NJPW On Possibly Working With AEW, Their Relationship With Ring Of Honor
NJPW President Harold Meij speaks...
Throughout 2019, New Japan Pro Wrestling has been making strides to increase it's international presence. In addition to its working relationship with Ring Of Honor, the company announced the creation of NJPW of America in October.
During a recent interview with Fox Sports Australia, NJPW President Harold Meij discussed how the company's expansion will affect their relationship with ROH, and the possibility of establishing a partnership with AEW.
Meij noted that he believes NJPW of America will actually complement their relationship with ROH, and allow both promotions to expand their respective audiences. He said: "I actually think it complements a lot of the relationships that we have, especially with ROH for example. As we do these shows and more fans fall in love with our product, as we do more joint matches with ROH - whether ROH comes to us or we go to them - the value of the total package increases. They would see that our wrestlers are very good and so are the ROH ones."
On partnering with AEW, Meij explained that they were open to working with them, but they would have to review it once they know more about the young promotion's brand. Meij elaborated: "We’re very open to working with anyone, we don’t exclude anyone. But it does take time to create that trust between companies and right now AEW is still in the exploratory phase. They’re trying to establish themselves as a brand. What is that brand? They’re about one year in, and we’re starting to see what their brand is all about. Then we’ll have to see if that brand fits our brand of course. At this stage, they still have different styles than we do, and that’s the only thing. We’re looking at what their brand positioning is and whether it complements ours."
During a recent interview with Fox Sports Australia, NJPW President Harold Meij discussed how the company's expansion will affect their relationship with ROH, and the possibility of establishing a partnership with AEW.
Meij noted that he believes NJPW of America will actually complement their relationship with ROH, and allow both promotions to expand their respective audiences. He said: "I actually think it complements a lot of the relationships that we have, especially with ROH for example. As we do these shows and more fans fall in love with our product, as we do more joint matches with ROH - whether ROH comes to us or we go to them - the value of the total package increases. They would see that our wrestlers are very good and so are the ROH ones."
On partnering with AEW, Meij explained that they were open to working with them, but they would have to review it once they know more about the young promotion's brand. Meij elaborated: "We’re very open to working with anyone, we don’t exclude anyone. But it does take time to create that trust between companies and right now AEW is still in the exploratory phase. They’re trying to establish themselves as a brand. What is that brand? They’re about one year in, and we’re starting to see what their brand is all about. Then we’ll have to see if that brand fits our brand of course. At this stage, they still have different styles than we do, and that’s the only thing. We’re looking at what their brand positioning is and whether it complements ours."
Written by Aidan Gibbons
Editor-in-Chief of Cultaholic.com Twitter: @theaidangibbons
