Francesco Akira Explains Why He Didn’t Join United Empire On AEW TV

Francesco Akira didn’t appear with his United Empire stablemates during the AEW and NJPW crossover leading into Forbidden Door, and he explained why in a new interview. Akira was a notable exception to the NJPW stars who showed up on AEW TV during the build to last month’s PPV and while speaking with Cultaholic, he was asked if there were ever any plans for him to do so. Akira explained that visa issues got in the way of him making the trip over.

“There was, but unfortunately we’re working on my visa stuff now,” he said (per Fightful). “Because I’ve never been to the U.S, but I just joined New Japan. There’s a process you need to do before getting to America.”

Akira praised the crossover PPV and said he’d love to defend his newly-won IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships with TJP in the US, noting, “I think Forbidden Door was one of the greatest shows of the last ten years to me. Every match delivered, especially the United Empire matches. We’re working on it, I would love to come to America especially for STRONG and defend [these] championship[s] too with TJP in America.”