Odd are if you are reading this you know the general back story Kenny Omega finding his way to Japan and eventually debuting in New Japan with Kota Ibushi. The Bullet Club forming in 2013, The Young Bucks coming to New Japan. All three joining the Bullet Club and forming the first version The Elite, Omega vs. Okada and Jericho. But out story truly begins in the summer of 2018. In May it was announced Harold Meij was the new president of New Japan. It marked the first time a non Japanese would hold that role. On June 9th Meij appeared at Dominion and addressed fans that same night Kenny Omega's New Japan peaked as he won the IWG Heavyweight Championship. That Dominion show was also notable as Michael Elgin won the NEVER Openweight title, Chris Jericho became IWGP Intercontinental, The Young Bucks already 2/3 of the NEVER six man champion became IWGP Heavyweight tag champs Jay Whtie meanwhile remained IWGP United States champion. For a brief moment with the exception of the two Junior Heavyweight titles every champion in NJPW was a English speaking non Japanese wrestler.
By 2018 New Japan had been pushing more and more into America. The success of The Bullet Club and later the Elite, the AXS TV Show, making NJPW World available outside of Japan and adding English commentary, pushing talent like Omega and bringing in WWE legend Chris Jericho, opening the LA Dojo, creating the US title, and of course running more and more show in the states were all part of this. June had also seen the new that New Japan along with Ring of Honor would do show in Madison Square Garden at 2019's WrestleMania weekend. That is one factor we should keep in mind as we look back. New Japan had set it sights on America even creating a new sub brand New Japan of America to over see that expansion. So any new American based company would be competition. It was even reported Meij was hired due to his connections that parent company Bushiroad thought would help with the expansion.
September would see All In and New Japan was have a big presences on that card. Besides the Elite/Bullet Club several New Japan regular/semi regulars appeared. Most notably was Kazuchika Okada the top star in NJPW. In the wake of All In many fans speculated on a follow up it was also in the weeks reports about a than largely (at least in wrestling) Tony Khan wanting to start a new company began to really pick up steam. And looming over all of this was the fact The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, and Cody Rhodes would become free agents in January. It also might be where our first real hints of trouble.
To that point everything seemed to be going along like normal. A New Japan show in San Franciso sow the long built up Omega vs. Cody match. It also saw GOD and Bad Luck Fale turn on the cast of BTE. Omega was booked strong in the G1 and Hangman was given several big wins. Yet post G1 Omega's title reign seemed to take a backseat. His post G1 title defense was against Tomohiro Ishii a talented and popular wrestler but also a man fans joke will never be IWGP champ. After that it was a three way with Cody and Kota Ibushi. Now it wasn't a bad match but it jsut felt so unimportant. The feud with Omega and Cody had ended. The real focus for New Japan fell onto Jay White.
Post G1 White would fully turn on Okada and the CHAOS faction, he would have Okada's manger Gedo join him eventually becoming the new leader of Bullet Club. Later on Kenny Omega would voice in his view New Japan wanted to make Jay White the next Kenny Omega. After October's King of Pro Wrestling the build would begin. Omega would main event facing Hiroshi Tanahashi. On screen it was a battle for the future of New Japan and it's in ring style. Tanahashi was the classic New Japan wrestler influenced by Tatsumi Fujinami and Keiji Muto. The classic white hat who on screen and off was the savior of NJPW. Omega was the outsider from DDT willing to break wrestling tradition in every way. He could be a hero he could also be a villain. He was also the face of New Japan's world wide expansion.
At this stage AEW was still just rumors and speculation. Of all the member of the Elite Omega seemed the least likely to join it given his place in New Japan and his open love of Japan. On BTE it was notabole Omega wasn't one of the cast to have a timer appearing on his phone. Just before Wrestle Kingdom though a video called Kenny's Quest appeared on the BTE You Tube Channel. Omega made it to say this video would not appear on official New Japan channel due to factors out of his control. The story would eventually come up. New Japan had rejected the video at least in part due the fact Kenny had made his choice he was going to what would be AEW.
So January 1st came and AEW was now official. Three days later I watched as The Elite lost every single match there were in. According to The Young Bucks and Omega they wanted to say goodbye to the New Japan fans but weren't given the chance. Over the years the blame has been laid at Meij's feet. The word being he felt The Elite and anyone who wound up joining them had become stars due to the platform New Japan had afforded them. And to a point he was right. But there was also no denying Kenny Omega and his amazing in ring brought new attention to New Japan. There is no denying The hard work of the Young Bucks created new fans. As I pointed out earlier New Japan had been expanding into America for a while by this point. It seem Meij had decided those that's weren't with him were now against him.
New Year's Dash was all about the new direction of New Japan. AEW began to takes shape. Now were the Elite minus Marty Scrull all joining but so were several New Japan alumni all joining the roster. April and New Japan/ROH MSG card came and went no sign of AEW talent. The card for Double or Nothing started to take shape there was talent from Japan in the form of the women's division. At the end of Double or Nothing Jon Moxley arrived to lay out Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho and it gave fans a bit of hope for the crossover.
Before his AEW debut a series of videos had been airing on New Japan broadcasts to promote Moxley's arrival in that company. At the 2019 Best of Super Juniors Finals, Moxley would win the IWGP US title. He would also enter the G1 Climax tournament. Jericho would also appear for New Japan in the time between Double or Nothing and the start of Dynamite. At Dominion Jericho challenged Okada for the IWGP title and had a post match brawl with Tanahashi. For various reasons New Japan was still willing to book Moxley and Jericho while AEW wasn't making any moves to stop them from taking those bookings. Maybe just maybe the two sides could reach a deal of some kind.
November the relationship took another huge hit while what exatcly happened hasn't been made full clear it was a caser of where there is smoke there is fire. Kenny Omega was booked to return to DDT the company he first became a start in Japan for. As Omega attempted to travel to Japan something in the immigration system was trigged there tried to stop him. And the issuse could of kept Omega out of Japan for years. Dave Meltzer reported it happened to Omega two other times since he left NJPW. Omega didn't go into full details but tweeted 2019 would have some interesting stories when he finally wrote his book. Fellow AEW EVP Nick Jason also commented implying New Japan was behind it. Meij would eventually deny it. Still many felt this was either New Japan trying to hurt DDT's show or seeking payback on a former employee.
For both promotions 2019 could be viewed as overall success. New Japan had racked in some major houses and critically acclaimed shows. AEW had three pay per views under it's belt and Dynamite was a hit. Frankly fans of either company should be happy. As 2020 loomed fans weren't sure if would ever see a crossover and soon enough fans were even wondering if we would see wrestling as we knew it again...
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