More WWE Talents Likely Heading To Pro Wrestling NOAH Following AJ Styles Booking
AJ Styles is heading to Pro Wrestling NOAH, with more WWE stars likely following him
WWE’s burgeoning working relationship with Pro Wrestling NOAH recently took another step forward with the announcement that former WWE Champion AJ Styles will face Naomichi Marufuji at NOAH Destination on July 13.
The first-time ever meeting between Styles and NOAH’s ‘ace’ Marufuji has excited long-time wrestling fans, and new reports indicate that Styles may not be the only WWE-contracted talent to appear for NOAH.
Per PWInsider, Styles is potentially set to be cornered for the match by OC allies Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, with Gallows and Anderson having built a sizeable reputation in Japan due to their work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
A report from Tokyo Sports* has shed more light on the Styles vs. Marufuji bout, with it noted that NOAH specifically requested Styles, whilst WWE requested Marufuji be his opponent:
“It was [Cyber Fight Director Arihiro] Takeda who nominated AJ, who had no connection to NOAH. He explained the reasoning behind this, saying, “The WWE Universe (fans) wouldn’t want the WWE worldview to be destroyed, and WWE performances in Japan come as a package, but the next wrestler Japanese fans can dream of being apart from WWE is AJ after Shinsuke Nakamura.”
The Tokyo Sports report continued: “It was like there was only one choice. If there’s a NOAH wrestler who’s well-known in America, it’s got to be Marufuji. He’s a Japanese legend. I think it also has to do with the fact that there are PPVs (for Noah) over there.”
WWE and NOAH have previously collaborated, with WWE sending Shinsuke Nakamura to face The Great Muta at NOAH The New Year 2023. NOAH parent company CyberFight recently publicly revealed their intentions to strengthen their relationship with WWE.
*translation via Google