Tyson Smith was born inWinnipeg,Manitoba, on October 16, 1983.[11][12][13] He grew up inTranscona, a Winnipeg suburb.[14] As of 2016, Smith's mother works in family services while his father works for the Canadian government as a transport officer.[15] He has a younger sister.[2][15] Smith's affinity towardprofessional wrestling began during childhood when he watched tapes ofWWE (then-WWF)'sSaturday Night's Main Event, which became his favorite program.[15] Growing up, Smith playedice hockey as a goalie.[11] He also worked at branches of retailersIGA andCostco.[3]
Smith first became interested in a career in professional wrestling after one of his friends fromTranscona Collegiate Institute (TCI) began training with Top Rope Championship Wrestling (TRCW) in Winnipeg.[11] Smith ended his ice hockey career plans, turning down a scholarship offer fromBemidji State University[16] and began training under TRCW promoter Bobby Jay,[11] whom he met while he was stacking shelves at an IGA store.[4] After training with Jay for a year, 16-year-old Smith made his professional wrestling debut in the year 2000.[5][17] He went on to wrestle as part of TRCW for two years, where he developed thegimmick of a Hawaiiansurfer named Kenny Omega.[4][18] The surfer aspect was later dropped and replaced with anotaku-influenced gimmick.[4] In 2001, he graduated from TCI and enrolled in university but dropped out during his first year in order to fully pursue professional wrestling.[11]
In 2001, Omega debuted in the Winnipeg-based promotion Premier Championship Wrestling (PCW).[19] He won the PCW Heavyweight Championship and the PCW Tag Team Championship in 2003 and 2004, respectively.[20][21] He unsuccessfully challengedPetey Williams for theTNA X Division Championship at theNational Wrestling Alliance's 56th Anniversary Show on October 17.[22] He later won an eight-man tournament, defeating Nate Hardy,Chris Sabin, andAmazing Red, to win the Premier Cup and the NWA Canada X-Division Championship on June 2.[23] After competing forHarley Race's promotionWorld League Wrestling in September 2005, losing toKeith Walker in a match, Omega was invited to a week-long tryout by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).[11]
In October 2005, Smith was sent toDeep South Wrestling (DSW), WWE's then-developmental territory for a tryout, after which he was offered a developmental contract and subsequently assigned to DSW full-time.[18] In August 2006, he requested his release from his contract.[10] Omega later stated that his time in DSW was poor, particularly criticizing promotersBill DeMott andJody Hamilton, and trainerBob Holly.[15][24] Nevertheless, he expressed praise for trainerDave Taylor.[4] WWE has since reportedly approached him with contracts in the spring of 2014, three times in 2015, and in early 2019.[25][26][27]
After his release from WWE, Omega intended to forge a career inmixed martial arts and enteredBrazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments before deciding to return to professional wrestling.[11] He then reinvented his wrestling persona and developed a new distinct move set.[11] On March 8, 2008, Omega competed forJersey All Pro Wrestling (JAPW) and captured theJAPW Heavyweight Championship by defeatingLow Ki.[28] On April 19, he retained his title againstFrankie Kazarian atSpring Massacre.[29] Omega lost the JAPW Heavyweight Championship toJay Lethal at Jersey City Rumble on February 28, 2009.[30]
In 2006, Omega became captivated by Japanese wrestlerKota Ibushi after watching him perform as part of Japanese promotionDDT Pro-Wrestling, so he uploaded videos of himself having a DDT-style match to YouTube, in hopes they would interest Ibushi into working with him.[36] After seeing the videos, DDT invited Omega to Japan to wrestle Ibushi, which Omega accepted; he made his first appearance for the promotion in August 2008.[36][37] Omega stated that wrestling in Japan had been one of his dreams, as the local scene appealed to his creative side, feeling that he was able to show his personality and express himself.[11][36] He and Ibushi then formed a tag team named theGolden☆Lovers.[38]
