Tag: NJPW

STARDOM Turned Down Signing Trinity Fatu Due To Financial Reasons

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to ripple to various degrees throughout the professional wrestling industry. While promotions in the United States have largely returned to business as usual, those in Japan have seen things move along a bit more slowly. There were still a number of restrictions in place in recent months, and, as a result, Bushiroad — the parent company of both New Japan Pro-Wrestling and STARDOM — has had to navigate a tough road in recovering from the financial hits taken by the wrestling arm of the company, even as both promotions have grown. Because of the financial strain, both NJPW and STARDOM have been under pressure to keep costs down. That’s led to each passing on some opportunities that may have brought more eyes to the Japanese wrestling product. 

Per the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Trinity Fatu — formerly known during her time in WWE as Naomi — was there for the getting. With her former tag team partner Sasha Banks, who now goes by the moniker Mercedes Mone, carving her path to Japan, there was a chance for Fatu to join her. It appears as if feelers were put out to indicate her willingness to head overseas to re-enter the squared circle. However, Bushiroad felt it’d cost too much and, because of their money situation, ultimately passed on making such a deal — at least thus far.

Fatu has been out of action since she and Banks walked out of WWE over creative differences and were indefinitely suspended, never to return to this point. Fatu did make the trip to Wrestle Kingdom 17 in January to support her former partner as she made her NJPW debut and recently she was backstage at Ring of Honor’s Supercard of Honor over WrestleMania weekend. While doing other things, she has remained within reach of the wrestling business if the right situation presented itself for her to make a return. However, that has yet to materialize yet since she has become a free agent.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling x NJPW Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive 3/30/2023 (Card)

IMPACT Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling present Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive LIVE TONIGHT at 11pm ET streaming exclusively on FITE.

CARD

  • IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP 4-WAY MATCH: Bullet Club (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) (c) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs. Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito)
  • IMPACT X DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP 6-WAY SCRAMBLE MATCH: Trey Miguel (c) vs. Rich Swann vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Rocky Romero vs. Kevin Knight vs. Clark Connor
  • “Winner is added to Impact Knockouts World Championship match at Rebellion”4-WAY MATCH: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Masha Slamovich vs. Gisele Shaw vs. Miyu Yamashita
  • NJPW STRONG OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: KENTA (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi [NJPW] vs. Mike Bailey [Impact]
  • Jeff Cobb [NJPW] vs. Moose [Impact]
  • Fred Rosser, Callihan, PCO & Alex Coughlin vs. Team Filthy (Tom Lawlor & JR Kratos), Eddie Edwards & Joe Hendry
  • [Countdown to Multiverse Pre-show]
    Yuya Uemura vs. Gabriel Kidd

Jay White Officially A Free Agent, No Confirmation Of Upcoming Jump To WWE, AEW Possibility

Jay White is officially on the move, but where to seems to still be up in the air.

In the latest edition of the weekly Wrestling Observer Newsletter, veteran pro wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer confirmed that the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion is officially a free agent after his NJPW contract expired at the end of last month. 

Meltzer reported that all indications point toward White heading to WWE but “there has still been no confirmation of that.” He added, “If he is going to WWE, it’s not something well known within the company by many because multiple people who normally know haven’t heard his name mentioned.”

White’s tenure with NJPW has been seemingly wrapping up over the past two months. In January, the former Bullet Club leader dropped the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to Kazuchika Okada in the main event at Wrestle Kingdom 17. 

Then last month, he lost two apparent farewell matches, first losing to his former stablemate Hikuleo in a “loser leaves Japan” match at The New Beginning in Osaka and then losing to Eddie Kingston in a “loser leaves NJPW” match at Battle in the Valley. After White’s loss to Hikuleo, the wrestler posted photos of his time in Japan on social media with the caption, “Peace. #SwitchbladeEra.” And after his loss to Kingston, his opponent bowed to him after leaving the ring and joined the crowd in applauding him.

