Should ROH/NJPW be intimidated yet?

[supersonic]

Observer:

WWE has made a working agreement, at least at this point, with Pro Wrestling NOAH. Not sure what it entails, but it is notable being the first time in decades that the company has worked with a Japanese promotion. Right now the first thing with the deal is Itami returning to NOAH for an 8/29 show

CONFIRMED ~ https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/wwes ... how-260431

[famicommander]

So NOAH essentially traded in NJPW life support for WWE life support?

This probably definitively ends Impact/NOAH, at least. Does NOAH work with AAA still?

[maxx_powerz]

As long as Vince is around, I can't see this amounting to much. Might just be WWE doing KENTA a favor. Feels like it will be like the ROH / PWG working agreement.

[BurningHammer]

The expansion of NXT around the globe is more of a threat than this really, unless ROH quickly moves into markets alot of wrestling is going to be left cold and hungry for talent. Also the likelyhood is that most male Japanese talent will still move to New Japan over the chance of a WWE contract because it will likely be a better deal. It will still be interesting to see what New Japan thinks and does.

With regards to Impact, haven't they been hoaring themselves out to New Japan anyway?

[kovs27]

Impact and Noah haven't shared any talent in a while. There may be some ill will towards Ishimori jumping to NJPW and Impact still using him.

[dhads7161]

NJPW and Impact is a thing now due to Don Callis. Say what you will about Impact but the more companies outside of WWE working together is a positive.

[The Dragon Saga]

NJPW and Impact is a thing now due to Don Callis. Say what you will about Impact but the more companies outside of WWE working together is a positive.

How is it a thing? Impact used New Japan footage and we don't know if Ishimori is actually contracted to New Japan. He could be a freelancer for whatever we know, because previously New Japan/ROH didn't want New Japan contracted talent working TV shows in America outside of ROH. Nobody has ever said Impact and New Japan are working together. Getting a bit of footage and using a guy who we don't know New Japan has under a contract is a lot different to a working relationship.

Only yesterday Jimmy Jacobs said in an interview that ROH didn't want to sign him if he wanted to work for Impact and I don't see that changing. It's like Austin Aries or Madison Rayne, neither have Impact contracts their both freelancer and can do what they want.

[ICHIFUJI]

Observer:

WWE has made a working agreement, at least at this point, with Pro Wrestling NOAH. Not sure what it entails, but it is notable being the first time in decades that the company has worked with a Japanese promotion. Right now the first thing with the deal is Itami returning to NOAH for an 8/29 show

NOAH don't have 8/29 show.
Marufuji 20years show is 9/1.
(WWE in Japan is 8/31)
How I trust Observer?

[AlexROH]

NJPW and Impact is a thing now due to Don Callis. Say what you will about Impact but the more companies outside of WWE working together is a positive.

It's a possitive and it's great to see companies letting their free lance wrestlers wrestle wherever they want to; but there's no NJPW/Impact relationship. Neither NJPW or ROH want to have a relantionship with IMPACT right now. Impact has tryed it, but ROH/NJPW don't want to.

[GardenStateSaint]

As long as Vince is around, I can't see this amounting to much. Might just be WWE doing KENTA a favor. Feels like it will be like the ROH / PWG working agreement.

This was my initial thought but I'd like to be wrong.

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

No. We have seen in the past what happens when Vince acquires another wrestling company. He fucking buries it. Vince is quite comfortable in his sandbox. NOAH is a means to an end. Another way for them to infiltrate the Japanese market.

[Wilson]

"Back-and-forth" talent exchanges sure worked real well for EVOLVE and PROGRESS! No reason to think doing business with a wolf won't result in a net benefit!

[maxx_powerz]

What happened between Progress and Evolve?

[Wilson]

What happened between Progress and Evolve?

Clumsy wording. I meant WWE's gaining disproportionately from working with PROGRESS and EVOLVE. Basically every company should say no to partnering with NXT, or even 205 Live at this point.

[supersonic]

Observer:

WWE has made a working agreement, at least at this point, with Pro Wrestling NOAH. Not sure what it entails, but it is notable being the first time in decades that the company has worked with a Japanese promotion. Right now the first thing with the deal is Itami returning to NOAH for an 8/29 show

NOAH don't have 8/29 show.
Marufuji 20years show is 9/1.
(WWE in Japan is 8/31)
How I trust Observer?

https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/wwes ... how-260431