NJPW star KENTA made a surprise appearance at AEW Dynamite last night (February 3rd) and hit Jon Moxley with a GTS when the show went off the air. In the aftermath, the wrestling world has been talking about this medium for the future relationship between AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
At Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained that there is now a working relationship between the two promotions:
“The deal is closed and the parties have a working relationship. The pandemic probably accelerated it, but it also contained it at the same time. The only way to get Moxley was to make a deal.
… When AEW started, I think New Japan had no idea how successful it would be … they wanted Tony Khan to come and see them and he didn’t. And although they sent Chris Harrington, and even though the Young Bucks were in the office and ready to make the deal, New Japan thought they were just an overnight flight and that won’t mean a thing. You know, they’re kind of big leageud ’em. And they were wrong and went their separate ways.
And then they needed Jon Moxley because he had the US title … the only way to get him, because he couldn’t go to Japan, was to do it here. But the only way to get him to do it here, had to be approved by Tony Khan, so he opened the door. And Harold [Meij] went away … I wrote when Harold was gone that it opens the door, and it really opened the door. ”
“If it weren’t for the pandemic, I think it probably wouldn’t have happened. Because Moxley would have been able to go to Japan between the AEW dates and defend the championship there. This deal was already in place. But with the pandemic, because it had to be in the United States, that changed everything, and the other side is to do that, the sides are working together. AEW is practically working with everyone. “
When Meltzer was asked if there was more to this working relationship than the angle between Moxley and KENTA, he indicated that there will eventually be more to come, but the coronavirus pandemic needs to end before things can really progress:
“The answer is basically yes. I know people who can’t wait to return to Japan. ”
“The pandemic has accelerated, but the pandemic is also slowing down. Okada and Tanahashi and any of these guys can come here, but they can’t. When the pandemic is over, they can come, and yes, at that point, relationships are open. Everything is open. But it probably won’t be too soon because they would have to be quarantined to get back. “
“Everything is open and nothing is open. Because nothing can happen yet, unless someone comes full-time, and that’s just going to be young lions. But if the pandemic ends, is there an opportunity to do Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi at the Tokyo Dome? If everything goes back to normal? Yes, there is an absolute openness … the fighters would want to do that. Could they do that at Madison Square Garden? Yes, they could. But will this happen next month? No, you can’t. “
KENTA lives in Orlando, Florida, so that’s why he is the focal point of the working relationship between AEW and NJPW now. Any other dream games you may have in mind, however, will probably have to stay on hold until things get back to normal.
Are you excited to see that the Forbidden Door between AEW and NJPW has finally been opened?