Tag: NJPW

NJPW Video Teases Reunion With AEW’s Kenny Omega At WrestleDynasty Crossover Show

Kenny Omega has faced some of the best wrestlers in NJPW history, and the promotion was where he firmly established himself as a major name in the business. On AEW television, Omega hasn’t been seen since May, when he was written off after an attack by former allies The Elite, but it seems like “The Best Bout Machine” is returning to the public eye.

The official NJPW X account recently shared a brief clip where Hiroshi Tanahashi looked back at his last match with Omega, and teased an upcoming reunion. “We wrestled in the main event in the Tokyo Dome in 2019. That match and what came out of it? It was a unique situation, so I think everyone’s curious as to how we’ve been. I’ve got a lot of mixed emotions, but I’m curious too. Excited to see him,” Tanahashi said. The two men then met in a room, and greeted one another, with the post’s hashtags teasing that their “reunion” is somehow tied to the multi-promotion Wrestle Dynasty pay-per-view, which will take place on January 5, 2025.

The most recent update on Omega’s health was one month ago, in August. The star has been suffering from diverticulitis for quite some time, and had surgery recently. His good friend and AEW star, Michael Nakazawa, claimed that “The Cleaner” had 25 centimeters removed of his colon, and had lost abdominal strength as a result, making basic tasks difficult for him. However, Nakazawa added that Omega had steadily been recovering, and that he’d been training at the time. Considering that he’s seemingly planning to appear at Wrestle Dynasty in January, it appears like his recovery has gone quicker than many anticipated.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Former CMLL Star Stephanie Vaquer Signs With WWE Instead Of AEW

Stephanie Vaquer is bound for WWE. The former CMLL and NJPW champion is set to debut with the United States-based promotion, but there’s been some question about her status with CMLL ahead of her signing.

According to the Wrestling Observer, Vaquer was under contract with CMLL but the promotion and its partner NJPW knew that Vaquer would be negotiating with both AEW and WWE. However, both promotions asked that she still work the upcoming NJPW/CMLL Fantasticamania show in San Jose, CA, as she had been advertised for the show. CMLL also asked her to lose her CMLL Women’s title on her way out.

Vaquer signed with WWE but was unable to commit to the original Fantasticamania show and she vacated her title, leading to a Three-Way Match for the CMLL Women’s Championship taking place that night. CMLL and NJPW have already announced Vaquer’s departure, which signaled her going to WWE, as AEW is a business partner of both companies and would’ve allowed her to complete her booked dates.

WWE Hall of Famer and “NXT” creative head Shawn Michaels confirmed the news on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday, formally welcoming Vaquer to the white-and-gold brand.

https://twitter.com/ShawnMichaels/status/1811151655544496619

According to reports ahead of the announcement, Vaquer had entered WWE’s radar specifically after her outing against Mercedes Mone at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door. She was booked in two appearances, wrestling Lady Frost prior to Forbidden Door during “AEW Collision,” and had reportedly been offered a deal to continue with Tony Khan’s company. However, she decided to join WWE, foregoing any of her future bookings with NJPW and CMLL and allegedly upsetting all three promotions. CMLL is said to be upset they were unable to have Vaquer drop the CMLL Women’s World and Women’s Tag Team titles prior to her departure as they had intended; they were vacated instead. Vaquer lost the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship to Mone at Forbidden Door, simultaneously failing to capture the TBS Championship. She is the latest international women’s talent to be brought into WWE after Giulia agreed to terms to join the “WWE NXT” brand in the near future.

Dave Meltzer is reporting that WWE has no plans to change Vaquer’s ring name. This approach contrasts with WWE’s typical practice of creating new names for talents joining from other promotions, allowing the company to retain intellectual property rights.

However, it is essential to note that WWE can always change Vaquer’s ring name in the future.

NJPW Star Minoru Suzuki Updates Fans On His Condition After Collapsing Mid-Match

Minoru Suzuki provided a positive update on his status after the NJPW legend suffered a concussion mid-match on Saturday. Suzuki was wrestling for Tenryu Project at their Osake Crush Night show on July 6, a trios match pitting Suzuki, Kengo and YASSHI against Tomohiro Ishii, Yuji Hino, and Don Fuji for the Tenryu Project WAR Six-Man Tag Team titles. But the match was stopped by referee Keigo Yushino when, as he would explain on social media, Suzuki did not respond to initial calls. 

Yushino noted that Suzuki wanted to continue, but it was determined that he would not be safe to do so and the match was thrown out. In an announcement posted by Tenryu Project, it was revealed that Suzuki was diagnosed with a concussion after hospital examination, he has since been discharged and the promotion confirmed it would be keeping tabs on his condition over the next few days. The statement made note that Suzuki is walking and talking properly, not showing any significant symptoms and did not suffer any bleeding on the brain.

