Callum Newman talked about AEW’s working relationship with NJPW again.
Newman made the comments in an interview NJPW published on Wednesday, as AEW talent is set to appear on upcoming New Japan shows.
Newman has issues with AEW wrestlers who get into main events without going through the Dojo’s training routine or New Japan’s long tours.
“I’m not salty about them, I just feel angry because when their wrestlers want to make a name for themselves in Japan, they feel NJPW is an easy in for them just because they have AEW on their resume.
New Japan is not that easy. For all the people who do all the squats in that Dojo every day to get here, an AEW wrestler who can hop, skip and jump their way into a main event rubs me the wrong way.
Because most of those guys as well, they only come in to do one show. They never do a full tour, never know how hard touring actually is. They fly in day before, do a match and fly back home. That’s it. I don’t think they get the schedule.”
Newman was asked about Yota Tsuji, who has criticized NJPW’s partnership with AEW. He called Tsuji a coward for his stance on AEW, but said he would have no problem facing Kenny Omega.
Newman has represented NJPW on AEW TV with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and he said he was the first to bring that title there.
Newman has been critical of the relationship before. Back in February, he told Sid Pullar III of The Takedown on SI that AEW had done nothing for NJPW and questioned if AEW’s wrestlers could handle tournaments like the G1 Climax and the World Tag League.
There is also tension between Newman and Will Ospreay. Newman said Ospreay started putting together an American version of United Empire without asking him. Newman only learned about the new additions to the group from messages sent by other members and from social media.
AEW is reportedly looking to get more of its talent on NJPW shows over the next few months.