Category: New Japan Pro Wrestling

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 1/4/21 and 1/5/21

DATE: January 4, 2021 at 2:00 AM ET
LOCATION: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
AVAILABLE ON: NJPW World

CARD

IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT AND INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Kota Ibushi

IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi (c) vs. The Guerrillas of Destiny

RIGHTS TO IWGP US CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
KENTA (holder) vs. Satoshi Kojima

Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Great-O-Khan

Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Phantasmo
Winner gets IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match on Night 2.

DARK MATCH
22-Man New Japan Ranbo
Winner challenges for provisional KOPW 2021 Trophy on Night 2.

DATE: January 5, 2021 at 3:00 AM ET
LOCATION: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
AVAILABLE ON: NJPW World

CARD

IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT AND INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tetsuya Naito or Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Jay White

IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Taiji Ishimori (c) vs.Hiromu Takahashi

IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru (c) Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato

SANADA vs. EVIL

NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Jeff Cobb

PROVISIONAL KOPW 2021 TROPHY
Chase Owens vs. Bad Luck Fale vs. BUSHI vs. Toru Yano

STARDOM MATCH – DARK MATCH
Saya Kamitani, Azumi, and Utami Hayashis–ta vs. Maika, Natsupoi, and Himeka

STARDOM MATCH – DARK MATCH
Mayu Iwatani and Tam Nakano vs. Syuri and Giulia

NJPW Power Struggle Results 11/7/20

IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT AND INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tetsuya Naito (c) defeated EVIL

WRESTLE KINGDOM 15 TITLE MATCH CONTRACT
Jay White defeated Kota Ibushi (holder) to win Wrestle Kingdom 15 contract

IWGP US CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH CONTRACT
KENTA (holder) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi

NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Shingo Takagi defeated Minoru Suzuki (c) to win the NEVER Openweight Championship

KOPW 2020 CHAMPIONSHIP
Toru Yano (c) defeated Zack Sabre Jr.

Kazuchika Okada defeated Great O-Khan

NJPW Power Struggle 11/7/20

DATE: November 7, 2020 at 3:00 AM ET
LOCATION: Edison Arena, Osaka, Japan
AVAILABLE ON: NJPW World

CARD

IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT AND INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. EVIL

WRESTLE KINGDOM 15 TITLE MATCH CONTRACT
Kota Ibushi (holder) vs. Jay White

IWGP US CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH CONTRACT
KENTA (holder) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Shingo Takagi

KOPW 2020 CHAMPIONSHIP
Toru Yano (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Great O-Khan

NJPW Reveals Full Power Struggle Card

NJPW has announced the full card for Power Struggle on November 7 at Edison Arena in Osaka, Japan. In the main event, IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito is set to defend both titles against EVIL.

After winning this year’s G1 Climax 30 against SANADA in the finals, Kota Ibushi will defend his Wrestle Kingdom 15 contract against Jay White. White interrupted Ibushi’s post-match press conference and made it clear he wanted a crack at Ibushi.

Below is the rest of the card:

* Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. EVIL (IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships)

* Kota Ibushi (holder) vs. Jay White (Wrestle Kingdom 15 Title Match Contract)

* KENTA (holder) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (IWGP US Championship Match Contract)

* Kazuchika Okada vs. Great O-Khan

* Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Shingo Takagi (NEVER Openweight Championship)

* Toru Yano (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (KOPW 2020 Championship)

This is the last big show before Wrestle Kingdom 15, which is again a two-night event on January 4 and 5.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Miro Reveals He Is Not Restricted To AEW, Teases NJPW Debut

It seems like Miro could be following in AEW World Champion Jon Moxley’s footsteps and wrestling in Japan despite being under contract with AEW.

During his latest Twitch stream, Miro revealed that his AEW contract allows him to wrestle in different countries, especially “where the sun rises,” hinting at a possible appearance in NJPW at some point down the road.

“Despite signing a contract, I am not restricted to AEW alone. While I am not going to name any promotions, I’ll just say I’m allowed to work in different countries. Maybe a country where the sun rises? You’ll just have to wait and see,” said Miro.

Miro hinted that wrestling in Japan is one of his lifelong dreams and something that he plans to fulfill in the near future.

