Backstage News On WWE & ROH: Liger At NXT Brooklyn Considered A Major “Double Cross”

WWE’s announcement that Japanese wrestling legend Jushin “Thunder” Liger will be appearing at the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn event on August 22nd has opened up a “political hornet’s nest” according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Liger is a New Japan Pro Wrestling talent and with NJPW having a long running affiliation with Ring of Honor (which runs head-to-head with NXT in Brooklyn on 8/22), the relationship between WWE and ROH is now considered to be more strained than ever. ROH was not aware of Liger being booked for Takeover until the news broke online and Meltzer notes that even by pro wrestling standards, the move is considered to be a major ‘double-cross.’

ROH has sold approximately 1,100 for their Field of Honor show that night, which they were said to be happy with. They were expecting the show to eventually sell out with around 2,000 fans in attendance, but ticket sales have stalled out since WWE announced Takeover: Brooklyn. Ticket sales for the “Ringside with Jim Ross” show in Manhattan on the same night have also taken a hit due to NXT Takeover.

It remains to be seen whether WWE using Jushin Liger is the start of a working relationship with NJPW, but it’s not good news for ROH, which does not have much recourse against WWE.

WWE’s relationship with ROH taking a step (or two) backwards is surprising. Triple H has publicly stated that a strong Ring of Honor is good for WWE, since ROH is another place for wrestlers to learn their craft and the company has produced countless talents who have gone on to great success in WWE. That said, the strong push to make NXT a bonafide means that ROH is now a direct competitor in a market they are looking to corner.