In a new interview, New Japan Pro Wrestling General Manager Michael Craven has weighed in on why the beloved promotion doesn't have a working relationship with All Elite Wrestling. Chris Jericho is heading there this weekend to battle Kazuchika Okada, while Jon Moxley will be on hand tomorrow when he faces Juice Robinson for the IWGP US Championship.
So, why are they happy to use some of their wrestlers now but not moving forward? Well, AEW's TV deal will mean their stars will seemingly no longer be working there after the fall and while Jericho and Kenny Omega are allowed to take dates with NJPW, the two companies aren't directly working together because the Japanese promotions already has US partners.
"NJPW has a long and rich history with our international partners, including CMLL in Mexico, Ring of Honor in America, and RevPro in the United Kingdom," Craven explained. "Loyalty is a big virtue, especially in Japanese culture. Loyalty to our partners is of utmost importance to us as we continue to foster the premiere network of wrestling talent in the world."
"We wish everybody at All Elite Wrestling nothing but the best in their ongoing endeavors, though we must stress we have no working arrangement at this time. Again, we think our partners seek and deserve loyalty and an appropriate amount of care. We want our relationships to be mutually beneficial over the long haul, rather than just thinking in the moment."
What do you guys think about these remarks? Are you disappointed that AEW and NJPW aren't teaming up?