Match Point is an on-going series at Last Word on Pro Wrestling, where we look at intriguing matchups in indie wrestling and beyond. They may be dream matches, first-time matchups, or hotly anticipated rematches. Today’s edition looks at a first-time matchup featuring “The Bastard” PAC taking on “The Best Bout Machine” Kenny Omega in an impromptu match that is sure to steal the show at AEW’s All Out. PAC vs Kenny Omega, First time ever at All Out!
Sometimes, the best things in life are those you do not expect. And in wrestling, the best matches can be the ones that are just put together out of nowhere. That is what comes this Saturday night in what could be All Elite Wrestling‘s biggest show of the year, All Out. It will be Kenny Omega facing a new opponent as Jon Moxley’s staph infection in his elbow has returned, leading to the AEW crew to put Omega up against PAC.
Match Point: PAC vs Kenny Omega
How We Got Here
Photo: All Elite Wrestling
As we all know by now, Kenny Omega was on his way to facing Jon Moxley in the co-main event of All Out. But following Moxley’s announcement that he had to pull out of the match, AEW was without a huge match just two weeks before their big event. You may remember this happened at Double or Nothing as well when PAC had to pull out of his match against Hangman Page, leaving AEW scrambling once again.
I'm absolutely gutted to have to deliver this news but I'd rather it come directly from me. In a nightmare scenario, a serious case of MRSA has returned in my elbow. The timing couldn't be worse. In this circumstance I am forced to pull out of the fight 8/31 vs Omega at All Out .
— Jon Moxley (@JonMoxley) August 23, 2019
Now with Moxley out, AEW knew they had to deliver something huge for their biggest star Kenny Omega as he was without a match. On Being The Elite 167, there was a video of the Young Bucks and Cody trying to find a scenario as Omega remained without an opponent. They discussed a number of options that many fans had even said, like placing him in the AEW World Championship match featuring Chris Jericho and Hangman Page. Put then Matt Jackson said he knew the answer, leading to PAC being the new opponent for Kenny Omega. Now we may have an even more highly anticipated match on our hands come Saturday.
Omega’s Road
Kenny Omega’s road to All Out can all be traced back to a year earlier, as he was the IWGP Heavyweight Champion fighting at All In against Pentagon. As described by a piece prior, it was seen as a “dream match” of sorts. It was the first time it seemed in a while that Omega had a big match in the United States after spending much of his time in Japan. Little did we know it was just the start of his transition to the US full-time as an executive vice president of AEW. It was there that Chris Jericho attacked him following the match in prep for the Jericho Cruise but would lead to even more.
Now fast forward to Omega’s start to the year, as he defended the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 13. This would not only be a loss for Omega but quite possibly his final match as a part of the New Japan company that allowed him to become the star he is today and have so many incredible matches. Omega made the toughest decision of his life to leave Japan to join his friends here in the States, beginning All Elite Wrestling and the next chapter of his career.
AEW Record: 2-1-0
As an in-ring competitor for AEW now, Omega has yet to have that signature match. And that isn’t to say he has had a bad one, but we remain in wait for the instant classic that “The Best Bout Machine” can put on. It was the main event of Double or Nothing where Omega took on Chris Jericho in their rematch from Wrestle Kingdom 12 where the winner would move on to the main event of All Out to become the inaugural AEW World Champion. Jericho would unleash the Judas Effect to win the match and leave Omega wondering what went wrong. He could not think for long however as Jon Moxley made his presence known by taking out Omega.
Omega was on a warpath to eventually fight Moxley as we know, but had two matches under the AEW banner to prepare himself for the fight of his life. At Fyter Fest, Omega teamed with original Elite brothers, the Young Bucks, to take on Laredo Kid and the Lucha Bros. The Elite would notch their first victory, helping Omega to gain confidence. Omega attacked Moxley later that night as their feud has only gotten more personal as the months have gone on.
It would be a battle of respect at Fight for the Fallen between Omega and CIMA as the two had one of the better bouts of AEW’s short history. As Kenny hopes to continue getting back on track, he has PAC to deal with, in which a win could get him a shot at the title.
PAC’s Redemption
For PAC, his road to AEW is all about redemption. Following his ugly exit from the WWE that had him inactive for almost exactly a year, PAC returned to his former home of Dragon Gate in Japan. He would become the Open The Dream Gate Champion just two months later. PAC has fought all around the world, going out of his way to prove that he is one of the best talents in the world and was being held back. It was at the first event AEW meet-up when they let it be known their goals. Hangman Page was letting the fans know he works for them before PAC made waves through the wrestling world has he stood to Hangman. This is what would lead to their match being scheduled at Double or Nothing.
“The Bastard” and Hangman would fight, but not in the AEW ring on night one. It was following this match that the “PAC to AEW” possibilities seemed to have closed. All was silent until Mox had to step back and take care of himself following his busy summer. When it was announced, the excitement was real for fans around the world as these two world class athletes have a chance to put on a show. When it comes to “The Bastard”, this is all about the redemption and this is the match to find that.
First Time Ever Paths Cross
Believe it or not, this will be the first time ever that PAC and Kenny Omega cross paths. They made their names for themselves in the “land of the rising sun” as a part of DDT and Dragon Gate respectively. Being in the same country and just a company away makes it feel as though these two would have gone one-on-one prior, but instead, we sit here with no bout between the two. Ever making their name in the smaller but known countries in Japan, they moved forward to the two biggest wrestling companies in the world (WWE and NJPW) to only make their names greater.
PAC was originally scheduled to be the partner to the Lucha Bros at Fyter Fest but was completely pulled out of his AEW appearances. Sometimes, things really do happen for a reason. Despite both of their careers being heavily contested in Japan in premier companies, they have remained separated until now. When they stand across from the ring on Saturday night, goosebumps will be had as the big fight feel will be real.
Can PAC walk out victorious in his first official AEW match or if Omega will overcome the past few months of hate built into him towards Moxley to take down PAC?
All Elite Wrestling’s All Out takes place this Saturday, as The Buy In kicks off at 7:00 pm EST while the PPV begins at 8:00 pm EST.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. AEW All Out will air on PPV on B/R Live and Fite.tv.
