Last Wednesday, the tag team of Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho challenged AEW World Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks and Big Bill at December 30th's World End PPV.
However, on Friday, Omega took to social media to announce that he's been put on the injured list...and will remain there for the foreseeable future.
"I can't really sugar coat this," Omega writes in the X post below. "I'm out indefinitely. I tried to keep pushing past the pain for as long as I could until it became too much. Luckily doctors caught me when they did. I'll be here so in the mean time, please enjoy wrestling!"
Jericho could find himself a new tag team partner for this title challenge, of course, but this comes at a bad time for AEW. The Young Bucks haven't been seen on television since they were defeated at AEW Full Gear and "Hangman" Adam Page is sidelined in storyline after being attacked by the company's mysterious Devil.
That means AEW is essentially without The Elite for now; meanwhile, in WWE, CM Punk is being placed centre stage!
According to Fightful Select, Omega had started to feel unwell near the start of the month. Those backstage at AEW Dynamite noticed there was something up with him and, after committing to finishing the show, he sought medical help. It was on Thursday he learned that he'd have to be hospitalised to combat diverticulitis.
The idea had been for Omega to wrestle at both Worlds End and on the Dynamite before it, but it's all been scrapped now and there's no timetable for his return. As a result, we don't anticipate him being featured in any current or upcoming storylines.
Earlier this year, Omega explained why he doesn't worry too much about his health when it comes time to step into the ring.
"Don’t tell me not to wrestle the way I know how to wrestle," he said. "Is there a risk? Was there a risk when Mike Tyson was fighting within inches of space between another championship-level boxer throwing power punches? Of course. But Tyson was confident in his abilities, and he knew he was the best. So don’t tell Mike Tyson how to box, and don’t tell Tyson Smith how to wrestle. You aren’t even close to being qualified. Just shut the f--- up."
Check out Omega's update on his current status below.