Several reports have since indicated WWE has heavy interest in bringing White into the fold and that officials there are “confident” he’s coming, though a jump to AEW or the broader independent scene also remains possible.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

NJPW Battle In The Valley 2/18/2023 (Results)

Alex Coughlin defeated JR Kratos

David Finlay defeated Bobby Fish

Kushida, Volador Jr., Kevin Knight and The DKC defeated Máscara Dorada, Josh Alexander, Adrian Quest and Rocky Romero

Strong Openweight Championship
KENTA defeated Fred Rosser (c) to WIN the Strong Openweight Championship

KENTA picked up the win with the Go To Sleep as CM Punk watched on from the stands after Juice Robinson returned to NJPW and decked Fred Rosser with a fistful of coins. 

Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship
The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) (c) defeated West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson and Royce Issacs)

Loser Leaves NJPW 
Eddie Kingston defeated Jay White

Jay White lost his Loser Leaves NJPW Match to Eddie Kingston following four Urakens and two Northern Lights suplexes. White was set to cut a post-match promo but he was suddenly attacked from behind by David Finlay, who cut a long promo about being a foreigner everywhere he wrestles.

Filthy Rules Fight
Tom Lawlor defeated Homicide

NJPW World Television Championship
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) defeated Clark Connors

IWGP Women’s Championship
Mercedes Monè defeated Kairi (c) to WIN the IWGP Women’s Championship

 Moné became the second-ever IWGP Women’s Champion after defeating fellow former WWE talent KAIRI in the semi-main event of Battle in the Valley. Moné hit a Bayley-To-Belly and was put through a table in her NJPW in-ring debut before she picked up the win with her Moné Maker finisher. Moné and KAIRI then hugged after the match as Bayley watched on from the crowd.

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi

NJPW Battle In The Valley 2/18/2023 (Card)

New Japan Pro Wrestling returns to California for a major PPV event featuring the New Japan in-ring debut of Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks, in the WWE.

When: Saturday February 18, 2023

Where: San Jose Civic Arena in San Jose, CA

How To Watch: Live on Fite TV

CARD

  • Kairi (c) vs. Mercedes Mone – IWGP Women’s Championship
  • Jay White vs. Eddie Kingston – Loser Leaves NJPW
  • Homicide vs. Tom Lawlor – Filthy Rules Fight
  • The Motor City Machine Guns (c) vs. The West Coast Wrecking Crew – NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship
  • Fred Rosser (c) vs. KENTA – NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship
  • Adrian Quest, Josh Alexander, Mascara Dorada & Rocky Romero vs. Kevin Knight, Kushida, The DKC & Volador Jr.
  • David Finlay vs. Bobby Fish
  • Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Clark Connors – IWGP Television Championship
  • Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – IWGP World Championship

Impact Wrestling & NJPW Announce Joint Show On WrestleMania Weekend

Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced today that they will co-produce a show on Thursday night, March 30, at the Globe Theater in Los Angeles. The following was sent out:

IMPACT Wrestling & New Japan Pro-Wrestling Announce Major Co-Produced Live Show, Set For Thursday, March 30th in Los Angeles

“Multiverse United: Only The STRONG Survive” Will Feature Must-See, Cross-Promotion Dream Matches

“Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Will Ospreay Expected To Be A High-Energy, Action-Packed Match of the Year Candidate

IMPACT Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling will co-produce a major live pro wrestling show on Thursday night, March 30, at the Globe Theater in Los Angeles with megastars from both promotions in-action and numerous first-ever dream matches confirmed.
 
The show, Multiverse United: Only The STRONG Survive, will air live on pay-per-view on fite.tv, starting at 8 p.m. PST.
 
IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander steps into the ring at Multiverse United against KUSHIDA, while “Speedball” Mike Bailey battles Will Ospreay in the co-main event that will be a nonstop fight for bragging rights.
 
The Bailey-Ospreay battle is their fifth-ever one-on-one contest and the first since August 2022, with their first-ever back in 2015. “Will Ospreay is the best professional wrestler in the world, after me,” Bailey said. “So, this will be the best professional wrestling match of the year.”
 
