(NOAH/WWE) "I hope the young wrestlers can become rivals..." Director Takeda talks about the future with WWE

Tokyo Sports

15th July 2024

CyberFight Director, Narihiro Takeda, who oversees Pro Wrestling Noah, spoke about the future with America's WWE. 

Noah held a show at the Nippon Budokan on the 13th, and in the first part of the "double main event", American WWE Superstar, AJ STYLES participated, fighting a great match with Naomichi Marufuji that lasted 25 minutes and 27 seconds, before winning. The ongoing participation of superstars, which seemed impossible, has only become possible because of the strengthening of the relationship between Noah and WWE. 

Takeda explained that the "effect" of this is not just attracting spectators, saying, "I think it's great that the young wrestlers and the foreign wrestlers, can get inspired by seeing Shinsuke Nakamura (who participated in January last year) and AJ up close. I think this is an experience that can only be had thanks to the partnership between WWE and Abema (which broadcasts WWE)." With that in mind, he said about the future, "I think it would be good if the NXT wrestlers and our young wrestlers could develop a rivalry. I think that's what the fans want. I want to show the young wrestlers growing and working hard in the future." 

He also commented on AJ's suggestion in an interview that "it would be good if WWE wrestlers didn't just come to Noah, but that Noah wrestlers could come to WWE", to which he replied, expressing his hopes, "Of course, if they invited us, we would go. I think the people at WWE have seen the footage, and I hope they think, "I want to invite this wrestler". I hope AJ will also say, "This wrestler was great". He then emphasized, "I want to build a good relationship. Not just rely on each other, but one that can be a win-win situation for both sides".

On the other hand, he said that interactions with the world's largest promotion, have also had an impact on the front office, including confidence. Takeda said emphatically, "AJ also said, "Of all the promotions in the world, WWE has the best environment" and when we went there, all the wrestlers said, "It's a dream business". so I think our company needs to create an environment where wrestlers can say that about us. Working with people from WWE is inspiring." He said determinedly, "I want to inspire the wrestlers, and make them dream. I want to make them think "I don't want to leave this promotion". 

If the exchange continues, Noah will likely gain a lot from it.

Translated from Tokyo Sports

Picture credit: Tokyo Sports