WWE, New Japan in talks

[Deleted]

Huge story with potential ramifcations across the entire industry if this pans out. From the 5/31/21 Observer.

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

This is very interesting and part of me wonders if Daniel Bryan wanting to do matches outside of WWE if he were to re-sign has anything to do with this.

[Swarm]

This would be incredible. My two favorite promotions. I think you’re right about DB being the forbidden door here. Hope it happens. I can see Brock, Nakamura and a few others doing crossover stuff too.

[TTX]

Honestly, I would enjoy them working together again. Hopefully it happens.

[Pete]

Has a WWF-promotion relationship worked out for anybody else since 1984?

The idea of Michael Cole calling out "VINTAGE Okada!" right before Baron Corbin reverses the Rainmaker into the End of Days sounds like the kind of wrestling that plays in the ninth circle of hell.

[Deleted]

May 28, 2021 11:21:13 GMT -5 Pete said:

Has a WWF-promotion relationship worked out for anybody else since 1984?

Nope. Every attempted relationship with a Japanese promotion since they dissolved the original New Japan agreement in the mid 80s hasn't really panned out.

[Deleted]

From PWInsider:

There was a report earlier today from Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer about WWE reaching out to New Japan Pro Wrestling about a potential working agreement. Since that report began making the rounds, we've heard from a number of readers asking whether there is anything to it. We are told there is and there isn't.

PWInsider.com has been told today by sources from each company that there have been communications between the two sides for several months but the main crux of it was over the potential of Daniel Bryan being able to potentially work some dates in NJPW. Whether anything has come from those discussions remain to be seen. Is it possible the two sides could build a bridge to each other? Sure, but if so, it's not happening right now and it's not something that has happened yet despite talking for some time off and on.

So, This is not a case where any sort of talks are about to lead to New Japan immediately pulling up stakes with their current working agreement or NJPW talents making some sort of shocking appearance on Raw. AEW's Jon Moxley has possession of the IWGP United States title, plus Yuji Nagata worked for them several weeks ago plus Roppongi Vice just reunited in AEW. Meanwhile, Satoshi Kojima just made his Impact Wrestling debut. Don't expect anything in regard to those promotions' relationships with NJPW to change anytime soon, if at all.

And Bryan Alvarez from Observer Live:

"it sounds to me that the Crux of the issue here is that they want to be able to offer Daniel Bryan the ability to go to New Japan but they do not want him working with anybody from aew or anybody probably from anywhere else, so that is what I believe the Crux of this issue is right here. do I believe that New Japan and WWE are very close to a working agreement that would allow New Japan and WWE guys to go back and forth regularly, I do not believe that at all, maybe they are but I don't buy that. think of one way, one that a new Japan WWE working agreement would not be a hilarious disaster. I can't think of one. but clearly there is a discussion going on or there was a discussion going on, I don't know where it is right now Daniel Bryan's contract is expired. I mean God only knows what this guy's decision is going to be, I think he'd be willing to stay with WWE if they let him do New Japan, who knows maybe he wants to do dates all over the place. it's the same deal if she wants to do date somewhere where an aew guy can also do a date there I do not believe for one second that WWE is going to be cool with that idea, so I guess we can wait and see, we should wait and see, we will wait and see. I do feel that this is not as far along as a lot of fans are, I guess in fear that it is"

So the whole thing really is just so they can re-sign Daniel Bryan.

[Swarm]

May 29, 2021 8:00:25 GMT -5 @kyoken said:

From PWInsider:

There was a report earlier today from Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer about WWE reaching out to New Japan Pro Wrestling about a potential working agreement. Since that report began making the rounds, we've heard from a number of readers asking whether there is anything to it. We are told there is and there isn't.

PWInsider.com has been told today by sources from each company that there have been communications between the two sides for several months but the main crux of it was over the potential of Daniel Bryan being able to potentially work some dates in NJPW. Whether anything has come from those discussions remain to be seen. Is it possible the two sides could build a bridge to each other? Sure, but if so, it's not happening right now and it's not something that has happened yet despite talking for some time off and on.

So, This is not a case where any sort of talks are about to lead to New Japan immediately pulling up stakes with their current working agreement or NJPW talents making some sort of shocking appearance on Raw. AEW's Jon Moxley has possession of the IWGP United States title, plus Yuji Nagata worked for them several weeks ago plus Roppongi Vice just reunited in AEW. Meanwhile, Satoshi Kojima just made his Impact Wrestling debut. Don't expect anything in regard to those promotions' relationships with NJPW to change anytime soon, if at all.

And Bryan Alvarez from Observer Live:

"it sounds to me that the Crux of the issue here is that they want to be able to offer Daniel Bryan the ability to go to New Japan but they do not want him working with anybody from aew or anybody probably from anywhere else, so that is what I believe the Crux of this issue is right here. do I believe that New Japan and WWE are very close to a working agreement that would allow New Japan and WWE guys to go back and forth regularly, I do not believe that at all, maybe they are but I don't buy that. think of one way, one that a new Japan WWE working agreement would not be a hilarious disaster. I can't think of one. but clearly there is a discussion going on or there was a discussion going on, I don't know where it is right now Daniel Bryan's contract is expired. I mean God only knows what this guy's decision is going to be, I think he'd be willing to stay with WWE if they let him do New Japan, who knows maybe he wants to do dates all over the place. it's the same deal if she wants to do date somewhere where an aew guy can also do a date there I do not believe for one second that WWE is going to be cool with that idea, so I guess we can wait and see, we should wait and see, we will wait and see. I do feel that this is not as far along as a lot of fans are, I guess in fear that it is"

So the whole thing really is just so they can re-sign Daniel Bryan.

Bryan vs Okada at WM assuming DBry really has this much pull.

[Gunslinger]

May 28, 2021 11:56:39 GMT -5 @kyoken said:

May 28, 2021 11:21:13 GMT -5 Pete said:

Has a WWF-promotion relationship worked out for anybody else since 1984?

Nope. Every attempted relationship with a Japanese promotion since they dissolved the original New Japan agreement in the mid 80s hasn't really panned out.

I think the Michinoki Pro agreement would have went better in 1997 if Great Sasuke didn't want wins over Vader and Shawn Michaels. Then again, he probably knew the way the wind was blowing and only made the demands because he knew they wouldn't give in.

[Swarm]

(The other) TK is not too happy about these rumors.

[Deleted]

May 29, 2021 8:54:01 GMT -5 Gunslinger said:

May 28, 2021 11:56:39 GMT -5 @kyoken said:

Nope. Every attempted relationship with a Japanese promotion since they dissolved the original New Japan agreement in the mid 80s hasn't really panned out.

I think the Michinoki Pro agreement would have went better in 1997 if Great Sasuke didn't want wins over Vader and Shawn Michaels. Then again, he probably knew the way the wind was blowing and only made the demands because he knew they wouldn't give in.

I mean I'd be 100% for him treating Shawn like he treated Dirt Bike Kid.