Alexander is the longest-reigning IMPACT World Champion and also was half of the decorated tag-team The North that is the longest-reigning IMPACT World Tag Team Champions. KUSHIDA is a 6-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a 2-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion (with Time Splitters teammate Alex Shelley). KUSHIDA is a 2-time winner of the prestigious Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
 
Also confirmed for Multiverse United: NJPW’s Jeff Cobb battles former IMPACT World Champion Moose. IMPACT stars confirmed for the dual promotion spectacle: reigning X Division Champion Trey Miguel, Ace Austin and Chris Bey, plus most of the Knockouts. NJPW will be represented at Multiverse United by KENTA, Rocky Romero, Minoru Suzuki, Clark Connors, Kevin Knight, Fred Rosser and many others.
 
Tickets for Multiverse United start at $60 and go on-sale THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, starting at 10am EST. Front-row seats and the coveted balcony seats are $350 each – and those prized, limited VIP seats are perk-filled, including an exclusive event t-shirt, commemorative ringside photograph, and more! For tickets, go to highspots.com
 
“We are very excited for this unique collaborative event that brings together two of the best wrestling companies in the world,” said IMPACT Wrestling executive vice-president Scott D’Amore. “Since NJPW returned to AXS TV just over a year ago, we have been looking at ways to expand our working relationship between the two brands. Multiverse United on March 30th at the Globe Theatre in Los Angeles is the first of many exciting collaborations between IMPACT and NJPW.”
 
NJPW representative director Takami Ohbari said, “New Japan Pro-Wrestling and IMPACT have been a winning combination on AXS TV, and now fans get to see these two companies share the same ring in person. I personally cannot wait to see what arises from this special card, and I can guarantee fans will experience a historic event the likes of which they’ve never seen before.”
 
The IMPACT Wrestling/New Japan Pro-Wrestling relationship began in 2005 with Jushin Liger facing Samoa Joe at BOUND FOR GLORY. In 2006, Hiroshi Tanahashi faced AJ Styles at FINAL RESOLUTION and New Japan fielded Team Japan for the 2006 World X-Cup. 
 
IMPACT was involved in New Japan’s Wrestle Kingdom events from 2008 to 2011, with such legendary matches as Kurt Angle vs. Yuji Nagata, Abyss vs. Manabu Nakanishi, and Giant Bernard and Tomko vs. The Steiner Brothers. Other stars who have participated in IMPACT/New Japan matches, including the Motor City Machine Guns, Kevin Nash, Masahiro Chono and Tomohiro Ishii, among others. The 2011 Wrestle Kingdom featured a World Championship title defense by Jeff Hardy against Tetsuya Naito. 
 
In 2021, NJPW tag team FinJuice arrived in IMPACT Wrestling, as well as Jay White, Satoshi Kojima, Minoru Suzuki, the Guerrillas of Destiny, and others.
 
IMPACT star Ace Austin competed in NJPW’s 2022 Best of the Super Juniors. Ace Austin and Chris Bey made the finals of the 2022 NJPW Super Junior Tag League and the Motor City Machine Guns are the reigning NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions.

Kota Ibushi Is A Free Agent After Expiration Of NJPW Contract, NJPW Confirms Departure

New Japan Pro Wrestling has officially announced that Kota Ibushi is no longer with the company.

Ibushi’s contract expired on January 31st, and the decorated wrestler is officially a free agent.

You can read the official announcement below:

“Kota Ibushi leaves New Japan Pro-Wrestling
With the conclusion of his contract period on January 31, 2023, Kota Ibushi has departed New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Ibushi had been recovering from injury since October 2021.

We apologize to Ibushi’s fans for the abrupt announcement and join them in wishing Ibushi the very best in all his future endeavors.”

Fightful reports that several big wrestling companies have “major interest” in Ibushi, from full-time deals to one-off appearances. It is believed that Ibushi will remain a free agent and sources close to the wrestler noted that he was happy with his free agency prior to signing with NJPW, which was apparently a “live and learn” experience.

The report also states an unspecified “significant private matter” that Ibushi was dealing with which strained his relationship with NJPW, who wanted him to work through the situation.

