On Tuesday, the owner & CEO of Bushiroad Takaaki Kidani, NJPW Director Hitoshi Matsumoto, and NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi held a press conference to discuss Tanahashi’s six-month progress.
During the press conference, Takaaki Kidani was asked about NJPW’s relationship with AEW. Kidani said that they are on good terms with Tony Khan’s company. Kidani added that the Khan family has had huge success in pro wrestling, American football, and the Premier League. Bushiroad’s owner stated that there’s no better partner than AEW.
“We have a very positive relationship with AEW right now, and there is room for it to evolve further. There are things we can’t talk about just yet, but I think it’s something that can involve other departments within Bushiroad as well…
Tony Khan’s father started out making Toyota bumpers, and grew his business eightfold in a ten year span. And the Khans have had all this success not just in wrestling but American Football and the Premier League. With that acumen and their affinity for Japan, there’s a lot that can be done in the future, and I don’t think NJPW could ask for a better partner right now.”
Takaaki Kidani addressed the perception of NJPW being treated as a sub-brand of AEW. Bushiroad CEO stated that NJPW is far behind AEW financially.
“There is the perception that NJPW is treated as a sub-brand or is looked down on by AEW. Some of that perception of NJPW being behind comes from the economics at the moment. But the truth of the matter is AEW’s strengths and NJPW’s strengths are different. From development of talent from scratch, to a historical and traditional perspective, there’s a lot NJPW can offer that AEW cannot. So there’s a lot that we can do together and while much of it isn’t something we can discuss right now, there’s a lot we will do. But the idea that NJPW is the inferior partner is not correct. We are absolutely on an even footing, and that’s something we’ll prove in the near future.”