NJPW Stars To Wrestle For AEW

AEW/NJPW

Since first announcing a partnership in February 2021, there has been a lot of talent crossover between AEW and NJPW.

Even outside of the annual Forbidden Door events, it’s not uncommon to see names from both companies face off, whether that be in Japan or stateside.

With NJPW announcing the return of Claudio Castagnoli, there has been a lot of speculation about talent moving in the other direction.

Here are five NJPW stars who could wrestle for AEW soon.

Zack Sabre Jr

One name who many believe we could soon see back in an AEW ring is Zack Sabre Jr, who recently appeared for the company in a backstage segment.

The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion was the first star who Will Ospreay and the United Empire passed backstage at Wembley Stadium during Ospreay’s entrance at All In London.

With Ospreay going on to defeat Kenny Omega for the AEW World Championship, many have predicted that we could soon see Ospreay and Zack Sabre Jr share the ring once again, either as allies or opponents.

Following Zack Sabre Jr’s three-match run with AEW earlier this year, it would be fulfilling to see him come back to be involved with his former rival’s world title reign in one way or another.

Great-O-Khan

After defending the AEW World Tag Team Championship against the Young Bucks, Adam Copeland & Christian Cage were confronted by FTR, Motor City Machine Guns and Austin Creed & Kofi of the New Level (fka New Day).

With AEW currently celebrating tag-team wrestling, it would be interesting to see the IWGP Tag Team Champions be added to the mix.

With HENARE making several appearances for AEW this year as part of the United Empire, we could see his championship teammate Great-O-Khan join him to showcase NJPW’s top tandem.

Great-O-Khan previously feuded with FTR during the AEW team’s IWGP Tag Team Title run in late-2022, and we could see these competitors cross paths again in the future.

Jeff Cobb

Jeff Cobb wrestled on AEW TV several times as a NJPW star between February 2020 and June 2024, ahead of signing with WWE the following year.

With Cobb now back in NJPW, we could see him rekindle some old rivalries in AEW too, following his absence from the company.

With a number of tag-team bouts also under his belt, Jeff Cobb has shared the ring with Jon Moxley, Cash Wheeler and Kenny Omega in one-on-one matches at AEW shows, with the latter match – on the March 29, 2023 Dynamite episode – being for Omega’s IWGP US Heavyweight Championship.

With Cobb at odds with the United Empire’s Callum Newman, it would be interesting to see his dynamic with Will Ospreay, given their history, and Ospreay’s AEW World Championship win.

Shota Umino

Shota Umino is perhaps the NJPW star who has the most reason to visit AEW again, given his relationship with Jon Moxley and the Death Riders.

With Moxley defeating Umino in his second match post-WWE departure at Dominion 2019, the ex-WWE Champion took Umino under his wing.

The Death Riders have been at odds with Umino more recently, with the NJPW star facing Claudio Castagnoli at NJPW Wrestle Dynasty 2026, and defending the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship against PAC at Forbidden Door 2026.

With Gabe Kidd previously attacking Umino and winning the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title in July, it would make sense for Umino to show up in AEW to confront either Kidd or Moxley.

Yota Tsuji

Yota Tsuji has been very vocal in the past about disliking AEW, and believing that NJPW should cut ties with the US-based promotion.

However, as has been proven numerous times over the years, you can never truly say never in the world of pro-wrestling.

Tsuji has history with several AEW stars. His rivalry with Konosuke Takeshita has seen the IWGP Heavyweight Championship change hands, the G1 Climax 34 semifinalist determined, and points won in other G1 Climax tournaments, with their last bout seeing Tsuji overcome Takeshita in the opening night of this year’s tour.

If there’s anyone to showcase to even the balance of the AEW-NJPW partnership in the latter side’s favor, its former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji.

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• AEW
• NJPW
• Crossover

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