Category: New Japan Pro Wrestling

Cody Rhodes Says January Announcement Will “Be Bigger Than Anyone Expects”

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Ever since the commercial and critical success of All In, there has been rampant speculation that Cody and The Young Bucks aren’t done making history. If the trio were able to pull off a successful independent pay-per-view, what’s stopping them from creating a successful wrestling promotion?

Cody hasn’t addressed the rumors of him starting a new promotion head on, but he did tease some information regarding it during a meet and greet in Melbourne, Australia. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that when asked about a new promotion, Cody said to wait for January as an announcement would be made. Cody also said the announcement “would be bigger than anyone expects.”

Cody’s tease comes on the heels of news which may or may not be related to the planned announcement. Last week it was reported that the co-owner of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars filed trademarks for a promotion called “All Elite Wrestling.” This, obviously, could be a play off The ELITE faction in which Cody and The Bucks are a part of in New Japan and ROH.

Additionally, All Elite Wrestling, LLC also registered trademarks for “ALL OUT” and “Double or Nothing” among others. “Double or Nothing” is the rumored name for the All In 2 pay-per-view which would supposedly be held in Las Vegas.

January 2019 is turning out to be a monumental month for Cody and The Young Bucks. It’s already well-known that Cody is now a free agent and the Bucks will be come the end of the year. Cody hasn’t shied away from the fact that they could show up in WWE or somewhere else at that time. This latest news would seem to throw cold water on those plans but no one outside of Cody and The Bucks know what’s really going to happen.

Source: WrestlingINC

AXS TV To Broadcast “Same-Week” NJPW Events With Kevin Kelly/Don Callis On Commentary

kevin kelly don callis axs tv new japan njpw

A new era of NJPW on AXS TV will begin in 2019 … as the cable company announced they’ll start broadcasting “same-week coverage” of events with a new announce team.

The press release states:

AXS TV ushers in a new era of its NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING (NJPW) coverage with real-time same-week coverage of the promotions’ biggest events in 2019. The new schedule kicks off with a same-day near-live two-hour broadcast of NJPW’s biggest event of the year, Wrestle Kingdom 13, on Friday, Jan. 4 at 8pE/5pP.

The Wrestle Kingdom special is headlined by IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and IWGP Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho vs. Tetsuya Naito, and will feature the network debut of the NJPW commentary team of Kevin Kelly and Don Callis.

“Same-day coverage of NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 13 ushers in a new era of NJPW on AXS TV,” said AXS TV FIGHTS CEO Andrew Simon. “Based on the tremendous growth of NJPW on AXS TV, we are making major changes to reward wrestling fans by delivering NJPW in primetime on Friday nights as close to when it takes place as possible.”

This means the highly criticized team of Jim Ross and Josh Barnett will no longer call the shows.

AXS TV’s upcoming NJPW schedule is tentatively as follows:

  • Jan. 4 – Wrestle Kingdom 13 (2 hours)
  • Jan. 11 – Wrestle Kingdom 13 (2 hours)
  • Jan. 18 – Wrestle Kingdom 13
  • Jan. 25 – New Year Dash
  • Feb. 1 – New Year Dash
  • Feb. 8 – New Beginning in Sapporo
  • Feb. 15 – New Beginning in Sapporo
  • Feb. 22 – New Beginning in Sapporo

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Elite Related Trademark Filings Seemingly Connect Group To Rumored New Promotion

elite trademarks trademark filings all in double or nothing all out tuesday night dynamite tony khan

The rumored promotion being worked on behind the scenes by The Elite, Chris Jericho, Jim Ross and the co-owner of the Jaguars now has some legs to stand on due to newly filed documents.

WrestlingNews.co first reported a company called All Elite Wrestling, LLC based out of Florida filed several new trademarks this month for the following:

  • All Elite Wrestling and AEW
  • AEW Double or Nothing and AEW All Out – which, among many things, lists the trademark can be used for “live streaming of video pay-per-view events on the internet”
  • Tuesday Night Dynamite – which, among many things, lists the trademark can be used for television shows “featuring sports, entertainment and subjects of general human interest”

Obviously, the Double or Nothing and All Out names would seem to signal The Elite are involved and planning the follow up to All In with this company — which listed its address on the documents as TIAA Bank Field, the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A report recently surfaced claiming Chris Jericho and Jim Ross are attempting to launch a wrestling company with Jaguars co-owner Tony Khan, the son of billionaire Shahid Khan. As you’d expect from him, Jericho shot down the report.

