Category: New Japan Pro Wrestling

Reported Reactions, Interest From WWE & Other Promotions With CM Punk On Open Market

With CM Punk’s time in AEW having reached an acrimonious end, many are wondering what is next for the two-time AEW World Champion, with some wondering if he could wind up back at WWE, another promotion, or if he would once again disappear as he did following his WWE departure in 2014. At least a few days removed from his AEW exit, it appears there is some interest in Punk popping up elsewhere.

PWInsider Elite reports that Punk became a topic of discussion within WWE as soon as he was fired, and the response has been pretty divided. While some in WWE look at it as a chance for the promotion to make a lot of money, with one top talent even going as far to endorse the idea, many more were said to be against it and didn’t believe it would happen. However it turns out, Punk joining WWE would be a discussion saved for later, as the promotion is currently focused on finalizing its merger with Endeavor, set to be completed this month. It is also believed that Endeavor themselves would make the call to sign him. Punk had previously worked for Endeavor when he competed in UFC, and is said to have had a good relationship with top Endeavor brass.

As for other promotions, Impact Wrestling was also said to be interested in Punk, though it’s unclear if they would be able to afford him, something considered a potential issue for other promotions that may have interest. As for NJPW, it is believed the promotion wouldn’t pursue Punk, due to their relationship with AEW. It is further believed that Punk was released without a noncompete clause, which would allow him to sign anywhere at any time.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling x NJPW MultiVerse United 2 8/20/2023 (Results)

Pre-Show – Countdown to Multiverse United 2

Joe Hendry, Heath & Yuya Uemura def. Master Wato, Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi

Impact Digital Media Championship Match:
Kenny King (c) def. Yoshinobu Kanemaru

Multiverse United 2: For Whom the Bell Tolls

X-DIVISION Scramble Match:
Chris Sabin def. YOH, Frankie Kazarian, BUSHI, Kevin Knight, Rich Swann, MAO & El Desperado

After the match, BUSHI blinds Sabin with the black mist

IMPACT (Moose & Eddie Edwards) def. TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr & Shane Haste)

NJPW Strong Women’s Championship Match:
Giulia (c) def.. Deonna Purrazzo, Gisele Shaw & Momo Kohgo

After the match, Kohgo blindsides Giulia but gets taken out with a Glorious Driver from the champ.

SOUTH PHILLY STREET FIGHT:
Sami Callihan def DOUKI 

Catch 22 (TJP & Francesco Akira) def TMDK (Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita)

Bullet Club (David Finlay, Ace Austin, Chris Bey, Alex Coughlin, KENTA & Clark Connors) def. The World (PCO, Josh Alexander, Tanga Loa, Tama Tonga, The DKC & ELP)

After the match, Bullet Club clears the ring of their adversaries before standing tall.

Lio Rush & Trey Miguel def Hiromu Takahashi & Mike Bailey

After the match, Lio Rush sets his sights on the IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship. Takahashi appears to accept his challenge but Bailey is concerned because he believes that opportunity should be his.

Impact World Championship Match:
Alex Shelley (c) def. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Impact Wrestling x NJPW MultiVerse United 2 8/20/2023 (Card)

LIVE THIS SUNDAY, August 20th at 5pm ET streaming exclusively on FITE, IMPACT and New Japan Pro-Wrestling join forces for another co-branded mega event, Multiverse United 2: For Whom the Bell Tolls from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. Tickets are on-sale now at 2300arena.com.

CARD

Impact World Championship Match:
Alex Shelley (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

NJPW Strong Women’s Championship Match:
Giulia (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo vs. Gisele Shaw vs. Momo Kohgo

Impact Digital Media Championship Match:
Kenny King (c) vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru

X-DIVISION Scramble Match:
BUSHI vs. Chris Sabin vs. El Desperado vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Kevin Knight vs. Mao vs. Rich Swann vs. YOH

Bullet Club (David Finlay, Ace Austin, Chris Bey, Alex Coughlin, KENTA & Clark Connors) vs. The World (Josh Alexander, PCO, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, El Phantasmo & the DKC)

Lio Rush & Trey Miguel vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Mike Bailey

Zack Sabre Jr. and Shane Haste vs. Moose & Eddie Edwards

DOUKI vs. Sami Callihan

Joe Hendry, Heath & Yuya Uemura vs. Master Wato, Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi

TJP and Francesco Akira) vs. Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita

NJPW Strong Independence Day Final Cards 7/4 & 7/5 2023

NJPW will hold its Strong Independence Day event over the course of two nights on July 4th and July 5th in Japan, with both shows airing on NJPW World at 5:10 a.m. Eastern time.

