Author: John Bass

Backstage News On Chris Jericho’s Status With NJPW

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At Wrestle Kingdom 13, Chris Jericho lost the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to Tetsuya Naito in a no disqualification match. In his post-match interview, Jericho was adamant in saying that he was not done with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Jericho also made his intentions clear about wanting to face the new IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Jericho’s contract with NJPW reportedly expired at Wrestle Kingdom 13, and with the former IWGP Intercontinental Champion recently thanking AEW President / Jacksonville Jaguars co-owner Tony Khan for helping him get tickets to an NFL game, many speculated that Jericho would end up signing with All Elite Wrestling.

During the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed Jericho’s status with NJPW. Meltzer revealed that while Jericho’s contract with NJPW expired at Wrestle Kingdom 13, NJPW really wants to keep him. He noted that Jericho wants to stay with NJPW as well. Dave further said that New Japan wants to book a match between Jericho and Tanahashi in 2019, and with Jericho wanting to stay with the promotion, it is just a matter of both parties agreeing to a new deal.

Source: WrestlingINC

Third US City Added To NJPW New Beginning Tour

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As previously announced, NJPW is headed to Los Angeles on January 30 and Charlotte, North Carolina on February 1 for its The New Beginning USA Tour.

Both events have already sold out, although more tickets will be available in Los Angeles on January 15 at 10 am PT.

NJPW has revealed a third city has been added to the tour and the company will now make a stop in Nashville, Tennessee on February 2 at the War Memorial Auditorium. Tickets for the event will go on sale January 15 at 10 am CT.

NJPW is gearing up for a big 2019 where they will also hold events at the American Airlines Center on July 6 in Dallas, Texas to kick off the G1 Climax tournament and they will be heading to England on August 31 at the Copper Box Arena.

Source: WrestlingINC

Kenny Omega Expected To Sign With AEW

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Kenny Omega is expected to sign with All Elite Wrestling when his contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling expires at the end of the month, according to Dave Meltzer on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio. Nothing can be officially announced until February 1st.

Omega revealed during an interview with Tokyo Sports over the weekend that he would be leaving the promotion when his contract expires on January 31st. Meltzer noted that NJPW found out that Omega was leaving through the interview and were not happy about it. NJPW preferred how KUSHIDA, who is also leaving NJPW and is expected to start with NXT, handled his departure.

As noted earlier this week, NJPW had decided to work with ROH over AEW going forward. Meltzer stated that NJPW “badly” does not want to lose Omega, so it is very likely that NJPW will warm up to working with AEW. It was noted that ROH didn’t want The Young Bucks and Cody Rhodes at the upcoming ROH – NJPW G1 Supercard event at Madison Square Garden on April 6th, even though they are all cordial.

With the current landscape in wrestling, NJPW is now signing talent to longer term deals. AEW had signed Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks to five-year deals. Meltzer noted that Cody and the Bucks did not have to use their own money on the venture.

AEW will be holding their “Double or Nothing” rally in Jacksonville this evening at 5 pm ET at the parking lot of West Club at the TIAA Bank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s expected that several signings and the upcoming Double or Nothing event will be officially announced at the rally. Tonight’s SmackDown will emanate from Jacksonville as well.

Source: WrestlingINC

The Billionaire Khan Family Confirm Involvement In All Elite Wrestling

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The billionaire Khan family have finally confirmed their involvement in All Elite Wrestling with lengthy statements about the future of the promotion.

Shad and Tony Khan released statements to the media on Tuesday ahead of AEW’s rally in Jacksonville. The statement from Shad reads as follows:

I am the lead investor, a supporter and a backer of All Elite Wrestling, and I anticipate great things today and into the future for AEW and everyone who has worked passionately on this week’s launch.  I know AEW will be welcomed by wrestling fans here in the U.S. and throughout the world who are ready for something new and authentic.  AEW will work hard to deliver on that promise.

As important, I am the father – the proud father – of Tony Khan, who will serve in a leadership role at AEW during the 2019 launch and in the years ahead.  Tony will assemble a great team to take AEW over the top, for the benefit of everyone who loves the wrestling industry, while continuing to serve in his current capacities with the Jaguars and Fulham.

AEW will operate as an organization completely independently from my other interests.  It will not deter attention or divert resources from any of my businesses, teams, projects or investments.  At the same time, AEW will enjoy the same full commitment I’ve given to everything and everyone in my life – my family and friends, my business and, in recent years, to sports, hospitality and now entertainment.

