r/SquaredCircle • u/CombinationOk4317 • 4h ago
Fightful: “There are more AEW wrestlers planned for upcoming spots in Japan that will be revealed in the coming weeks”
https://www.fightful.com/wrestling-news/more-aew-wrestlers-planned-for-njpw-spots87
u/Shinkopeshon 一番 4h ago
Edge in the Tokyo Dome would be insane - I kinda want to see him against Taichi, I don't know why lol
Also, perhaps Finlay and Connors will return for a multi-tag, as well as some more Death Rider and United Empire guys
That being said, it'd be cool to see more AEW guys who haven't been there in a while or ever though
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u/CaliggyJack I can haz ric flair flare? 4h ago
I want him against SANADA so bad.
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u/TheDeflatables 4h ago
SANADA ain't making the Dome when it's already this packed. He will have his 3 minute Ranbo appearance and be home in time to watch the main card
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u/CaliggyJack I can haz ric flair flare? 4h ago
Let me dream
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u/TheDeflatables 4h ago
I just don't want you to be disappointed my dear
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u/CaliggyJack I can haz ric flair flare? 4h ago
You're talking to someone whose favorite Japanese Wrestler is SANADA...
I'm used to it lol
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u/EffingKENTA 4h ago
Cope and Cage (or Darby if Christian isn’t back yet) vs K.O.B is the move, but it requires Cope to lose so idk if it happens.
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u/TheDeflatables 4h ago
Cope winning his only New Japan match ever and then fucking off would fuel anti-AEW comments from New Japan talent for the next couple years
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u/Karma-Effect 鈴木軍 3h ago
Edge putting over Aaron Wolf would be cool IMO.
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u/NobodyCheatsinHunt 1h ago
It's 100% Cope. He posted the AEW list of dream matches/venues earlier this year that Cody and MJF have both done before. The only fully visible one left is Tokyo Dome.
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u/Sio_V_Reddit 3h ago
I genuinely think the dogs will cause AEW probably doesn’t have anything for them after PACs death. It felt like it would be the Deathriders and the Dogs as a heel group which would kick out members like Mox and DG but obviously that’s just not happening now.
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u/HoumousAmor 2h ago
Events have turned the Death Riders face but Gabe Kidd as face doesn't sit right with me
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u/newjwns 4h ago
I really hope wrestlekingdom isn’t entirely aew vs njpw
with that being said I need dragunov in njpw expeditiously
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u/SpaceGooV 3h ago
It assuredly is. Which is irritating but not as irritating as the main event winner of last year refusing to come over and give that win to the next generation tho I kinda knew he wouldn't despite being told he would. Okada is a politician and that's why he didn't put anyone over during his leaving tour either
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u/daprice82 REWINDERMAN 3h ago
I mean, it sounds like Okada left NJPW on pretty bitter terms and only came back to do the Tanahashi match as a personal favor to him because they couldn't get Shinsuke.
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u/SpaceGooV 1h ago
I get it people didn't like the management there. Doesn't change they bent over backwards on his way out to placate him.
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u/mikro17 4h ago
Unless I've missed it, we still have World Tag League announcements coming at the least, so definitely would expect a few there.
But here's hoping for surprises and craziness on top of that.
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u/SpaceGooV 3h ago
I think probably safe bet to have at least two AEW teams in the World Tag League. If I was betting I'd put money on FTR and The Dogs.
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u/HoumousAmor 2h ago
Have MCMG ever done it?
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u/Huffjenk ＢＵＲＩＺＫＯＨＢＲＵＺＺＡＳ 1h ago
No, they competed in the Jr division when they were over there
But Shelley and Sabin have been in Japan so prolifically (just with other tag partners) that I get if they'd focus on AEW for the time being. Shelley also has to balance his physio career so not going over for a full tour makes sense
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u/Huffjenk ＢＵＲＩＺＫＯＨＢＲＵＺＺＡＳ 1h ago
Gates of Agony did sweet and I feel like the upside is there to send over another work-in-progress team
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u/KennyDROmega 4h ago
Khan like "I am the captain now"
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u/Orange8920 4h ago
Tony: "Wrestle Kingdom? More like Grand Slam: Japan" /s
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u/Abyssalstar 3h ago
You joke, but there's some weirdo NJPW fans who legit believe TK is trying to do stuff like this.
