Report: Possible Reason Kenny Omega Was Absent From AEW Grand Slam Mexico 2026

While he has been featured in advertisements for both editions of AEW Grand Slam Mexico at CMLL's Arena Mexico, Kenny Omega has been absent from the shows, despite fans clamouring for the 42-year-old to wrestle inside the famous building.

It has not been confirmed why Omega was absent, yet again, from Grand Slam Mexico but Bryan Alvarez reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that it may have been related to Omega's past battle with diverticulitis and food hygiene in Mexico.

"I don't know this 100 per cent, but I think it probably had to do with the fact that he almost died of diverticulitis. Maybe spending some time in Mexico might not have been the best idea because people do get sick every time they go there for AEW, even eating in nice restaurants and hotels. So, I presume that's why. I mean, there's no other reason. He was here on this show," Alvarez stated.

Kenny Omega suffered from a life-threatening bout of diverticulitis in December 2023 that left him with a 50 per cent chance of passing away. The reigning AEW World Champion was out of action for over a year until his return match against Gabe Kidd in January 2025.

A narrative review by the peer-reviewed journal, Acta Microbiologica Hellenica, published earlier this year noted that microbiological analyses of Mexican street food, particularly in Mexico City, over the past 25 years showed indications of inadequate hygiene practices and food containing pathogens such as salmonella, E. coli, listeria, and vibrio.

Kenny Omega has previously wrestled in Mexico for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide while the promotion had a working relationship with AEW, during which he reigned as AAA Mega Champion for 765 days, but Omega has not performed in Mexico since the summer of 2023.

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