His son Tony, who will serve as President of AEW, states:

Wrestling fans are a community unlike most others. I’ve been a part of this community since I was 7 years old, and I can tell you that wresting fans see the world every day through a special lens.  We see wrestling in Hollywood films and tv shows, we see elements of wrestling in the presentation of sports and in the marketing of grandiose star athletes, and we certainly see wrestling in politics.

The wrestling community is a constant; its members are diverse, we are physically located on all corners of the planet, yet we are constantly connected. Recently, a new family has formed, bonded by love and respect for wresting but armed with a vision and resources that have never before been available to the wrestling community.  Our objective is to connect our community closer than ever before through All Elite Wrestling, or AEW.

AEW does not mean any less of a continued commitment to existing obligations and duties that I have, or my family has, to our business and sports interests.  That will never be the case.  What’s important is that every individual decision we make as family, whether it’s ownership or investment in a team or property, is 100 percent beneficial to those specific interests.  I will always welcome that accountability and responsibility, as nothing is more important than serving our supporters and friends.

AEW will launch with a roster of the top wrestlers in the world.  While they’ll clash in what will be some of the most intense and fast-paced contests ever sanctioned in the squared circle, they’ll also share a common goal: to make this the true golden age, to make this the greatest time ever to be a wrestling fan.  Likewise, as a business, by treating our wrestlers with respect and warmth, we also seek to make this the golden age for the performers themselves.

I urge everyone who believes in what we’re doing, or wants to believe in dreams coming true, to support AEW by spreading the word and passing the wrestling bug onto someone else.  My message: Get in on the ground floor with AEW today and help lead our movement to grow the wrestling community and ensure that the voices of the wrestling fans, their creative minds and their remarkable ideas, will always be heard.

Wrestlers currently signed to AEW include The Young Bucks, Cody Rhodes, Hangman Page, Brandi Rhodes, Scorpio Sky, Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

“Mean” Gene Okerlund Obituary & Funeral Information, WWE Network – Okerlund Collection Note

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The obituary for WWE Hall of Famer “Mean” Gene Okerlund is now online from Dignity Memorial at this link.

The obituary notes that Okerlund passed away at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, FL on January 2, 2019. He was 76. Gene is survived by his wife, Jeanne, and their sons Todd (wife Patricia) and Tor (wife Dana), and grandchildren Henry, Arthur & Brady. His wife was at his side when he passed.

As noted before, Gene’s son Todd told TMZ that his father suffered a “nasty fall” back in December. The fall triggered a rapid decline in his health, which led to his passing. Okerlund had been in “frail health” but the fall made things much worse. He was admitted into a nursing home just four days before his death. Gene had trouble breathing last Wednesday morning and was rushed to the hospital. He passed away later that morning.

The obituary noted that Okerlund “had many friends in life and enjoyed spending time and socializing with them” and it talked about how he cherished his wife. The obit also talked about how Gene loved boating and spending time at his summer cabin on Big Sandy Lake in Northern Minnesota. It was also written that Gene “lived a very full and happy life.” They included the following on Gene’s pro wrestling career:

“Gene was driven to succeed and advanced his career by moving into selling advertising for WTCN TV in Golden Valley, MN in the early 1970s. It was at WTCN TV that Gene got his first break as a wrestling announcer when Vern Gagne of the AWA asked him to fill in for a missing announcer. His wrestling career grew from that point on. During his career as a wrestling announcer he also became a partner at Cohen Okerlund Smith Advertising in Minneapolis. Gene worked for the AWA until 1984 when he began working for World Wrestling Federation, which eventually became the WWE. Gene continued to work right up until he became ill. Gene recorded his last show in December of 2018. Gene was recognized for his contributions in creating the industry leading WWE with his induction into WWE’s Hall of Fame in 2006. He truly loved his career!”

A private service for the family will be held on Wednesday of this week in Sarasota. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Robert Toale & Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park in Sarasota. The family asks that people make donations to the PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation of Kansas City, in lieu of flowers.

A new WWE Network Collection on “Mean” Gene was scheduled to go live at 10am ET this morning, Tuesday.

Source: WrestlingINC

Hulk Hogan & WWE Pay Tribute To “Mean” Gene Okerlund

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WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan returned to TV on tonight’s RAW in Orlando, his first appearance since the Crown Jewel event from Saudi Arabia back in November and first time on RAW since his release in 2015. The Hulkster led a tribute to his good friend, WWE Hall of Famer “Mean” Gene Okerlund.

The RAW segment began with a 10-bell salute for Okerlund led by Mike Rome, followed by Hogan’s entrance. Hulk then got serious and said he only came out in character because it’s what Gene would’ve wanted.

