AEW isn’t letting Impact have all the fun with debuting wrestlers from NJPW this week. Tony Khan and company are bringing in a few notable names themselves to debut on Elevation.
AEW announced the arrivals of Rocky Romero and Ren Narita.
The #ForbiddenDoor is OPEN this MONDAY on #AEWDark Elevation at 7/6c - https://t.co/hJo8R1oJr9
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 21, 2021
- Main Event: @RealJDDrake @NJPWGlobal Star #RockyRomero
- NJPW Young Lion @RenNarita_NJPW @RoyceIsaacs
- @thunderrosa22 #AshelyDamboise
- #theFactory's #QTMarshall #Robo pic.twitter.com/lselROpe3S
Romero will be doing battle with Just Delicious Drake, while Narita will challenge Royce Isaacs. Both newcomers have been wrestling on the NJPW Strong program in the USA. For Romero, the Forbidden Door is more like a window, because he has been breezing everywhere and anywhere this year for televised matches with NJPW, MLW, ROH, and Bloodsport.
Romero’s NJPW credentials include the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, 8-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, winner of Best of the American Super Juniors, and winner of Super Jr. Tag Tournament. His partners have been Davey Richards, Alex Koslov, and Trent.
Narita is out of the young lion system at 23 years of age.
Both of these matchups are toss-ups to bet on the winner. Drake is flanked by pretty hunks in the Wingmen quartet. Romero is part of the Talk’n Shop crew with Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. The Good Brothers probably won’t be ringside, although, you never know. In terms of careers, Romero is more established than Drake. I’d take Romero as the favorite on a neutral playing ground.
Narita is looking to make a name for himself, but don’t look past Isaacs. He hasn’t had much success in the win column yet with AEW, however, he was once a member of NWA’s prestigious Strictly Business faction, headed by Nick Aldis. The Worlds Champ knows talent when he sees it. Aldis preached about Ricky Starks before he signed to AEW.
Elevation matches announced so far include:
- JD Drake vs. Rocky Romero
- Royce Isaacs vs. Ren Narita
- Thunder Rosa vs. Ashley D’Amboise
- QT Marshall vs. Robo
- Ethan Page vs. Alex Reynolds
- Leila Grey vs. Abadon
- Lee Johnson vs. Daniel Garcia
- Tay Conti vs. Queen Aminata
- Scorpio Sky vs. 5
- Mike Sydal vs. Pentagon
- Nyla Rose vs. Robyn Renegade
- Matt Hardy vs. Fuego del Sol
Are you excited to see Rocky Romero and Ren Narita in AEW? Who do you think will win in their matches? Which other Elevation contests stick out to you?
Elevation airs Mondays at 7 pm ET on AEW’s YouTube channel.