Report: AEW’s Kenny Omega Pitched Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch In 2019

Dave Meltzer has claimed that AEW World Champion Kenny Omega has wanted to do the Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch in AEW since at least 2019.

The match is going ahead at AEW Revolution on March 7 2021, and has caught the imagination of fans across the world.

Regarding the stipulation in AEW, Meltzer said the following in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

“Regarding the explosive barbed wire match, this was Kenny Omega’s idea from more than a year ago. Tony Khan said Omega suggested at some point doing this match in late 2019, in the same conversation he first brought up going heel with Don Callis as his manager. Omega has said to us that if you really think you’re the best in the world, you have to prove it by wrestling at a high level in every type of style and  situation as opposed to just one way. That’s why he did the lights out match with Jon Moxley the way he did it in 2019. He pitched Tony Khan on the idea a long time ago. 

The deal is that you really have to do that kind of a match either at a huge stadium or better outdoors. Khan felt that Moxley was the guy and this was the time, and presented the idea to Moxley, who was very happy as he’s wanted to do that kind of a match himself”