In 2011, at theNanae Takahashi 15th Anniversary event produced byWorld Wonder Ring Stardom, Omega competed in a three-minute exhibition match against a nine-year-old girl named Haruka.[39] A video of the match went viral, making international news and receiving polarizing responses, after which Omega received death threats.[40] WrestlerMick Foley, conversely, praised Omega's work as a heel, asking why he was not on national television.[41] Omega later stated that he was asked to work with Haruka due to the safe nature of his work and that he personally trained her before their match.[42] In the same year, Omega represented DDT inAll Japan Pro Wrestling's2011 Junior League, making his debut for the promotion on September 11.[43] After three wins and two losses, he finished second in his block and did not advance to the finals.[44]
On November 1, 2008, Omega appeared forPro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) during the2008 Battle of Los Angeles, where he was defeated in the first round of the tournament by local talent Brandon Bonham.[58] The next night, during a three-way tag team match in which Omega competed, he wasIrish whipped into the ropes byDavey Richards, only for the force to snap the middle and bottom ropes, throwing Omega out of the ring.[59] Three months later, Omega returned to the promotion atExpress Written Consent, where he was defeated by El Generico after referee Rick Knox hit him with a leaping clothesline after Knox grew tired of Omega abusing him.[60][61] At PWG's hundredth show on April 12, 2009, he lost toBryan Danielson.[62]
On October 27, 2012, Omega made his first appearance for PWG in over two and a half years atFailure to Communicate when he teamed with El Generico in a tag team match, where they defeatedThe Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson).[67] Omega returned to PWG to compete in the2014 Battle of Los Angeles on August 29,[68] advancing all the way to the semifinals until he was eliminated by the eventual winner of the tournament,Ricochet.[69][70] He returned again for the2017 Battle of Los Angeles on September 2,[71] teaming with The Young Bucks and defeatingFlamita,Penta 0M, andRey Fenix in a six-man tag team match.[72]
New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Ring of Honor (2008–2019)
Omega returned to NJPW in May 2013 to take part in the2013 Best of the Super Juniors, where he managed to win five out of his eight round-robin matches, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament.[82] On June 9, Omega was defeated in his semifinal match by Devitt, following interference from Devitt's stable,Bullet Club.[83] A year later, he took part in New Japan's2014 Best of the Super Juniors tournament from May 30 to June 6, finishing with a record of three wins and four losses, with a loss againstTaichi on the final day, which cost him a spot in the semifinals.[84][85]
Bullet Club and various championship reigns (2014–2017)
Omega (far right) as a member ofBullet Club in 2015
On October 3, 2014, NJPW held a press conference to announce that Omega was set to sign with the promotion once his DDT contract expired on October 26.[86] Omega, dubbing himself the Cleaner, made his debut under contract on November 8 atPower Struggle, where he was revealed as the newest member of Bullet Club, despite having previously dismissed the idea of joining the villainous foreigner stable, claiming that he did not consider himself agaijin.[86][87][88] Omega defeated Ryusuke Taguchi to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship for the first time atWrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2015.[89][90] He retained the title over Taguchi in a rematch on February 11 atThe New Beginning in Osaka.[91][92] In the following months, he successfully defended the title againstMáscara Dorada atInvasion Attack 2015 andAlex Shelley atWrestling Dontaku 2015.[93][94]
From July to August, Omega took part in the2016 G1 Climax, where he advanced to the finals after winning his block with a record of six wins and three losses.[109] In the final round, he defeatedHirooki Goto and earned an opportunity to compete for theIWGP Heavyweight Championship.[110] Omega not only won the tournament in his first attempt but also became the first non-Japanese G1 Climax winner in history.[111][112] Towards the end of the year, despite having the opportunity to return to ROH, Omega was asked by NJPW not to take any outside bookings heading intoWrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome. Due to this, Omega did not appear for ROH for the rest of 2016.[113] He lost to IWGP Heavyweight ChampionKazuchika Okada in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 11 on January 4, 2017.[114] At 46 minutes and 45 seconds, the match was, at the time, the longest in the history of theJanuary 4 Tokyo Dome Show.[115] Sports journalistDave Meltzer gave the match a six-star rating in theWrestling Observer Newsletter, adding that Omega and Okada "may have put on the greatest match in pro wrestling history".[116] The match was also praised by wrestlers Bryan Danielson, Mick Foley, andStone Cold Steve Austin.[117][118]
