Armchair Booking: Chris Hero vs Kenny Omega in AEW

With the sudden influx of wrestlers from the WWE released into the uncertain world of independent life, many writers, commentators, and podcasters have enthusiastically brainstormed about the endless possibilities for where the wrestlers may end up, who they could face, and what promotions or feuds they should get involved in.

As one of the most respected independent wrestlers of the last twenty years, it has always been a mild disappointment for many of Kassius Ohno’s fans at the missed opportunities during his time on NXT and by extension, NXT UK, especially after already being let go years earlier in his career. More famously regarded in his independent role as Chris Hero, he has regularly been cited as a locker room leader in the early years of NXT and an inspirational figure for wrestlers such as Tyler Bate, as well as having trained names such as Aleister Black, Cesaro, Orange Cassidy and Eddie Kingston.

With the release of and subsequent retirement of Ohno, the return of Chris Hero has ignited the imaginations of wrestling fans, especially in regard to the possibilities that could entail. There is little doubt that he will probably do some travelling around the world (once airports open again), with Japan definitely a likelihood as he returns to his Strong Style antics. I, however, will be focusing on his forays into the American market, a remarkably different array of options in comparison to when he last featured, with the growth of AEW, MLW and even Impact Wrestling over the last few years. The following article will highlight a particular feud I feel would be perfect to remind fans of how good Hero still is, where he would come to AEW to face the Best Bout Machine, Kenny Omega.

 

The Debut And The Challenge

Hero would unlikely have promo packages hyping his first appearance in All Elite Wrestling, he better suits being a surprise inclusion that shocks fans and opponents alike, similar to Brian Cage’s recent debut. Due to this, I envisage next year’s Casino Battle Royale suiting his first appearance, getting the much desired number 21 Joker position. If Hero were to enter in the Joker position, it would allow the focus to be on him alone without being mixed in with others and his sudden appearance could even be a relative game changer by immediately eliminating several of the wrestlers still in the ring. Hero could end up in the final two, looking particularly strong in gaining several eliminations, but would put over his opponent by being eliminated, something Hero has proven himself particularly good at over the last few years.

Following his debut in such a big match, the following week on Dynamite, Hero would appear in a singles match against Michael Nakazawa, defeating him in a match that would showcase Hero’s comedic strengths and technical ability. After the match, Hero is approached by Tony Schiavone in the ring, but before he can speak, out comes an applauding Kenny Omega, taking a moment to check on his best friend Nakazawa.

Omega would welcome Hero to AEW and talk of the excitement he feels for the matches Hero could have, including against Omega himself, cutting a promo on wanting to prove himself against the man who once ruled the Independents, wanting to face him as many times as possible, and Hero would suggest they could go for a Best-Of-Seven-Series. Hero would also add an interesting wrinkle, that the winner of each match chooses the stipulation of the next match, something Omega accepts. By beginning with a promo that could generate interest on social media, and then setting the groundwork for an ongoing series, it creates a mixture of anticipation, audience interaction, and it allows each match to mean something as it contributes to an overall story. This is quite suitable for the long term style booking AEW succeeds with.

 

Omega Takes The Lead

And with that, the challenge has been set, with Hero and Omega to face in a series that would offer multiple matches on Dynamite, as well as a prospective Special Attraction match at the next PPV. AEW could spend a week building this match, including having AEW Dark focus on interviews with wrestlers familiar with Hero, such as SCU’s Christopher Daniels, former tag team partner Colt Cabana, and even Matt and Nick Jackson. All four men are good at hyping opponents and telling stories, which will help to build up Hero as an ideal challenger for Omega.

The first week will have Hero and Omega in the opening match of Dynamite, in a slower paced, good natured match, where there is respect between the two, clean breaks, and sequences of chain wrestling. Omega and Hero would both fail with hitting their biggest moves, culminating with when Omega attempts a One Winged Angel. Hero’s escape would leave him open for Omega to get a roll-up and the three count over a surprised Hero. Despite looking disappointed, Hero would shake Omega’s outstretched hand before leaving the ring.

With Omega 1-0 up in the series, he would get to choose next week’s match, and he would choose a Submission Only match, citing his desire to test himself as a submission wrestler. That week on AEW Dark, both competitors and their chosen submissions will be compared in a tale of the tape, particular attention focused on Hero’s Kassius Klutch and his Riviera Cloverleaf, suggesting that Hero might be the favourite. This match would feature in the middle of AEW Dynamite, and would be very much a chess battle, Omega focusing on the knees and back of Hero, whilst Hero instead would attack Omega’s knees and neck. The two of them would still be battling respectively, but with a little extra edge from Hero, in contrast to Omega’s more relaxed demeanour.

