ROH announced the Pre-Show for ROH /NJPW G1 Supercard will begin at 6:30 pm ET on April 6 and air for free on ROH’s Facebook Live, FITE, NJPW World, and traditional PPV. The Pre-Show will feature an Honor Rumble battle royal.
Tag: NJPW
IWGP United States Champion Juice Robinson Accepts Bully Ray’s Open Challenge For The ROH/NJPW G-1 Supercard
IWGP United States Champion Juice Robinson was featured in a video posted to ROH’s Twitter page. In it, Robinson accepts WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray Dudley’s open challenge to a New York City Street Fight at the G-1 Supercard in Madison Square Garden on April 6.
In the video, featured below, Robinson can be seen saying, “Up until a couple of minutes ago, I didn’t have a match at MSG. No way that ROH and NJPW are going to put on the biggest show in the world’s most famous arena and me not have a match! So Bully [Ray], you issued an open challenge? New York City Street Fight – I don’t really care what it is. Sign me up, I’m there. It just so happens I’m sick and tired of your bull crap, too. So, two birds one stone.”
Bully responded to Robinson’s video, he can be seen below saying, “Madison Square Garden is my back yard; Madison Square Garden is where I made my legacy in this business. I’ve stolen the show at Madison Square Garden, I’ve main evented Madison Square Garden, my name has been on the marquee at Madison Square Garden, and I wrestled a little show called Wrestle-freaking-Mania at Madison Square Garden. What do you think is going to happen to Juice Robinson in Madison Square Garden?”
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Koji Kitao Passes Away At 55
It was announced today in Japan that Sumo star turned pro wrestler, Koji Kitao, passed away back in February at the age of 55.
Kitao gained the rank of Yokozuna while still involved with Sumo wrestling but he ultimately turned to the world of professional wrestling in 1989 under the tutelage of Masa Saito. He wore a mask while competing in AWA and called himself “Monster Machine” so that Japanese media wouldn’t catch wind that he was competing in the States. When he returned to the New Japan Dojo, he competed in the promotion’s first Tokyo Dome event in February 1990. Kitao unfortunately had a falling out with Riki Choshu and it would result in his firing from the company.
Kitao worked with the SWS wrestling promotion after that, and their working partnership with WWE at the time allowed Kitao to be a part of WrestleMania 7. Even still, after lasting about a year with SWS, Kitao was fired when he began no-selling and shooting on his opponent at the time, John “Earthquake” Tenta. When the referee intervened in the match, Kitao kicked him and proceeded to tell the audience that wrestling was fake.
Kitao would be involved with various promotions after that, including one stint with UWFi. Ironically, Kitao was welcomed back in to the world of wrestling after he suffered a knockout kick to the head from one of his UWFi opponents, Takada. He would later transition to the world of MMA but officially retired in 1998 .
You can see a few matches from Kitao’s career below:
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Multiple Title Matches Announced For ROH NJPW G1 Supercard
We are just a few weeks away from Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling taking over Madison Square Garden for the G1 Supercard. The collaboration between both organizations on April 6 has been months in the making. One of the main title matches includes Jay White defending his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against New Japan Cup winner Kazuchika Okada. The Ring of Honor World Title is also on the line as Jay Lethal defends it in a ladder match against Matt Taven and Marty Scurll.
The entire main card was announced late last night, with a total of eight titles on the line. Zack Sabre Jr. will be defending his RPW British Heavyweight Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashiwhile Tetsuya Naito will defend the IWGP Intercontinental Title against Kota Ibushi. Additionally, Mayu Iwatani will defend the Women of Honor World Championship in a rematch against former champion Kelly Klein. Jushin Thunder Liger has been confirmed for the Honor Rumble match.
There was a significant change to one match, as the title v. title bout between the Guerrillas of Destiny and Villain Enterprises’ PCO and Brody King is now a fatal four-way. The Briscoes and the team of EVIL and SANADA have been added to the match for the IWGP and Ring of Honor World Tag Team Titles.
Below is the updated and potentially final match card:
* Jay White (c) v. Kazuchika Okada – IWGP Heavyweight Championship
* Jay Lethal (c) v. Marty Scurll v. Matt Taven – Ladder Match for the ROH World Championship
* Tetsuya Naito (c) v. Kota Ibushi – IWGP Intercontinental Championship
* Will Ospreay (c) v. Jeff Cobb (c) – Winner Takes All match for the NEVER Openweight and ROH TV TItle
* Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa (c) v. Brody King and PCO (c) v. EVIL and SANADA v. The Briscoes – Winner Takes All match for the IWGP and ROH World Tag Team Titles
* Taiji Ishimori (c) v. Dragon Lee v. Bandido – IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
* Zack Sabre Jr. (c) v. Hiroshi Tanahashi – RPW British Heavyweight Championship
* Mayu Iwatani (c) v. Kelly Klein – Women of Honor World Championship
* Bully Ray v. TBA – New York Street Fight Open Challenge
* Rush v. Dalton Castle
* Honor Rumble (Pre-Show) – Jushin Thunder Liger
Source: Wrestling Inc.
ROH announced the full schedule for G1 Supercard Festival of Honor, When Is Flip Gordon Returning?
ROH announced the full schedule for G1 Supercard Festival of Honor (seen here) featuring numerous meet and greets, Q&As, and a press conference. Individual tickets for meet and greets go on sale March 21 at 12 pm ET.
