AEW and New Japan coming together to deliver the Forbidden Door super show will see many familiar names mixing it up. Quite a few wrestlers have already spent time in both companies at various stages. The start of AEW came partially due to the success wrestlers had in NJPW and other smaller United States independent promotions.
NJPW expanding in North America led to them adding many names that worked internationally. That list of names has seen some moving over to AEW since it made more sense to work full time in the United States. Certain talents have done better in one company than the other. The following wrestlers were booked much better in either NJPW or AEW.
10 Better In NJPW: Lance Archer
The NJPW run of Lance Archer helped him fulfill his potential and prove he could be a top player in the wrestling scene. Archer had spent years in TNA trying to break out and find a way to get consistent television time to move up the card.
NJPW portrayed Archer as unpredictable monster that scared fans with his reckless actions during his entrance. Most of his best matches took place in NJPW before making the move to AEW. Archer has tried to use a similar character, but he’s clearly treated as less of a threat outside NJPW.
9 Better In AEW: Adam Cole
New Japan is the only noteworthy promotion Adam Cole has yet to become a huge success for while working there. Cole was the top Ring of Honor and PWG champion respectively during his indie wrestling era when getting selected to appear on some NJPW tours.
The stint there rarely saw Cole doing anything of note on the NJPW side of things. AEW has already placed Cole in bigger matches during his short time there. The polarizing online discourse about Cole in AEW can’t even deny he’s made an impact in AEW.
8 Better In NJPW: Matt Sydal
The NJPW stint of Matt Sydal ended poorly, so many fans forget just how great he was there. Sydal joined New Japan for multiple tours when they were expanding into the North American market and wanted to boost their legendary juniors division.
NJPW always saw Sydal delivering strong performances using his high-flying moves to fit into the style there. Ricochet and Sydal forming a short-term team even created a new act that could have worked longer. AEW has primarily used Sydal as a lower card act with minimal television.
7 Better In AEW: Trent Barretta
AEW is currently using Trent Barretta as a noteworthy part of the Forbidden Door build. Trent and his former NJPW partner Rocky Romero reformed Roppongi Vice to have matches against various NJPW talents throughout the weeks.
The NJPW run for Trent was fun in the tag division, but he rarely got to show much personality. AEW gave Barretta his ideal role in a comedic team with Chuck Taylor as the Best Friends. The parking lot brawl against Santana & Ortiz, and the Arcade Anarchy match facing Miro and Kip Sabian have shown Trent at his best.
6 Better In NJPW: Colt Cabana
Colt Cabana has been missing from AEW TV for a few months now, with rumors of him being shifted to Ring of Honor. AEW found some success with Cabana in the Dark Order faction stepping up whenever they wanted him in a Dynamite match.
The comedy of Colt is what fans like most about him as a tremendously successful act before joining AEW. NJPW used to bring Cabana in for select tours to play his comedic character to perfection. Toru Yano and Colt having any interactions showed his best side.
5 Better In AEW: Jon Moxley
Jon Moxley is one of the wrestlers to look great in both promotions, and he is a huge reason for the Forbidden Door show. AEW and NJPW working together came partially due to Moxley working for both promotions and creating that bridge.
NJPW primarily used Moxley in a mid-card role competing for the United States Championship when he was there, but he is booked credibly. AEW mostly wins out by having Moxley as one of the faces of the promotion always positioned in a top spot.
4 Better In NJPW: Kenny Omega
Both AEW and NJPW have valid arguments for booking Kenny Omega better, but it would be impossible to top his New Japan stint this quickly. Omega earned his reputation for being the best wrestler in the world in NJPW due to classics with Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito, Hiroshi Tanahashi and many others.
The success for Omega was historic in NJPW as arguably the most successful foreigner and a top ten all-time legend. AEW has had huge success with Omega’s outstanding AEW World Championship reign, but it would take many years to top his NJPW legacy.
3 Better In AEW: Young Bucks
The Young Bucks finding such huge success to get branding deals with Funko and Hot Topic came when wrestling for New Japan and Ring of Honor. Fans became enthralled in Matt and Nick enough to follow them everywhere for a successful NJPW stint in the Bullet Club, but NJPW rarely pushed them out of the Jr. tag division that was viewed secondary.
AEW has benefited more from the Young Bucks helping bring that previous NJPW success over to the United States fan base. Matt and Nick have already had nearly a dozen classics in AEW’s short history with matches against a variety of teams.
2 Better In NJPW: Andrade
WWE signed Andrade after his successful stint in New Japan and Mexico working under the mask as La Sombra. Andrade won the IWGP Intercontinental Championship and was an important member of the popular Los Ingobernables faction that eventually expanded to Japan.
AEW has been far too hot and cold with their use of Andrade since signing him.
There have been a few great matches, but he’s yet to be put in a place to move to the next level. A fair critique can be made that AEW is dropping the ball not elevating Andrade higher up the card, especially with recent roster injuries.
1 Better In AEW: Adam Page
The Young Bucks suggested Adam Page join Bullet Club as a stronger part of the Ring of Honor representation. NJPW booked Page on multiple tours to team with his respective Elite members representing the Bullet Club faction.
Hangman typically had good matches, but NJPW had no plans to make him a main eventer. Much like you can fault AEW for Andrade’s booking, you must credit them for Page. AEW made Hangman one of their biggest stars in a short time by booking to his strengths and showing full confidence.