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Kenny Omega wrestled nine-year-old Haruka at a Stardom event in Tokyo on July 24, 2011. The match ended in a three-minute draw. Years later, Omega explained that he agreed to wrestle her because she was a devoted young fan who felt left out of a wrestling opportunity—and because he believed the creative upside outweighed the risk of taking part.
Who was the girl Kenny Omega wrestled?
She was Haruka, described as nine years old in contemporaneous coverage of the match. Omega later recalled first encountering her in a beginners class when he believed she was seven. Those ages refer to different points in the timeline: his recollection of their first encounter and the event coverage from the match itself.
WrestleZone published an August 2, 2011 article identifying Haruka as nine and embedding match footage, evidence that the bout was circulating in coverage at the time: WrestleZone’s contemporaneous report.
Why did Kenny Omega agree to wrestle her?
In a 2017 account of Omega’s appearance on Talk Is Jericho, Fightful reported his recollection that Haruka was a passionate young wrestling fan. Omega said she was upset that girls from a kickboxing academy were being recruited while she was considered too young, and that the promotion wanted to find an opportunity for her and asked him to work with her. This is Omega’s retrospective explanation, not a documented official statement from Stardom or DDT.
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He also described the decision as a reputational risk: if Haruka were hurt, the consequences could be serious. As Fightful transcribed his reasoning, Omega concluded that “the positives outweighed the negatives.” That explains his stated judgment at the time; it is not, by itself, an independent safety assessment of the match. Fightful’s 2017 account of Omega’s explanation.
What happened in the match?
The event-specific listing from Dramatic DDT places the bout at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo during Stardom’s Nanae Takahashi 15th Anniversary event on July 24, 2011. It records a three-minute time-limit draw, with the bell ringing as Omega was about to use his Croyt’s Wrath finisher. The listing gives attendance as 1,310. Dramatic DDT’s event report.
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According to that report, Omega offered Haruka a handshake before the match, which she kicked away. After the draw, he offered his hand again and she slapped him. The report says she won over the crowd; this is playful ringside storytelling, not evidence about either performer’s private feelings.
Why do some accounts name a different venue?
Some later retellings place the match at Ryogoku Sumo Hall. The detailed event-specific Dramatic DDT listing instead identifies Korakuen Hall for the July 24 Stardom show, so Korakuen Hall is the better-supported venue. WrestleZone’s contemporaneous article helps establish that footage was being shared, but the detailed event listing is more specific about the event record.
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What did Omega say about Haruka years later?
In a 2019 interview about the documentary Omega Man – A Wrestling Love Story, Omega said he had reconnected with Haruka. He also said she had left professional wrestling before the documentary could obtain her comment. That interview does not establish her present-day status. Fightful’s 2019 report.
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- KENNY OMEGA AEW ACTION FIGURE The All Elite Wrestling Unrivaled Assortment features the highly detailed 6.5-inch pro-wrestling Kenny Omega action figure, making it an incredible addition to any collection
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