“Murder Grandpa” has since taken to social media himself, stating he’d had a CT scan which reflected no particular issues, further assuring fans that there was no need to worry. He said that he remembered everything about the incident, including the moment he collapsed. Tenryu Project said in its statement on the matter that it apologized for the abrupt finish to the match, and that it will endeavor to book a rematch once the 56-year-old is ready to return.  Suzuki had been active this week leading into his collapse, wrestling twice during Hiratsuka Shinshiku Yokocho Tanabata Matsuri on July 5. He has been teased for an upcoming clash against AEW’s Chris Jericho, confirming he wouldn’t team with Jericho at Forbidden Door last weekend for the first time, and that he would be seeking a shot at the FTW Championship when they do meet.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Wrestle Dynasty With NJPW, AEW, ROH, STARDOM And CMLL Set For January 2025 At The Tokyo Dome

During Sunday’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view, a promo from NJPW aired for Wrestle Dynasty, which will feature stars from NJPW, CMLL, AEW, ROH and STARDOM.

The event is set to take place on Sunday, January 5, 2025 from the Tokyo Dome.

Wrestle Dynasty will take place just one day after Wrestle Kingdom, which will also be held at the Tokyo Dome.

The promo video is below, along with the official announcement from NJPW.

https://twitter.com/njpw1972/status/1807609267824054316
Wrestle Dynasty comes to the Tokyo Dome January 5!

Five promotions in one mega card after Wrestle Kingdom

A huge announcement was made during Forbidden Door as it was revealed the Tokyo Dome will play host to Wrestle Dynasty on January 5 2025.

Five promotions will come together for one mega card as NJPW, AEW, CMLL, ROH and STARDOM will all be under the roof of the Dome just 24 hours after Wrestle Kingdom 19. A night of dream matches is in store to kick off the year!

Source: WrestleView

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 6/30/2024 (Results), Dr. Britt Baker DMD Returns

Zero Hour.

  • RJ City, Rocky Romero, Jeff Jarrett & Renee Paquette hosted the Zero Hour previewing the card of the show.
  • The Acclaimed (Billy Gunn, Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) cut a promo backstage, where Billy Gunn said he pulled some strings to get Bowens & Caster to team with Hiroshi Tanahashi against The Elite and promised to kick Okada back to his Studio Apartment in Manhattan.
  • Amanda Huber & Negative One talked about the collaboration between AEW & Reebok Classic Leather to pay tribute to Jon Huber, famously known as Brodie Lee Jr.
  • Kyle Fletcher def. Serpentico via Pinfall (BRAINBUSTAH!).
  • Four Way Tag Match: Kings of The Black Throne (Malakai Black & Brody King) def. Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen), Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii, and NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd & Roderick Strong (w/ Gedo, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) via Pinfall (Ganzo Bomb from King on Kassidy).
  • Willow Nightingale & Tam Nakano def. Momo Watanabe & Kris Statlander (w/ Stokely Hathaway) via Pinfall (Hammerlock Dragon Suplex from Nakano on Watanabe).
  • 2024 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Cup Tournament – First Round Match: Mariah May (w/ Toni Storm & Luther) def. Saraya (w/ Harley Cameron) via Pinfall (Roll-Through Bridge).​​​​​​
    • Mina Shirakawa appeared after the match to celebrate with Mariah May. Storm & Shirakawa then butted heads due to Shirakawa’s sudden appearance.
  • Místico & Lucha Brothers (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fénix) (w/ Alex Abrahantes) def. Los Ingobernables de Japón (Titán, Yota Tsuji & Hiromu Takahashi) via Submission (La Mística from Místico on Titán).

Main Show.

