Yota Tsuji Feels if the Current Situation Between AEW and NJPW Continues, it Would be Best if the Two Promotions Cut Ties Altogether.

By: Lewis Carlan

New Japan Pro Wrestling’s biggest show of the year, WRESTLE KINGDOM 21, is less than two months away and its shaping up to be an AEW vs. NJPW event.

Matches included on WRESTLE KINGDOM 21 will be:

• Gabe Kidd (AEW) vs. Shota Umino (NJPW)
• Will Ospreay (AEW) vs. Callum Newman (NJPW)
• Shingo Takagi (NJPW) vs. Jon Moxley (AEW)
• Ryohei Oiwa (NJPW) vs. MJF (AEW)

In addition to those four bouts, the IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji will defend NJPW’s top prize against AEW superstar and former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega.

The IWGP Heavyweight Title bout between Tsuji and Omega came about after Omega pinned Tsuji during a triple threat bout that included Oleg Boltin on Nov. 3rd. The day after his loss to Omega, Tsuji spoke with Number Web to discuss a variety of topics.

Photo Credit: New Japan Pro Wrestling

Tsuji stated he feels that WRESTLE KINGDOM 21 will be an all out showdown between NJPW and AEW. He called himself the leader of NJPW and vowed revenge against Omega:

From Yota Tsuji:

“This is the first Tokyo Dome event since Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement on January 4 of this year. I had originally thought that I should have fought for this belt against another New Japan homegrown star. However, in light of the result in Hiroshima, I can’t just stay silent as the champion. To be honest, Kenny Omega was perfect yesterday. He knew I wouldn’t let him challenge for the IWGP title so easily, so he brought in Oleg Boltin—the closest contender—and proposed a three-way match, defeating both me and Boltin. I admit it was a defeat so perfect that we couldn’t even utter a word in response. That’s exactly why I’m going to get my revenge on you at the Tokyo Dome. In fact, facing Kenny Omega in the main event at the Tokyo Dome will be a massive boomerang effect on everything I’ve said up until now. At the same time, I see this as a chance to reevaluate my relationship with AEW, which I’ve been talking about all along. It’s not just me. It seems other New Japan Pro-Wrestling wrestlers have also been booked for matches against AEW. I don’t know how the others feel about it, but for me, this is an all-out showdown between AEW and New Japan. And I am the leader of New Japan Pro-Wrestling.” (Translated via Deepl.com)

Tsuji explained that some people from AEW might not understand his perspective and that he always sensed there was a gap between AEW and NJPW. The IWGP Heavyweight Champion believes NJPW can overcome the gap by producing results with WRESTLE KINGDOM 21 being a great opportunity for NJPW to take a leap forward in it’s battle with AEW. But if the current situation continues, Tsuji feels it would be better for NJPW to cut ties with AEW altogether.

From Yota Tauji:

“Some people from AEW might not quite understand my perspective. Still, and this is strictly my own feeling, I’ve always sensed a so-called ‘gap’ between AEW and New Japan. It started around the time ‘Forbidden Door’ began, during our past exchanges. We can overcome that gap with our results. I believe this is the greatest opportunity in the history of AEW and New Japan. I’ve said this before. If this situation continues, I think it would be better to cut ties with AEW. But that’s only if this situation continues, right? I hope that New Japan can deliver solid results here, show AEW that ‘New Japan Pro-Wrestling is here to stay,’ and that we can build an even better relationship moving forward—that’s how I feel.” (Translated via Deepl.com)

Yota Tsuji has taken on a leadership role for NJPW and has been one of the promotions best competitors over the last few years. As the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, he knows he has a huge responsibility at WRESTLE KINGDOM 21 and deep in his mind he knows its absolutely crucial that he defeats Kenny Omega and prevent NJPW’s top title from ending up the hands of an AEW competitor.  Yota Tsuji appears ready for the challenge and seems poised to prevail.