Tony Schiavone Crowns AEW’s Hulk Hogan — And It’s Not Who You Think
As the wrestling world continues to mourn the loss of Hulk Hogan, voices across the industry are weighing in on his legacy — and on who might carry that same torch in today’s landscape. AEW broadcaster Tony Schiavone didn’t hesitate when asked who, if anyone, could be considered the Hulk Hogan of All Elite Wrestling. His answer? Not Jon Moxley. Not Chris Jericho. But Kenny Omega.
On the latest episode of What Happened When, Schiavone joined co-host Conrad Thompson for a conversation that turned reflective in light of Hogan’s passing. When Thompson suggested that Moxley — with his grit, edge, and big-match aura — might be AEW’s closest equivalent to Hogan, Schiavone respectfully disagreed.
“I’d think it would be Kenny Omega, if anyone,” Schiavone said plainly, but with conviction.
Omega’s journey in AEW mirrors Hogan’s in more ways than fans might immediately realize. A founding EVP of the company and one of its cornerstone stars, Omega helped build the AEW brand from the ground up. He began as a babyface fan favorite, backed by the company’s early believers. But like Hogan’s unforgettable heel turn in WCW’s nWo days, Omega eventually shifted into darker territory — aligning with Don Callis in a run that saw him simultaneously hold the AEW and TNA World Championships.
That chapter was interrupted by a terrifying health scare — a life-threatening bout of diverticulitis that took Omega out of action and cast real doubt on whether he'd ever return to the ring. But return he did, and since coming back, he’s once again become a rallying point for fans, especially those frustrated with the power games of The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada.
In AEW’s evolving mythology, Omega has become something bigger than just a wrestler — he’s a symbol of resilience, of creative integrity, and of standing up when things feel off. It’s that authenticity that Schiavone believes puts Omega in the Hogan conversation — not in terms of cultural saturation, but in sheer influence and internal legacy.
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This comparison hits harder than it seems on the surface. Hogan was the face of a movement — a global icon who shifted the culture and defined an era. Omega, in AEW’s corner of the universe, has done something equally transformative. He helped launch a company during a time when fans were hungry for something fresh, delivered critically acclaimed matches across the world, and even in his lowest health moments, kept the spark alive.
Schiavone isn’t trying to draw a one-to-one comparison. He’s tapping into something more meaningful — the idea that every generation needs its tentpole figure. In AEW, Kenny Omega might just be that guy.