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u/SpaceGooV 3h ago
I don't blame Tony Khan for this. Just like CMLL New Japan willingly bends the knee to AEW. Can only blame them for how this effects the business which is the difference between them and CMLL. CMLL it's mostly a gripe RN their business is doing great. New Japan is clinging to the past and it's past they don't have power over now. There was logical stuff to do with AEW this year like Ospreay vs Newman and Copeland in some big match. Doing their own version of forbidden door where I'm not confident they'll win the majority was not logical.
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u/Rodney_u_plonker YOSHI-HASHI'S number one fan 2h ago
What are you talking about. New Japan has had a pretty good year business wise. The booking has also been on the whole good with a few issues.
Even this crossover stuff has been booked pretty well
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u/Klutzy_Chemist_3256 2h ago
Idk how you can keep up with NJPW and say they are clinging to the past
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u/SpaceGooV 1h ago
This year they did much better but when it comes time for wrestle kingdom yet again yes they're going back to their last hot period.
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u/ScootOverMakeRoom 2h ago
You clearly don’t follow New Japan. This year had their biggest Sports Day attendance post-pandemic following up their biggest cumulative G1 post-pandemic. Yuya Uemura, Ryohei Oiwa, and Yota Tsuji aren’t “the past.”
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u/jaypenn3 2h ago
NJPW fans complained for years that the company wasn't getting a fair share from its AEW partnership. Now it's a problem that NJPW is getting a ton of AEW talent for it's shows.
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u/Huffjenk ＢＵＲＩＺＫＯＨＢＲＵＺＺＡＳ 1h ago
I've accepted this year's WK build, but it's a completely valid criticism that AEW didn't send its best for the years NJPW was really struggling but do it the first year the new gen have been given the ball. Ospreay main eventing Wrestle Dynasty was possible and a complete no-brainer and they didn't do it
But it's likely also an issue on NJPW's end where they weren't confident in the abilities of the new gen prior to this, and it's part of their nebbish approach to only bring over these guys now they feel the new gen can carry the torch. Hopefully the right thing happens and they get put over instead of stretched out programs
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u/bestbroHide 1h ago
Yeah this is what's confusing to me
I am one of those people who complained about the partnership not feeling all that equal
Now all the KOPW stuff happens, and I'm utterly fucking ecstatic. Brikkd up. Full mast. Salivating. Heavy breathing
But apparently others are catastrophizing this?
Not saying this is a case of hypocrisy. I think there are just different subsets of expectations, and it's become a catch-22 between dual NJPW/AEW fans and exclusive NJPW fans with however AEW goes about interacting with New Japan
The way to prove this is a great development is for New Japan to go over in at least half the crossover matches
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u/SpaceGooV 1h ago
Well I've talked about for years when it was relying on Naito or what have you about the company not pushing the youth as bad. So I'm just being consistent with my opinion
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u/dogglesnake watch ChocoPro (Emi Support Group) 4h ago
Send Moxley to ChocoPro to face "Smiling Violence"
Or funnier, have him team with Kaho for the oddest pairing of characters in Pro-Wrestling history
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u/EverydayThinking 3h ago
Still patiently waiting for a Mercedes Mone/ Mei Suruga bout.
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u/Geistzeit 1h ago
I've been dying for Mei to return to AEW.
Evil Uno teaming with ChocoPro for a couple Mystery Wrestling events was a treat. Mercedes in Ichigaya Chocolate Square would be a (wrestle) dream.
