Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi have reunited in Japan, with Ibushi sharing a photo of the longtime allies and tag team partners following what he described as a private get-together.

Ibushi posted the image on Instagram and revealed that the two spent time together watching boxing. The meeting also included an unusually memorable meal, with Ibushi joking about a 10,000-yen hamburger while thanking Omega for the outing and encouragement.

“Thank you so much, Kenny! ✨ We had a secret meeting and watched boxing together! A 10,000 yen hamburger!? What was that all about…This is the last surgery. I won’t do it again 😃 Thank you for the feast! I got even more energy”

The reunion carries added significance because both men are currently absent from AEW programming. Ibushi has been recovering from a broken femur suffered during an AEW Collision match one year ago, while Omega has not appeared on AEW television since losing the AEW World Championship to Will Ospreay at AEW All In.

For more background on this topic, read Shingo Takagi Defeats Claudio Castagnoli at NJPW Destruction in Kobe.

Ibushi signals optimism after second surgery

Ibushi’s reference to surgery was a notable part of his message. He recently underwent a second procedure connected to the serious leg injury that has kept him sidelined. His wording suggested a hopeful outlook on the road ahead, as he wrote that this would be the last surgery and said the meeting with Omega gave him more energy.

There is no stated timetable for Ibushi’s return to the ring. A broken femur is an especially substantial injury for any athlete, and Ibushi’s recovery has involved more than one surgery. The latest update does not establish a target date for a comeback, but it does offer a positive personal update from Ibushi as he continues his rehabilitation.

For wrestlers whose careers have been defined by physical risk, elite athleticism, and a willingness to push the pace, time away from the ring can be particularly difficult. Ibushi’s post did not focus on wrestling plans or make promises about when fans will see him compete again. Instead, it centered on friendship, recovery, food, and an evening spent with one of the most important partners of his career.

That approach made the post feel especially fitting for the history shared by Ibushi and Omega. Their connection has long extended beyond a conventional tag team arrangement. When they join forces in the ring, they are known as the Golden Lovers, a name that remains immediately recognizable to fans of both wrestlers.

A meaningful meeting for the Golden Lovers

Omega and Ibushi have each built major reputations as individual performers, but the Golden Lovers identity holds a special place in the careers of both men. Their partnership has been associated with a rare level of trust, emotional investment, and complementary in-ring chemistry. As a result, even a casual photo together can generate considerable interest among fans.

The latest reunion was not presented as a wrestling angle or an announcement of future business. Ibushi specifically characterized it as a “secret meeting,” and his post was focused on the time they spent together rather than any potential in-ring plans. That distinction is important. The image is a personal update, not confirmation of a Golden Lovers match, a reunion tour, or an AEW storyline.

Still, the timing naturally invites attention. Ibushi is working back from a major injury and another surgery. Omega is also off AEW television after his AEW World Championship loss to Ospreay. With both members of the Golden Lovers presently out of the weekly spotlight, their meeting offered fans a welcome reminder of their bond.

The photo also gives Ibushi’s recovery update a warmer context. Rather than simply informing followers that he had undergone another procedure, he shared that he was able to spend time with Omega, watch boxing, and enjoy a meal together. His closing note about having “even more energy” was a concise but encouraging indication of his mindset.

Omega remains off AEW television

Omega’s most recent stated AEW television absence follows his defeat to Will Ospreay at AEW All In, where he lost the AEW World Championship. No new return date or next opponent was included in the reunion update from Ibushi.

As with Ibushi, the fact that Omega has been away makes any public appearance involving him more notable for AEW followers. However, the Japan meeting itself should not be treated as evidence of immediate creative plans. Ibushi’s message did not mention AEW, a return to television, or a match involving either man.

What it did underscore was the enduring relationship between the two. Omega’s role in the evening, as described by Ibushi, was straightforward: he met with his friend, watched boxing with him, and treated him to dinner. For supporters of the Golden Lovers, that was enough to make the update meaningful.

It is also a reminder that major wrestling narratives are not always advanced through a microphone segment or a match announcement. Sometimes, a candid update from a wrestler recovering from surgery can resonate because of the people involved and the history they carry. Ibushi’s message was lighthearted in its mention of the expensive hamburger, but it also reflected the difficult period he has been navigating physically.

No return plans announced

There are several unknowns following the reunion. Ibushi did not announce when he expects to be medically cleared, when he may wrestle again, or whether his next appearance will take place in AEW or elsewhere. Omega likewise did not make a public statement in the update regarding his AEW status, a return date, or a possible reunion in the ring.

Those unanswered questions will remain central for fans hoping to see the Golden Lovers compete together again. Their status as a team gives any shared appearance an immediate sense of possibility, especially when both wrestlers are connected to AEW. But the current information supports only one clear conclusion: Omega and Ibushi spent time together in Japan while Ibushi continues to recover.

For now, Ibushi’s focus appears to be on healing after his second surgery. His statement that he does not intend to undergo another procedure conveys determination, though it should not be read as a medical clearance or an indication that his return is imminent. Recovery remains the priority.

Omega’s absence from AEW television continues following the title loss to Ospreay, leaving his own next step unresolved. The reunion does not answer that question, either. It does, however, provide an affectionate snapshot of two wrestlers whose partnership remains important to a large segment of the wrestling audience.

The Golden Lovers may not have announced a return to action, but the connection between Omega and Ibushi remains visible. In a period defined by Ibushi’s rehabilitation and Omega’s absence from AEW programming, their meeting in Japan offered a positive update: a night of boxing, a memorable meal, and renewed energy for Ibushi as he works toward the next stage of his recovery.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.