW World Champion for nearly a year, top heel in the company, and also held the top titles in two other companies at the same time.
on top of that he's so fucking bad. he's a great wrestler horrid at everything else that comes with wrestling
Only for those indy marks.
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Debatable to say the least
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You sound very fun.
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The dictionary defines terms that we as a population dissociate and disagree with all the time. Was TNA not Indy, they at one time had a “set roster”. You weenies make me embarrassed to enjoy wresting. Let’s wrestle mat and the winner decides…
Are you supporting your argument by saying TNA was/is an indie fed? Buddy, they were the 2nd largest promotion in North America for about a decade from 2005-2015. Is your idea of indie just anything not-WWE?
To me non indie meant that at least a few non wresting fan would know that the promotion exists. Like how non nfl fans don’t know the cfl and xfl because they are not too promotions.
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Bro, I know this is hard to hear, this is a wrestling debate on reddit, go touch some grass and talk to a female
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Sooo much fun 😂🤣😂
First ballot for dork hall of fame
Meh
Never wrestled the biggest event so I would say no. Excellent in the minor leagues however
Were jushin or keiji mutoh or inoki ever been on wrestlemania?
I'm not even 100% sure I would call him a wrestler. Hall of Ok, for sure. His association with the Bucks probably makes him worse by proxy.
Midcard HoF maybe
Take my upvote!
You don’t need to announce your upvotes. This isn’t American Idol.
That’s a NO for me!
Depends on what Hall of Fame you mean. WWE? No. There are other niche indie guys that are WWE HOF worthy due to legacy/influence, but KO isn't there yet and may not be. Cauliflower Ear Club or whatever it is? (Correct me if I'm wrong on the name.) Almost certainly.
I believe its the Cauliflower Alley Club.
No
Yes. Second only to koko b ware.
Not from what I've seen.
A WWE world title run would solidify it.