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u/kihp Tribal Chief Hyper Misao 4h ago
What if Fujita ended Moriarty's pure title reign.
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u/Huffjenk ＢＵＲＩＺＫＯＨＢＲＵＺＺＡＳ 1h ago
Cool on paper but ROH really should be about putting over and developing AEW's younger talent
It was muddy when NJPW talent won ROH titles before too
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u/CaliggyJack I can haz ric flair flare? 4h ago
ADAM COPELAND PLEASE TK
(Or put Kofi in the G1)
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u/EffingKENTA 4h ago
(Or put Kofi in the G1)
I mean I guess technically almost a year from now is “in the coming weeks.”
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u/CaliggyJack I can haz ric flair flare? 3h ago
Hey I'm just throwing my dreams out there man maybe Atum will listen and sign Kofi up for the G1 IDK LET ME DREAM
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u/Teckelmaster 4h ago
Need Mercedes Moné back in Japan. Give me the match with Saya Kamitani or Syuri. Or if that's not possible because of politics, Mercedes still needs to make AZM pay for costing her the NJPW Strong belt.
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u/Huffjenk ＢＵＲＩＺＫＯＨＢＲＵＺＺＡＳ 1h ago
Yeah they seem committed to keeping the IWGP Women's going even though they've now divested from STARDOM, so that seems like an easy one
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u/DrinkingMilk 2h ago
Eh. Let the people that wrestle there all year have the spots on the big card.
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u/itsmekelsey_x 3h ago
I’d like to see something with the women. Both the IWGP and Strong Titles have been irrelevant for months now.
If any AEW woman is going to then it’s easily going to be Mercedes which a match against Syuri would be cool.
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u/Geistzeit 1h ago
Hope we get a couple/few AEW folks in the New Japan Cup in the spring.
Hope Sisters of Sin make it to 2027 Stardom Tag League.
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u/I-LieToMessWithMarks 2h ago
It's always weird seeing some people here and in the NJPW sub being like "Sure, we acknowledge that AEW has been basically the only thing keeping NJPW afloat financially for the last few years, but don't they realize that we, the vocal minority of western NJPW fans, would like to see less AEW in our NJPW?"
Every once in awhile NJPW has to pay the bills. And bringing over guys like Mox, Ospreay, Omega, etc are they ways that they can keep the lights on.
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u/Huffjenk ＢＵＲＩＺＫＯＨＢＲＵＺＺＡＳ 1h ago
The FD money boost is a quality chunk of their revenue but it's not right to characterize it as AEW keeping NJPW afloat. Even just comparing the WK14 sellout fuelling the next several pandemic years to the WK20 sellout earlier this year, as well as increased gates all year means NJPW is doing fine on their own accord
They've assumedly gone in this direction because they're unsure whether the new gen can sell the Dome well enough, but to say AEW is necessary to keeping them going doesn't really ring true
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u/EffingKENTA 1h ago
It's always weird seeing some people here and in the NJPW sub being like "Sure, we acknowledge that AEW has been basically the only thing keeping NJPW afloat financially for the last few years, but don't they realize that we, the vocal minority of western NJPW fans, would like to see less AEW in our NJPW?"
Every once in awhile NJPW has to pay the bills. And bringing over guys like Mox, Ospreay, Omega, etc are they ways that they can keep the lights on.
Forbidden Door is a great moneymaker for NJPW but it’s actually Japanese women who keep the lights on.
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u/I_am_Amphibian 4h ago
You’d assume cope since it’s his last year and he wants to do Tokyo dome. Which is still an odd thought cause I don’t think Japan has ever really cared about Edge
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u/RealLanceStorm Not Really Lance Storm 4h ago
Wrestlers not allowed to love or care about wrestling history but chatty cathy fans allowed to decide how an entire country feels about a wrestler
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u/Skywalker3030 4h ago
Also the bookers will probably be smart enough to put him in a spot that makes sense lol, it's fine to fantasy book but people just love to get pre-mad at things as speculation
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u/EffingKENTA 3h ago
Also the bookers will probably be smart enough to put him in a spot that makes sense
New Japan fan here: the bookers absolutely are not smart enough for that.
