When it was announced that Impact Wrestling Knockouts World Champion Mickie James would be participating in this year’s Royal Rumble, it quickly became a hot topic.
Impact Knockouts World Champion @MickieJames will be in the #RoyalRumble Match! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/TXH0jm6QgE — WWE (@WWE) January 8, 2022
After all, WWE has a reputation of never acknowledging or working with other promotions. But the truth is, WWE has had relationships with other promotions on many occasions.
NJPW (1970s-1990s, 2015)
From the 1970s-1990s, many wrestlers in WWE appeared at NJPW events, including Hulk Hogan while he was WWF World Heavyweight Champion. Meanwhile, NJPW wrestlers had WWF championships as well.
Antonio Inoki was a two-time WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Champion.
Tatsumi Fujinami and Riki Chosu held the WWF International Heavyweight Championship.
The team of Tatsumi Fujinami and Kengo Kimura held the WWF International Tag Team Championship.
Seiji Sakaguchi held the WWF North American Heavyweight Championship.
Also, In 2015, NJPW’s Jushin Thunder Liger wrestled at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.
AJPW (1990)
WWE and AJPW worked together at the Wrestling Summit multi-promotion (WWE, NJPW, AJPW) event, where Hulk Hogan wrestled AJPW’s Stan Hansen.
Super World Sports (SWS) (1991)
WWE talent, including Hulk Hogan as WWE Champion, appeared at events for the Japan-based SWS.