Category: New Japan Pro Wrestling

Backstage News On Kenny Omega’s NJPW Contract, WWE Speculation

Following Kenny Omega’s loss to IWGP Heavyweight champion Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 11 last week, Omega posted a tweet stating that he was stepping away from Japan to reassess his future.

While many felt that Omega’s tweet was storyline-related, speculation of Omega possibly signing with WWE picked up steam after John Cena posted a pair of Instagram photos over the past couple of days relating to Omega.

Dave Meltzer noted on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that Omega’s deal with New Japan Pro Wrestling expires on January 31st, so he would not be able to appear at The Royal Rumble on January 29th. Meltzer said that there are people with NJPW who believe that Omega had already re-signed with them and will be returning in March for the New Japan Cup, and that the tweet he sent out was just him “messing with people.” Meltzer noted that it is not 100% that he has re-signed with NJPW, but it is confirmed that his old deal expires at the end of this month.

Source: WrestlingINC

John Cena Posts Kenny Omega Instagram Post?

Over the weekend, John Cena created some buzz online by posted the photo below on his Instagram of New Japan Pro Wrestling star Kenny Omega:

 

Cena seemingly teased Omega on his Instagram today with the following post:

 

Source: WrestlingINC

NJPW Announce G-1 Special In Los Angeles

njpw g-1 special los angeles new japan wrestling wrestlekingdom 11

Get hyped NJPW fans … the company announced during Wrestle Kingdom 11 that they’re coming to Los Angeles later this year.

The announcement was made after Kyle O’Reilly defended the ROH World Championship against Adam Cole, with the above graphic touting that a G-1 special will be held in the United States.

Steve Corino and Kevin Kelly followed up by saying the shows would take place in Los Angeles.

Rumors had been swirling for weeks that New Japan was planning to hold G-1 shows in America and reports have stated that they intend to hold the event in Long Beach.

The shows are scheduled for July 1st and July 2nd.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11 Results

New Japan Rumble

Can be eliminated by over the top rope, pinfall or submission.

Entrant #1: Michael Elgin, making his NJPW return from injury.

Entrant #2: Billy Gunn

Entrant #3: BONE SOLDIER

Entrant #4: CHEESEBURGER (BONE SOLDIER eliminated)

Entrant #5: Jushin Liger (Billy Gunn eliminated)

Entrant #6: Kobayashi

Entrant #7: Tiger Mask IV (Kobayashi eliminated)

Entrant #8: Manabu Nakanishi

Entrant #9: Ryusuke Taguchi (Nakanishi, Liger and Tiger Mask IV eliminated)

Entrant #10: Yoshitatsu

Entrant #11: Yuji Nagata

Entrant #12: Hiroyoshi Tenzan (Yoshitatsu eliminated)

Entrant #13: Hiro Saito (Nagata eliminated)

Entrant #14: Former WCW star and former IWGP Champion Scott Norton (Taguchi, Saito eliminated)

Norton and Tenzan eliminated. Down to Elgin and CHEESEBURGER – Winner: Michael Elgin

 

Tiger Mask W (Kota Ibushi) vs. Tiger the Dark (ACH) – Winner: Tiger Mask W

IWGP Jr. Tag Team Titles: (C) The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) vs. RPG Vice (Rocky Romero and Baretta) –  Winners and new IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champions: RPG Vice

NEVER 6-Man Tag Titles, Gauntlet Match: (C) Satoshi Kojima, Ricochet & David Finlay Jr. vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL, BUSHI and SANADA) vs. CHAOS (Jado, YOSHI-HASHI and Will Ospreay) vs. Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi and Hangman Page) – Winners and new NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Champions: Los Ingobernables de Japon

“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes vs. Juice Robinson – Winner: Cody Rhodes

ROH Title, Final Battle Rematch: (C) Kyle O’Reilly vs. Adam Cole – Winner and NEW ROH Champion: Adam Cole

IWGP Tag Team Titles: (C) The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) vs. Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma) vs. CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano) – Winners and NEW IWGP Tag Team Champions: CHAOS

IWGP Jr. Title: (C) KUSHIDA vs. Hiromu Takahashi (Kamaitachi) – Winner and new IWGP Jr. Champion: Hiromu Takahashi

NEVER Title: (C) Katsuyori Shibata vs. Hirooki Goto – Winner and new NEVER Champion: Hirooki Goto

IWGP Intercontinental Title: (C) Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – Winner: Tetsuya Naito

IWGP Title:  (C) Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega – Winner: Kazuchika Okada

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11 Card 1/4/17

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11 takes place tomorrow morning beginning at 2:30 AM ET live from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on New Japan World featuring English and Japanese commentary tracks, with the English commentary team to be ROH announcers Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino.

