Entertainment
WWE ‘holds talks’ with New Japan Pro Wrestling over sensational working agreement
WWE has reportedly held talks with New Japan Pro Wrestling over what would be a sensational exclusive partnership.
The two wrestling giants are said to have had discussions towards the end of March or early April regarding a deal which would involve the companies being able to share talent.
As fans have already seen with AEW and IMPACT Wrestling over the past year, NJPW are open to working relationships with other promotions.
As reported by the Wresting Observer Newsletter: ‘With [WWE President Nick Khan], the former isolationist attitude of WWE vs. everyone is changing with the idea WWE is part of the wrestling landscape and not separate from the pro wrestling landscape.
‘Obviously it’s also to keep New Japan, which pre-pandemic was the third strongest company in the world, away from working with other companies which could strengthen the opposition.’
It’s said the company is aware of younger fans knowing more about NJPW, which could help bring in viewers.
WWE executive Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque has opened up about the company’s stance on working with other promotions, and he previously suggested they are ‘open for business’.
Back in December, he told Metro.co.uk: ‘Look, in what you’ve seen in the past – Progress, ICW, Evolve, all those things – yeah, we’re open for business in a lot of ways.
‘People’s thoughts, misperceptions, they’re perceived knowledge of what we do, how we think, is often greatly misinterpreted and not necessarily accurate.
‘Are we open to the right business opportunities? Yeah, at any given time we’re open to things. It depends on what they are, are they beneficial to us for the long term?’
The wrestling legend insisted any potential deals would need to be beneficial a decade from now, rather than a flash in the pan.
‘When I say long term, I’m not talking three months or six months. Long term – 10 years, 15 years from now,’ he added. ‘Is that beneficial? Is that meaningful?
‘Is it long term? That’s how we think. It’s much longer in duration, not necessarily worried about the minute by minutes. It’s the long duration.’
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