As noted before, IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji made comments in a recent interview with New Japan Pro Wrestling’s English website that were negative of AEW in regards to their current partnership standing with NJPW and him wanted NJPW to cut ties with AEW. Tsuji’s comments were speculated online to have been in character and as part of him promoting the cross-promotional match with Konosuke Takeshita for the IWGP Global and IWGP World Heavyweight Championships at Wrestle Kingdom 20.
“Well, I don’t want to lose to AEW. I don’t like AEW. In all honesty, with the relationship between us the way it is, I’d like us to cut ties with them.
What has being with AEW done for NJPW, really? If it was an even handed relationship that’s one thing, but it’s not. There’s certainly a difference in terms of the money behind each company, but I don’t see that as a reason to be so weak willed. This is NJPW, dammit. Now on the other hand, Kazuchika Okada has played a part in selling the Tokyo Dome out. I have to admit to that. I’m sore that it isn’t an NJPW wrestler facing Tanahashi in his last match, but there isn’t anybody on the roster that has the connections to Tanahashi that Okada has, and I have to acknowledge that. “
Fightful Select reported that their sources within NJPW stated that they do not believe that Tsuji was speaking in character at all when he made the negative comments about AEW. Those spoken to reportedly stated that Tsuji has been vocal internally about his dissatisfaction with the AEW and NJPW relationship in recent years.
It was reported that Tsuji was among NJPW talent who were hesitant about working United States based shows tied to the AEW partnership despite he had participating in the events previously.
Those spoken to reportedly stated that Tsuji was once discussed for a major AEW World Championship match against Swerve Strickland for Forbidden Door 2024 before Ospreay had volunteered to face and lose to Strickland at the event.
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