IWGP Title:  (C) Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega

IWGP Intercontinental Title: (C) Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

NEVER Title: (C) Katsuyori Shibata vs. Hirooki Goto

IWGP Jr. Title: (C) KUSHIDA vs. Hiromu Takahashi (Kamaitachi)

IWGP Tag Team Titles: (C) The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) vs. Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma) vs. CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano)

IWGP Jr. Tag Team Titles: (C) The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) vs. RPG Vice (Rocky Romero and Baretta)

ROH Title, Final Battle Rematch: (C) Kyle O’Reilly vs. Adam Cole

NEVER 6-Man Tag Titles, Gauntlet Match: (C) Satoshi Kojima, Ricochet & David Finlay Jr. vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL, BUSHI and SANADA) vs. CHAOS (Jado, YOSHI-HASHI and Will Ospreay) vs. Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi and Hangman Page)

Cody Rhodes’ NJPW Debut: Cody Rhodes vs. Juice Robinson

Tiger Mask W (possibly Kota Ibushi) vs. Tiger the Dark (said to be ACH)

New Japan Rumble during the pre-show. Announced entrants: Jushin Liger, Manabu Nakanishi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Tiger Mask IV, Yuji Nagata, plus many others.

ROH Champion Kyle O’Reilly Is A Free Agent

Image result for Kyle O'Reilly ROH

Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that ROH World Champion Kyle O’Reilly is not under contract with ROH. O’Reilly is scheduled to defend his title against Adam Cole at WrestleKingdom 11 this Wednesday.

Source: WrestlingINC

Kota Ibushi Wrestle Kingdom 11 Tease? – Watch Past NJPW WK Events

The photo below has been spreading on social media with Kota Ibushi teasing appearing at the event. Ibushi returned to the promotion this past October under a mask as “Tiger Mask W” and will be wrestling as Tiger Mask W at Wrestle Kingdom 11 against Tiger the Dark.

NJPW has made every January 4th Tokyo Dome event available for non-subscribers at NJPWWorld.com. They will remain available until Wrestle Kingdom 11 on January 4, 2017.

Source: WrestlingINC

NJPW Opens English Website

In an effort expand their markets, New Japan Pro Wrestling opened up their official English website, which can be seen by clicking here. The website offers a 2016 review, ticket sales, merchandise, the card for Wrestle Kingdom 11, and a link to their streaming service, New Japan World, which costs about $9.00 a month.

Source: WrestlingINC

Michael Elgin Parts Way With Ring Of Honor

Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Michael Elgin will no longer be working with Ring of Honor in the near future, because he is unhappy with how the company operates.

Pro Wrestling Sheet’s sources close to the situation tell them Elgin informed ROH this week that he no longer intends to work with them, and he surprisingly hasn’t even heard back from them to confirm it was received.

Elgin first told Fightful.com yesterday about the company ignoring his messages.

Pro Wrestling Sheet’s sources say Big Mike has been unhappy the past year over things like lack of communication and focus on fresh talent, so he felt like now was the perfect time to move on.

Elgin signed a 2-year deal with NJPW this year, so he’s not jobless.Plus, he recently launched his own federation in Illinois called Glory Pro.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Cody Rhodes On Joining Bullet Club, His Late Father and WWE vs Indies

Cody Rhodes recently did a interview with Rolling Stone.

The reasons behind his atypical renaissance are myriad, as were the motivations for walking away from WWE earlier this year. Over the course of a wide-ranging conversation, Rhodes offered self-reflection on his new and uncertain journey, how every night on the road is a path toward acceptance of his late father Dusty Rhodes’ passing and his refusal to indulge passé industry jargon. Oh, and that not-insignificant announcement that he’s the latest member of New Japan/Ring of Honor’s wrecking crew, Bullet Club.

To read the article click on this link