The event will feature two AEW stars in action as Jon Moxley, who will be teaming with Homicide on the first night against El Desperado & Jun Kasai in an “Exciting Encounter Doomsday No DQ” match, while he’ll wrestle Desperado on the second night in a “Final Death” match.

Eddie Kingston will also be in action. Here are the final cards:

Night 1

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match:
TJP & Francesco Akira (champions) vs. Drilla Moloney & Clark Connors

Exciting Encounter Doomsday No DQ Match:
Jon Moxley & Homicide vs. El Desperado & Jun Kasai

NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship Match:
Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (champions) vs. Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd

Eddie Kingston & Rocky Romero vs. KENTA & Gedo

Tom Lawlor vs. Kosei Fujita

Lance Archer, Alex Zayne & Ryohei Oiwa vs. JR Kratos, Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs

Bad Dude Tito vs. The DKC

Willow Nightingale & Momo Kohgo vs. Giulia & Thekla

Kickoff Match:
Syusuke Taguchi, YOH & Oskar Leube vs. Kengo, Dragon Libre & Takahiro Katori

Night 2

NJPW Strong Openweight Championship Match:
KENTA (champion) vs. Eddie Kingston

Final Death Match:
Jon Moxley vs. El Desperado

IWGP Tag Team Championship Match:
Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (champions) vs. Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd

NJPW Strong Women’s Championship Match:
Willow Nightingale (champion) vs. Giulia

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & The DKC vs. Tom Lawlor, Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs

Lance Archer & Alex Zayne vs. Bad Dude Tito & Kosei Fujita

Drilla Moloney & Clark Connors vs. YOH & Rocky Romero

Homicide & Ryohei Oiwa vs. TJP & Francesco Akira

JR Kratos vs. OSkar Leube

Kickoff Match:
Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato & Boltin Oleg vs. Dragon Libre, Takahiro Katori & Rekka

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25/2023 (Results)

ZERO HOUR

Mogul Embassy (Swerve Strickland, Brian Cage, Toa Liona, and Bishop Kaun) (with Prince Nana) def. Chaos (Chuck Taylor, Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta) and El Desperado 

WOMEN’S OWEN HART CUP TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND MATCH:
Athena def. Billie Starkz

El Phantasmo def. Stu Grayson

Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Bushi, and Hiromu Takahashi) def. United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Kyle Fletcher, and TJP)

FORBIDDEN DOOR

AEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
MJF (c) def.. Hiroshi Tanahashi

MJF hit a knockout shot on Tanahashi with his ring, enabling him to get the win.

MEN’S OWEN HART CUP TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND MATCH:
CM Punk def. Satoshi Kojima

AEW INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR-WAY MATCH:
Orange Cassidy (c) def.. Zack Sabre Jr., Katsuyori Shibata and Daniel Garcia

IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Sanada (c) def. “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry

After the match, Jungle Boy makes a surprising heel turn by laying out Hook with a lariat. The crowd in Toronto was livid. Jungle Boy taunts them before holding up the FTW title, dropping it beside HOOK before heading to the back.

The Elite (“Hangman” Adam Page, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson), Eddie Kingston, and Tomohiro Ishii def. Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, and Claudio Castagnoli), Konosuke Takeshita, and Shota Umino

AEW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Toni Storm (c) def. Willow Nightingale

IWGP UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Will Ospreay def. Kenny Omega (c) to become the new IWGP US Heavyweight Champion

Sting, Darby Allin, and Tetsuya Naito def. Jericho Appreciation Society (Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara) and Minoru Suzuki

Jericho stops the celebration early as he attacks Naito with a bat, until Darby and Sting cut him off and send him retreating to the ramp!

