Professional wrestling has never been a stranger to talent-sharing agreements, and the latest example is Kevin Kelly, a seasoned commentator who recently joined AEW Collision.
This move has generated a lot of buzz in the wrestling community, given Kelly’s existing commitments with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)’‹.
The situation raises important questions about talent management, particularly for those involved with multiple promotions.
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AEW Collision and Kevin Kelly’s Role
AEW debuted their new show, Collision, with Kelly on commentary alongside Nigel McGuinness. The duo received favourable reviews on their first night together. ‘He’s got, he’s going to Japan from mid-July to mid-August, so he won’t be around then. And then he’s gonna get, he’s doing at least one more Japan show, but I think it’s like a one-shot.
“So I don’t know if that’s gonna mean missing a show, but AEW and New Japan, you know, they have good relations, so Tony’s not gonna like, do something where, you know, it’s like he can’t go anymore. But as far as long term, I don’t know what the situation is, but, Kevin Kelly is def is, is, is committed from what I understand to New Japan, at least through the end of the year. And he’s gonna be calling the tag team tournament, but, from home, which means that he probably can go to all the AEW shows.
“So I think there’s probably just the G1 one stuff that where he’d be missing and maybe, maybe one other show, maybe even not one other show. Depending on if that show was a weekend show, which it probably is. So it is probably one other show in whatever the big fall show would be, whatever it is. September, October, they’re gonna do like a big one, you know, whether it’s Autumn Attack or whatever the show is gonna be, that he’s committed to going there for that.”
However, Kelly’s obligations with NJPW could pose a potential conflict, given that he is committed to fulfilling specific dates with them’‹.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed the latest on Kelly’s situation (via WrestlingNewsCo):
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The NJPW Commitments
Kevin Kelly still has a few dates to fulfil for NJPW. He will be in Japan from mid-July to mid-August, meaning he won’t be around for AEW during this period.
Additionally, he has another engagement with a Japan show, the details of which are not clear at the moment’‹.
However, the good news for AEW is that their relations with NJPW are amicable. This friendly relationship may help Kelly to manage his commitments with both promotions smoothly.
After all, he has a long-term commitment to NJPW, at least till the end of the year, and is set to call the tag team tournament from home, which means he can probably attend all the AEW shows’‹.
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The Balancing Act – AEW Collision and NJPW
Kelly’s situation underscores the balancing act that wrestling promotions and their talent must perform when juggling multiple commitments.
This can be especially tricky when the talent in question, like Kelly, has a significant role to play in both promotions. AEW, for its part, needs to work around this issue and ensure that Kelly’s commitments to NJPW do not interfere with his role on Collision’‹.
Moreover, it is worth noting that Kelly might not even miss a Collision episode due to his second commitment unless it’s a weekend show. But how exactly this will pan out depends on the decisions of AEW and NJPW, as well as Kelly himself’‹.
Looking Ahead
The situation presents an interesting challenge for both AEW and NJPW. It is a test of their ability to manage talent who have commitments with other promotions, and it will be interesting to see how they navigate this.
For now, fans can enjoy Kevin Kelly’s unique commentary style on both AEW Collision and NJPW events. His situation serves as a reminder of the ever-evolving dynamics of professional wrestling, where talent sharing can be both a boon and a challenge.
As the world of professional wrestling continues to evolve, it is clear that flexibility and good relations between promotions are vital. Talent-sharing agreements, like the one involving Kevin Kelly, are becoming increasingly common, and managing them effectively will be key to the success of wrestling promotions moving forward.