“Sometimes when God says, Miro you’re going to live all your dreams, you just got to keep the faith. That’s why when I got released [from WWE], I had zero doubt that I would be able to go to AEW and work in different places. And that is how things are unfolding now,” he added.

Miro, who appeared on AEW Dynamite a few weeks ago, went onto say that his patience is beginning to pay off, especially after a lengthy hiatus from the ring following his WWE release in April.

“Things happen for a reason, and the more you let go off the BS, the more service you’re doing to yourself. If you’re good, and trust and believe, things will align themselves. You just have to be patient, and that’s what I did. I bided my time and here I am now.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

NJPW Announces Cards For New Japan Road And Sengoku Lord In Nagoya

NJPW has announced the cards for its next two shows: New Japan Road (Korakuen Hall) in Tokyo on July 20, and Senkogu Lord in Nagoya (Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium) in Aichi on July 25.

Some of the more notable matches at these events are: IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion EVIL vs. Hiromu Takahashi, NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi vs. El Desperado, and Dick Togo teaming up with EVIL and Taiji Ishimori against BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito, and Hiromu Takahashi.

It should also be noted YOSHI-HASHI (knee) and Minoru Suzuki (fever) are scheduled to return to in-ring action.

Below are the full cards, which will stream on NJPW World:

New Japan Road

* Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji
* Gabriel Kidd, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tomoaki Honma, and Togi Makabe vs. SHO, YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano, and Tomohiro Ishii
* SANADA and Shingo Takagi vs. DOUKI and El Desperado
* Hirooki Goto and Kazuchika Okada vs. Gedo and Yujiro Takahashi
* Master Wato, Yugi Nagata, Kota Ibushi, and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr., and Taichi
* BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito, and Hiromu Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori, Dick Togo, and EVIL

 

Sengoku Lord in Nagoya

* Yuya Uemura vs. Taiji Ishimori
* Satoshi Kojima, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tomoaki Honma, and Togi Makabe vs. Gabriel Kidd, Yota Tsuji, Toru Yano, and Tomohiro Ishii
* SHO, YOSHI-HASHI, and Hirooki Goto vs. BUSHI, SANADA, and Tetsuya Naito
* Master Wato, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Kota Ibushi vs. DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr, and Taichi
* Kazuchika Okada vs. Yujiro Takahashi
* Shingo Takagi (c) vs. El Desperado (NEVER Openweight Championship)
* EVIL (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi (IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championship)

NJPW Dominion Results 2020

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, and Gabriel Kidd vs. Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata, and Ryusuke Taguchi

Winners: Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata, and Ryusuke Taguchi via Submission

 

Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano, and Yota Tsuji vs. SANADA, BUSHI, and Hiromu Takahashi

Winner: SANADA, BUSHI, and Hiromu Takahashi via Submission

 

Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuya Uemura, and Master Wato vs. El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and DOUKI

Winners: El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and DOUKI via Pinfall

 

Hirooki Goto and Kazuchika Okada vs. Yujiro Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori

Winners: Yujiro Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori via Pinfall

 

Shingo Takagi (c) vs. SHO (NEVER Openweight Championship)

Winner: Shingo Takagi via Pinfall

– Post-match, El Desperado comes out and punches Takagi in the face while he was on the stage. He takes the title and smacks Takagi with it. Desperado taunts the champion a bit and heads to the back with the title, Takagi needs help getting up, but goes after him.

 

Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. (IWGP Tag Team Championship)

Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi via pinfall to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship

 

Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. EVIL (IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships)

Winner: EVIL via pinfall to win the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championship

– Post-match, EVIL steps on Naito and raises up his newly won titles. Man in a BUSHI mask does the Bullet Club hand signal with EVIL. EVIL gets on the mic and crowd boos. Masked man reveals himself to be Dick Togo. They start beating up Naito and Hiromu Takahashi runs to the ring to clear them out. Takahashi eventually challenges EVIL for his titles, or even one of them, EVIL doesn’t give much of an answer and heads to the back. Takahashi then screams his head off in frustration as he watches EVIL walk off with his titles.

Gallows and Anderson Reportedly Agreed To A Deal With Impact Wrestling, Plus Will Work For NJPW

Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows have reportedly come to terms on a deal with Impact Wrestling. The deal would allow “The Good Brothers” to wrestle on Impact as well as New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Former WWE Superstars Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson are expected to work for New Japan Pro Wrestling and one group here in the United States.

