SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
-AEW EVP Kenny Omega spoke out against WWE promoting Evolve 131 head to head against Fight for the Fallen, which is a charity show for victims of gun violence. Regarding WWE’s decision to run Evolve 131 up against Fight for the Fallen, which is set to air for free on B/R Live on July 13.
Omega wrote:
If lining your pockets with blood money is okay, then what’s wrong with trying to undermine a charity show for victims of gun violence? I hear that healthy competition is supposed to be a good thing and yet I can’t help but feel like I’m gonna be sick.
Omega has since taken down the tweet, but he also tweeted that his tweet was directed at the decision makers in wrestling and nobody else. Omega’s original tweet has been deleted, but you can see his followup tweet below:
I’ve said my piece and it opened the door to a very toxic environment. It wasn’t a message to fans, or the boys, just the decision makers. I wish everyone wrestling on any show that day all the best. That is all.
— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) June 26, 2019
Radican’s Analysis: It will be interesting to see if there’s anymore sniping back and forth between AEW and WWE talent or executives leading into July 13. Going head to head against a charity show certainly isn’t a good look for WWE and Omega rightly called the company out for taking blood money from Saudi Arabia.
Oh this is getting good! Wrestling is at its best when there is real-life drama involved. WWE has evolved from the underdog, to eventual victor, to the modern version of Turner. Let’s see what comes of this!
Not a good look, Kenny. The Evolve event has been scheduled, it’s an anniversary event, we all know they’re affiliated with WWE, WWE is simply airing the event on the Network. This does not affect the AEW show at all – the show is streaming free – the money made will be off attendees – they are not going to sell their tickets to instead watch Evolve on WWE Network.
Regarding Rollins/Ospreay, I’ve got no problem with that. Both guys are repping themselves and their brands which is great. What does not work for me is inter-company twitter chatter, a la Becky and Ronda, which is obviously a work.
Well Kenny Omega is right that WWE does line their pockets with dirty Saudi Money who literally has blood on their hands. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me on never watching that cesspool again.