Top AEW Talent Passed on Big NJPW Opportunity Before Joining the Company

AEW has provided their talent with a lot of opportunities, and that hasn’t changed for Tony Khan’s company. Sadly, some things can’t work out due to timing. That being said, one current AEW star decided against a big NJPW opportunity before deciding to go to AEW.

Claudio Castagnoli recently shared that he was on the verge of participating in the NJPW G1 Climax tournament before making the decision to join AEW. After making his AEW debut at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2022, Castagnoli was unveiled as Bryan Danielson’s replacement, where he beat Zack Sabre Jr.

During a conversation with Denise Salcedo about the AEW Continental Classic, Castagnoli mentioned that he was in close consideration for the G1 Climax before opting to sign with All Elite Wrestling.

“I was very excited. [Laughs] Right before I joined AEW, I was extremely close, probably a couple days away before doing the G1 for New Japan.”

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“I always want to do the G1, and I still owe them one, I feel like. So to do the Continental Classic, I was super excited,”

Since making his big AEW debut, Claudio Castagnoli became a featured star on the AEW roster as a member of the Blackpool Combat Club. He is also a former two-time ROH World Champion at this point, while finally holding a world title after over a decade of work.

We will have to see if Claudio makes his way to NJPW for the G1 in the future. Tony Khan may allow him that opportunity later on, but you never know what will happen next when the Forbidden Door is still in play.

What’s your take on this story about a possible big opportunity for Claudio? Do you think that he would have won the G1? Let us know what you think in the comments section!