Scott D'Amore feels that ice is slowly melting.
Appearing on the Wrestling Perspective Podcast, the Co-Executive Vice President of IMPACT Wrestling spoke about the company's willingness to work with other promotions and - more specifically - their standing with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The two have had a contentious relationship in the past, with NJPW holding a grudge for IMPACT's (formerly TNA) less-than-ideal handling of Tetsuya Naito and Kazuchika Okada. There was also the time when TNA executed an IWGP Tag Title change without permission. Not to mention NJPW being pulled from AXS TV after Anthem, IMPACT's parent company, purchased a majority stake in the network. The list goes on.
The first olive branch was extended when IMPACT sent Chris Bey to New Japan to compete in the Super-J Cup Tournament in December 2020. Since then, NJPW's David Finlay and Juice Robinson have appeared on IMPACT television, even defeating Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson to win the Tag Team Titles.
D'Amore believes that they can continue to mend that fence by working hard and delivering on their promises. Whatsmore, he acknowledges that there have been multiple discussions regarding NJPW talent continuing to come to IMPACT and vice cersa. Here is what he said:
"Look at the New Japan relationship. It's no secret, it was so badly destroyed in the TNA years. We've spent years, literally, since Anthem sports took over, trying to rebuild that relationship. It's been a long and hard battle. Obviously, the Good Brothers coming in helped the coldness and ice. So far, it's been a good relationship. You've seen TJP and Chris Bey on their LA shows because of the travel restrictions. The Good Brothers will be working for both companies. There are multiple talks about talent continuing to come this way from Japan and talent from IMPACT going over to Japan. I look at the New Japan relationship much like I look at all the relationships when we took over IMPACT; people have been mistreated, respectfully, in their opinion, from previous regimes and given promises that weren't delivered. What we've had to do with New Japan and everyone else is tell you what we're going to do and then follow through. We have a great group of like-minded people in the industry coming together to collaborate."
FinJuice will defend their IMPACT Tag Team Titles this Sunday, April 25th against The Good Brothers. Fightful will have live coverage of the event beginning at 5 p.m. PST with a post-show immediately after its conclusion.
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