WWE and NJPW Reportedly in "Talks"

[Chris]

source: f4wonline.com
WWE president Nick Khan has been in talks with New Japan Pro Wrestling about WWE becoming NJPW's exclusive American partner.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter that talks regarding the potential partnership date back to March or early April, but there's no indication where the discussions are currently at. If talks go anywhere, the deal would include WWE sending talent, including top stars, to work in NJPW.

NJPW has normally worked with Ring of Honor as their American partner. During the pandemic, however, NJPW has also formed relationships with All Elite Wrestling and Impact Wrestling. Yuji Nagata appeared earlier this month on AEW Dynamite and Satoshi Kojima appeared on this week’s episode of Impact Wrestling.

Meltzer wrote the following:

In what could end up being among the biggest wrestling stories of the year, or a non-story, depending on the end result, Nick Khan has been in talks with New Japan Pro Wrestling about WWE being the exclusive American partner with the promotion. Right now New Japan has been working with AEW (KENTA, Yuji Nagata, Rocky Romero and Ren Narita plus Jon Moxley working New Japan Strong) and Impact (Juice Robinson, David Finlay, El Phantasmo and Satoshi Kojima) and has had a relationship with CMLL and ROH, but things have slowed down with those companies since COVID.

Obviously there are a million questions regarding such a deal if it was to happen, and there are no indications where talks are at past they date back to late March or early April. But it would include WWE sending talent and WWE top stars being allowed to work in New Japan if talks go anywhere. With Khan, the former isolationist attitude of WWE vs. everyone is changing with the idea WWE is part of the wrestling landscape and not separate from the pro wrestling landscape. Obviously it’s also to keep New Japan, which pre-pandemic was the third strongest company in the world, away from working with other companies which could strengthen the opposition and also be a factor with WWE gunning for the same talent as other companies because there is a percentage of younger talent that grew up on watching New Japan either via tape or YouTube where working there is a much bigger part of their career goals than the prior generation, and AEW talent has been willing to allow its talent to work outside its walls and Impact would allow talent to work with other promotions.

 

[Dale]

I love how they've always gotta throw the lines in about the motive being to sabotage other companies.

NJPW wanted traction in the west, you start a working relationship with the biggest wrestling company there is. WWE wanted a foothold in Japan as we heard with them trying to get Stardom? so you partner up with the biggest company in Japan.

 

[CakeWalker]

As a NJPW fan before anything else, this is not good news for the whole idea of what NJ is - if an exclusivity deal goes threw.
Especially for the lesser product NJPW Strong, which will effectively be dead in the water or become effectively NXT Japan if NJ agree to not use any talent not signed to any other promotion. I hope this doesn't go through at all.

 

[Hoss]

I love how they've always gotta throw the lines in about the motive being to sabotage other companies.

NJPW wanted traction in the west, you start a working relationship with the biggest wrestling company there is. WWE wanted a foothold in Japan as we heard with them trying to get Stardom? so you partner up with the biggest company in Japan.

Well, WWE haven't NOT tried to suppress potential competitors in the past.

 

[Chris]

As a NJPW fan before anything else, this is not good news for the whole idea of what NJ is - if an exclusivity deal goes threw.
Especially for the lesser product NJPW Strong, which will effectively be dead in the water or become effectively NXT Japan if NJ agree to not use any talent not signed to any other promotion. I hope this doesn't go through at all.

You said NJPW Strong was trash and made fun of me for watching it

 

[CakeWalker]

You said NJPW Strong was trash and made fun of me for watching it

At the time I made that comment - it was pretty trash. But I do respect what they are doing with the brand.

 

[Dale]

Well, WWE haven't NOT tried to suppress potential competitors in the past.

I know but it's just funny that's the narrative Meltzer unsurprisingly wants to run with and not about both companies wanting to expand in each others region.

 

[Canadian Dragon]

I know but it's just funny that's the narrative Meltzer unsurprisingly wants to run with and not about both companies wanting to expand in each others region.

exclusive business partner = leaving others out. Not sure how Dave is spinning anything here, it's right in the article, and it's a logical conclusion that one of the reasons would be to hurt competition, come on man

 

[Chris]

I feel like Gedo's been booking more and more like WWE lately tbh almost feels natural.

 

[Marty McFourth]

Imagine Survior Series with NJPW talent involved

 

[Marty McFourth]

Also, I'm not sure if it'd ever happen but seeing Roman in NJPW would be fucking insane. Imagine him working with some of the top talents over there.

 

[CakeWalker]

Also, I'm not sure if it'd ever happen but seeing Roman in NJPW would be fucking insane. Imagine him working with some of the top talents over there.

I'd rather eat Cathedral city cheddar

 

[Marty McFourth]

I'd rather eat Cathedral city cheddar

 

[Hidden Blaze]

I mainly don’t want it because “exclusive.” If NJPW was free to still work with Impact and AEW, I be cool with it. But this makes me honestly not want it.

 

[Hoss]

I'd just rather see WWE up their own game first and foremost before I'd really be super into this potential partnership. I'm not gonna skip something like Ibushi vs. Rollins or Ishii vs. Sheamus tho.