AJ Styles Calls for WWE to Make a Japanese Acquisition

AJ Styles is making the case for WWE to expand its global footprint even further — this time with an eye toward Japan. On the latest episode of his podcast, The Phenomenally Retro Podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer voiced his opinion that the company should pursue acquiring a Japanese wrestling promotion, drawing a parallel to WWE’s purchase of Lucha Libre AAA.

WWE’s acquisition of AAA marked a significant move into the Mexican lucha libre market, giving the promotion a foothold in one of the most passionate wrestling cultures in the world. Styles, who has deep ties to Japanese wrestling through his years competing in NJPW and other promotions before returning to WWE, clearly sees similar untapped potential on the other side of the Pacific.

It’s a perspective that carries some weight coming from Styles. Few American wrestlers have had the kind of sustained success in Japan that he enjoyed, and his understanding of what makes Japanese wrestling culturally distinct gives his advocacy more credibility than a passing observation. The argument essentially is that if WWE is serious about becoming a truly global product — not just the biggest promotion in the world, but a dominant force in every major wrestling market — Japan is too important to leave on the table.

Whether WWE’s leadership shares that vision remains to be seen. The company has not publicly indicated any plans for a Japanese acquisition, but with Styles now putting the idea out into the conversation, it’s the kind of suggestion that tends to take on a life of its own among fans and industry observers alike.