Report: Update On NJPW-WWE Talks

It emerged last week that WWE President Nick Khan was leading talks between the company and New Japan Pro-Wrestling over a working relationship.

Any deal would see WWE become New Japan's exclusive partner in the United States, scuppering NJPW's working relationships with AEW and IMPACT Wrestling. The relationship would also involve WWE sending talent to Japan and talks have been ongoing between both parties since late March or early April. 

In an update on talks, Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that NJPW would only agree to a deal with WWE if it was "extremely beneficial" to the Japanese promotion. Daniel Bryan's status was also reportedly a part of early negotiations, but he hasn't been mentioned in any recent talks. The deal on the table also would be more focused on NXT as opposed to the main roster and would be beneficial to both WWE and NJPW. 

While Nick Khan may be the main man for WWE in negotiations, it wasn't originally his idea, according to people close to the talks, but he did recommend to Vince McMahon to pursue the relationship. The original idea also wasn't to "screw AEW" but an exclusive deal would, of course, affect Tony Khan's promotion and IMPACT. 

If any deal can be struck ultimately remains to be seen, but Tony Khan did cut a promo on Nick Khan ahead of last week's Dynamite and Meltzer speculated it is unlikely the AEW president would have done so if a deal was close.