Tony Khan Confirms Partnership Between AEW And NOAH
AEW and Pro Wrestling NOAH have agreed to work together for at least one big upcoming event.
In a video posted on NOAH’s YouTube page on October 7th, 2022, Tony Khan described how he grew up a fan of The Great Muta and how he got into the tape-trading community. Khan was overjoyed to have Muta appear for AEW and now AEW will return the favor.
Tony confirmed that Sting will team with Muta on Muta’s retirement show on January 22nd, 2023. This will capitalize on the famous matches Muta and Sting had together in WCW in 1989 and throughout the following decade.
“AEW and NOAH working together. Thank you.”
It remains unclear whether this partnership will extend to anything beyond Muta’s retirement show. It is also unclear how Tony and AEW will manage this and all of AEW’s other interpromotional relationships. Aside from NOAH, AEW, through Khan, has sought relationships with, or sent his wrestler to work for, many different companies.
In Japan, AEW wrestlers have competed for New Japan, All Japan, DDT, Tokyo Joshi Pro, and Gatoh Move. Stateside, AEW wrestlers have wrestled for Impact, Lucha Libre AAA, GCW, and various other indy promotions across the continent.
Mitsuharu Misawa founded Pro Wrestling NOAH in June 2000 following major business and creative disagreements with AJPW founder Giant Baba’s widow Motoko. NOAH achieved considerable critical and commercial success during its first seven or so years in business. However, several financial failures and challenges in creating new stars caused NOAH to gradually falter from its perch in the Japanese wrestling market. It has remained afloat for many years and was most recently involved in a big ‘Forbidden Door-style’ show with New Japan for Wrestle Kingdom 16, Night Three earlier this year.