Don Callis details his decision to turn on Kenny Omega and align with Konosuke Takeshita.
Callis, Omega’s longtime manager and friend, turned on the former AEW World Champion on the May 10 episode of AEW Dynamite. In doing so, he cost Omega a Steel Cage Match against Jon Moxley. Takeshita, alongside Callis, then attacked Omega and helped Blackpool Combat Club beat The Elite in the Anarchy in the Arena match at AEW Double or Nothing.
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Callis discussed his betrayal of Omega and his alliance with Takeshita. (H/t Jeremy Lambert of Fightful for the transcription.)
“Kenny Omega was a great wrestler, and he was rich, but he didn’t have the success that he had until I came on board,” Callis said. “Takeshita is the next level of Kenny Omega. He’s bigger, stronger, and amazingly, I’m not going to sit here and tell you he’s a better athlete, but he’s on that level. This kid was an Olympic hopeful for decathlon. That’s ten events. He didn’t have to be great at one, like Kenny was great at hockey, he had to be great at ten. Why bring in Takeshita? He’s the future of AEW. He’s struggled since he’s been here, not to have great matches, but to consistently make good decisions. This kid had six matches in two days, and on 18 hours rest, wrestled Bryan Danielson. Those just aren’t smart decisions that someone with representation makes. Those bad decisions are going to go away, and we’re going to see that Takeshita is the future of professional wrestling.”
Callis continued by stating that he intends to take “The Elite” out of All Elite Wrestling.
“I am tortured by the fact, that I have a vision, and I can’t wait for it to come true, I really can’t,” Callis said. “I’m going to re-shape All Elite Wrestling, and I’m going to take The Elite out of All Elite Wrestling.”
Takeshita and Callis will speak on the May 31 episode of AEW Dynamite. WrestleZone will have live coverage of the show as it airs.
