Yota Tsuji, the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion, has been candid about his views on the collaboration between New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and All Elite Wrestling (AEW). While he has shown respect for AEW President Tony Khan—once even inviting him for a golf game—Tsuji has openly expressed his desire for NJPW to end its partnership with AEW, criticizing the relationship as being heavily one-sided. Earlier this year, he took a strong stance by leading a boycott of the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view event to push for a more balanced alliance.
Recently, however, Tsuji’s tone toward AEW has softened. At the press conference promoting NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2026, scheduled for September 27, he not only spoke about his match against Hirooki Goto but also emphasized his goal to establish equal footing with AEW. Tsuji remarked, “Mr. Goto, the match in Kobe is getting more and more exciting. Of course, winning the IWGP in Kobe is the most important thing. I went to Vietnam the other day. Did you watch ‘Blast of ASIA’? I’m going to keep holding the IWGP Title, and I’m going to spread New Japan Pro-Wrestling—no, pro-wrestling itself—even further across Asia, and one more thing: I need to work on establishing an equal relationship with AEW.”
The upcoming Destruction in Kobe event will feature AEW talent in two key matches: Claudio Castagnoli faces Shingo Takagi in a singles contest fueled by Takagi’s desire for revenge after his loss on AEW Collision, while Drilla Moloney challenges AEW star Gabe Kidd, the current IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion, in a semi-main event. Both matchups highlight the ongoing interconnectedness of NJPW and AEW performers, despite past tensions.
Please credit NJPW when quoting this article and acknowledge Fightful for the translation.
Fan Take: This development is significant because Yota Tsuji’s shift toward fostering balance between NJPW and AEW could signal a new era of cooperation that benefits wrestling fans worldwide. A more equal partnership might elevate the sport by facilitating top-tier talent exchanges and fresh storylines that keep the global wrestling scene dynamic and exciting.
Source: www.wrestlinginc.com
