AEW Women’s Champion Thekla Responds to Yota Tsuji’s Comments About the Promotion

AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla has weighed in on remarks made by NJPW’s Yota Tsuji regarding All Elite Wrestling, and her take might surprise some fans — she says she has respect for his position.

Earlier this year, Tsuji addressed the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view during an interview with Tokyo Sports, hinting that he could skip the event and framing his potential absence as a matter of protecting NJPW and its wrestlers. The comments drew attention given Forbidden Door’s status as one of the marquee crossover events on the wrestling calendar, a show built on the partnership between the two promotions.

Thekla, who currently holds the top women’s title in AEW, recently addressed Tsuji’s stance and indicated she respects where he was coming from. It’s a measured response — rather than dismissing the criticism or firing back, the champion acknowledged the legitimacy of a performer prioritizing loyalty to their own promotion above outside appearances.

The exchange is an interesting window into how talent on both sides of the AEW-NJPW relationship navigate the Forbidden Door concept. For some, the crossover represents an exciting opportunity to work in front of new audiences and against unfamiliar opponents. For others, like Tsuji, there are clearly reservations about what that kind of collaboration means for a promotion’s identity and the wellbeing of its roster.

With Forbidden Door continuing to be a fixture on the AEW schedule, the conversation around which NJPW talent participate — and how each side views the partnership — remains an ongoing storyline worth watching heading into future events.