Similar to the relationship AEW has with NJPW, NXT has a new relationship with Pro Wrestling NOAH, and the gold and black brand may have its own version of Konosuke Takeshita.
AEW has been able to quickly become the No. 2 wrestling promotion in the world for many reasons. However, one of the more progressive ones is their willingness to open the “forbidden door” and work with the competition. Their strongest relationship has been with the legendary Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling.
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Over the last few years, the two promotions have swapped talent for short spurts. However, NJPW veteran Konosuke Takeshita is a performer developed by NJPW but given the green light to compete for AEW full-time. He has become a key part of AEW television for the last couple of years and currently holds the company’s International Championship.
Now, with Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Shawn Michaels overseeing the creative side of the WWE product, it seems the No. 1 company in the industry is following the Japanese strategy laid out by their top rival.
Pro Wrestling NOAH star Yoshiki Inamura joining NXT roster
With Vince McMahon out of the picture, WWE has been far more willing to work with other companies around the industry. They have shared talent with Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport. Have an alliance with Japanese women’s wrestling promotion Marigold. And most notably, has an ongoing talent-sharing partnership with TNA Wrestling.
There have been rumblings over the last year that WWE could expand its connections in the land of the rising sun. On Wednesday night, NXT boss Shawn Michaels revealed that the brand now has a working relationship with the popular Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH. Furthermore, in the video post on X, he announced that NOAH veteran Yoshiki Inamura was joining the roster.
“I’m excited to welcome [Pro Wrestling NOAH] wrestler Yoshiki Inamura to WWE NXT. This hard-hitting young man is going to be a problem for anyone he steps in the ring with,” Michaels wrote.
The video showed Inamura training at the performance center ahead of a likely debut. Michaels has been filling the roster with much more veteran and international talent this year. Including female standouts Giulia, Stephanie Vaquer, and Zaria. Adding a veteran Japanese performer in his prime is another nice addition to round out a fast-improving roster.
Inamura turning into NXT’s version of Takeshita is likely as WWE continues to grow the brand in Japan.
