This is a very insightful read about why Aussie Open decided to leave.

15 comments

1. > Fletcher: I do think that was part of it. Even the company that owns New Japan, Bushiroad, they really struggled through the pandemic and lost money for the past two or three years. I don’t begrudge them for that, that is a thing that everyone experienced in the world. Just, in our situation, we didn’t want to sit and wait any longer.

   I understood the position both sides were in, and I’m glad Kyle Fletcher was understanding about it too. NJPW didn’t want to give a contract out immediately because they were impacted heavily by the pandemic. Aussie Open wanted a spot as soon as possible because they needed money to live their life.

   Mark Davis’ injury story was very unfortunate to hear though. Must be very scary for the NJPW trainer to say the injury is one thing (tight hip) and then the AEW trainer to say it’s another thing (meniscus). If they were to have chosen AEW based off that, it would be very understandable.

2. That’s cool that Tony wanted to take care of the injury even though they were not signed. It sounds like he paid for the surgery too. he has two amazing wrestlers that would probably go to hell and back for him. Hope to see them at the top of the card soon, and able to go back to NJ.

   With the shape Will is in, I would want to be with that medical team too.

3. I sometimes wonder if New Japan has realized that it’s better to being in guys from other countries short term for special occasions and build up the younger Japanese guys for the future.

4. Someone shown this to a certain podcast who have been whining about AO now being ‘comedy jobbers’; financially secure and wrestling in front of 81k people; happy for them and New Japan’s loss is AEW’s gain. Hope they can still do some Strong shows and the odd Japan tour still.

5. Smart move. Ignoring the fact that BR got hit by the pandemic and they had to wait (which Kidani really hasn’t helped since if you look at the stock after his last interview) AEW is the bigger company at the moment with the more consistent schedule and an assload of content to fill. Meanwhile NJPW had filthy tom on contract doing fuck all. I absolutely understand wanting to work for NJPW and the prestige that comes with it but this was clearly the better deal.

6. I mean they’ve been pretty open for a while now about how there’s no hard feelings between themselves and NJPW, they just needed stable jobs that NJPW couldn’t offer. Those tweets from earlier in the year about how they were free agents? Everyone assumed it was kayfabe, but then it turned out they were serious.

   Kyle has talked about how NJPW was the dream for them, they loved their time there, and with AEW and NJPW having a working relationship, it made sense to sign with AEW and still have the option of working some dates with NJPW as opposed to signing with WWE and being exclusive.

7. The misdiagnosis of his injury is pretty crazy. Makes you wonder if some of the injury problems in New Japan are due to poor work on the part of their trainers.

8. Aussie open will be back and better than ever in AEW

   Tony knows what he got

   They’ll be featured in the tag scene

9. Just listened to it today, they were told by NJPW they’ll get a contact offer in July… it was December at the time, so they would’ve had to wait 8 months. Kinda weird but NJPW was in crisis mode after covid & probably BushiRoad was hemorrhaging money because of covid & travel restrictions. I don’t blame them for abandoning that part. It was a weird circumstance but they can’t wait that long for money to pay rent & bills.

10. That story about the trainers is going to reverberate pretty hard with free agents

    It does make you wonder if NJPW is pushing guys to work through injury due to the financial issues

11. So they wanted money and went with the most money option.

    Yeah, fair enough

12. I’m happy for Aussie Open and I’m still hopeful that they’ll be able to compete for WTL this year, even if they don’t win it.

13. There is a clear error in what they are saying. Bushiroad has not made a single loss from 2018 to 2023. Even New Japan Pro Wrestling only went into the red in 2022.

14. Another talented tag team getting the bag from man child Tony’s inheritance from daddy. Fair play to them. I hope as many people as possible rinse him!

15. Kyle is clapping some huge cheeks too, that boi winning.