WWE and All Japan Professional Wrestling fashioned a partnership on the finish of 2023, but it surely was short-lived as the businesses stopped collaborating quickly after. Followers speculated in regards to the causes behind the sudden finish of the partnership, and now AJPW President Takeshi Fukuda has revealed the explanation for his or her partnership ending.
Whereas chatting with Tokyo Sports activities, Takeshi Fukuda, referring to WWE because the “high leisure firm,” defined why AJPW’s partnership with the corporate got here to an finish. Fukuda defined that he found an unique deal had been signed between a serious Japanese company, notably CyberAgent and WWE by means of the company’s video distributor, ABEMA.
This deal additionally concerned different home wrestling organizations. Neither the highest executives of Professional Wrestling NOAH, nor AJPW’s key decision-makers appeared conscious of the association initially. Fukuda stated he had hoped to create a powerful partnership with WWE however was dissatisfied when the unique deal was revealed. When he informed AJPW’s most important chief, generally known as the “mastermind,” about it, they didn’t imagine him. This led to the top of the WWE-AJPW partnership.
At the moment, I nonetheless thought that I may construct a very good relationship with a sure group which may lend me a hand. Nonetheless, I discovered a surprising reality. It turned out that a big Japanese firm had signed an unique contract with a sure group by means of its video division and with different home organizations. Neither the highest administration of the opposite firm nor the mastermind behind our firm knew about this truth.
I used to be dissatisfied that I may not construct a relationship with that group. After I informed the mastermind about it, he didn’t imagine me in any respect. So I made a decision to go away the mastermind.”
In 2020, CyberFight, a subsidiary of CyberAgent, was fashioned to handle Professional Wrestling NOAH, DDT Professional-Wrestling, and Tokyo Joshi Professional. CyberAgent additionally owns ABEMA, which is the aforementioned streaming platform that now hosts WWE content material in Japan, together with RAW, SmackDown, and premium stay occasions.
Earlier this yr, Yasuo Okamoto, President and Consultant Director of CyberFight, acknowledged that considered one of their most important objectives was to “strengthen the connection with WWE.” Regardless, it’s unlucky WWE and AJPW’s partnership ended as there was actually much more that would have been accomplished in the long run.
What are your ideas on the AJPW-WWE partnership ending? Please share your ideas and suggestions within the remark part under.
December 31, 2024 3:31 am