The partnership between AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling began in a major way last night, with KENTA’s arrival to attack Jon Moxley. Now the door has been opened, but it took quite some time and almost too long for some people.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer talked about the build up to the deal, talking about how “a lot of childish stuff” held it up. New Japan wanted an in person meeting with Tony Khan but AEW sent Chris Harrington instead which wasn’t what NJPW wanted.
“There was really a lot of childish stuff, and even when I tell people they, you know, don’t wanna believe it. There really was a lot of childish stuff. Essentially, they wanted Tony Khan to come and see them and he didn’t, and even though they sent Chris Harrington and even though the Young Bucks were the office and they were ready to make the deal, New Japan thought that they were fly-by-nighters and it’s not going to mean anything, and they just kinda big leagued them.”
“They were wrong and they went their separate ways. Then they needed Jon Moxley because he had the U.S. Title. I mean they could have stripped him. They could if they wanted to, but they didn’t want to. The only way to to get him, because he couldn’t go to Japan, was to do it here; but the only way to do it here was to get approval from Tony Khan, so it opened the door.”
They went on to say that Harold Meij’s departure also opened the door for the partnership, with him not seeing a benefit in a partnership with AEW. Now the partnership is official and we can see how beneficial it can be.
h/t to Ringside News for the quote
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