(NOAH/WWE) WWE'S AJ Styles to participate - Why will the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion face Naomichi Marufuji?

17th June 2024

Tokyo Sports

Another surprise for the Japanese wrestling world. 

Noah announced that AJ Styles (47), aka "The Phenomenal" of the world's largest promotion, WWE, will participate in the event at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on July 13th, where he will face Naomichi Marufuji (44) in a singles match. Why will the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion face Marufuji in the Noah ring? The reason was explained by CyberFight director, Narihiro Takeda. 

It was after the second match of the Yokohama BUNTAI show on the 16th, when AJ appeared on the screen and announced his participation at the show, declaring "Marufuji, I know how talented you are. Your long career says it all. But I won't lose." 

AJ joined WWE in 2016, after a successful career in New Japan. The crowd was excited to the the participation of a superstar, who has a great track record in the world's largest promotion, including twice winning the highest championship. Marufuji, who won the GHC Tag Team Championship with Takashi Sugiura on the same day, responded, "I think it's an important first shot, so I want to make sure I'm well prepared and win."

According to Takeda, the negotiations for the participation were carried out through the internet television streaming service "ABEMA", which broadcasts the shows of both promotions. For the Nippon Budokan event on January 1st 2023, when Shinsuke Nakamura from WWE was invited, an otherworldly showdown with the Great Muta took place. When they requested a similar match at the same venue, he said "We got a positive response, so we were able to talk". It seems that WWE also decided that participation in Noah, would lead to promotion in Japan. Takeda explained why he chose AJ, who had no connection to Noah. "The WWE Universe (fans) probably don't want the WWE worldview to be ruined, and as WWE's Japan tours come as a package, the next wrestler that Japanese fans can dream of is AJ after Shinsuke Nakamura". Meanwhile, his opponent, Marufuji, was nominated by WWE. "It seemed like there was only one choice. If there was a Noah wrestler who was well known in America, it would be Marufuji, because he's a Japanese legend. I think it's also because Noah has PPVs over there."

Noah has just announced its intention to strengthen the relationship with WWE, Takeda is ambiguous saying, "There are still many things to be done regarding strengthening our relationship." Coincidentally, Iyo Sky, also from WWE, will be taking part in the women's professional wrestling MARIGOLD event, which will be held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on the same day as Noah at the Nippon Budokan.

We can look forward to more surprise appearances by superstars in the future.

Translated from Tokyo Sports

Picture credit: Tokyo Sports