Dissension within Bullet Club and departure (2017–2019)
On January 6, 2017, Omega stated that he would be "stepping away from Japan to reassess [his] future", adding that he was "weighing all options".[119] On January 26, Omega announced onWrestling Observer Radio that he would be flying back to Japan in February to negotiate a new deal with NJPW for "at least one more year".[120] He returned during the first night ofHonor Rising: Japan 2017 in February.[121] Omega competed against Kazuchika Okada in a match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on June 11 atDominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall, which ended in a 60-minute time limit draw.[122] The match was rated 61⁄4 stars by Dave Meltzer, higher than their previous match, making it the highest-rated match by Meltzer at that time.[123]
AtWrestle Kingdom 12 on January 4, 2018, Omega defeated the debutingChris Jericho in ano disqualification match to retain the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.[130] The bout was credited as having grown international interest in NJPW, particularly from North America.[131] On January 28, Omega lost the title toJay White atThe New Beginning in Sapporo. After the match, Omega accepted defeat and stopped Bullet Club memberAdam Page from confronting White, which brought out Cody. After months of tension over leadership of the Bullet Club faction,[132][133] Cody hit Omega with arolling cutter. When Page attempted to assist Cody in attacking Omega, Kota Ibushi returned to the ring after competing earlier in the night to save his former partner, leading to an embrace between Omega and Ibushi and a rekindling of their friendship.[134][135] Omega returned to ROH for theSupercard of Honor XII event on April 7, 2018, where he lost to Cody.[136]
On June 9, Omega defeated Okada in atwo out of three falls match with no time limit for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship atDominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall, becoming the first Canadian wrestler to win the title in the process.[137] The match received a seven-star rating from Meltzer, which remains the highest rating ever given to a match.[138] Omega then defeated Cody to retain his title at NJPW'sG1 Special in San Francisco on July 7. Following the match, Bullet Club membersTama Tonga,Tanga Loa,Bad Luck Fale, andKing Haku attacked Omega, Cody, and every other Bullet Club member who tried to aid them, forming their own branch within the stable.[139][140] Omega and Cody subsequently reconciled alongside the rest of Bullet Club.[139]
In September 2018, Omega appeared at the independent eventAll In, where he defeated Penta El Zero.[141] He successfully defended the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Ishii atDestruction later that month as well as against Cody and Ibushi in a three-way match atKing of Pro-Wrestling the next month.[142][143] It was revealed in October that Cody, Page, andMarty Scurll would be known alongside Omega and The Young Bucks as part of The Elite,[144] with the group also stating that they were "no longer affiliated with Bullet Club".[145]Pro Wrestling Illustrated named Omega the No. 1 professional wrestler of 2018 in its annuallist of the top 500 male wrestlers.[146] Omega lost the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Hiroshi Tanahashi atWrestle Kingdom 13 on January 4, 2019, ending his reign at 209 days.[147] He departed NJPW after his contract expired at the end of January.[148]
Omega signed a four-year contract withAll Elite Wrestling (AEW) on February 7, 2019.[149] He serves as an executive vice president of the promotion as well as one of its in-ring talents.[150] He competed at the promotion's inaugural event,Double or Nothing on May 25, where he lost to Chris Jericho in the main event, after which both men were attacked byJon Moxley.[151] A scheduled match between Omega and Moxley for theAll Outpay-per-view on August 31 did not take place due to Moxley suffering anMRSA infection.[152] Omega instead competed againstPac at All Out, where he was defeated.[153][154] On the premiere episode ofDynamite on October 2, Omega was taken out by a returning Moxley during a six-man tag team match, with Omega's team later losing the contest.[155] In the main event ofFull Gear on November 9, Omega lost to Moxley in anunsanctionedLights Out match.[156][157]
