WWE: Backstage Update on Omos Lengthy WWE Absence, Shawn Michaels on Difference Between a Superkick and Sweet Chin Music, A&E WWE Ratings

Apr 16, 2025

Backstage Update on Omos’s Current Lengthy WWE Absence Status

Omos has been absent from WWE since the April 5, 2024 episode of WWE SmackDown. During his current abscense, Omos had worked a brief stint for Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan this past January.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that the reason for the lack of Omos’ return to WWE following his stay in NOAH is not due to any injury-related issues and instead he has been ready to work and perform again in WWE. It was reported Omos’ name simply has not been brought up in creative discussions for WWE television.

Those spoken to within WWE stated that Omos had impressed WWE officials with his run in NOAH and his willingness to work in Japan. One source spoken to within NOAH reportedly stated that Omos also had made a good impression with his work there and they believe that the company would happily have him come back there in the future.

Shawn Michaels Comments on Difference Between a Superkick and Sweet Chin Music

A recent episode of The Bobby Bones Show podcast featured WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Michaels’ thoughts about the difference between his Sweet Chin Music and others who perform superkicks in wrestling.

“So look, I think we go through phases and peaks and valleys in that to where you’re looking to give your fans the most for their entertainment dollar and nine times out of 10, that’s excitement, that’s movement. Certainly from an NXT standpoint, we don’t have the equity in our superstars that a main roster, a Raw or a SmackDown has. A viewer might not watch an NXT upstart who’s been doing this for six months as long as they’re going to watch a Kevin Owens and so, that young superstar will probably have to move faster and do more exciting things to keep that viewer invested. But at the same time, you wanna teach them and keep the integrity of the business so, look, you might begin to give them a little leeway and usually what happens is we do that but then after a while, it goes too far and then we reel and have to rein everybody back in, and so that’s just something you have to keep your fingers on the pulse of and that’s something I think that’s going on now. I think everybody, especially my finisher, the superkick or — again, I’m now understanding that a superkick is one thing but Sweet Chin Music, that’s a finisher so, I think when you get into those types of things, if you wanna keep the integrity of the move, obviously, we always want that to be noteworthy. But, I think you have to kind of call those as you see ‘em and hopefully the fan base appreciates and understands that.”

Michaels also gave his thoughts about how the art of selling moves in wrestling has changed over time and not being sure how his visual selling style of moves would be perceived today if he was wrestling.

“The business has changed so much. I think it’s interesting you used the word overselling. Back in the 90s, somebody like Mr. Perfect, who I used his style from a selling standpoint, this day and age he would be considered an overseller, but it was very visual and very appealing. The same way I sold in the 90s. Dolph Ziggler, Billy Gunn, they were very visual sellers. I don’t know how that would be received this day and age. A lot has changed over the years. With MMA being around, our business had to evolve and replicate what I think people perceived as as legitimately painful or not. As this continues to grow, evolve, and change, our business is going to continue to do that. Old timers like me often talk about, ‘These kids don’t sell anything like we did,’ but at the same time, I remember people saying that to me. That is generational. I think you have to change with the times. Football, basketball, baseball, they all need to be faster than they once were to keep an audience entertained and locked in. Our business is no different.”

Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com, Fightful.com

A&E WWE Programming Ratings – April 13, 2025

This past Sunday’s WWE LFG episode drew 127,000 viewers on A&E. This episode also drew a 0.02 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This was down compared to last week’s show’s 159,000 viewers and 0.04 rating.

This past Sunday’s WWE Rivals episode drew 133,000 viewers on A&E. This episode also drew a 0.02 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This was down compared to last week’s show 183,000 viewers and 0.05 rating. This episode focused on the memorable Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins rivalry.

This past Sunday’s WWE Greatest Moments premiere episode drew 147,000 viewers on A&E. This episode also drew a 0.01 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This was down compared to last week’s show 158,000 viewers and 0.03 rating. This episode focused on Wrestlemania In The 80s.

Source: Programming Insider