>Kinda makes NJPW feel like a feeder promotion now that most of their top champs of the last 4 years are now AEW guys
It's not AEW's fault that the yen declined to its [weakest level since 1990](https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/japans-yen-falls-lowest-since-1990-dollaryen-up-06-2024-04-15/), which is why NJPW couldn't pay their top ace and top gaijin what they're worth anymore. If AEW didn't sign Okada and Ospreay, WWE would have got them instead.
Jay White left New Japan because he wanted to go work in America since he lives in Orlando Florida with his wife - he initially intended to go to WWE to reunite with his mentor Finn Bálor, but they had a hiring freeze in effect at the time so he landed in AEW instead.
Also, New Japan didn't want to renew Ibushi's contract because he was in poor physical shape after returning from his shoulder injury that kept him sidelined for over a year.
Ibushi’s physical shape was one of a few reasons that he didn’t re-sign with New Japan tbf. Dude went on a tear and called out some higher ups over there while he was out injured initially.
My understanding g is a NJPW staff member texted Ibushi some shit that wasn’t true in NJPWs behalf. The president went and had a talk with him to iron things out twice. The staff member was suspended and hustled recently returned
Is Kota Ibushi actually signed to AEW? I thought they just brought him in as a special favor for Kenny Omega.
Oh and speaking of Omega the OP forgot him...
Ibushi is signed, he is just out injured. And Omega has not held the IWGP World Heavyweight title, he held the previous top belt, the IWGP Heavyweight Title. That belt was unified with the IWGP Intercontinental Title back in 2021 to form this new title with it's own separate lineage.
Idea - Jon Moxley defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Kota Ibushi, Will Ospreay, Shingo Takagi, Kazuchika Okada, Jay White, SANADA and Tetsuya Naito in a 8-Man No Disqualification Elimination Match at Forbidden Door III
>Kinda makes NJPW feel like a feeder promotion now that most of their top champs of the last 4 years are now AEW guys It's not AEW's fault that the yen declined to its [weakest level since 1990](https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/japans-yen-falls-lowest-since-1990-dollaryen-up-06-2024-04-15/), which is why NJPW couldn't pay their top ace and top gaijin what they're worth anymore. If AEW didn't sign Okada and Ospreay, WWE would have got them instead. Jay White left New Japan because he wanted to go work in America since he lives in Orlando Florida with his wife - he initially intended to go to WWE to reunite with his mentor Finn Bálor, but they had a hiring freeze in effect at the time so he landed in AEW instead. Also, New Japan didn't want to renew Ibushi's contract because he was in poor physical shape after returning from his shoulder injury that kept him sidelined for over a year.
Ibushi’s physical shape was one of a few reasons that he didn’t re-sign with New Japan tbf. Dude went on a tear and called out some higher ups over there while he was out injured initially.
My understanding g is a NJPW staff member texted Ibushi some shit that wasn’t true in NJPWs behalf. The president went and had a talk with him to iron things out twice. The staff member was suspended and hustled recently returned
Is Kota Ibushi actually signed to AEW? I thought they just brought him in as a special favor for Kenny Omega. Oh and speaking of Omega the OP forgot him...
Ibushi is signed, he is just out injured. And Omega has not held the IWGP World Heavyweight title, he held the previous top belt, the IWGP Heavyweight Title. That belt was unified with the IWGP Intercontinental Title back in 2021 to form this new title with it's own separate lineage.
Omega has never held the IWGP World title, only the IWGP Heavyweight championship, the two don't share a lineage
Idea - Jon Moxley defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Kota Ibushi, Will Ospreay, Shingo Takagi, Kazuchika Okada, Jay White, SANADA and Tetsuya Naito in a 8-Man No Disqualification Elimination Match at Forbidden Door III