The Rock sported the shirt in a post on Instagram.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson took to his Instagram page and uploaded a video of himself solving a Rubik’s Cube while wearing a shirt with the New Japan Pro-Wrestling logo on it.
That was reacted to by NJPW English commentator Walker Stewart during his appearance on Busted Open. Stewart said when it comes to him having any insight about if there’s something brewing between TKO and NJPW, it’s above his paygrade.
You know, whether it’s a matter of putting something out in the world, I’m not certain. I know one thing’s for certain is that New Japan Pro-Wrestling has a wonderful relationship with AEW and a lot of other organizations and partner companies that I know they’re very happy and satisfied with. Now, if there is an intention on one side or another, I’m not privy to. That’s leagues and leagues above my paygrade. But, I mean, popped me. The Rock wearing a New Japan shirt solving the Rubik’s Cube. Hell yeah. I can’t stop seeing it all over Twitter. It’s getting people to talk a little bit about New Japan Pro-Wrestling after we just had a massive event in the United States. There’s no way I can really see that as a negative. Now, if I have any insight as to anything whether it is The Rock or as if I’m on a first-name basis with the man. Right in my contact list, right? He’s on speed dial. If I have any information about whether TKO or The Rock or anything like that wanted to do business with New Japan, that’s not really my place to say. I don’t have any intel on that side. But, it would be interesting. Anything can happen in the world of pro wrestling. I feel like we always say that and I don’t wanna cast any doubt where I have no knowledge but yeah, I think just leave it at that.
Earlier in the conversation, Stewart spoke about making his way into New Japan and shared that it was former NJPW commentator Kevin Kelly that got him in the door.
I happened to connect with Kevin Kelly through a former Ring of Honor wrestler named Bob Evans, and it was kind of matter of just shooting my shot and it wasn’t me going, ‘Hey, Kevin, give me your job.’ It was me sending a message to Kevin Kelly not expecting a response. It was the middle of G1 33 and that’s a really intense tour that we do with New Japan. Especially around that part of the G1 and I just said, ‘Hey, I heard that you’re leaving. What would a guy have to do to be put into the position to one day fill the shoes that you’re in right now?’ And he said, ‘Well, how about you find out’ and it was one of those things where I’m sitting in a 7-Eleven, I’m working my day job. I’m in the freezer and I get a call from Kevin Kelly going, ‘Hey, they wanna sign you to New Japan’ and I was like, ‘Alright, well, I don’t need this anymore.’ This is the dream. We finally got where we wanted to be and now I’m here.
New Japan is coming off the heels of their Windy City Riot show and they are now heading towards the Wrestling Dontaku tour and the Resurgence show in May.
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit Busted Open with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcription.
