Francesco Akira says there were talks of him appearing with United Empire during AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door build

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Francesco Akira was getting his U.S. visa situation sorted during the Forbidden Door build

Photo Courtesy: New Japan Pro-Wrestling

The entire United Empire could have been present for the Forbidden Door build.

On 6/26, All Elite Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling presented their ‘Forbidden Door’ joint event and on that show, United Empire’s Will Ospreay defended the IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Title against Orange Cassidy.

Fellow United Empire member, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Champion Francesco Akira told Culatholic during their chat that there were discussions about him appearing during the Forbidden Door build.

Akira was getting his visa situation sorted as he has never been to the U.S. He said he’s working on it and hopes to make his way onto NJPW STRONG to compete alongside his partner TJP.

There was [talks of Akira & TJP being with United Empire during AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door build] but, actually, we’re working now on my visa stuff because I’ve never been to the U.S. and I just joined New Japan so there’s some process you need to do before getting to America but I think Forbidden Door was one of the greatest shows of the last 10 years to me. Really big and every match delivered, especially the United Empire match [Will Ospreay vs. Orange Cassidy].

We’re working on it [his visa] so hopefully, I would love to come to America, especially for STRONG, New Japan and defend this championship too with TJP in America.

As the interview went on, Akira stated that there is a date when he’ll be back in Japan but he’s keeping that close to the vest.

If the quote in this article is used, please credit Cultaholic’s Desert Island Graps with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcription. 

About Andrew Thompson 7988 Articles
A Washington D.C. native and graduate of Norfolk State University, Andrew Thompson has been covering wrestling since 2017.