Kenny Omega’s First AEW World Title Defense Official for Redemption
Kenny Omega‘s second run as AEW World Champion is already off to a big start. AEW has officially announced his first title defense, as he will face TNT Champion Kevin Knight at next weekend’s AEW Redemption in Canada.
The match was made official during the July 15 episode of AEW Dynamite. The segment also featured Will Ospreay, who is already set to challenge Omega for the AEW World Championship at All In next month at Wembley Stadium. But before Omega and Ospreay could focus on that match, Kevin Knight interrupted to remind everyone that he had earned a world title shot.
Omega came to the ring to a huge ovation. The Young Bucks joined him and surprised Omega by bringing back the classic AEW World Championship belt with his custom side plates.
Will Ospreay then entered the ring and asked for a private conversation after politely sending The Young Bucks backstage.
Ospreay congratulated Omega on winning the title and praised him for overcoming everything he had been through. He called Omega one of the greatest wrestlers ever and said he had inspired him.
However, Ospreay reminded Omega that they would soon face each other at All In. But before the conversation could continue, Kevin Knight made his entrance.
Knight congratulated Omega but quickly reminded him that MJF had promised him the next AEW World Championship match. That promise came after Knight agreed to join MJF’s team for the 12-man steel cage match at Forbidden Door, earning a future title shot.
At first, Omega laughed and said he didn’t feel obligated to honor anything MJF had promised. But he admitted that Knight has a lot of potential, even though he was part of the Don Callis Family.
Omega offered Knight the title match at Redemption but challenged him to leave Don Callis behind and prove he could succeed on his own.
Knight wasn’t interested. Without warning, he hit Omega in the head with a microphone. Ospreay tried to help Omega but was attacked as well.
Darby Allin then ran to the ring to even the odds. Members of the Don Callis Family then joined the fight before the Death Riders arrived to end the chaotic segment.
The match at Redemption will be the first singles meeting between Omega and Knight, although they have teamed together twice before.