  • Excalibur, Nigel McGuiness & Taz welcomed the audience to the broadcast before transitioning into the opening match.
  • Maxwell Jacob Freidman def. Hechicero via Pinfall (Sheer Drop Brainbuster).
  • The Elite (AEW International Champion Kazuchika Okada and AEW Tag Team Champions Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) def. Hiroshi Tanahashi & The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) via Pinfall (Rainmaker from Okada on Tanahashi).
    • Okada was going to hit another Rainmaker on Tanahashi, but Billy Gunn came to the ring and made the save.
  • 2024 Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Cup Tournament – First Round Match: Bryan Danielson def. Shingo Takagi via Submission (Disarmer Arm Breaker).
  • AEW Women’s World Championship Match: Toni Storm (c) (w/ Luther & Mariah May) def. Mina Shirakawa (w/ Mariah May) via Pinfall (Storm Zero).
    • After a vicious match, Mina Shirakawa & Toni Storm embraced with a hug and a handshake before they & May kissed. Nigel McGuiness was spotted crying at the wholesome ending.
  • Zack Sabre Jr def. Orange Cassidy via Submission (Clarky Cat Lock).
  • Katsuyori Shibata, Samoa Joe & HOOK def. NJPW Television Champion Jeff Cobb & The Learning Tree (Chris Jericho & Big Bill) (w/ Bryan Keith) via Pinfall (Judas Effect from HOOK on Jericho).
  • TNT Championship Ladder Match: Jack Perry def. Konosuke Takeshita, Mark Briscoe, Jack Perry, Lio Rush, Dante Martin & El Phantasmo to win the title.
  • TBS Championship & NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship Match: Mercedes Mone (c) def. Stephanie Vaquer (c) via Submission (Banks Statement).
  • NJPW announced they will host the ” WrestleDynasty ” event from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on January 5, 2024.
  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match: Tetsuya Naito def. Jon Moxley (c) via Pinfall (Destino).
  • AEW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Swerve Strickland (c) (w/ Prince Nana & Jim Jones) def. AEW International Champion Will Ospreay via Pinfall (JML Driver).
    • After the referee was taken out, Don Callis tried to give a screwdriver to help Ospreay, but Prince Nana took him out. Ospreay then threatened to stab Nana with the screwdriver, but had second thoughts and tossed the tool away. Ospreay got back in the ring, but Swerve then hit the House Call and a Swerve Stomp to try and pick up the win, but Ospreay kicked out. Swerve got back up and hit another House Call before hitting the JML Driver for the win. Swerve Strickland celebrated with Flash Garments, Jim Jones, and Prince Nana ss Ospreay was consoled by Kyle Fletcher in the ring to end the broadcast.

Results from WrestleZone

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 6/30/2024 (Card)

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door – Sunday June 30, 2024 – UBS Arena in Elmont, New York

Featuring wrestling talent from AEW, NJPW, STARDOM and CMLL

CARD

THE AEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Will Ospreay

LADDER MATCH FOR THE VACANT AEW TNT CHAMPIONSHIP
Dante Martin vs. Jack Perry vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Lio Rush vs. Mark Briscoe vs. El Phantasmo

WINNER TAKES ALL MATCH FOR THE AEW TBS CHAMPIONSHIP AND NJPW STRONG WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Mercedes Moné (c–AEW) vs. Stephanie Vaquer (c–NJPW)

AEW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
“Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Mariah May and Luther) vs. Mina Shirakawa (with Mariah May)

IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Jon Moxley (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito

The Elite (Young Bucks & Kazuchika Okada) vs. The Acclaimed & Hiroshi Tanahashi w/“Daddy Ass” Billy Gunn

MEN’S OWEN HART CUP TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND MATCH
Bryan Danielson vs. Shingo Takagi

MJF vs. Hechicero

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Orange Cassidy

The Learning Tree (Chris Jericho and Big Bill) and Jeff Cobb (with Bryan Keith) vs. Samoa Joe, Hook, and Katsuyori Shibata

ZERO HOUR
Kris Statlander & Momo Watanabe w/Stokely Hathaway vs. Willow Nightingale & Tam Nakano

[ZERO HOUR] WOMEN’S OWEN HART CUP TOURNAMENT FIRST-ROUND MATCH:
Mariah May (with “Timeless” Toni Storm, Luther and Mina Shirakawa) vs. Saraya (with Harley Cameron and Anna Jay)

[ZERO HOUR] TRIOS MATCH:
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Yota Tsuji, Titan, and Hiromu Takahashi) vs. The Lucha Brothers (Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fénix) and Místico (with Alex Abrahantes)

NJPW Dominion 6/9/2024 (Results)

* Tetsuya Naito def. Callum Newman

* Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles & Zack Sabre Jr. def. Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney & LJ Cleary

* NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling Championship Storm Catch Rules Match: Great-O-Khan def. Yuya Uemura

* NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship Match: BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Yota Tsuji def. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano

* NJPW World Television Championship Match: Jeff Cobb def. Tomohiro Ishii

* IWGP Tag Team Championships & NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championships Tornado Match: Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste def. Chase Owens & KENTA, Guerrillas Of Destiny & Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI

* NEVER Openweight Championship Match: Shingo Takagi found HENARE to a draw

* IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Lumberjack Match: Jon Moxley def. EVIL. Moxley then issued a challenge for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door and Tetsuya Naito answered.

