Category: New Japan Pro Wrestling

Kenny Omega Says He Will Not Be At The WWE Royal Rumble, He’s Re-Signing With NJPW

Kenny Omega appeared on Wrestling Observer Radio today and revealed that he is close to re-signing with New Japan Pro Wrestling for another year and will not be appearing at this Sunday’s WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

“I will not be at the Royal Rumble,” Omega said. “I don’t want people to have this false hope of me showing up in the Royal Rumble and then not being there and being disappointed when there’s a fantastic match happening with fantastic competitors. I don’t want the lack of me being in that to disappoint people.”

Omega noted that he hasn’t finalized terms for a new contract with New Japan, however he will be flying out to Japan in mid-February to re-negotiate and “it’s looking positive.” He admitted that while there’s a small chance that the deal could fall through, it’s looking like he will be staying with New Japan for one more year. He said that he still feels like there are things in Japan that are unfinished. He added that WWE’s roster is stacked and he feels like he can make more of an impact in New Japan rather than WWE.

You can listen to the full episode by clicking here.

Source: WrestlingINC

In the latest episode of the Elite, which you can watch below, Kenny sent a message to The Young Bucks about staying with New Japan:

Kenny Omega — Royal Rumble Appearance Unlikely, But He’s Not Ruling It Out (VIDEO)

kenny omega, royal rumble, wwe, wrestling, njpw

 

NJPW wrestler Kenny Omega has commented on rumors that he’ll appear in the Royal Rumble this weekend … and while it sounds unlikely, The Cleaner didn’t rule anything out.

Omega took part in a Q&A with 4 Front Wrestling and when asked about the Rumble said, “If some of you guys are subscribers to the Network and you’re looking forward to something happening, or not happening, on the 29th … I’m not sure if I can pull a rabbit out of a hat by that date.”

He adds, “But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. I’m not saying anything. I’m just … that might be asking too much at this point in time.”

For the record though, Kenny says he’ll win the whole thing if entered into the match.

He added that he would love to work a match with AJ Styles at WrestleMania.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

NJPW Reveals New English Commentary Team

According to Pwinsider.com, ROH’s Kevin Kelly and former WWF and ECW personality Don “Cyrus” Callis will be the English Language announcing team for New Japan events streaming on New Japan World. Callis replaces Steve Corino, who is now working for WWE. The following events will air on New Japan World with English commentary…

2/4 – New Beginning in Sapporo
2/11 – New Beginning in Osaka
3/6- 45th Anniversary
3/20 – New Japan Cup 2017
4/9 – Sakura Genesis 2017
5/3 – Wrestling Dontaku
6/3 – Best of Super Junior 24 Finals
6/11 – Dominion 2017
7/1 – G1 Climax Special in US
7/2 – G1 Climax Special in USA
7/17- G1 Climax Opening
8/11 -G1 Climax Finals
8/12 -G1 Climax Finals
8/13 – G1 Climax Finals

Source: 411Mania

Why The Young Bucks Have Changed Wrestling

Below is a very interesting video posted by WhatCulture Wrestling about how The Young Bucks have changed professional wrestling and became so successful without going through WWE.

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11 On AXS TV Schedule

AXS TV sent WrestlingINC the final broadcast schedule for AXS TV’s four-part Wrestle Kingdom 11 television event, which is below. The matches in each hour-long episode will be shown in their entirety with limited commercial interruption when possible.

In anticipation of this Friday’s premiere of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 11 on AXS TV, below is a preview video featuring IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada and challenger Kenny Omega discussing their headlining match.

Jan. 13

IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega

Jan. 20

IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
IWGP Tag Championship Match: Guerrillas of Destiny vs. Chaos vs. G.B.H.

Jan. 27

NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship: David Finlay, Ricochet & Satoshi Kojima vs. Los Ingobernable de Japon vs. Bullet Club vs. Chaos
NEVER Openweight Championship: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Hirooki Goto

Feb. 3

Special Match: Cody vs. Juice Robinson
IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship: The Young Bucks vs. Roppongi Vice
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: KUSHIDA vs. Hiromu Takahashi

Source: WrestlingINC

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.