The Forbidden Door is creaking open once more, but this time, it’s NXT and All Japan Pro Wrestling that are bridging the impossible gap!
Earlier today, All Japan Pro Wrestling released a video on social media featuring company president Tsuyoki Fukuda. In the middle of being hit on the head with a steel pot surrounded by various scantily-clad women in festive outfits, Fukuda gets a call from someone speaking in English.
He quickly realises the person on the other end is from WWE and insists everyone quiet down. He then reveals that someone from the NXT brand will be coming to All Japan to challenge for the Triple Crown Championship at AJPW New Year Giant Series 2024 on January 3rd.
The current champion is Katsuhiko Nakajima, though he already has a title defence set for an event on December 31st against fellow AJPW star Kento Miyahara. The winner of that match will go on to defend the belt against this mystery talent from NXT just three days later.
This isn’t the first time WWE has partnered with a major Japanese promotion recently. Back in January, Shinsuke Nakamura made a one-off appearance at Pro Wrestling Noah’s The New Year 2023 to take on Keiji Muto in his final singles match as The Great Muta.
【ＷＷＥから全日本プロレス代表の福田社長へ一本の電話が！！】
１．３へ向けて福田社長が三冠チャンピオンへ仕向けようとしている刺客とはまさかの
ＮＸＴ選手！？
本当か福田社長？
大丈夫なのか福田社長！！悶絶??福田社長室?? 第1話 「Hello WWE!?」
時代の先を行く全日本を見逃すな！#ajpwpic.twitter.com/MMrq7lLOx6
— 全日本プロレス/alljapan (@alljapan_pw) December 23, 2023
Hints Were Dropped About The Mystery NXT Challenger
While the identity of the WWE NXT challenger was never revealed, Fukuda was told on the phone that they are a “submission assassin” and have a “killer catch style.”
The hints point towards the No Quarter Catch Club faction on the black and gold brand, who focus on catch-as-catch-can and submission-based wrestling. Its current members are Drew Gulak, Charlie Dempsey, Damon Kemp, and Myles Borne.