Kenny Omega broke the bad news to pro wrestling fans less than an hour ago, saying he was leaving AEW TV for now due to medical reasons and isn’t sure when he will return. It’s a tough break for the promotion as they roll into the new year. This past Wednesday on Dynamite, Omega and Chris Jericho engaged in a promo battle with Ricky Starks and Big Bill, positioning them as threats to the AEW World Tag Team Championships. With Omega on the shelf, Jericho must either continue the feud with a new partner or drop it altogether.
Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reports that Omega had felt ill the past week, even before his match against Ethan Page on AEW Collision this past Saturday. He fought through how he felt to compete in the match and deliver the promos around it before seeking medical attention. After being looked at, he was hospitalized and diagnosed with diverticulitis.
For those who missed it, here is Omega’s message to fans from earlier.
“I can’t really sugar coat this,” he wrote. “I’m out indefinitely. I tried to keep pushing past the pain for as long as I could until it became too much. Luckily doctors caught me when they did. I’ll be here so in the mean time, please enjoy wrestling!”
Former WWE and UFC Champion Brock Lesnar has also dealt with diverticulitis. The Mayo Clinic describes diverticulitis as follows.
Diverticula are small, bulging pouches that can form in the lining of your digestive system. They are found most often in the lower part of the large intestine (colon). Diverticula are common, especially after age 40, and seldom cause problems.
The presence of diverticula is known as diverticulosis (die-vur-tik-yoo-LOE-sis). When one or more of the pouches become inflamed, and in some cases infected, that condition is known as diverticulitis (die-vur-tik-yoo-LIE-tis). Diverticulitis can cause severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea and a marked change in your bowel habits.
Mild diverticulitis can be treated with rest, changes in your diet and antibiotics. Severe or recurring diverticulitis may require surgery.
With Omega out of action, “Hangman” Adam Page being taken off TV courtesy of an attack by the masked devils, and The Young Bucks disappearing after their loss at Full Gear, the only currently active member of The Elite in AEW is Kota Ibushi.
Haus of Wrestling sends its best to Omega as he begins the road to recovery.