• NJPW Champion’s Criticism of AEW Partnership Not Considered Kayfabe
NJPW’s IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji is not believed to have been speaking in character when he recently criticized New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s working relationship with AEW.
Tsuji drew attention after comments made in an interview with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he questioned whether the partnership with All Elite Wrestling truly benefits NJPW. Given his upcoming match against AEW star Konosuke Takeshita at this Sunday’s Wrestle Kingdom 20 event, some initially speculated the remarks were part of storyline promotion.
However, NJPW sources told Fightful Select that Tsuji’s comments reflect his genuine views. According to those sources, he has been openly critical of the AEW relationship for years and has expressed reluctance about working U.S.-based shows connected to the partnership, despite having previously participated in them.
That stance aligns with earlier Fightful reporting that several NJPW talents were not enthusiastic about working AEW-related events in the United States, with Tsuji named among those wrestlers.
Despite his reservations, Tsuji was at one point discussed internally as a potential challenger for the AEW World Championship at AEW Forbidden Door 2024 against Swerve Strickland. That idea did not move forward after Will Ospreay offered to take the match instead, which ultimately became the direction AEW chose.
Tsuji’s match against Takeshita will be a Winner Takes All match for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
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• Top WWE Star Is “Very Concerned” About Brock Lesnar Guy’s Retirement
Michael Corcoran is a wrestling fan known as the “Brock Lesnar Guy,” as he went viral for his reaction during Brock’s return to WWE in 2012. On January 1, 2026, Corcoran announced his retirement from attending wrestling events. He wrote the following:
“The End……..
For over 25 years I’ve experienced some amazing moments attending wrestling shows.
But now……… it’s time to move on. I knew I was running out of time with this. Which is why I hit it hard this year. What an incredible year it was especially with John Cena’s retirement tour.
I need to focus on other things now which I will be sharing with you guys very soon but as far as attending wrestling shows………. It’s time for me to move on.
I will still be posting content…….. stay tuned.
The End or……..
To Be Continued?”
The End……..
For over 25 years I’ve experienced some amazing moments attending wrestling shows.
But now……… it’s time to move on. I knew I was running out of time with this. Which is why I hit it hard this year. What an incredible year it was especially with John Cena’s… pic.twitter.com/Tzyt5jzhVn
— Brock Lesnar Guy (@BrockLesnarGuy) January 1, 2026
WWE RAW star Becky Lynch tweeted the following about it:
“I find this VERY CONCERNING!!! This BRAVE BECKY BELIEVER spoke up during ANT-GATE and now he’s being forced not to come to shows anymore?! BY WHO?!? Maybe that TYRANT Petty Pearce?!?
Did MOODY Maxxine possibly threaten Mike after he gave his 1st hand account of the infestation of ants on the sacred wrestling mat?! THIS MONDAY I am fighting for YOU, the WWE Universe, so that THIS doesn’t happen to you!!”
