AEW All In has added a huge match to its 2025 card – Kenny Omega versus Kazuchika Okada. Winner takes all, Omega’s International Championship and Okada’s Continental Championship.
Amid a stacked list of matches in Arlington, Texas, this one is notable. It calls to a history of late 2010s pro wrestling that comes to a head.
The series of matches between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) needs little introduction. It’s up there with the greatest pro wrestling rivalries of the past.
Ricky Steamboat and Ric Flair. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Rock. Sting and Big Van Vader.
Omega and Okada essentially changed what pro wrestling could be to unfamiliar eyes. The timing couldn’t be better.
History of the Kazuchika Okada/Kenny Omega Rivalry
For much of the 2010s, Kazuchika Okada controlled the narrative as one of NJPW’s top talents. The limelight that once shone on Hiroshi Tanahashi expanded to include this rising star.
As Okada’s match catalog grew with widely acclaimed matches, he’d been slotted at the top multiple times. By the time 2016 rolled around, he became IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and he’d hold this title for an impressive 720 days.
During Okada’s reign, another name would gain prominence. Kenny Omega, the then-newest member of Bullet Club, accrued his own collection of acclaimed matches. Dubbed “The Cleaner,” it was inevitable that these two would clash.
At Wrestle Kingdom 11, they did just that. Being a fan in the moment was to spectate something not yet seen. And it would continue from 2017’s Dominion and G1 Climax before culminating at 2018’s Dominion.
The growth between the wrestlers was evident: the crown above Okada’s head had become too heavy. Omega’s fire and hunger outlapped it.
The first match at Wrestle Kingdom saw Okada narrowly escape with a win, whereas the rematch at Dominion saw a time-limit draw. Omega would win their G1 Climax bout, leaving Omega to advance to the finals. Omega then dethroned Okada in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match at the next year’s Dominion.
Aftermath of the Rivalry
Omega’s reign with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship was far shorter, and he’d shortly leave in 2019 for the budding promotion known as All Elite Wrestling. Okada found his way back to the top a few more times in the next few years.
In 2024, he left NJPW for AEW and quickly won the Continental Championship from then-champion Eddie Kingston. At the time of writing, he’s held it for around 450 days.
Omega has been AEW Tag Team Champion, AEW Trios World Champion, AEW Men’s World Champion, Impact World Champion, TNA World Champion, and AAA Mega Champion during the time that Okada remained in NJPW. At AEW Revolution, fresh out of a 7-month hiatus, Omega defeated Konosuke Takeshita for the International Championship. He’s held it for over 80 days. Omega would return to NJPW a few times, putting on classics with Will Ospreay and Gabe Kidd and even teaming with Okada at 2023’s New Year Dash!
Okada and Omega’s rivalry has since been seen as a reason for fans having been introduced to wrestling outside of WWE. Whether fans found out about it through word of mouth or Being the Elite, the NJPW side of Kenny Omega drew a fanbase that has changed wrestling.
Without the Omega/Okada rivalry, we wouldn’t have had AEW as it is now. We wouldn’t be in a renaissance of Dave Meltzer giving ratings of five stars or greater.
We wouldn’t have had WWE push to improve their product. Wrestling promotions with working relationships wouldn’t be as prominent as it is now.
The Stakes are High at AEW All In
All In being a haven for some of the biggest matches in AEW is one of my favorite things about the event. Samoa Joe versus CM Punk. Bryan Danielson became the AEW Men’s World Champion.
Mariah May defeated Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship in her hometown. FTR continued their rivalry with The Young Bucks.
Matches taking place in All In generally are great, most of the time. These are wrestlers given the chance to show out in stadiums without the WWE name attached. People who wrestled in other borders or smaller venues wrestle the way they want on a grander stage full of screaming fans by the legions.
Upon a recent rewatch of their series, the passion in their work is palpable, from the breaths of small details to the roars of the big ones. They wrestled as if to dare the world to ask, “How can we move on after this?” They dared it, only to surpass it each time while telling fresh stories in subsequent matches.
And a small part of me feels like Omega put in that work so they could follow up in the United States someday. Before, the closest was the ROH/NJPW show in Madison Square Garden at the G1 Supercard.
With both men’s titles on the line, this Winner Take All Match settles once and for all who is the better of the two. They have chips on their shoulders, with apt reason to be arrogant and confident.
Why This Matters
As of the time of writing, only two other matches are announced for All In. Owen Hart Cup Men’s Finalist “Hangman” Adam Page versus AEW Men’s World Champion Jon Moxley. AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm versus Owen Hart Cup Women’s Finalist Mercedes Mone.
With the weight of Okada and Omega locking up again, this has more than earned its place. Omega has consistently delivered excellent matches since his return. Meanwhile, Okada only unleashed his inner Rainmaker a select number of times.
He’ll perform a high-caliber match with the right opponent, as highlighted by his Double or Nothing bout with “Speedball” Mike Bailey. Moreover, he’s saved as a special attraction.
I can’t think of any attraction more special than All In. Even if both men are slowing down with their age, it’ll be hard to tell.
Furthermore, they know how to tell a story so well that in-ring capability won’t even be a factor. And even then, I hesitate to doubt this match.
From Kingdom to Dominion to All In. This is the story of professional wrestling. That feeling you get when your blood quakes within your veins?
The way your heart hammers as hard as bodies on the mat? This is what we live for as fans. This is why there is nothing like professional wrestling.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, AEW All In, 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. You can catch AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8 pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content is available on their YouTube channel.
