10 Dream Scenarios For Wrestling's New BOOM Period

8. The AEW x NJPW Relationship Changes

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AEW

Even in 2022, it felt like the AEW x NJPW relationship was forged two or three years too late. 

Two years removed from the inaugural Forbidden Door, NJPW continues to spiral. Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay have left for AEW. SANADA has failed as a successor. Tetsuya Naito is still a huge star but he at times literally cannot keep up with his opponents. Gedo is going very, very cheap in his attempts to heat up the promotion. 

Forbidden Door '22 was a sublime over-delivery of a novelty towards which much latitude was extended. Forbidden Door '23 was highlighted by two huge matches featuring New Japan headliners who are no longer with the promotion. 

Where does that leave Forbidden Door '24? 

If there's such a thing as too strong, AEW's roster is it. There is such a thing is too weak, and NJPW's roster is it. Jack Perry's less-than-auspicious run in NJPW underscores that the naive, easy solution might not even help matters - but, where possible, AEW should send more talents over on excursion. It's not quite so simple, upheaving one's entire life, but then, isn't that the dedication it takes to succeed as an independent contractor? 

HOOK desperately needs reps to tighten up his game; he's as promising as he is green and he'll only learn to put oomph behind his leaping clothesline by doing it multiple times per week. If Wardlow truly has the stuff to be a proper hoss - his work can look very 2000s WWE developmental - a meeting with Shingo Takagi could beat it out of him. 

NJPW acting as AEW developmental is a step down, and NJPW has its own Dojo prospects to push, but it can't get worse for them, surely. 

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!