More on the Working Relationship Between AEW and NJPW

KENTA’s appearance on Dynamite last night to attack Jon Moxley is the beginning of a relationship between AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

As of now, it’s not clear if there are any other plans for talent sharing between the promotions, and the pandemic currently makes it difficult anyway because of travel restrictions and quarantine rules, but Meltzer said, “I know people who can’t wait to go back to Japan. Put it that way.”

Though the pandemic makes a full blown partnership difficult for now, it also helped open the door for a relationship. Moxley is the IWGP United States Champion and hasn’t been able to travel to Japan for almost a year to defend his title. He finally will defend the title against KENTA on NJPW New Beginning USA on Friday, February 26. That match will take place in the United States. AEW’s contract with Moxley means that he can only work for them in the US, so Tony Khan gave permission and NJPW and AEW worked out a deal for Moxley to be able to wrestle for NJPW in the States. Part of that deal seems to include KENTA wrestling in AEW in return. Next week on Dynamite, KENTA will team with Kenny Omega to face Moxley and Lance Archer in a “Lights Out Match.”

AEW wanted to form a relationship with NJPW when AEW was first created, but a deal couldn’t be reached at the time “and they went their separate ways,” Meltzer said. NJPW reportedly wanted Tony Khan to come meet with them, but he didn’t and sent another representative, which NJPW apparently saw as a slight. Meltzer added that NJPW also didn’t have a sense of whether or not AEW would be successful, so they “big leagued them.” Some of NJPW’s top American stars leaving for AEW also likely led to bad feelings.

Meltzer says that “relations are open” now and “anything is open, but it’s probably not gonna be that soon because they would have to quarantine to go back.”

“But if the pandemic ends, is there an opening to do Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi at the Tokyo Dome? If everything is back to normal? Yes, there is an absolute opening. The wrestlers would want to do it,” Meltzer said. “Could they do it in Madison Square Garden? Yes, they could. But is it gonna happen next month? No, it can’t.”