Report: NJPW's Chris Charlton On Indefinite Hiatus Following Anti-AEW Comments At Wrestle Dynasty

New Japan Pro-Wrestling announcer Chris Charlton is on indefinite hiatus from commentary over comments he made about All Elite Wrestling during NJPW x AEW Wrestle Dynasty on Sunday, January 5.

That is according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, who tweeted: "Chris Charlton is on an indefinite hiatus from commentary due to his anti-AEW comments during the Dynasty show."

Charlton made negative comments about AEW across Wrestle Dynasty, although some of it was paraphrasing what the wrestlers believed within storyline, such as when he mentioned Yota Tsuji's comments about Kazuchika Okada during Tsuji's entrance for his match with Jack Perry. Charlton noted that Tsuji believes AEW signed Okada and he has only "become a meme that flips the bird on TV every week."

Most of Charlton's comments came during the semi-main event of Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd. The NJPW talent had established himself as the defender of New Japan for the programme, wearing the gold lion on his trunks and performing Antonio Inoki's cobra twist and enziguri during the match.

During Omega's entrance, Rocky Romero - who was on commentary with Chris Charlton and Walker Stewart - said Omega was Japanese wrestling, a comment that Charlton took offence to later in the match.

"When you said it on his entrance Rocky, well I think it was heresy to say that. Exactly Kenny's thoughts that yes, he did so much for this company but to dare, to deign, to say that Gabe Kidd cashes a cheque because of Kenny Omega is sickening. To say that he is Japanese professional wrestling is sickening. He is an indelible, iconic part of it, yes, but he is not bigger than this," Charlton stated.

Rocky Romero later said that Kenny Omega put the company on the map internationally with Bullet Club and that The Elite were a part of the reason NJPW grew so much in the 2010s. Charlton responded to this by calling Tony Khan a "money mark" and questioned what several former NJPW talents had done in AEW since leaving New Japan.

"Well no doubt about it and in Gabe's mind it was grow and grow and then it was take and take. And well as soon as we have a money mark to take away some of those talents well then off they go. Off goes Jay White, Will Ospreay…off goes Kazuchika Okada and what have they done there that they haven't done here?" Charlton added.

Charlton also unfavourably compared AEW's Continental Classic to the G1 Climax on commentary.

If All Elite Wrestling contacted NJPW about Charlton's commentary is unknown. Rocky Romero, who wrestles for NJPW and AEW, is also an executive with both promotions.

Charlton was not on commentary for today's New Year Dash show, with Walker Stewart telling El Phantasmo following a match that he wasn't at liberty to say why Charlton wasn't at the announce table with him.

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