Hulkster then setup a video package on “Mean” Gene’s career.

After the video was over, Hogan said he thinks he can speak for everyone in saying “we loved you, brother.” Fans chanted “thank you Gene” and Hulk randomly asked a fan wearing one of his shirts in the crowd if he should “do it one more time.”

Hogan then talked about what Okerlund is doing in heaven and name-dropped “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Andre the Giant, Mr. Perfect, Ultimate Warrior, Mae Young and Fabulous Moolah.

You can check out the videos below:

WWE RAW Preview 1/7/19

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

The first RAW of 2019 will be a loaded show with John Cena’s red brand return, WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan returning to honor “Mean” Gene Okerlund, and Braun Strowman returning with WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar to promote their Royal Rumble match. It’s also being reported that WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair will join Hogan to honor Okerlund. Alexa Bliss’ new “Moment of Bliss” talk show with RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey as the first guest

* Hulk Hogan returns to RAW to celebrate the life of longtime friend “Mean” Gene Okerlund

* The Beast and The Monster under the same roof

* John Cena is back

* Elias takes on Baron Corbin

* The Revival vie for Raw Tag Team Titles in a Lumberjack Match

* “A Moment of Bliss” debuts

* Is the “old” Seth Rollins back?

NJPW Chooses To Work With ROH Over AEW

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The landscape of pro wrestling continues to change as 2019 just gets underway, and one of the biggest questions is who would NJPW decide to align with stateside to help bolster their position internationally. Dating back to 2014, they’ve had a partnership with Ring of Honor while the newly formed All Elite Wrestling could potentially have a pool of talent that could service NJPW just as well.

On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said NJPW has decided to work with ROH going forward. As for right now, NJPW won’t be working with AEW.

The report continued that even just a few days ago AEW thought Kenny Omega could continue to work for NJPW and would bounce between the two promotions, but that doesn’t look to be the case at the moment with Omega announcing his exit from NJPW. Co-promotional events are obviously out the window for the time being.

NJPW is teaming up with ROH for the sold-out G1 Supercard at Madison Square Garden on April 6.

For NJPW, they just finished up a big weekend with Wrestle Kingdom 13 featuring eight title matches, all of which changed hands. ROH’s next PPV is the 17th Anniversary Show on March 13 in Las Vegas, NV. This Tuesday, AEW is holding a Double or Nothing rally in Jacksonville, Florida. Wrestling Inc. will be there for any breaking news.

Source: WrestlingINC

Impact Announces Weekly Show Will Air On A Second Platform

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During last night’s Impact Homecoming PPV it was announced their weekly Impact show will also air on its Twitch channel beginning January 11 at 10 pm ET.

As noted, the promotion will also be moving to the Pursuit Channel on that same day and time. You can check out their new promo in the videos above or below.

Last month, WrestlingINC spoke with Impact Executive Vice President Scott D’Amore about the move to Pursuit and had hinted that it may not be the only place their flagship show would end up on.

“We’ve been looking at moving on, doing some other things, as we looked at the options it seemed like the best time to make a move to Pursuit, which is a sister company to Impact Wrestling,” D’Amore said. “There’s an ownership stake that [Impact parent company] Anthem Sports & Entertainment has in them and Pursuit is a male dominated demographic. They’re excited to have us, it gives us a nice home base and it doesn’t mean that we don’t have long term plans that we hope for Impact to be as a television show and a wrestling company. We’re excited to have a partner that is excited to have us.

“The first part of this deal is what we’re doing now, the flagship Impact broadcast, airing on Friday nights at 10 pm E. And I know people look at that and go, ‘Oh my God, it’s the death spot.’ Well, if you look back, when we debuted on Spike TV, it’s a different era and network, but wrestling fans find good wrestling. When we went on Spike TV at 11 o’clock on Saturday, we went out there and did probably about 850k viewers when we debuted. We’re excited to work with Pursuit on building it as a platform. We have some ideas and things in the work for other properties on Pursuit. Also, looking to expanding our domestic and international distributions.”

Source: WrestlingINC

KUSHIDA Leaving NJPW

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NJPW held a post-Wrestle Kingdom 13 Press Conference yesterday and it was announced that KUSHIDA will be leaving the company at the end of the month and will be heading overseas.

NJPW Announcer Chris Charlton translated some of KUSHIDA’s comments about “heading overseas.”

WWE had reportedly shown interest in the former IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, potentially bringing him into NXT.

During his time with NJPW, KUSHIDA was a six-time IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, two-time IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, and two-time winner of Best of the Super Juniors.

Source: WrestlingINC