Meltzer Credits Moxley For AEW-NJPW Partnership

AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling have maintained a strong working relationship for more than five years. The partnership has led to the annual AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view event, which has taken place in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The relationship did not exist at first. New Japan Pro Wrestling management was unhappy with The Elite's departure in 2019, and the company's former president saw no benefit in partnering with AEW because of existing ties with CMLL and ROH.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Jon Moxley played a key role in establishing the connection between the two promotions. Moxley held the IWGP United States Championship while signed to AEW at a time when no formal relationship existed between the companies.

Meltzer stated that Moxley's possession of the title during the pandemic period opened the door for cooperation. This led to KENTA appearing in AEW and the two promotions building an ongoing relationship afterward.

Moxley captured the IWGP United States Championship in his first match with New Japan Pro Wrestling, which occurred shortly after his AEW debut. He was stripped of the title once due to travel issues preventing a defense but regained it in January 2020 and retained it despite being unable to travel to Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chris Jericho also appeared in New Japan Pro Wrestling while holding the AEW World Championship. That appearance marked his last official match for the Japanese promotion.