Notes: Rocky Romero Interview with The Wrestling Perspective Podcast

Notes: Rocky Romero Interview with The Wrestling Perspective Podcast

Rocky Romero will be the guest on this weekend's episode of The Wrestling Perspective Podcast with Lars Frederiksen and Dennis Farrell. They spoke on various topics.

- Rocky was asked how the atmosphere is in Tokyo during the week of Wrestle Kingdom. He was asked if it was similar to WrestleMania. He explained that in a way, because Wrestle Kingdom started as just one show, but now you see other events scheduled around it. He brought up NOAH, which just had Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Great Muta, along with DDT and other small companies.

- Rocky talked about how the conversation went with the WWE. He mentioned Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows wanted to finish their dates, before signing with WWE.  He mentioned some problems with getting Karl Anderson to the Tokyo Dome to defend the Never Openweight Championship. He talked about how Crown Jewel caused a delay with a title defense. He mentioned he had conversations with Triple H to make sure things worked out. Rocky also talked about the AJ Styles/Wrestle Kingdom rumors that were running rampant in December. 

- Rocky said he believes NJPW can be a strong third contender for popularity in Pro Wrestling. He says there is no competition to WWE, and AEW is number two. He said Forbidden Door was a huge success, and just Kenny Omega going to Wrestle Kingdom was a big deal too. He brought up it was the largest number of subscribers they have had at one time. He also said Mercedes Mone (Sasha Banks) was obviously a big help. He compares the difference between Kenny Omega fans in Japan and the United States.

- Rocky talked about how the side projects he has with Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows are on hold because they are in different companies right now. He says you never know things can change. There is a lot going on in the WWE right now. He says it's also possible there could be a co-branded podcast. Rocky says WWE seems more open than they were a year ago to things. He would love to do a co-branded PPV, another or another TalkNShopaMania.

- Rocky mentioned how the Dojo built in Los Angeles in 2002 was a vision of Antonio Inoki, and he said it did not work in part because of the technology. He said we have the technology then, that we do now, and everyone chooses what they want to watch and when they want to watch it.

- Rocky says AEW helps NJPW with many promotional things by bringing people in, IMPACT/AXS, to build their audience. He said the production for The Battle of the Valley show in San Jose will be ramped up, and they are bringing in the production team from Japan.

- Rocky talked about how many wrestlers want to work in NJPW, and says that for some wrestlers they have that dream to work WrestleMania, but some have that bucket list, which includes working Wrestle Kingdom. 

- He said if he compares WWE and AEW to New Japan, WWE and AEW are the major Hollywood studios that are making the Marvel movies and big budget movies, but secretly people want to work on the smaller films.

- Rocky says he is proud of the accomplishments, helping get Kenny Omega back into the Tokyo Dome. He’s proud that he helped bring Forbidden Door together.

- Romero says he wants to work with Scott D’Amore about NJPW doing more work with IMPACT. There is some talent in mind.