Tony Khan Credits Kenny Omega For Bringing Konosuke Takeshita To AEW
By Craig Ballantyne on 22 October 2025
Tony Khan has spoken on the key role Kenny Omega played in bringing Konosuke Takeshita to AEW.
After multiple matches in the company in 2021 and 2022, Konosuke Takeshita signed with the company in November 2022, while retaining his contract in Japanese promotion DDT. Since then, the star has quickly become one of the top stars in AEW and is widely regarded as a contender for the best wrestler in the world today. That was recently solidified when he captured NJPW’s top title, the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, from Zack Sabre Jr at King of Pro Wrestling.
Takeshita has been linked to AEW EVP Kenny Omega for much of his career, having competed against him in one of his earliest matches in DDT in 2012, and has continued a rivalry with him ever since. Most recently, the pair fought over the International Championship at Revolution 2025, with Omega winning the gold.
Tony Khan has now explained how that connection led to him giving Takeshita a chance in AEW. During his recent appearance on Busted Open, Khan said Omega was the one who persuaded him to give him an opportunity, something the AEW President is grateful for today.
“With (Konosuke) Takeshita, it was Kenny Omega, who first came to me and said, ‘I really believe in Takeshita, and if you give him an opportunity here, I think you’re really gonna like him,’ and boy was Kenny right.
“I mean, Kenny’s a wrestling genius himself, and I was just talking with Kenny about this the other night because Kenny and I flew home together after WrestleDream — back to Florida — and we were talking on the flight back and I am very grateful to Kenny because when he brought that kid here, he was on to something.”
‘Sometimes I Compare Konosuke Takeshita To Barry Windham’ – Tony Khan
Khan went on to compare Konosuke Takeshita to the legendary Barry Windham due to his size and athleticism.
“You could see it from when Takeshita first got here. He was like a big athlete. Sometimes I compare Takeshita to Barry Windham. I think when I first saw him, I saw this tall kid that glides effortlessly through the ring and just glides, and he’s so crisp with everything he does, and I couldn’t put my finger on it, but then, when I watched a few of his matches, I said, ‘Barry Windham.’
“I feel like the way he’s improved and continuously got better and better. Again, it reminds me of seeing young Barry Windham coming into his own and I’m really excited because I think Takeshita’s had great mentorship, and here in AEW, we really believe in him and he’s risen to these opportunities.”
Do you agree with Tony Khan’s comparison of Konosuke Takeshita and Barry Windham? Do you want to see Omega and Takeshita continue their rivalry? Let us know your thoughts below!
H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.