Category: New Japan Pro Wrestling

Jim Ross Reacts To Strong Style Evolved Commentary Criticism (AUDIO)

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WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross received some harsh criticism towards his commentary following Strong Style Evolved … but he believes it’s because die-hard fans want Don Callis and Kevin Kelly.

Ross was interviewed by WrestleZone Radio and said:

I read some of the criticisms about my work and the broadcast in general but essentially people want, the die-hards who follow New Japan World, they want their team. They want Kevin Kelly and Don Callis to do the show. I don’t blame them. I don’t even get mad about it. The only thing that gets frustrating is when you’ve got wrestling fans who’ve got like 40 followers on Twitter that tell you, “your career sucks,” and that you should be dead or not allowed to be on television. That’s kind of crude, I think. Does that really feel necessary for not knowing the certain name of a certain hold?

I have a pet peeve about that deal, to be honest with you. A bodyslam is a God damned bodyslam. You can give it 18 different names to sell t-shirts, that’s fine and I don’t care but to me it’s a bodyslam. We find ourselves talking about this variant or that variant and worry about not pissing off the talent because we didn’t give their hold a name or use the name they use in their niche marketing. I find it almost embarrassing to be quite frank about it.

(NJPW talk starts around the 13-minute mark)

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Being The Elite At NJPW Strong Style Evolved

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Below is episode 98 (“Strong Style Evolved”) of Being the Elite. We see some of the backstage footage surrounding Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi vs. The Young Bucks. At the event, after The Young Bucks lost to Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi, Cody came out, yelled at Matt Jackson and shoved Nick Jackson to the ground. In the back, Cody apologized to The Young Bucks, but Nick told Matt and Marty Scurll, “I don’t think we can trust this guy.”

NJPW Announces Return To U.S. For G1 Special

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Last night at Strong Style Evolved NJPW announced they will be returning to the United States on July 7th in San Francisco at the Cow Palace for a G1 Special.

Depending on the seating arrangement, the Cow Palace can hold around 13,000 fans. Last year’s G1 Specials had around 2,300 fans at each show.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/978100381451538432

NJPW Strong Style Evolved Results 3/25/18

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Roppongi 3K & Rocky Romero vs. SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) – Winners: Roppongi 3K & Rocky Romero

Gedo & Hirooki Goto vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay – Winners: Juice Robinson & David Finlay

Chuck Taylor & Toru Yano vs. Killer Elite Squad – Winners: Killer Elite Squad

Cody Rhodes & Marty Scurll vs. Guerrillas of Destiny – Winners: Cody Rhodes & Marty Scurll

Hiroshi Tanahashi, KUSHIDA, Dragon Lee & Rysuke Taguchi vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA, Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi) – Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon

Rey Mysterio apologized for not being able to wrestle (Rey has a torn bicep) Jushin Thunder Liger. Mysterio promised that he will come back and wrestle in a NJPW ring.

Mysterio sat at ring side for the next match.

Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Will Ospreay – Winner: Will Ospreay

After the match, Ospreay issued a challenge to Mysterio. Marty Scurll ran in and hit Ospreay in the back with his umbrella. Mysterio tried to come in for the save but Scurll removed Mysterio’s mask. Scurll stomped on Mysterio a few times before being chased off by Jushin Thunder Liger. Mysteruio got his mask back on and shook hands and embraced Liger and Ospreay.

Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki – Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki – referee stoppage

It was announced that NJPW is returning to the United States on July 7 in San Francisco at the Cow Palace for a G1 Special.

IWGP United States Championship: (C) “Switchblade” Jay White vs. Hangman Page – Winner: Jay White

After the match, David Finlay ran in and took out White with a spear. Finlay challenged White to a Title match for April 24.

Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) vs. The Young Bucks – Winners: Golden Lovers

After the match, Cody came in and got in Matt Jackson’s face yelling at him. Nick grabbed Cody and Cody shoved Nick to the mat. Omega came back in the ring and Cody fled the ring. Omega shook hand with Nick and offered his hand to Matt but Matt refused and walked away.

Omega got on the mic and said sometimes friends have to go to war and sometimes they are causalities. He wished he was more happy with the situation, but the silver lining is that the Golden Lovers are back and they are here to stay. He said he’s going to beat Cody up in the very near future. They will up the ante at their next US show which will be bigger and better.

NJPW Strong Style Evolved 3/25/18

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NJPW Strong Style Evolved in Long Beach, California airing Live on AXS TV this Sunday, March 25 at 8/7C.

Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) vs. The Young Bucks

IWGP United States Championship: (C) “Switchblade” Jay White vs. Hangman Page

Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Will Ospreay

Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki

Cody Rhodes & Marty Scurll vs. Guerrillas of Destiny

Hiroshi Tanahashi, KUSHIDA, Dragon Lee & Rysuke Taguchi vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA, Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi)

Chuck Taylor & Toru Yano vs. Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)

Gedo & Hirooki Goto vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay

Roppongi 3K & Rocky Romero vs. SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky)

Rey Mysterio No Longer Wrestling At NJPW Strong Style Evolved

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Rey Mysterio who was originally scheduled to compete at this Sunday’s NJPW Strong Style Evolved in Long Beach, California is no longer wrestling at the event.

Mysterio had previously been scheduled to face-off against Jushin Liger, but it was announced at a press conference today that Will Ospreay will be taking the injured wrestler’s place.

Mysterio injured his bicep earlier this month, which was the reason given by NJPW for his absence. Mysterio has been in talks with WWE about a new contract. According to PWInsider, the wrestler will be traveling this week to Birmingham, Alabama to get checked out by WWE doctors in advance of possibly signing.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

AXS TV Announces Schedule Heading Into NJPW Strong Style Evolved On March 25 Plus TV Schedule Through April 13

NJPW Strong Style Evolved

AXS TV issued the following press release on Thursday:

AXS TV COUNTS DOWN TO STRONG STYLE EVOLVED WITH A STACK OF ‘NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING’ ON FRIDAY MARCH 16 AND 23 FEATURING ‘THE NEW BEGINNING IN OSAKA’ AND ‘HONOR RISING: JAPAN 2018’

Plus, NJPW’s 46th Anniversary Show on Friday Nights Following the Live Broadcast of ‘STRONG STYLE EVOLVED’ on Sunday, March 25

Los Angeles (March 15, 2018) – With less than two weeks until AXS TV’s exclusive live broadcast of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s STRONG STYLE EVOLVED on Sunday, March 25 at 8pE/5pP, the network’s weekly Friday night series will feature coverage from NJPW’s New Beginning in Osaka (March 16 & 23), plus a special bonus episode from Honor Rising: Japan 2018 (March 23). In the weeks following the live broadcast, AXS TV will continue its Friday night series with coverage of NJPW’s 46th Anniversary Show.

The New Beginning in Osaka kicks off this Friday, March 16 at 8pE/5pP with two title matches featuring Hirooki Goto vs. EVIL for the NEVER Openweight Championship and Will Ospreay vs. Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship. A second hour from Osaka premieres Friday, March 23 at 8pE/5pP as IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada takes on challenger SANADA; then at 9pE/6pP AXS TV premieres a special hour from Honor Rising: Japan 2018 featuring the Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) versus Bullet Club members Cody & Marty Scurll plus The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) and Hangman Page take on Jay White, Chuckie T and YOSHI-HASHI.

AXS TV goes live for STRONG STYLE EVOLVED from the Walter Pyramid at California State University Long Beach on Sunday, March 25 at 8pE/5pP. Wrestling Hall of Famer Jim Ross and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett will call the action ringside for a stacked card headlined by the Golden Lovers vs. The Young Bucks. In the co-main event, IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Champion Jay White puts his title on the line for the first time against Hangman Page; and, in a matchup of two legends, Jyushin Thunder Liger takes on Rey Mysterio. The complete televised card for STRONG STYLE EVOLVED is forthcoming.

Following an encore presentation of STRONG STYLE EVOLVED on Friday, March 30 at 8pE/5pP, AXS TV presents two nights from NJPW’s 46th Anniversary Show. First, on Friday, April 6, Minoru Suzuki and Togi Makabe battle for the IWGP Intercontinental championship and three tag teams fight for the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship. Then on Friday, April 13, Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay face off in a special IWGP Heavyweight Champion vs. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion match and Tetsuya Naito takes on Taichi.

AXS TV’s upcoming NJPW schedule is as follows (subject to change):

Friday, March 16 at 8pE – The New Beginning in Osaka Part 1
* NEVER Openweight Championship – Hirooki Goto vs. EVIL
* IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship – Will Ospreay vs. Hiromu Takahashi

Friday, March 23 at 8pE – The New Beginning in Osaka Part 2
* IWGP Heavyweight Championship – Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA

Friday, March 23 at 9pE – Honor Rising: Japan 2018
* Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) vs. Cody & Marty Scurll
* The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) & Hangman Page vs. Jay White, Chuckie T & YOSHI-HASHI

LIVE – Sunday, March 25 at 8pE – STRONG STYLE EVOLVED
* Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
* IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship – Jay White vs. Hangman Page
* Jyushin Thunder Liger vs. Rey Mysterio Jr.
* More matches to be announced

Friday, March 30 – STRONG STYLE EVOLVED (Encore Presentation)

Friday, April 6 – 46th Anniversary Show Part 1
* IWGP Intercontinental Championship – Minoru Suzuki vs. Togi Makabe
* IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship 3-Way Match – Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH) vs. BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado

Friday, April 13 – 46th Anniversary Show Part 2
* Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay
* Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi

NJPW Reportedly Planning a July 7th Event in The US

According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, NJPW has a preliminary hold on a date for a show on July 7th at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. They run March 25th in Long Beach, which sold out 5,000 seats in under 20-minutes. There is also talk of the July return being in a major arena in either Long Beach or Las Vegas. The show would be on the same night as UFC’s show in Las Vegas for International Fight Week.

