Cody On Potentially Exploring AEW/NJPW Working Relationship: “We’ll See Where That Goes”

With clamors on a potential partnership between AEW and NJPW running rampant this ween, Cody gave his thoughts on the “forbidden door” opening and closing on the matter.

This year’s Wrestle Kingdom featured two prominent AEW stars in Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley being victorious in their respective matches. But the most notable match that many payed attention was Jericho’s match against Hiroshi Tanahashi where, if Tanahashi emerged victorious, he would get a shot at Jericho’s AEW World Champion.

Well, Jericho emerged victorious and despite some believing the door towards a working relationship between the two companies are over as a result, Jericho said after the match he wants to see both parties working together. Cody addressed this topic and said a “working relationship” with NJPW could be what the wrestling world got to witness on January 4 and 5.

“I think the thing that was strange to me was people were asking for this partnership. I don’t know what a partnership would look like other than what you saw. Chris Jericho was part of one of the main events of Wrestle Kingdom, Jon Moxley as well. They both were successful,” Cody told the New York Post.

In Cody’s eyes, he doesn’t foresee a scenario where there will be an AEW vs. NJPW supercard as a result of both parties being together. More than anything, it would simply just be sharing talent in the case of Jericho and Moxley, both of whom have appeared on NJPW in 2019, especially Moxley who competed in the G1 Climax last year.

“So more likely what a partnership would look like is perhaps some sharing of talent, some shared creative, but we’re not going to do a Super Clash III where (Kerry) Von Erich and (Jerry) Lawler are fighting over the title (in 1988). Sorry, that’s a real specific angle I brought up. I’m always hesitant to combine banners versus just respecting each other’s banners. But I like how it’s referred to as the forbidden door. I don’t really think it’s forbidden at all. Like I said, many people have the exemption to work there. They put on a great Wrestle Kingdom. They have some amazing talent, particularly Will Ospreay. He’s a top-five wrestler in the world right now. So, we’ll see where that goes. I know everyone pretty much feels the same about it. I think it’s something in the next year that we will hopefully all explore. We’ll explore on our end, they’ll explore on their end and we’ll see if it works,” Cody said.

Although Jericho has stated that he wants to be a part of Wrestle Kingdom 15 in 2021, there is no set date on a potential return to NJPW if there is any. Moxley, on the other hand, is scheduled to defend his IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Minoru Suzuki at the NJPW New Beginning in Osaka show on February 9.