During his recent interview with The Elite, however, Y2J stated many times that he’d like to continue working with the group and Being the Elite going forward. This was the same episode in which The Elite announced they were no longer affiliated with Bullet Club.

It’s also worth mentioning that the group started a countdown on their weekly series last month that will finish at the end of December when they become free agents.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Jim Ross Confirms AXS TV Role With NJPW Is Done At The End Of The Year

In January of 2016, it announced Jim Ross would be featured on NJPW’s weekly program on AXS TV, typically working alongside Josh Barnett. In addition to doing voiceover work, Ross also commentated for the live US shows NJPW held including the most recent Fighting Spirit Unleashed in Long Beach, California.

Ross is still signed with WWE through March, and WWE is apparently holding him back from re-signing with AXS TV until he’s officially a free agent in April.

While still working for AXS TV, WWE also signed the Hall of Famer in 2017 to work events like the WWE Mae Young Classic and calling a handful of matches at WrestleMania.

On Twitter, Ross confirmed yesterday he would be heading out to record his final sessions with AXS TV and that would be it until his contract is finished up at the end of the year. This also means Ross won’t be calling Wrestle Kingdom 13 (January 4).

AXS TV is expected to announce it’s TV wrestling plans for 2019 sometime later this week.

Cody Rhodes Gives Medical Update Following Knee Injury Scare

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Cody Rhodes had an injury scare over the weekend, but a trip to the doctor has revealed he’ll still be good to go for Final Battle and Wrestle Kingdom 13.

Rhodes announced he heard a loud pop in his knee while teasing a t-shirt toss at an ROH event on Friday. Because of this, he was forced to miss an IWGP United States title defense against Trent.

After visiting a physician on Monday, Rhodes shared an update:

GOOD news is my doctor is fairly confident that my mcl/pcl/acl are structurally sound. BAD news is the meniscus is fairly damaged, gonna’ require a scope. No dates will be adjusted at the moment, and I’ll definitely still compete in the final battle main event & at WK.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Update On Jim Ross’ Status For Wrestle Kingdom 13, Contractual Status With WWE

With New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 13 coming up in two months’ time, there have been talks about Jim Ross’s status for the show, and if he will be calling the matches for AXS TV. Ross is currently under contract with AXS TV, but also signed a new deal with WWE last year.

On the most recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer shed some light on Jim’s contractual status with WWE and AXS TV. Dave revealed that Ross’s contract with AXS TV expires on December 31st this year, and that he won’t be calling the pay-per-view for the network in January.

Meltzer also revealed that WWE told Ross he couldn’t announce for the QUINTENT event earlier this year in Las Vegas. Dave noted that Jim’s contract with WWE will run out on March 31st next year, and unless he signs an extension, Ross will be free to work with NJPW from April 1st, 2019.

Source: WrestlingINC

Top NJPW Star Tetsuya Naito Reportedly Turned Down WWE Offer

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Earlier this year, WWE reached out to Tetsuya Naito sometime after NJPW Dominion (June), but Naito turned down the offer, according to Tokyo Sports. At Dominion, Chris Jericho defeated Naito for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.

As translated by NJPW Announcer Chris Charlton, Naito didn’t have to think long about the prospect of going to WWE.

“I didn’t even give it a thought,” Naito said. “This New Japan ring is already the world’s number one stage. The fans know this. That’s why I think we should focus on our home crowd before looking international.”

https://twitter.com/reasonjp/status/1059715666079412225

Naito, a one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, is arguably the most popular wrestler in Japan as the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon. Naito has also won MVP two years in a row in the Tokyo Awards, being only the fifth to achieve this along with Antonio Inoki, Jumbo Tsuruta, Genichiro Tenryu, and Kazuchika Okada.

https://twitter.com/reasonjp/status/953854354200526848

At Wrestle Kingdom 13 on January 4, Naito will face Chris Jericho for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship and has made it clear he’s not interested in Jericho for his time in WWE, it’s about what Jericho has done in NJPW with multiple sneak attacks on members of LIJ.