Bryan Danielson def. Kazuchika Okada by submission

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25/2023 (Card)

  • Date: June 25, 2023
  • Location: ScotiaBank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

CARD

IWGP UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Kenny Omega (c) vs. Will Ospreay

Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada

IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Sanada (c) vs. “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry

AEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
MJF (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

MEN’S OWEN HART CUP TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND MATCH:
CM Punk vs. Satoshi Kojima

AEW INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR-WAY MATCH:
Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Katsuyori Shibata vs. Daniel Garcia

AEW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Toni Storm (c) vs. Willow Nightingale

Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, and Claudio Castagnoli), Konosuke Takeshita, and Shota Umino vs. The Elite (“Hangman” Adam Page, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson), Eddie Kingston, and Tomohiro Ishii

Jericho Appreciation Society (Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara) and Minoru Suzuki vs. Sting, Darby Allin, and TBA

Adam Cole vs. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor

ZERO HOUR

WOMEN’S OWEN HART CUP TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND MATCH:
Athena vs. Billie Starkz

Bryan Danielson Reportedly ‘Banged Up’ Ahead Of AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door

At this juncture of his career, every Bryan Danielson match is like “an occasion” for ardent pro wrestling fans. In 2023, “The American Dragon” has wrestled all of seven matches, with his last two bouts coming on pay-per-view — Anarchy in the Arena at Double or Nothing and the Iron Man Match against MJF at Revolution. Prior to that, Danielson wrestled a rare bout on television against Rush on February 8 as part of his gauntlet of matches to get to MJF. 

According to Fightful Select, there is a good reason for Danielson’s limited in-ring schedule, and it’s to do with the veteran wrestler being “banged up” of late. The report noted that Danielson’s compromised health is the reason why he performed limited spots in the Anarchy in the Arena match, and did not wrestle at all following his 60-minute Iron Man Match for the AEW World Championship. 

Furthermore, fans must have noticed that Danielson has largely avoided physical contact in several brawls of late, be it the brawls pitting his Blackpool Combat Club against The Elite, or his recent run-in with NJPW star Kazuchika Okada. As such, to make up for his limited participation in brawls, Danielson has routinely worked commentary during BCC’s matches, per Fightful. The report added that Danielson has been “heavily involved in creative in the first several weeks of AEW Collision,” a function he also undertook during his final year in WWE. In fact, Dave Meltzer reported in June that Danielson already wields a lot of influence in AEW’s booking decisions, suggesting that Danielson was serious about expanding his backstage role with AEW.  

Fightful did not go into specific details about Danielson’s nagging injuries, and whether they would affect his performance in the main event of Sunday’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view against

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Updated AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II Lineup – 5 Huge Matches Set

Following this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, we now have five matches announced for the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II pay-per-view event, which takes place on June 25th from Toronto, Canada.

The updated AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II card below:

AEW World Championship Match:
MJF (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

IWGP United States Championship Match:
Kenny Omega (c) vs. Will Ospreay

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match:
SANADA (c) vs. Jungle Boy Jack Perry

Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada

AEW International Championship Match:
Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Report – AEW Interested In Mercedes Mone For AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

While Mercedes Mone is currently out of action with an ankle injury, Tony Khan and other AEW officials were in talks with New Japan Pro Wrestling about having the former Sasha Banks appear at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door II.

According to a report from Fightful Select, the two sides were speaking about the possibility of Mone appearing at the June 25th pay-per-view event. These talks took place before Mone suffered her injury at the NJPW Resurgence event.

In the past, AEW has referenced Mone on commentary. Several sources in both AEW and NJPW have said the talks may have gone as far back as January.

While there have been rumors that Mone would be facing off against Saraya at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II, that has not been confirmed.

It remains to be seen how long Mone will be out of in-ring action or whether she’ll still be making an appearance on the show.

Source: eWn

Report – KENTA vs. CM Punk Being Discussed For AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II

KENTA has reportedly been discussed for the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II pay-per-view event, which takes place on June 25, 2023, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

According to a report from Fightful Select, the “working plan” is for KENTA to work the show. In recent interviews, the former Hideo Itami in WWE has stated that he’d be open to working the show “if the money is right.”

As of this writing, there is no word on whether a deal to have KENTA appear on the pay-per-view event has been finalized. With that being said, both AEW and NJPW are working under the assumption that he’ll be wrestling on the show.

Finally, it is said that CM Punk may be his potential opponent. Of course, KENTA and CM Punk have been involved in a long online feud over Punk using KENTA’s finishing maneuver.

Source: eWn