Update On WWE Potentially Working With NJPW & Stardom
Rumours of NJPW, Stardom links fly for WWE following AJPW connection.
Following Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter report that WWE is looking to work with more Japanese wrestling promotions after connecting with AJPW, Fightful Select's sources indicate that there isn't currently a deal in place between the market leaders and Joshi group Stardom, nor is a WWE/NJPW partnership seen as likely.
Regarding Stardom, sources hadn't heard of an official WWE partnership and had no awareness of conversations to that effect. This is despite people within WWE noting the company's "new era", in which "things could be done a lot differently."
NJPW has long been the subject of WWE's interest. Neither side's sources see it as a likely union, given New Japan's existing working relationship with AEW. However, recent executive shakeups make it "more likely than it has been in a long time." Company legend Hiroshi Tanahashi was named NJPW's new President before last week's Wrestle Kingdom 18 event.
Per sources, Vince McMahon had previously been quick to nix talk of working with NJPW. WWE President Nick Khan had spoken with Rocky Romero, New Japan's head of American operations, a few years ago, though this didn't go anywhere.
WWE's newly-forged partnership with AJPW bore fruit last week when NXT's Charlie Dempsey challenged the promotion's Katsuhiko Nakajima for the legendary Triple Crown. Fightful states that this relationship is a "wait and see" situation, though things are looking good at the moment, as WWE relaxes on interpromotional possibilities under Khan.