“You should understand that I have no interest in ‘WWE Superstar’ Chris Jericho,” Naito said. “What I want to do is get revenge for what happened in a New Japan ring.”

https://twitter.com/reasonjp/status/1059716138559406082

Source: WrestlingINC

NJPW Power Struggle Results 11/3/18

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Soberano Jr., Volador Jr., Tiger Mask, and Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Toa Henare, ACH, Chris Sabin, and Ryusuke Taguchi – Winners: Toa Henare, ACH, Chris Sabin, and Ryusuke Taguchi via Pinfall

KUSHIDA, Tomoaki Honma, and Togi Makabe vs. Robbie Eagles, Tanga Loa, and Tama Tonga – Winners: Robbie Eagles, Tanga Loa, and Tama Tonga

Kazuchika Okada and Beretta vs. Jay White and Bad Luck Fale – Winners: Okada and Beretta via Pinfall

Hiroshi Tanahashi and David Finlay vs. Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi – Winners: Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi via Pinfall

Super Jr. Tag League Finals: Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado vs. BUSHI and Shingo Takagi vs. Sho and Yoh – Winners: Sho and Yoh via Pinfall to win the Super Jr. Tag League

NEVER Openweight Championship: (C) Taichi vs. Hirooki Goto – Winner: Hirooki Goto via Pinfall to become the new NEVER Openweight Champion

RevPro British Heavyweight Championship: (C) Tomohiro Ishii vs. Minoru Suzuki – Winner: Tomohiro Ishii

Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr. – Winner: Tetsuya Naito via Pinfall

IWGP Intercontinental Championship: (C) Chris Jericho vs. EVIL – Winner: Chris Jericho via Submission

Post-match, Jericho puts in the walls of jericho again. Out from the back comes Tetsuya Naito and he hammers away on Jericho. Jericho is able to bail out of the ring and head up the ramp to the back. Jericho questions if Naito wants the title and Naito holds the ropes open, inviting him back in the ring. Jericho walks to the back holding his title up. Naito gets on the mic and says he’ll be the next to challenge for Jericho’s title. Backstage, Jericho calls EVIL a tough s.o.b. and says he’s already beat Naito and there won’t be a rematch anywhere. Jericho said that was EVIL’s first classic match, but for him it was just another classic in a long list of classics. Notes he’s still undefeated in NJPW. (from WrestlingINC)

NJPW Announces Wrestle Kingdom 13 Matches For Jericho, Okada And More

wrestle kingdom 13 matches chris jericho okada

The Wrestle Kingdom 13 main event is already known, but NJPW has now announced additional top matches for the annual event — including Chris Jericho‘s Intercontinental title defense.

NJPW’s website confirms Jericho will be forced to put his title on the line against Los Ingobernables de Japon leader Tetsuya Naito in a rematch from their bout at Dominion.

The company also announced Kazuchika Okada will wrestle against Jay White. As you may recall, White caused Gedo to turn his back on “The Rainmaker.”

Plus, Taiji Ishimori will challenge for KUSHIDA‘s IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title and Suzuki Gun will defend the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship against Roppongi 3K and LIJ.

This is all in addition to the main event between Kenny Omega and Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

Wrestle Kingdom 13 takes place on January 4, 2019.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Chris Jericho Cruise Security Cracks Down On Fan Photos During Bullet Club Vs. Alpha Club

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Chris Jericho’s cruise set sail out of Miami, Florida last Friday and featured a full lineup of events, including the “Sea of Honor” 16-Man Tournament and the Bullet Club (Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes, and Marty Scurll) vs. Alpha Club (Young Bucks and Chris Jericho) as the main event.

The 6-man tag match took place last night and Wrestling Inc. learned signs were held up and an announcement was made for fans not to take photos or videos of the match. Security was even shining flashlights and telling individual fans to stop if they held up their phones. For other matches on the cruise, this wasn’t the case.

This match (along with the “Sea of Honor” tournament) was filmed and will be streamed via Fite on November 3 at 8pm ET for $24.99. Obviously, the results and match itself is trying to be kept quiet for Friday’s stream.

Some photos still made their way to Twitter though, as you can see below, Jericho dressed up like The Young Bucks, while Cody, Kenny (and presumably Marty) were wearing colorful “Nassau Bahamas” tie-dye shirts.

Source: WrestlingINC