NJPW Star Slams AEW For Being Full Of “Indy Wrestlers”

A former title holder in NJPW has made his opinion on the talent in AEW very clear – and it isn’t positive.

As a member of The United Empire, The Great-O-Khan is not a popular figure in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Despite this, he has had plenty of success for himself as part of Will Ospreay’s faction, including becoming a two-time IWGP Tag Team Champion alongside Jeff Cobb.

Their second reign with tag team gold came to an end at the joint event between AEW and NJPW, Forbidden Door, where O-Khan and Cobb were defeated by FTR who added the IWGP gold to the AEW and AAA Tag Team Championships.

As part of an interview with Wrestle Inn, The Great-O-Khan has made his sentiment towards the wrestlers who are part of the AEW roster very clear. Whilst he notes that some of them are formidable, he feels the company is full of unrefined independent wrestlers.

We felt that AEW is full of indy wrestlers. There are plenty of formidable wrestlers there, but they are unrefined and ill-educated. A shame.

The Great-O-Khan recently also featured in NJPW’s G1 Climax tournament, which was eventually won by ‘The Rainmaker’ Kazuchika Okada. In the group stages O-Khan picked up two victories, over Taichi and Tomohiro Ishii.

It has now been confirmed that FTR will make their first defence of the IWGP Tag Team Champions in the United Kingdom at Royal Quest II, where they will take on The United Empire’s Aussie Open.