Following the loss to FTR, Omega stated that he was going to return to singles competition.[166] From October to November 2020, he participated in a tournament to determine the number one contender for theAEW World Championship and won it by defeating Adam Page in the final round atFull Gear.[167][168] AtWinter Is Coming on December 2, Omega defeated Jon Moxley to become the AEW World Champion for the first time, with the help ofDon Callis, and turned heel.[169][170] AtRevolution on March 7, 2021, Omega retained the title over Moxley in anExploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch.[171]
AtDouble or Nothing on May 30, Omega successfully defended the AEW World Championship against Pac andOrange Cassidy in athree-way match.[172] AtAll Out on September 5, Omega defeatedChristian Cage to retain the AEW World Championship.[173] He lost the title to Page on November 13 atFull Gear.[174] That same year,Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked him No. 1 on its list of the top 500 male professional wrestlers for the second time.[175] Omega took a hiatus from competing in November due to injuries.[176] He underwent hernia and knee surgeries.[177]
Omega returned on the August 17, 2022, episode ofDynamite as a face to team with The Young Bucks who had also turned face, in theinaugural AEW World Trios Championship tournament, where they defeatedLa Facción Ingobernable in the first round.[178] After defeatingUnited Empire in the second round,[179] Omega and The Young Bucks defeated Adam Page, Alex Reynolds, andJohn Silver atAll Out on September 4 to become the inauguralAEW World Trios Champions, and with that Omega also becamethe first AEW Triple Crown Champion by virtue of winning the World, Tag Team, and Trios Championships.[7][180] After the All Out post-eventmedia scrum, Omega and The Young Bucks clashed with AEW World ChampionCM Punk and producerAce Steel in a legitimate physical altercation following comments Punk had made about them during the scrum. As a result, AEW PresidentTony Khan suspended all involved.[181][182] Both the AEW World Championship and AEW World Trios Championship were then vacated.[182][183]
Omega and The Young Bucks returned atFull Gear on November 19, challengingDeath Triangle for the AEW World Trios Championship in a losing effort.[184] This was the first match in a best-of-seven series between the two teams, which concluded in an Escalera De La Muerte ladder match onDynamite on January 11, 2023, where Omega's team won the match, the series (4–3), and the AEW World Trios Championship.[185] On March 5 atRevolution, Omega and The Young Bucks lost the title toHouse of Black.[186]
Omega's team failed to regain the championship later that month onDynamite, losing to the retaining House of Black in a three-way-trios match that also involvedThe Jericho Appreciation Society. After the match, theBlackpool Combat Club (BCC) and Page appeared and brawled, leading Omega and The Young Bucks to help Page.[187] On May 10 onDynamite, Omega lost to the BCC's Jon Moxley in a steel cage match after Don Callis betrayed Omega by stabbing him with a screwdriver.[188] AtDouble or Nothing on May 28, Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, andWheeler Yuta of the BCC defeated Omega, The Young Bucks, and Page in anAnarchy in the Arena match after interference from Callis' new clientKonosuke Takeshita.[189] On July 19 onDynamite: Blood & Guts, the Elite, along withKota Ibushi, defeated the Blackpool Combat Club, Konosuke Takeshita, andPac in aBlood & Guts match.[190] On August 2, 2023, it was announced that Omega, the Young Bucks, and Adam Page had all signed multi-year contract extensions with AEW.[191]
On August 27 atAll In, Omega, Adam Page and Kota Ibushi was defeated byBullet Club Gold (Jay White andJuice Robinson) and Konosuke Takeshita in a trios match.[192] On September 3 atAll Out, Omega was defeated by Takeshita losing twice on pay per view in the span of a week - In a six man tag team match at All In and in a singles match at All Out.[193] On October 1 atWrestleDream, Omega along with Kota Ibushi andChris Jericho lost toThe Don Callis Family members Takeshita, Will Ospreay andSammy Guevara.[194] On the October 25 episode ofDynamite, Omega challenged AEW World ChampionMJF to a title match on the October 28 edition ofCollision which MJF accepted.[195] Omega was unsuccessful at winning the title against MJF.