WWE and New Japan Pro Wrestling reportedly held talks earlier this year regarding a potential partnership deal, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Dave Meltzer reported that WWE President Nick Khan engaged in talks with NJPW officials around this past March or early April in regards to the idea of a working partnership between both companies. The talks revolved around WWE being willing to send their top talent to work at NJPW shows and in return, they would become NJPW’s exclusive American partner.
Meltzer reported that the current status of these talks are not known nor if the talks had progressed beyond the initial discussions earlier this year or if they will amount to anything at all. Meltzer also reported that WWE’s reasoning for entering talks with NJPW very likely is to keep NJPW away from their rival companies in the United States and to prevent NJPW’s current partners from being able to continue to use their talent for shows.
NJPW currently has working partnerships with AEW, Impact Wrestling, and Ring of Honor in the United States and CMLL in Mexico.