Wrestling is built on lies. We all know it. The rings are bouncy, the punches often miss by a country mile, and most "finishing moves" don't actually finish anything anymore. You see guys kicking out of devastating piledrivers or top-rope splashes every Wednesday and Friday night. It's called "false finish inflation," and honestly, it’s kind of exhausting. But there is one massive exception that breaks the rules of modern pro wrestling.
The One Winged Angel Kenny Omega executes is the last true "game over" button left in the industry.
If you hear the announcer scream the name and see Kenny hook the head while hoisting an opponent onto his shoulders, the match is basically over. It’s a Electric Chair Driver. It looks dangerous because it is. But the magic isn't just in the physics of the move; it’s in the way Omega has guarded it like a dragon guarding gold for over a decade. In an era where everyone kicks out of everything, the One Winged Angel remains the most protected asset in the business.
The Anatomy of the Killshot
What actually happens during the move? Kenny starts by lifting his opponent into an electric chair position—the guy is sitting on Kenny’s shoulders, staring at the rafters. Then, Kenny reaches up, grabs the opponent’s head, and hooks one arm. This is the "One Wing" part of the name, a direct nod to Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII. When they drop, the opponent doesn't just fall; they are driven straight down onto their neck and shoulders.
It’s brutal. It’s fast.
The move transitioned from a cool-looking transition back in his DDT Pro-Wrestling days in Japan to a literal death sentence during his rise in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Fans started noticing something weird around 2016 and 2017: nobody was kicking out. Not Hiroshi Tanahashi. Not Tetsuya Naito. Not even the "Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada during their legendary 60-minute wars.
The Only Person Who Survived
There is a single asterisk in the history books. Just one.
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Kota Ibushi is the only human being to ever kick out of the One Winged Angel Kenny Omega hit him with. This happened way back in 2012 at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan during a DDT event. It wasn't just a random booking choice. Ibushi and Omega were the "Golden Lovers," a tag team with a deep, emotional, and complex storyline that spanned two continents and multiple promotions.
Because Ibushi kicked out, he became the "soulmate" foil to Omega. It established that only the person who knows Kenny best—the person who loves him most—could find the will to beat the move. Since that day in 2012? Silence. From AEW to NJPW to Ring of Honor, if the One Winged Angel lands, the ref’s hand hits the mat three times. Every. Single. Time.
This kind of discipline in booking is unheard of. Think about the biggest moves in history. The Hulk Hogan leg drop? People kicked out. The Stone Cold Stunner? Everyone from The Rock to Kurt Angle survived it at least once. Even the Undertaker’s Tombstone Piledriver became a suggestion rather than a rule at WrestleMania. By keeping the One Winged Angel "sacred," Omega has created a rare commodity in 2026: genuine suspense.
Why the Protection Matters for AEW and Beyond
When Omega signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), skeptics thought the protection would end. Surely, in a new American promotion, he’d have to give up the ghost to put over a new star, right?
Wrong.
During his historic AEW World Championship run, the move remained the ultimate finish. Hangman Adam Page, his greatest rival in the promotion, didn't even kick out of it to win the title. Instead, the story was built around Page avoiding the move or escaping the setup. That’s the nuance. You don’t need to kick out of a move to prove you’re tough; escaping the attempt shows you’re smart.
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The psychology here is brilliant. It makes the audience hold their breath the moment Kenny crouches down to make the lift. You’ll see fans in the front row standing up because they know they are potentially seeing the final three seconds of the contest. It’s a level of engagement that "spamming" finishers simply can’t achieve.
The Risks and the Reality
Let's be real for a second. The move is high-risk. We aren't just talking about "kayfabe" (storyline) danger. Pro wrestling is a physical grind, and Omega’s body has paid the price. The man has dealt with vertigo, shoulder issues, and a high-profile battle with diverticulitis that sidelined him.
The One Winged Angel Kenny Omega performs requires immense core strength and a stable base. If his balance is off by an inch, both he and his opponent are in trouble. This is likely why, as he’s gotten older and dealt with more injuries, he saves the move for the biggest moments. He doesn't just hand it out like candy on a random Tuesday night.
Critics sometimes complain that it makes his matches predictable. They argue that once he hits it, there’s no point in watching the pin. But those critics are missing the forest for the trees. The "predictability" is the reward for the viewer's investment. It’s the payoff. When the One Winged Angel hits, you aren't waiting to see if they kick out; you are witnessing the definitive end of a chapter.
How to Watch for the "Setup"
If you want to sound like an expert when watching a Kenny Omega match, look for these specific cues that lead into the move:
- The V-Trigger Barrage: Kenny almost never goes straight for the lift. He usually softens the neck with three or four high-speed knee strikes.
- The Snap Dragon Suplex: He needs the opponent dazed and unable to fight the "hook" of the arm. A series of suplexes usually precedes the lift.
- The Wrist Control: Watch Kenny's hands. He will often hold onto the wrist after a strike to pull the opponent directly into the electric chair position.
The Future of the Move
Who will be the second person to kick out? That’s the million-dollar question in the wrestling world. It’s a "break glass in case of emergency" moment for a promoter. If Will Ospreay or Konosuke Takeshita eventually kicks out of it, it will be a "where were you" moment for fans.
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But honestly? Maybe nobody should.
There is something beautiful about a move being truly unbeatable. It adds a layer of reality to a scripted sport. In a real fight, sometimes one clean shot is all it takes. By keeping the One Winged Angel "deadly," Omega honors the old-school logic of wrestling while using a flashy, modern maneuver.
If you’re just getting into his work, go back and watch his G1 Climax finals or his bouts against Bryan Danielson. You’ll see the desperation in his opponents as they scramble to the ropes the second they feel their feet leave the ground. That’s not just acting; that’s the respect for a move that hasn't failed in over a decade.
Actionable Steps for the Fan and the Student
If you're looking to appreciate the technical side of the One Winged Angel Kenny Omega uses or just want to dive deeper into the lore, here is what you should do:
- Study the 2012 Ibushi Clip: Search for the DDT Budokan 2012 highlights. Seeing the only kick-out in history provides the necessary context for why the move feels so heavy today.
- Watch the "Escape" Spots: Instead of looking for kick-outs, watch how wrestlers like Young Bucks or Jon Moxley used the environment (ropes, biting, eye rakes) to stop the move before it landed. This is where the real drama lives.
- Listen to the Commentary: Notice how the announcers change their tone when the lift happens. They stop calling the play-by-play and start talking about the end of the match. It’s a masterclass in building a "finisher" brand.
The One Winged Angel isn't just a slam. It's a contract between the wrestler and the audience. It’s a promise that if this thing happens, the story is over. In a world where nothing seems to matter, that kind of consistency is everything.