* Best Of The Super Junior 31 Finals: El Desperado def. Taiji Ishimori

NJPW Dominion 6/9/2024 (Card)

NJPW Dominion – June 9, 2024 – the Osaka-jō Hall in Osaka, Japan.


Best of the Super Juniors Final: El Desperado vs. Taiji Ishimori

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship — Lumberjack Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. EVIL

NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. HENARE

NJPW STRONG Openweight & IWGP Tag Team Championships — Tornado Elimination Four-Way Match: BULLET CLUB (Chase Owens & KENTA) (IWGP) vs. Hikuleo & El Phantasmo (STRONG) vs. T.M.D.K. (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) vs. Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI)

NJPW World Television Championship: Jeff Cobb (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii

NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano (c) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)

KOPW Championship — Storm Catch Rules Match: Yuya Uemura (c) vs. Great-O-Khan

T.M.D.K. (Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles & Zack Sabre Jr.) vs. Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney & L.J. Cleary

Tetsuya Naito vs. Callum Newman

Full Card Announced For United Japan’s All Together Sapporo

The full lineup has been revealed for United Japan Pro-Wrestling’s event in Sapporo on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at the Hokkai Kita-Yell sports center. Check out the full card here:

Tetsuya Naito (NJPW) vs. Jake Lee (NOAH)

Alejandro, Kenoh & Kaito Kiyomiya (NOAH) vs Gabe Kidd (NJPW) David Finlay (NJPW) & YO-HEY (NOAH)

Titan, BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi (NJPW) vs Drilla Moloney (NJPW), Clark Connors (NJPW), LJ Cleary (NOAH) Anthony Greene (NOAH) & Jack Morris (NOAH)

Masa Kitamiya (NOAH) vs. Tomohiro Ishii (NJPW)

Naomichi Marufuji (NOAH)& Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJPW) vs Yuya Uemura & SANADA (NJPW)

Tetsuya Endo (DDT), Ryohei Oiwa (NJPW) & Shota Umino (NJPW) vs Kazusada Higuchi (DDT), Great-O-Khan (NJPW) & Jeff Cobb (NJPW)

YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto (NJPW) vs Daichi Hashimoto & Daisuke Sekimoto (BJW)

Starlight Kid (Stardom) vs. AZM (Stardom)

Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles & Zack Sabre Jr. (NJPW) vs Yu Owada, HAYATA & Ulka Sasaki (NOAH)

NJPW Strong: Resurgence 2024 5/11/2024 (Results)

* Kickoff: STRONG Survivor – Matt Vandagriff def. Adrian Quest

* Kickoff: Lio Rush vs Mustafa Ali def. Lio Rush

– Ali put his feet on the ropes for the Backslide pin. They brawled momentarily. The lights went out and Lio emerged behind Ali, spewing mist as his Blackheart persona shined through.

* House Of Torture (EVIL, Jack Perry & Ren Narita) def. CHAOS (Rocky Romero & Tomohiro Ishii) & The DKC

*The West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs) def. Fred Rosser & Tom Lawlor

* NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championship: Guerrillas Of Destiny (El Phantasmo & Hikuleo) def. TMDK (Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste) (c)

* NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) def. Alex Windsor

* Los Ingobernables de Japon (Yota Tsuji & Tetsuya Naito) def. BULLET CLUB (David Finlay & KENTA)

– A vignette announced that an American version of FantasticaMania, the joint show between New Japan Pro-Wrestling and CMLL Lucha Libre would be coming to the San Jose Civic Auditorium on July 13.

* Zack Sabre Jr. def. Hiroshi Tanahashi

* NJPW World TV Championship: Jeff Cobb (c) def. Lance Archer

– Tomohiro Ishii came out to declare that he wanted the next shot at Jeff Cobb’s title.

– HENARE appeared in a vignette to declare his desire to face the winner of the NEVER Openweight Championship match.

* NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) def. Yuya Uemura

* NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship No-Rope Last Man Standing Match: Gabe Kidd def. Eddie Kingston (c)

– After the match, Jack Perry came down to attack Eddie Kingston but it was Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, The Young Bucks, who would blindside and attack him in their first appearance in New Japan in 5 years. The attack continued. The Young Bucks made jokes about no longer living in the area because they were no longer poor. They challenged Kingston to a match at Forbidden Door but the challenge itself wasn’t actually clear. They hit Kingston with an EVP Trigger and left the ring.

* IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley (c) def. Shota Umino

– The show goes off the air with EVIL attacking Jon Moxley and declaring himself to be the next challenger for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. EVIL and Ren Narita attacked Moxley and Umino and EVIL spray painted the championship.

Source: Fightful