[196] On November 18 atFull Gear, Omega and Jericho, known as The Golden Jets, defeated The Young Bucks, receiving a AEW World Tag Team Championship match.[197] On the December 5 episode ofCollision he defeatedEthan Page,[198] which would be his final match in 2023 as later in December, Omega underwent treatment to help battle problems with diverticulitis.[199] During his absence, he was kicked from The Elite stable on the March 6 episode ofDynamite and was replaced byKazuchika Okada andJack Perry.[200][201][202] On the May 1, 2024 episode ofDynamite, Omega returned to AEW to talk about his health, informing the audience that he was lucky to be alive but would need major surgery in the future. After his address, Omega was attacked by The Elite. The following week, he would book anAnarchy in the Arena match withThe Elite going up against Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Eddie Kingston, FTR).[203]
On the December 8 episode of its program,Impact!, Omega made hisImpact Wrestling debut, appearing in a segment with Don Callis.[216] At theHard To Kill pay-per-view in January 2021, he competed for the promotion, teaming with fellow former Bullet Club stablemates Karl Anderson andDoc Gallows to defeatRich Swann, Chris Sabin, andMoose.[217]
In November 2022 atHistoric X-Over, Omega returned to New Japan Pro-Wrestling via a video message, challengingIWGP United States Heavyweight ChampionWill Ospreay, to a match for the title atWrestle Kingdom 17.[221] At the event, Omega defeated Ospreay, winning the title for the second time.[222] He dropped the title back to Ospreay atForbidden Door in June after interference from Callis.[223] In November 2024 atPower Struggle, Omega returned to NJPW, and announced his intentions to a make his in-ring return atWrestle Dynasty on January 5, 2025. He would be then be confronted backstage byGabe Kidd, which led to a brawl between the two.[224] At Wrestle Dynasty, Omega defeated Kidd.[225][226]
A fan ofvideo games, Smith incorporates ideas from the medium into wrestling maneuvers, entrance music, and gimmick concepts.[227] The Kenny Omega ring name was originally inspired by the characterOmega Weapon from theFinal Fantasy video game series.[3] He named hisfinishing maneuver theOne-Winged Angel (a reference toFinal Fantasy VII characterSephiroth) and therunning knee strike he employs as a signature maneuver theV-Trigger (a technique used inStreet Fighter V);[36][228] integrated theHadouken attack from theStreet Fighter video game series as a signature move;[229] and used of variations ofMega Man antagonistDr. Wily's theme music as entrance themes.[230] For his final appearance as an NJPW-contracted wrestler at Wrestle Kingdom 13, Smith collaborated withUndertale creatorToby Fox to create a custom entrance video in the style of the game,[231] and for his 2025 return from a life-threatening illness, worked withFinal Fantasy soundtrack composersNobuo Uematsu andMasayoshi Soken to create a new entrance theme.[232] In addition to video games, Smith also draws inspiration from the television showStar Trek: The Next Generation and superhero cartoons to develop elements of his in-ring persona.[229] At Fyter Fest in June 2019, Smith also donned ring gear that references the characterAkuma from theStreet Fighter series.[233][234]
During his run in Bullet Club, Smith did his interviews entirely in English,[235] refusing to speak Japanese.[236] In an interview, he stated that he was told that his otaku gimmick was "too bubbly" for Bullet Club, which led to him adopting the Cleaner nickname as a reference topeople who clean up crime scenes. Smith cited the characterAlbert Wesker from theResident Evil video game series as well asSylvester Stallone's character, Marion "Cobra" Cobretti, from the filmCobra as inspirations for the Cleaner gimmick.[237] Although Smith originally intended to embody the gimmick straightforwardly, he later integrated comedy into the persona as a response to people who thought he was portraying a janitor, doing so by coming out for his matches holding a mop and a broom.[236]
Over the course of their careers, the relationship between Omega and his Golden☆Lovers tag team partnerKota Ibushi has been portrayed with romantic undertones.[238][239][240][241] On the partnership, Omega stated in 2018: "Let people think what they want to think. IfLGBT people can identify with our story, ... I'm good with that." Omega and Ibushi's partnership was chronicled in the 2019 documentaryOmega Man: A Wrestling Love Story.[242] Omega strives for inclusivity within professional wrestling and believes that "it's important to show in the 21st century that [LGBT people] should feel just as welcome to be a wrestling fan as anyone else".[243]
