It is little wonder that WWE has chosen to invest in Omos. The Nigerian seven footer has the kind of size and look that simply can’t be taught. Moreover, the company has positioned him for success, partnered with the phenomenally skilled veteran, AJ Styles, for one of the greatest big man and little man tag teams in WWE history. More than the physically imposing half of a featured tag team, though, Omos may represent a vital piece of WWE’s future.
Omos Can Work The WWE Style
While the assessment isn’t entirely fair, there’s a general perception that the dividing line between the WWE main roster and most other brands in wrestling is that it truly revolves around showmanship and presentation over the quality of wrestling. After all, a big part of the company’s identity across decades has been about larger than life super heroes and being the land of the giants. For example, while Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat might've stolen the show at the iconic WrestleMania 3 event, Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant was the colossal draw that filled the Pontiac Silverdome to capacity.
Omos fits this tradition of a giant who, at least thus far, seems very coachable. It’s difficult to imagine him ever having a work rate between the ropes like AJ Styles. Nonetheless, he has already demonstrated an ability to thrive using feats of strength and basic offense in the tradition of supersized talents like The Great Khali. So, while AEW surges with rumored signings of top talkers and technicians like CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, Omos represents the kind of talent who can continue carrying WWE forward within its own particular style and aesthetic.
Omos Is A Homegrown Talent
Many of the wrestlers whom hardcore fans get most excited about nowadays have buzz they established on smaller stages—in New Japan, Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor, or out on the independent circuit.
By contrast, WWE signed Omos coming out of a college basketball career, entering as a truly raw product for the company to mold. There is undeniably a kind of merit to learning to wrestle on the indies—having to get over with a variety of crowds and learning by sheer repetitions of wrestling night after night against different opponents. Nonetheless, given WWE’s relatively particular style that emphasizes showmanship and big spots, there’s nothing for Omos to “unlearn” now in WWE after picking up undesirable habits on the indies. Moreover, Omos is a wrestling talent WWE can take credit for and expect to be loyal to them, without a background of having allegiances to a variety of other wrestling promotions and outside influences.
We Still Don’t Know What Omos Can Do
Omos is presently only 27 years old. While giants don’t have the greatest track record for longevity, medical science has come a long way, and it’s not unrealistic to anticipate the young star having another ten to fifteen years ahead of him as a WWE Superstar. That’s a great deal of time to continue developing his ring work, mannerisms, and even his skills at cutting promos. For all we know, the most successful version of Omos might even come when he transitions to a babyface character.
Perhaps the most important consideration of all, though, is that in Omos being so well protected—working short matches and mostly in tag team situations—he can keep progressing behind closed doors and keep impressing with what it turns out he can do when the lights are on bright. Positioning him to work night in and night out with AJ Styles—to get Phenomenal mentorship behind the scenes, and have a closer than ringside seat to watch the best in the business ply his trade over and over again—will only further set up Omos to continue growing as an all around performer.
For all we know, things might not work out for Omos. He hasn’t yet proven what he can do as a singles wrestler or in a very long match. The giant has near limitless potential, though, on account of his size and the foundation he has already demonstrated in WWE, winning the Raw Tag Team Championship in his debut main roster match at WrestleMania, and carrying forward in a featured role. It looks like Omos has a bright future, and that means a bright future for WWE as well.