Tony Khan “Absolutely” Worried About AEW Stars In G1

The partnership between AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling continues in earnest with Eddie Kingston representing Tony Khan’s company in the upcoming G1 Climax tournament.

The G1 is one of the most grueling competitions in all of pro wrestling with the competitors in the 2023 edition of the tournament guaranteed to have at least seven hard-hitting matches as they look to earn themselves a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

Speaking on Pacific Rim, Tony Khan discussed the opportunities that have been afforded to some of his AEW wrestlers, particularly in tournaments in New Japan Pro Wrestling:

“We participate in the G1, we’ve sent people in the past, and now Eddie Kingston being a part of the G1 and Wheeler Yuta competing in the (Best of) Super Juniors last year, it gives us great opportunities to have top stars we believe in represent AEW in Japan.”

Despite the opportunities the G1 and other tournaments offer for AEW talent in Japan, Tony Khan admits that he is worried about the toll it will take on his talents:

“Absolutely I am but at the same time for Eddie Kingston going to the G1 is a lifelong dream for him and it’s something that he has wanted to do since he was very young and it’s something I want to make possible for him. Eddie’s a long-time fan of puroresu also and I believe that it means so much to him, it’s worth it taking that kind of a risk even though he’s coming back from a major injury and he’s been out.

“For him to go back and risk re-injury, losing more time it’s terrible but the upside that he can go over, fulfill his dream, and compete in the G1, hopefully, he does very well, and he could maybe even win the G1, that would be incredible, and I know that Eddie Kingston has it in him to go over there and represent AEW very well night in, night out, that’s the kind of competitor he is and I also know how much he loves puroresu and I know how much this means to him.”

The 2023 G1 Climax tournament kicks off on the 15th of July with the finals taking place on August 12th. But before then all eyes in both AEW and NJPW will be on Forbidden Door which takes place on the 25th of June in Toronto, Canada.

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