MLW forms an ‘alliance’ with Japan’s Pro Wrestling NOAH

You pretty much need one of those big charts cops and private investigators use on TV shows to keep track of who’s working with who in the pro wrestling business these days.

Major League Wrestling - who no longer uses talent from Mexico’s CMLL because of issues caused by CMLL’s relationship with New Japan & Ring of Honor, but who does still share several names with AEW & AAA, who are formally partnering with one another while the later also works with Impact - announced at their Never Say Never taping in New York City last night (July 25) that they’ve formed an “alliance” with Japan’s Pro Wrestling NOAH.

NOAH shared talent with New Japan until a 2016 falling out, and partnered with Impact in 2017. But controlling interest in the promotion was sold earlier this year, and they’ve since undergone a rebranding. The partnership with MLW would seem to be part of that.

Here’s the official announcement, courtesy of MLW.com:

MLW and Pro Wrestling NOAH form alliance

It is with great honor that Major League Wrestling partners with Pro Wrestling NOAH to form an alliance.

This all-encompassing partnership will feature athletes exchanged between the two organizations as well as opportunities to share content in addition to other opportunities.

The partnership will commence with an MLW wrestler participating in the 2019 N-1 Victory tour that commences this August. The wrestler will be revealed at a later date.

“Pro Wrestling NOAH has a rich history of promoting some of the grandest wrestling bouts in the history of the sport,” said MLW CEO and Founder Court Bauer. “This is a very exciting partnership. We look forward to joining NOAH and beginning a new voyage for a new era.”

Seems like a smart move from two mid-level players hoping to survive and grow in a crazy market. We’ll see how it pans out for them.

Thoughts?