Gail Kim has fired back at AEW executive Kenny Omega, making it clear she won’t apologize for her recent criticism of Riho’s presentation. Speaking on the HUGE POP! podcast, Kim addressed the backlash sparked by her September 24, 2025, social media comments.
The dispute escalated after Omega posted a tweet referencing “a legend doing the splits on it for the yearly TKO gift basket.” Kim said Omega should have reached out privately instead of going public. She also suggested his remarks were shaped by online chatter.
“But even what he said, though, was very derogatory in my mind…he was probably reading things online and believing the AEW fans who twisted all the messaging,” Kim said. “To say I do the splits, I didn’t even know what that meant at first. I’m like, what do you mean that I do the splits for TKO? I’m like, what is he talking about?”
Kim clarified that her critique came from one match she saw when AEW first launched. She said she doesn’t regularly watch AEW today. Her issue, she explained, was with the psychology of that single match, which she found unconvincing due to the camera work and attire.
Despite the criticism, Kim stood her ground. She said she will not apologize for her reaction to that match and revealed that several former AEW employees have privately told her they share her concerns about Riho’s presentation.