AEW Announces Working Relationship With DDT, Japanese Wrestlers Coming To AEW
Full details on AEW's new working relationship with DDT, TJPW, how it impacts NJPW, and more.
All Elite Wrestling has announced a new working relationship with cult Japanese promotion DDT, as confirmed yesterday.
AEW Vice President of Talent Relations Christopher Daniels made a surprise appearance during Sunday's Judgement 2022 - DDT 25h Anniversary, revealing the partnership via pretaped video, stating that the link will allow DDT's wrestlers to work for AEW in the United States:-
"This is Christopher Daniels and I am the vice president of Talent Relations for All Elite Wrestling. I would like to take this opportunity to say congratulations to DDT on their 25th anniversary. I would like to also announce that AEW and DDT have come to an agreement to bring DDT's wrestlers to the United States of America. I, for one, am looking forward to introducing the top talent from DDT to the American wrestling fanbase."
Michael Nakazawa, who works for AEW in a multitude of roles on-camera and off, has confirmed that the working relationship will also include Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling. That group held its biggest show of the year, Grand Princess, on Saturday, and operates as a subsidiary of the same parent company as DDT: CyberFight.
Former AEW Women's World Champion Hikaru Shida wrestled TJPW mainstay Hikari Noa at Grand Princess '22, defeating her opponent in under 10 minutes.
Speaking after his Judgement match with DDT President Sanshiro Takagi, Nakazawa claimed that he and AEW Executive Vice President Kenny Omega had worked on the deal:-
Takagi: EH? Michael? What is this?
Nak: Kenny and I worked with AEW to get DDT wrestlers to AEW. We hope we can get DDT out America and the world.#ddtpro#JudgementDDT #AEW pic.twitter.com/YIytL1rYoE
Advertisement— DDT Pro-Wrestling (English) (@ddtproENG) March 20, 2022
This new deal means AEW now has working relationships with two Japanese promotions, having entered a similar agreement with NJPW in early 2021. Per Dave Meltzer in the latest Figure Four Online/Wrestling Observer Daily Update, the NJPW partnership won't be impacted by the DDT/CyberFight deal, which is set to continue.
Omega, whose rise to global prominence began in DDT, has tweeted on the matter, calling DDT "the best kept secret in wrestling for over a decade":-
DDT, (which includes me), has been the best kept secret in wrestling for over a decade. It only took 2 of us together to change the entire wrestling landscape from 2010- now. The next generation is looking to leave an impact. Be ready. https://t.co/dkiyGbudJ8
— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) March 21, 2022
AEW has used CyberAgent-contracted talent in the past, with DDT standout Konosuke Takeshita working a short excursion with the Tony Khan-helmed promotion in April 2021. In addition, TJPW's Maki Itoh, Mei Suruga, and Yuka Sakazaki have all moonlighted in AEW at various points prior to the relationship's announcement.