After two failed attempts with the Kassius Klutch, Omega would reverse the third attempt into a Texas Cloverleaf, similar in style to Hero’s famed Riviera Cloverleaf. Despite his best efforts, Hero would tap out, losing the second match and putting him 2-0 down. A frustrated and angered Hero would this time exit the ring and walk away, seemingly ashamed, ignoring Kenny calling after him. When Omega gets asked what match he will choose, he decides to return to a normal singles match for their third encounter.

 

The Turn

In the lead up to this match, AEW Dark would feature a tale of the tape showing Omega’s two victories so far, with Tony Schiavone and Taz openly discussing whether Omega might get a clean sweep of 4-0, as Hero seems to be struggling to keep up. For the third week running, Omega and Hero face one another, this time in the main event, and Omega is surprised when Hero attacks straight away, going for hard strikes and knocking Omega down. Whereas Omega continues to be respectful and goes for clean breaks, Hero holds on a little bit longer, hits a couple of cheap shots, annoying Omega. Hero would gradually try antagonising Omega, culminating in spitting in Omega’s face, with Omega attacking with fury.

Omega would end up being pulled at by the referee, who he would push out of the way, only for Hero to low-blow Omega behind the fallen referee’s back. Hero would follow up with a Roaring Elbow and cover Omega for the three count, bringing the series to 2-1. Rather than having his arm raised, Hero would jump out of the ring and grab a steel chair, knocking Omega out with it, accusing him of trying to embarrass him the previous week.. As Omega lays unconscious, Hero would grab a microphone and declare that Omega may think himself the better wrestler, but is Omega the better fighter, naming the next match in the series as a Street Fight.

With the fourth match confirmed as a Street Fight, it would be announced as the main event of AEW Dynamite, with an attempted interview with Hero on AEW Dark unsuccessful. Taz and Schiavone would continue the tale of the tape, but this time highlighting Omega and Hero’s experience in such matches, referring to Omega’s previous Lights Out matches, as well as Hero’s experience in IWA Mid-South.

In the main event of Dynamite, Omega would offer a handshake one last time, only to be slapped by Hero, which would lead to the two men brawling to the outside, around the ring, near the announce table and in the crowd. Use of weapons would be rather minimal, sticking to just a single chair and a single table, with Omega starting to feel a growing obsession with successfully hitting the One-Winged Angel. At one point, Omega would attempt a V-Trigger, only for Hero to jab Omega in the left knee with it, leading to Omega limping. Focusing his attack on the left knee and utilising the chair, Hero would lock in his Riviera Cloverleaf, forcing an injured Omega to tap out.

As Hero would celebrate tying the series up, Omega would struggle to get up on the apron, until a sudden Discus Big Boot from Hero sends Omega flying through a table, with Hero attacking Omega with a few chair shots to the injured left knee. Jenn Sterger would approach Hero, citing the damage he may have caused, that Omega can barely stand. Hero would blame Omega for trying to embarrass him with the Submission Only match, and now that Omega can barely stand, Hero nominates a Last Man Standing match. Hero would even declare if Omega doesn’t show up as he expects, then it’ll count as a forfeit and Hero would go 3-2 ahead.

On the next episode of AEW Dark, Taz and Schiavone would discuss the history of Last Man Standing matches and confirm that this version wouldn’t require pinfalls or submissions, just a pure 10 count for victory. Omega’s injury would be discussed, with Taz suggesting it might be safer for Omega to forfeit the match to prevent long term injury, and Schiavone adamant that Omega will show up.

Hero would be so confident that Omega won’t appear that he would head to the ring in casual clothes, as opposed to his usual wrestling attire, but to his shock, Omega would appear with knee braces and support on his left knee. This would be a Japanese Strong Style match, full of hard hits strikes, looking to knock one another out as hard as possible, Hero with cheap shots to the left knee as often as possible. At one point, Omega would injure his knee after a V-Trigger through a guardrail, only gaining an eight count. In the end, Hero would hit a Cutter off the stage through nearby production tables, getting up at the count of nine with Omega’s knee giving way, putting Hero ahead for the first time in the series. As Omega is tended to by members of The Elite and paramedics, Hero has his hand raised, and grabs a microphone.

In a promo, Hero would declare that it was Omega’s own arrogance that meant he couldn’t walk away to protect his health, and now Omega suffers the consequences. Hero rubs his victory in Omega’s face, and chooses the next match to be an I Quit Match, so Omega can finally admit his own failures to the better man.