Source: 411Mania

NJPW Worldwide DVD Distribution Deal Announced For The First Time Outside Of Japan

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NJPW sent out the following press release today, announcing that NJPW will be available in English on DVD from March of this year…

New Japan Pro Wrestling Worldwide DVD distribution deal announced for the first time outside of Japan

For the first time in its decorated history, the world’s premier professional wrestling brand will be available in English on DVD from March of this year. WrestlingStore.co.uk in association with TV Asahi, have acquired the distribution rights for all territories excluding Japan for the King Of Sports DVD releases. Now available to pre-order, the first title “An Introduction to NJPW” will see some of the biggest names in Pro Wrestling do battle in this special two disc release

Witness New Japan Pro Wrestling’s biggest stars, “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito and the Ace of New Japan, Hiroshi Tanahashi along with some of the notable past and future stars of NJPW such as “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles, The leader and originator of the Bullet Club “The Real Rock ‘N Rolla” Prince Devitt, “King Of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura, Kota Ibushi, The Young Bucks and Kushida in this epic double disc set.

The DVD runtime is nearly four and a half hours with just about every match shown in its entirety. Relive classic matches from Wrestle Kingdom 8 on January 4th 2014, the final of the gruelling G1 Climax 2013 Tournament, AJ Styles first match as a member of the NJPW roster, The Best of the Super Juniors 21 Final and four defences of the prestigious IWGP Heavyweight championship.

Full Match Listing

Disc 1
Kazuchika Okada v Prince Devitt
IWGP Heavyweight Championship – Kizuna Road 2013
July 20 2013 – Akita Municipal gymnasium

Shinsuke Nakamura v Kota Ibushi
G1 Climax 23 Block B – Day 4
August 4, 2013 – Osaka Bodymaker Colosseum

Tetsuya Naito v Hiroshi Tanahashi
G1 Climax 23 Finals
August 11th 2013 – Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo

Tetsuya Naito v Kazuchika Okada
IWGP Heavyweight Championship – Wrestle Kingdom 8
Jan 4 2014 – Tokyo Dome

Shinsuke Nakamura v Hiroshi Tanahashi
IWGP Intercontinental Championship – Wrestle Kingdom 8
Jan 4 2014 – Tokyo Dome

Disc 2
AJ Styles v Kazuchika Okada
IWGP Heavyweight Championship – Wrestling Dotaku
May 3 2014 – Fukuoka Kokusai Center

Ricochet v Kushida
Best of the Super Juniors XXI Final
June 8 2014 – Yoyogi National Gymnasium

The Young Bucks (Nick and Matt Jackson) vs. The Time Splitters (Shelley & KUSHIDA)
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship – Dominion
June 21 2014 – Bodymaker Colosseum
*Match is not shown in it’s entirety.

Kota Ibushi vs. Ricochet
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship – Dominion
June 21 2014 – Bodymaker Colosseum

AJ Styles v Hiroshi Tanahashi
IWGP Heavyweight Championship – King Of Pro-Wrestling 2014
13 October 2014 – Ryogoku Kokugikan

Special Pre-Order Offer.

“An Introduction” to NJPW is available to pre-order now at http://www.wrestlingstore.co.uk, priced at only £19.99 with a scheduled release date of April 2nd. All orders received before the 31st of March will be automatically entered into a draw with FIVE winners picked at random to receive a limited edition signed concept artwork print.

Hand signed by the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon, Tetsuya Naito, this special artwork was created as a preview piece during the contract process and were later signed by last year’s G1 Climax winner.

The artwork on the final DVD release will differ so these are truly unique pieces and will be sent on the DVD release date.

Rey Mysterio Injury Update, He’s Still Scheduled to Meet With WWE

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According to Pwinsider.com, the belief is that Rey Mysterio suffered a partially torn bicep working for Northeast Wrestling this past Friday in Connecticut. The severity of the tear has yet to be confirmed, but Mysterio was examined by a doctor earlier this week, and is able to move his arm in ways he wouldn’t if it had been a complete tear, which is a positive. The site also adds that the injury has not hurt the progress of his discussions with WWE as the two sides are scheduled to try and negotiate a deal shortly.

Mysterio is scheduled to wrestle Jushin Liger on March 25th at the NJPW Strong Style Evolved event.

Source: 411Mania