via Voices of Wrestling, (1/2):
>There is massive heat between Ibushi and Kikuchi going back several years, beginning around 2018, when Ibushi alleged Kikuchi, who at the time was running New Japan’s merchandise, was shorting him on merch money. Ibushi claimed that he wasn’t being paid the amount of royalties promised, in addition to being given no royalties at all on Elite/Bullet Club merch, which Ibushi felt he was entitled to as he had been working with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks as the “Golden Elite”. At the time, Kikuchi defended this as an inadvertent oversight.
>Tiger Hattori, who in addition to refereeing held office positions as the foreign talent liaison and talent relations, retired in early 2020. Dick Togo was brought in to assume the talent relations position, in addition to roles as a part time wrestler and informal member of the booking team. As Togo gained more influence, he continually pushed to bring back old friends like Kikuchi and TAKA Michinoku. Kikuchi returned to work with Togo in talent relations after Harold Meij stepped down from his CEO/President position in late 2020. TAKA Michinoku would eventually return as a part time wrestler in 2021.