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u/Skywalker3030 3h ago
I watch Nooj religiously too but idk I feel like people still think Gedo is the guy giving Nic Nemeth the white belt. When working with Tony, I generally don't think he's come up with anything that stupid. Ricochet as a Tokyo Dome main eventer was wild but it was still a sick match and the rest of the matchups on the show were pretty cool matchmaking. Not to mention, that was more AEW not sending any of their top guys other than Kenny, I don't think we're at that point anymore. If nothing else, Cope will slot in somewhere somewhat natural just by virtue of having more important AEW guys on the card
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u/TheDeflatables 2h ago
Did we not just watch the same Shota Umino booking. Win the belt for 10 days, get smashed by Kidd in 8 minutes (after an outside brawl), have Kidd take credit for the concussion and then follow up the grudge match only for Shota Umino to lose again AND TO HIS OWN MOVE.
There is still plenty of dumb left in Gedo. Wato should have dethroned DOUKI and Aaron Wolf shouldn't have spent 2 tours in a feud with Bad Luck Fale either
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u/Skywalker3030 2h ago
Yeah but thats not related to what I'm saying. Of course Gedo makes bad booking decisions sometimes and the booikng of Shooter is awful
I'm saying TK and Gedo know that Cope is not some major draw or star in Japan lol and won't make his WK appearance a disaster or something people are dooming about
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u/KennyDROmega 4h ago
Isn't it reasonable to look at the wrestlers who have become popular there and wonder if someone on this side of the Pacific's style will translate?
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u/Jomosensual 4h ago
The crowd knew Moxley, Bryan, and Jericho. They'll know edge
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u/Rodney_u_plonker YOSHI-HASHI'S number one fan 3h ago
Japan is a shockingly insular consumer market. He was in the wwe a long time ago relatively. A lot of the current NJPW fanbase was made post pandemic.
It's asking a lot I know but can we not westernise the Japanese market and assume they are identical to black t shirt wearing yanks
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u/EffingKENTA 3h ago
I thought the same, but then one of the Japanese Twitter accounts that translates English news snippets/etc did one about Cope retiring in 2027 and I was genuinely surprised by the amount of Japanese fans in the replies talking about wanting to sing Metalingus live.
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u/ScootOverMakeRoom 2h ago
A lot of the current NJPW fanbase was made post pandemic.
What is this comment based on, if anything?
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u/Huffjenk ＢＵＲＩＺＫＯＨＢＲＵＺＺＡＳ 1h ago
I assume it's that a lot of people didn't show up for the non Okada/Naito/Ibushi era in the past 2-6 years so the growing ticket sales are from people who jumped on for the new gen
It depends what the breakdown for fans are, whether they're mostly there for the people they buy/wear the merch for or whether there's a more general contingent of fans of the promotion itself
But puroresu in general is heavily based on name recognition so I think it's reasonable to think that most people dip in and out based on performers (especially the casual fans who show up for WK)
There's also probably something about ticket sales/demographics/buying power pre and post COVID but a lot of the audience is also older, so maybe that's not a source
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u/ScootOverMakeRoom 1h ago
This is all supposition. I meant what actual information.
What information would indicate that the post-pandemic crash growth is new people coming in and not fans who stopped going to shows during the pandemic coming back. Especially with this year’s growth coming directly after Tanahashi’s retirement match being the best-attended WK in decades.
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u/I_am_Amphibian 3h ago
All of those guys were much bigger than Edge at the time they went over. Plus Bryan and Jericho had already worked Japan before that.
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u/Jomosensual 2h ago
Bryan and Jericho both worked the Jrs division 20 years prior to their returns. They werent popping for that
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