Don Callis Recalls 14-Year-Old Kenny Omega’s Similarities With WWE Hall Of Famer

AEW

Don Callis has recalled the first time he saw a 14-year-old Kenny Omega step into a wrestling ring and the early similarities he showed to a wrestling icon.

Callis first met a young Omega while training with his uncle The Golden Sheik, and speaking on Talk is Jericho, Callis recalled his early influence on Omega’s career.

Callis revealed that despite Omega playing hockey as a youngster, he pushed for Omega to get involved in pro wrestling instead after seeing the 14-year-old run the ropes at the Winnipeg Wrestling Club.

Callis revealed:

“It was actually me that pulled him out of hockey, because his dad’s a hockey fan.

“And I said ‘No. We need to pull him out of hockey and let him focus on wrestling’.

“So I had a hand in… I don’t like to get my hands dirty with things like training and wrestling holds, but I think I guided Kenny with the sort of advice that you can only get from someone on our level.”

When Omega first stepped foot in the ring and began moving around, Callis was immediately struck by the similarities to a true Japanese wrestling great – WWE Hall of Famer Keiji Mutoh AKA The Great Muta.

Callis explained:

“He got in the ring, and… he wasn’t trained, but he had been watching so much wrestling.

“He started rolling around and running the ropes, and what I noticed… the first words out of my mouth, I said ‘Jesus. He’s like Mutoh…’

“What I meant by that was, remember Mutoh in WCW, that explosion? Zero to 60, like ‘Boom!’ The suddenness. Kenny had that at, like, 14.”

Callis and Omega’s on-screen partnership of course came to an end recently after Callis hit Omega with a screwdriver during a steel cage match with Jon Moxley on the May 10 AEW Dynamite.

This feud continued this past Sunday at Forbidden Door (June 25) as Callis once again aided one of Omega’s opponents, siding with Will Ospreay, and helping ensure he recaptured the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship from Omega.

While Omega and Ospreay’s match has received critical acclaim, some have criticised AEW for a particularly dangerous move used towards the match’s conclusion.

A tope AEW star has passed comment on the hot topic – to read their full comments click this link.

Transcript courtesy of WrestlingINC

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• Keiji Muto
• the great muta
• don callis
• Kenny Omega

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