As we’ve noted, Impact Wrestling recently released a teaser for their July 18 Slammiversary pay-per-view, which included shots of several of the recently released WWE Superstars – Drake Maverick, EC3, Eric Young, Mike and Maria Kanellis, Curt Hawkins, Gallows and Anderson, plus a Bulgarian flag for Rusev. We know at least one of those wrestlers will not be appearing for Impact as Drake re-signed to work the NXT brand.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that some wrestlers shown in the promo have not agreed to appear for Impact. There’s no word yet on which of the wrestlers have agreed to appear at Slammiversary.

Regarding Gallows and Anderson, nothing is final but NJPW is probably where they will end up. It was noted that Gallows and Anderson will likely work for NJPW and then for a promotion here in the United States in between NJPW tours.

The 90-day non-compete clauses from these WWE contracts will expire on Wednesday, July 15.

Karl Anderson took to Instagram this week to post a photo of his fellow “Good Brother” Doc Gallows who is in more leaner, muscular shape and shown wearing an Impact Wrestling tank top. Anderson captioned the post by writing, “damn @the_biglg how much s–t are you on? @talknshoppodcast @the_biglg @azucarroc #TalkNShopAManiaTapings.”

Anderson and Gallows have reportedly come to terms on a deal with Impact Wrestling. The deal would allow “The Good Brothers” to wrestle on Impact as well as New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Gallows and Anderson recently also posted a photo of themselves with The Young Bucks.

It was also reported that Gallows and Anderson have already filmed content for Impact Plus, which is the on-demand streaming service that Impact launched in May 2019. It is not clear if they will be making an appearance on Impact’s upcoming PPV, Slammiversary, which will take place on July 18.

“TalkNShopAMania” is confirmed for August 1 on Fite TV. Gallows is also scheduled for an indie show on July 25th in Georgia.

 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

NJPW To Resume Operations This Month, First Show With Fans Again Announced

NJPW has announced they’re resuming operations with multiple shows this month, as well as running their first event with fans again in July.

Company chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced NJPW has created guidelines for safely resuming events with the Japanese Sports Authority after the nation-wide state of emergency was lifted.

Sugabayashi says the company began conducting antibody testing last week on all talent, crew, trainers and other live event staff to ensure the safety of everybody at the upcoming shows.

“After careful consideration and vigilance, we have begun prepping venues for events,” he added. “Thank you for your patience throughout this process. We’d like to now announce that our first show back will take place on June 15.”

The NJPW schedule on NJPW World will be as follows:

  • June 15th through the 17th; Together Project Special with matches revealed at the top of the show by the ring announcer
  • June 22nd through the 24th and July 1st through the 3rd will be the start of NJPW’s New Japan Cup 2020

There will be no live audience at these events.

  • July 11th; New Japan Cup finals in Osaka-Jo Hall
  • July 12th; New Japan Cup winner gets a title opportunity in Osaka-Jo Hall for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles against Tetsuya Naito

These shows WILL host a live audience, but at a third of the normal capacity.

“We guarantee that we will undertake all possible precautions in future shows with audiences,” he said. “The NJPW guidelines towards resuming operations will be available on the NJPW official website. Also, further measures for audience safety at live events will be revealed soon.”

Watch the video below for New Japan Cup’s first round matches, which will include both heavyweight and junior heavyweight wrestlers this year.

 

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

NJPW Reportedly Considering Empty Arena Shows

Wednesday, NJPW was forced to cancel its upcoming Wrestle Dynasty event at Madison Square Garden on August 22 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In the interests of running the best and safest possible event for fans, NJPW has arrived at the decision to postpone Wrestle Dynasty in Madison Square Garden,” NJPW wrote on Twitter. “Sorry for the delay, but we’ll be back stronger in 2021!”

This comes shortly after NJPW nixed the entire Best of the Super Juniors tour from May 12 until June 6.

On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that NJPW did not want to cancel the MSG show as they were considering it their number two event of the year, behind Wrestle Kingdom.

Meltzer also noted NJPW is now discussing empty arena shows, something they weren’t doing previously. The company would have to wait until they were allowed to even do an empty arena show, but it’s something to consider as they don’t necessarily want their roster sitting around month after month.

Japan is currently under a state of emergency until at least May 31.

Source: Wrestling Inc.