Flip Gordon will be making his return to an ROH ring on March 31 at Road to G1 Supercard in Baltimore, Maryland. Gordon has been out since January with a torn MCL in his right knee. Gordon was never expected to miss the G1 Supercard, although he doesn’t currently have a match on the event.
NJPW Holding Event In Brooklyn During WrestleMania 35 Weekend 4/4/19
New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced an event that will take place in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday 4/4:
New Japan Matsuri Stage to Feature Tanahashi, Naito and more on April 4!New Japan Pro Wrestling is kicking off G-1 Supercard week with New Japan Matsuri at Japan Village in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday, April 4, 2019.
Come meet your favorite NJPW wrestlers as they take part in New Japan Matsuri stage events throughout the day!
Stage Event Schedule
12:00 PM Opening Ceremony with Jyushin Thunder Liger
2:00 PM DAISO Special Stage with Toru Yano
5:00 PM Special Talk Show with Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI
7:00 PM Special Talk Show with Hiroshi Tanahashi
7:50 PM Closing Ceremony with Hiroshi Tanahashi
Event Hours: 12:00PM – 8:00PM
Event Location: Japan Village
Address: 934 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Daiso, recently opened its flagship store in Flushing, NY on Friday, March 8, will be sponsoring New Japan Matsuri. Daiso will have a booth at New Japan Matsuri and will host a special stage event featuring Toru Yano.
Daiso Flushing Store
40-24 College Point Blvd., Flushing NY 11354
(At Skyview Center, next to the Converse store)
Store Hours: M-F 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Sat-Sun 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Part of the tweet, as seen below and translated by Google, reads, “April 4…the event: “New Japan Matsuri” for the prior day of MSG Tournament!!”
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Bullet Club Adding A New Member
During night one of the NJPW New Japan Cup it was teased Bullet Club would be adding a new member soon. Most of the vignette hid the individual, but there is a glimpse near the end and it’s Canadian wrestler, El Phantasmo.
Debuting back in 2005, El Phantasmo has been a big part of numerous promotions in Canada. Currently working on the UK indie scene, he typically works with RevPro Wrestling where he won last year’s British J-Cup tournament. RevPro is also a partner of NJPW.
The current Bullet Club roster is: IWGP Heavyweight Champion Jay White (leader), Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Gedo, Hikuleo, Jado, Robbie Eagles, IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori, IWGP Tag Team Champion Tama Tonga, IWGP Tag Team Champion Tagna Loa, and Yujiro Takahashi.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Jushin Thunder Liger Announces Plans For Retirement
Japanese pro wrestling legend Jushin Thunder Liger announced during a press event today that he will be retiring at the Tokyo Dome next January.
“Thank you for joining me here,” said Liger at this morning’s press conference. “I will retire next year in January at the Tokyo Dome.”
Liger, 54, has been in the business for several decades and has captured championships and notoriety in a number of promotions, including WCW, Pro Wrestling NOAH, Dragon Gate, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ring Of Honor, WWE NXT, among many others.
Source: EWrestling.com
NJPW Reveals G1 Climax 29 Schedule
NJPW announced earlier today the full schedule for its biggest tournament of the year, G1 Climax 29. For the first time ever, the tournament will kick off outside of Japan at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on July 6.
The winner of the tournament receives an opportunity at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in the main event of next January’s Wrestle Kingdom. Last year’s tournament winner was Hiroshi Tanahashi. This year’s participants have yet to be revealed.
Below is the full schedule:
* July 6: American Airlines Center in Dallas TX
* July 13: Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo
* July 14: Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo
* July 15: Hokkai Kitayell in Hokkaido
* July 18: Korakuen Hall in Tokyo
* July 19: Korakuen Hall in Tokyo
* July 20: Korakuen Hall in Tokyo
* July 24: Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall in Hiroshima
* July 27: Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Aichi
* July 28: Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Aichi
* July 30: Takamatsu City General Gymnasium in Kagawa
* August 1: Fukuoka Citizen Gymnasium in Fukuoka
* August 3: Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka
* August 4: Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka
* August 7: Hamamatsu Arena in Shizuoka
* August 8: Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium in Kanagawa
* August 10: Nippon Budokan in Tokyo
* August 11: Nippon Budokan in Tokyo
* August 12: Nippon Budokan in Tokyo
NJPW 47th Anniversary Results
* Togi Makabe, Toru Yano, Ayato Yoshida, Shota Umino & Ren Narita vs. Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Chase Owens & Hikuleo) – Winners: Bullet Club
* Yuji Nagata & Toa Henare vs. Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI – Winners: Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI
* Satoshi Kojima, Tomoaki Honma, Tiger Mask IV, Ryusuke Taguchi & Dragon Lee vs. Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado & Taka Michinoku – Winners: Satoshi Kojima, Tomoaki Honma, Tiger Mask IV, Ryusuke Taguchi & Dragon Lee
* IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Shingo Takagi & BUSHI (c) vs. Roppongi 3K – Winners and new IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions: Roppongi 3k
* IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger – Winner: Taiji Ishimori
* Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto vs. Tetsuya Naito, EVIL & SANADA – Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto
* IWGP Heavyweight Champion Jay White vs. NEVER Openweight Champion Will Ospreay – Winner: Jay White
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