With that, Hero drops the microphone and walks away, as a dazed Omega stares in the distance at him. The next week would feature AEW’s Twitter running polls asking people who they think will win, with members of the AEW roster commenting, helping to hype up the match. During this time, Omega is not seen or heard from, seemingly using this time to heal at home, whilst Hero continues to run his mouth in promos and interviews. On the next episode of Dynamite, it kicks off with Hero coming out to the ring and proclaiming that Omega isn’t going to show up, so why not just confirm him as the victor of the match and series? Instead, Omega comes out and declares that he doesn’t want to wait until the main event, with the I Quit match kicking off Dynamite.

This match would have some of the physicality of the Last Man Standing, with similar use of weapons to the Street Fight, but this time with the main focus being painful joint manipulation and viciousness. Hero would focus on trying to destroy Omega’s knee, with Omega powering through his injury throwing V-Triggers aplenty into Hero’s face and head, attempting to beat him into quitting. At the end, Hero would try using handcuffs to hinder Omega, only for Omega to reverse a chair shot attempt into the Gory Guerrero Submission Special, and then using the handcuffs to hangman Hero, choking him as Omega screams for Hero to “Say it!” until finally, Hero croaks “I quit”.

 

The Decider

Both competitors are taken away, and an hour later, The Elite come to stage, sans Omega, and officially announce that the final match in the series will occur at the upcoming PPV (ideally about two weeks), to allow time to heal. The following week would feature a sit down interview between Taz and Kenny Omega, who would discuss his original intentions coming into the series, his respect for Hero’s ability, how the injuries have affected him, before Taz brings up the major question: what match he will choose for the deciding encounter. Omega will admit that he’s been struggling with his darker intentions and need for revenge, but he wants to return the series to its original meaning, that of two wrestlers wanting to prove who is better. Omega confirms at the next PPV, he will face Chris Hero in a Two Out Of Three Falls match.

With both men having experience in the match and the stamina required, a victor is hard to choose by wrestlers and announcers alike. This match would begin about halfway through the PPV, with a promo package beforehand showing the history of the series. Hero would surprise fans, announcers, and Omega alike when he starts exhibiting clean breaks, whilst Omega is no longer wearing a knee brace and seems back to normal.

The pace would be slower and reserved to start with, until Hero starts attempting to secure a submission, whilst Omega is focusing his attacks on suplexes. Both men are careful to not take too big a chance, until the 18th minute, when Omega attempts a One-Winged Angel, only for Hero to escape onto the turnbuckle, only for Omega to hit a huge Dragon Suplex off the top rope. As Hero lies unconscious, Omega covers and gets the first fall in the match. The next ten minutes would feature Hero keeping his distance to recover, taking advantage when Omega misses a V-Trigger into the turnbuckle. In the 31st minute, Hero would lock in the Riviera Cloverleaf and Omega would quickly tap, tying the match up. The referee would try keeping Hero away during the mandated 30 second rest period.

To Omega’s shock, Hero just tells him “let’s finish this, Kenny” and extends his hand, helping Omega to his feet, then backing away. In the 43rd minute, a tired Rolling Elbow attempt leaves Hero open for a trifecta of Dragon Suplexes, before Omega finally hits the One-Winged Angel, pinning Hero to win the match and series. After the match ends, Hero and Omega would both end up sitting in opposite corners, before they both stand and approach. Omega would offer his hand, and Hero smiles, motions that Omega barely beat him, and exits the ring, leaving the moment open to interpretation. Omega would celebrate, but Hero would get respect from the crowd for a good performance, with just enough left for a future match to interest crowds.

With Hero once renowned as the best wrestler on the independents, and Omega commonly referred to as the Best Bout Machine, seeing these two wrestlers face one another is a fascinating prospect for audiences. The reason for including an ongoing series was multitude: one, it offered a legitimate reason for multiple matches that could allow an arc for the two characters. Two, it created an easy opportunity for booking as Dynamite could get six weeks of matches with several different segments dedicated to the series, filling a lot of material. Three, it allowed both Hero and Omega to lose matches without being damaged through it, especially Hero as he would lose his first two matches.

Finally, it should help to get Hero over, as he is able to show his variety of styles in matches, whether demonstrating technical, old-school style, hard hitting, hardcore, brawling, and also surprise audiences with his tremendous stamina and fitness. This would also tie in well with the several AEW Dark segments that not only allow fans only familiar with Kassius Ohno to be educated on Hero’s history and experience but set up upcoming match gimmicks with hype pieces. By the time that the series would finish, not only would Hero have three victories over the most-likely-former Tag Team Champion, but a huge PPV match that should allow him to prove he is still capable in the ring. Hero staying with AEW afterwards wouldn’t be guaranteed, but whether he moved on or not (similarly to Jeff Cobb’s short term contract with AEW, he would come out of this looking strong whilst putting over an opponent, one of his biggest strengths. But I admit that, for me, the main positive is being able to see two awesome wrestlers battle one another in a back and forth series that tells the story of a tremendous rivalry.