Whenever a wrestler from one company wins a championship from another company, especially their World or top title, there are questions about what it means for the new champ, and how the belt they’ve won will be treated when worn by someone who may ultimately listen to another promoter or booker.
Fans who closely follow AEW and/or New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Japan’s DDT Pro Wrestling knew that Konosuke Takeshita was contracted to all three companies, but folks who are more casual followers of those
promotions are asking those questions this week after Takeshita won the IWGP World Heavyweight title, New Japan’s top championship.. Even some diehard fans of those outfits had questions — especially NJPW — are wondering how those triple contracts will work now that The Alpha is the IWGP king.
In AEW, for example, Takeshita will team with Kazuchika Okada in a Tag title match this Saturday night at the WrestleDream PPV in St. Louis. He’s also been setting up a big program with Okada on weekly television in the United States.
During his first press conference for New Japan as the promotion’s World champ today (Oct. 14), Takeshita offered reassurances if not an explanation, saying:
“I’m triple contracted, but not exclusive. We can move things around and I can be on any tour I’m called for.”
To explain the freedom he’s describing in the second part, we’re taking “not exclusive” to mean he has final say on his schedule rather than one of those three companies. Takeshita also sought to reassure his countrymen & women that representing New Japan is a priority:
“There are people worldwide, not just Japan, that want to see the IWGP World Heavyweight champion.”
Fans in Gifu will get to see Takeshita’s first defense on Nov. 2, when NJPW puts on Hiroshi Tanahashi’s final show in home prefecture at the Gifu Memorial Center. That’s where the match Takeshita and Hirooki Goto set-up after The Alpha beat Zack Sabre, Jr. for the belt yesterday at King of Pro Wrestling. The Gifu card will also feature Tanahashi challenging Yota Tsuji for the IWGP Global belt he just won from Gabe Kidd at yesterday’s event.
