Kenny Omega
A Canadian wrestler who redefined athletic storytelling, blending video game-inspired creativity with breathtaking physicality to captivate global audiences.
Born 1983 (age 43)·Canadian-born professional wrestler·Birthday: October 16·Millennials
Biography
Born Tyson Smith in Winnipeg, Kenny Omega’s path to wrestling stardom was anything but conventional. A self-professed nerd, he channeled his love for video games and anime into a unique in-ring persona, crafting matches that felt like epic boss battles. His career ignited not in the traditional American wrestling circuits, but in Japan, where he became the first non-Japanese wrestler to win the prestigious G1 Climax tournament in 2016. His series of matches against Kazuchika Okada are widely considered masterclasses in pacing and drama. Omega co-founded All Elite Wrestling in 2019, bringing his visionary style to a mainstream American audience and serving as an executive who helped shape the company's bold, athletic identity. More than just a performer, he is a creative force who treats wrestling as a kinetic art form, pushing his body to its limits to tell stories that resonate with a new generation of fans.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kenny was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kenny Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Kenny's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first non-Japanese wrestler to win New Japan Pro-Wrestling's G1 Climax tournament in 2016.
- His 2017 match against Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 11 received an unprecedented seven-star rating from wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer.
- Co-founded All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2019 and served as its inaugural AEW World Champion.
- Achieved wrestling's 'Triple Crown' by holding the IWGP Heavyweight, Intercontinental, and United States Championships in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Did You Know?
His ring name 'Omega' was chosen to signify being the 'end all, be all' of wrestling.
He is an avid video game collector and has a famous 'Final Fantasy' inspired entrance theme called 'Battle Cry'.
He is fluent in Japanese, which he learned during his tenure wrestling in Japan.
Before wrestling, he worked as a video game journalist and reviewer.
“I want to be the guy that makes you feel something, even if it's just for a second.”
