How Kenny Omega Brought AEW & NJPW Together To Open Forbidden Door

AEW has immensely helped usher in new age of pro-wrestling crossovers. Most of the pro-wrestling promotions are known to keep their distance. However, with the use of the Forbidden Door, AEW has figured out a way to hype up the fans by colliding the universes.

Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks were massive part of New Japan Pro Wrestling. After they left to forge their own distinct wrestling promotion, their relationship with NJPW became strained. However, with the Forbidden Door blurring the lines between what’s possible, both AEW & NJPW have started working together more and more.

AEW’s Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, Lance Archer and more have appeared in the NJPW programming while Minoru Suzuki, Tomohiro Ishii, and KENTA have appeared on AEW shows. Rocky Romero credits Kenny Omega to be the glue that holds the two together. He explained on the The Battleground Podcast that Tony Khan had a significant role in making it happen:

Well, Tony’s [Khan] always been cool. He’s always, I feel, been open to the idea, right? Then you have Jericho, who is somebody who’s always wanted to make it happen ever since he went over to New Japan to wrestle Tanahashi. That was kind of the beginning of it; Tony giving the okay to bring the AEW belt. That was a thing. So, it kind of started with Jericho. Obviously, Moxley being a guy who’s important to both companies and Moxley always wanting to do something and kind of being that main focal point because he wasn’t mixed up into the drama of what was going on between AEW and New Japan and wrestlers

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Romero credited Omega for being one of the very first people to address the potential of crossover feuds. He talked about the KENTA & Moxley feud. He also addressed that Omega had to leave NJPW for AEW, but that was a step in the right direction.

Then, the third big component I feel like, besides Tony, was obviously Kenny. Kenny being a part of it. Kenny was one of the ones who reached out first and just said, ‘Hey, I know Moxley and KENTA have this thing,’ and obviously he had a big rivalry with Moxley as well, so Moxley being the focal point. Kenny and New Japan had their issues as he left New Japan to join AEW, so that was a big step in the right direction. Obviously, Kenny is incredible at what he does. Literally one of the best. He’s a true pro and to see the grand picture, he was the one who helped facilitate that amongst, at least the EVP’s.

Romero has been facing off against Bryan Danielson, as he fought against the former WWE superstar in the latest episode of AEW Dynamite. He also implored Orange Cassidy and Best Friends to get with the CHAOS faction from New Japan.

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