Yota Tsuji Says He Respects Tony Khan, Suggests They Play a Round of Golf Together After G1 Climax Opener

By: Ian McCord

This past weekend, wrestlers from AEW, NJPW, CMLL, and STARDOM met in San Jose, California to participate in the annual cross-promotional showdown that is All Elite Wrestling’s Forbidden Door.

One of the big stories going into this year’s event was IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji choosing to boycott Forbidden Door, claiming that in years past he felt that the IWGP Heavyweight Title was not represented properly, and that he did not want to defend the championship at the event.

When asked about Tsuji’s comments during the Post-Show Media Scrum, Tony Khan stated that he respects both Tsuji and the IWGP Heavyweight Title and claimed that Tsuji has always been shown great respect by himself and AEW.

In an interview with Tokyo Sports, Tsuji responded to AEW President Tony Khan’s remarks, stating that he respects Khan and that his issues with the relationship between AEW and NJPW fall more onto the shoulders of NJPW management, not AEW.

From Yota Tsuji

“I was once again struck by his greatness as a person. I’ll say it again: I respect Tony Khan. While I have my own thoughts about AEW, what I really think is problematic is New Japan’s diplomatic style. I believe we can build a new relationship by reexamining those aspects.”

Tsuji then extended an olive branch to Tony Khan, inviting him to the G1 Climax Opener in Illinois on July 11th and even brought up the possibility of the two sharing a round of golf together.

From Yota Tsuji:

“If the timing works out, I’d like Tony Khan to come to Chicago as well. I think this is a chance for us at New Japan to show the U.S. audience—by facing an AEW champion—what the IWGP is really all about. If anything, I’d even like to play a round of golf with him afterward,”

(Quote courtesy of Tokyo Sports, English Translation via DeepL)

Regardless of the golf outing, the IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji will face off against AEW International and NJPW TV Champion Konosuke Takeshita at the G1 opener, in a rematch from their Wrestle Kingdom 20 match at the start of the year where Tsuji defeated Takeshita to start his first reign with the IWGP Heavyweight Title.

G1 Climax 36 begins on July 11th at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and will be streaming live on NJPW World.