Confirmed: AEW & NJPW Have Agreed A Working Relationship

The AEW/NJPW working agreement is a "done deal" after KENTA's Beach Break debut.

by Andy H Murray
AEW NJPW
AEW/NJPW

All Elite Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling have finally agreed on a working relationship.

Dave Meltzer broke the news on today's episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, calling the agreement a "done deal." He noted that NJPW wanted its IWGP United States Champion, Jon Moxley, to defend his belt, and the only way to do that was by striking a deal with Tony Khan. Now, a full-on working relationship is in place.

This comes less than 12 hours after KENTA's debut on AEW's Beach Break show. The Bullet Club member attacked Moxley at the end of the night, building heat for their United States Title match under NJPW's banner on 26 February. Mox returned to NJPW on last week's Strong show.

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All kinds of barriers had to be overcome for this to happen, with NJPW's former president, Harold Meij, one of them. Meltzer noted that the Dutchman's departure from New Japan last October helped open the door for an agreement.

Meltzer cited "childish stuff" getting in the way in the past, adding that NJPW saw AEW as fly-by-nighters who weren't going to last, so they big-leagued them. Ultimately, they were proven incorrect.

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The ongoing global health crisis hinders the situation, as it may prevent Japanese wrestlers like Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada from travelling to the United States. For now, AEW vs. NJPW activities could be limited to the likes of KENTA, who still lives in the US. Despite this, Meltzer states that fans can expect more beyond the KENTA/Moxley programme going forward.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.