Category: New Japan Pro Wrestling

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

NJPW’s NJPW Logo New Japan Pro Wrestling

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

The Young Bucks Respond To Sheamus’ WrestleMania 34 Open Invite

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The Young Bucks have responded to the open invitation from RAW Tag Team Champion Sheamus for a match at WrestleMania 34 against The Bar. As noted, word going around at RAW was that The Bar will be challenged by two Superstars that are not currently a tag team.

Nick Jackson of The Bucks tweeted the following in response to Sheamus’ open invite:

Source: WrestlingINC

Location For “All In” Announced, Wrestling Podcast Convention To Occur Alongside Event

all in location cody rhodes young bucks self financed 10,000 seat event

The Young Bucks and Cody have finally announced the location of their upcoming “All In” event and Pro Wrestling Sheet has learned a wrestling podcast convention will be going down as well.

The self-financed event will take place on September 1 at the Sears Centre in Chicago,  Illinois — which has a capacity of 11,800 people — the group announced on it on the latest episode of Being the Elite via “Arrow” star Stephen Amell.

According to sources, there will also be a wrestling podcast convention attached to the event that will feature live podcast sessions with many of the top names in wrestling podcasting, as well as legends signings and several official “weigh-ins” for “All In.”

Additional talent already announced for the event include: Kenny Omega, Marty Scurll, Hangman Page and Tessa Blanchard. Flip Gordon still isn’t booked (yet).

“All In” will take place on September 1st.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

NJPW 46th Anniversary Results

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It was announced at the start of the show that due to a concussion, Katsuya Kitamura was unable to compete tonight. His match against Manabu Nakanishi has been postponed.

Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Jushin Liger, Tiger Mask, KUSHIDA, & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Yuji Nagata, Ren Narita, Tomoyuki Oka, Shota Umino, & Tetsuhiro Yagi – Winners: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Jushin Liger, Tiger Mask, KUSHIDA, & Ryusuke Taguchi 

Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Toa Henare, Juice Robinson & David Finlay – Winners: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano

IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship: (C) Roppongi 3K vs. Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Desperado – Winners and new IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champions: Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Desperado

SANADA vs. YOSHI-HASHI – Winner: SANADA

Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi – Winner: Tetsuya Naito

Rey Mysterio video package for Strong Style Evolved aired: Didn’t say much other than he’s happy to be a part of the Strong Style Evolved show. Kevin Kelly did bring up the possible bicep injury, but didn’t have any new details.

IWGP Intercontinental Championship: (C) Minoru Suzuki vs. Togi Makabe – Winner: Minoru Suzuk

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay (Non-Title Match) – Winner: Kazuchika Okada

NJPW 46th Anniversary 3/6/18

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NJPW announced the full card for their 46th Anniversary Show on March 6, which will air live on NJPW World at 5am ET / 2am PT. The main event will be IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada taking on IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay in a non-title match. Below is the full card:

* Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, KUSHIDA, and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Yuji Nagata, Toa Henare, Tomoyuki Oka, Shota Umino, and Tetsuhiro Yagi

* Katsuya Kitamura vs. Manabu Nakanishi

* Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano vs. Juice Robinson and David Finlay

* Roppongi 3k (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Desperado (IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship)

* EVIL and SANADA (c) vs. Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI (Non-Title Match)

* Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi

* Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Togi Makabe (IWGP Intercontinental Championship)

* IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay (Non-Title Match)

Kenny Omega Comments On Facing Young Bucks At NJPW Strong Style Evolved

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Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi will face The Young Bucks at NJPW Strong Style Evolved in Long Beach, California on March 25. On Twitter, Omega said as a friend he wasn’t sure if he was ready for this match, but as a team the Golden Lovers will be. The Young Bucks recently announced they would no longer be Junior Heavyweights, Omega later proclaimed he and Ibushi were the best tag team in the world, which the Young Bucks took exception to.

Source: WrestlingINC