Smith, during his time with NJPW, promoted one of the newBang Dream! games, during a series of trailers that aired in 2018. Its worth noting that both the franchise and promotion are owned by its parent companyBushiroad.[244]
Smith considers himselfstraight edge as he avoids the recreational use of alcohol and drugs.[245] He has suffered fromvertigo since 2018.[246] He is close friends with wrestler and former tag team partnerMichael Nakazawa.[247]
Smith is fluent inJapanese. As of August 2018, he lived in theKatsushika ward ofTokyo.[36][14] He said in October 2016 that he "loved Japanese culture before even realizing it was, in fact, Japanese culture" and that his favorite video games and cartoons were Japanese.[248] He has since acquired Japanese citizenship.[249] Regarding his life outside of wrestling, he said in 2016 that he had no time to think about relationships because he was completely focused on wrestling.[250]
A self-professed avid gamer, Smith hosted a YouTube series calledCleaner's Corner, in which he played some of his favorite video games.[229] In June 2016, he made a guest appearance atCommunity Effort Orlando, defeating wrestlerXavier Woods in a game ofStreet Fighter V.[251] The two often appear at video game conventions together, where at some point he dressed up asSans for October 30, 2019 in the episode ofAll Elite Wrestling: Dynamite.[252] He portrayed the characterCody Travers in a live-action portion of a trailer forStreet Fighter V: Arcade Edition in 2018,[253] and voiced a fictionalized version of himself in the third episode of the 2023 animated seriesCaptain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix.
^abMeltzer, Dave (October 24, 2011). "October 24 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2011 Hall of Fame issue, GSP down, Bound for Glory and Bobby Roode, Hogan vs. Sting, giant issue".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Campbell, California. p. 37.ISSN1083-9593.Jeff Katz's Wrestling Revolution Project taped its first season in Los Angeles this past week. ... Kenny Omega, known as Scott Carpenter, was the star, with strong matches against Chris Masters (known as Concrete) and Killshot (Karl Anderson).
^abAtkin, Nicolas (January 14, 2017)."WWE interested in independent star Kenny Omega says Triple H".ESPN.Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. RetrievedJuly 7, 2020.Omega solidified his stock as one of the greatest professional wrestlers in the world following his instant-classic main-event match against Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 11 on Jan. 4 at the Tokyo Dome.
^ab"Feud Of The Year: Cody vs Kenny Omega".Ring of Honor. January 9, 2019.Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. RetrievedNovember 10, 2021.Cody obviously wanted to supplant Omega as the leader of the faction, and it forced their fellow Bullet Club members to choose sides in a civil war that played out in both Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
^Barrasso, Justin (November 13, 2019)."Jim Ross: Jon Moxley-Kenny Omega Main Event Match 'a Breath of Fresh Air'".Sports Illustrated.Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. RetrievedMarch 11, 2020.Moxley and Omega battled for nearly 40 minutes in an unsanctioned "Lights Out" match, incorporating barbed wire, broken glass, and mousetraps into an unforgettable encounter that some of the wrestling audience loved and others hated.
^Johnson, Mike (December 2, 2020)."New AEW Champion Crowned".PWInsider.Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. RetrievedDecember 3, 2020.
^Lee, Joseph (December 10, 2020)."Kenny Omega Asks Fans Why Their Favorites Don't Move The Needle".411Mania.Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. RetrievedDecember 11, 2020.Omega completely turned heel on last week's AEW Dynamite by cheating to beat Jon Moxley with the help of Don Callis.
^Campbell, Brian (July 17, 2018)."WWE Raw results, recap, grades: Brock Lesnar's next match set, No. 1 contender near".CBS Sports.Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. RetrievedJune 13, 2023.WWE could be on its way to presenting its first same-sex relationship angle with a tasteful undertone. Considering the successful precedent recently set in New Japan Pro-Wrestling with the Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi), it's about time, if so.
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