Ibushi will be competing in several GCW events at The Collective over WrestleMania 39 weekend. Ibushi has already been booked in a singles match against Mike Bailey for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 9.

https://twitter.com/GCWrestling_/status/1620612152813064192

Source: eWrestlingNews

NJPW Announces STRONG ON DEMAND, Rebranding For All American NJPW Live Events

New Japan Pro Wrestling has overhauled its STRONG brand in order to consist of all the American shows under one banner.

NJPW announced on Sunday that all NJPW events in the United States will henceforth take place under the STRONG brand, and the weekly taping of NJPW Strong will switch to a “duel model” of STRONG LIVE and STRONG ON DEMAND.

The inaugural show under the new STRONG LIVE branding will be February 18th’s Battle in the Valley in San Jose, California event. The upcoming pay-per-view event will make up four episodes of their weekly TV series that is set to air on their new STRONG ON DEMAND service starting on March 4th.

The four-part model will continue with other United States live events that include March’s Strong Style Evolved at WrestleCon and April’s Capital Collision in Washington, DC, and Collision in Philadelphia shows.

You can check out the full announcement below:

“NJPW of America, STRONG transform in 2023 【NJoA】
STRONG LIVE, STRONG On Demand to see the best in the US
Since its inception during the COVID pandemic in 2020, NJPW STRONG has seen the best rising stars in the US compete with familiar names from the Japanese stage and beyond. Monthly tapings have seen passionate fans witness great action live, with matches from those tapings being distributed every week on NJPW World and FITE.

Additionally, Pay Per View events from the US have seen still more memorable moments, from Jon Moxley and El Desperado’s wild deathmatch at “Music City Mayhem” to Eddie Kingston and Kazuchika Okada teaming for the first time, and STARDOM’s Mayu Iwatani defending SWA gold at “Rumble on 44th Street”.

In the past, these PPV offerings were presented under the NJPW rather than NJPW STRONG branding in order to make them more distinct from the weekly TV style presentations on NJPW World and FITE. As NJPW moves into a new era in 2023 however, so too does action in the US, and the time has come to further fortify the NJPW STRONG brand, as well as to ensure even more people sample the incredible action that NJPW presents in the US.

Moving forward, all events from New Japan Pro-Wrestling in the US will carry the branding of NJPW STRONG. In addition, the weekly ‘TV taping’ format of STRONG will shift to a dual model: STRONG LIVE and STRONG On Demand.

The first STRONG LIVE event will be Battle in the Valley on February 18 from the sold out San Jose Civic. With Mercedes Moné versus KAIRI for the IWGP Women’s Championship, Fred Rosser defending the STRONG Openweight Championship against KENTA, Jay White and Eddie Kingston in a grudge match, and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship also on the line, this immense card is a must watch event for fans live in English on FITE, or in Japanese on NJPW World PPV.

All this action will also be made available in March with NJPW STRONG On Demand. STRONG On Demand will see matches from STRONG Live cards delivered in a four part weekly basis through the month, much as NJPW STRONG has been to date.

NJPW STRONG on Demand March schedule

March 4 Battle in the Valley week 1: 2 matches

March 11 Battle in the Valley week 2: 3 matches

March 18 Battle in the Valley week 3: 2 matches

March 25 Battle in the Valley week 4: 3 matches

This model will continue with our return to WrestleCon this March with Strong Style Evolved, before NJPW Capital Collision in Washington DC and Collision in Philadelphia from the world famous 2300 Arena!

This dual model will give fans on a budget the chance to stay up to date with the hottest action in the US through their regular NJPW World subscription, while the very best live experience on the planet awaits on pay per view as it happens.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling thanks fans for their dedicated support of NJPW STRONG to date- we can’t wait to have you join us for Battle in the Valley and what lies beyond in a thrilling new chapter for all of NJPW.”

Source: eWrestlingNews

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 Schedule On AXS TV Announced

AXS TV announced its broadcast schedule for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17, starting on January 12 through January 26. AXS TV issued the following: 

WRESTLE KINGDOM 17 FEATURES THE RETURN OF KENNY OMEGA WHEN AXS TV’S NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING PREMIERES THURSDAY, JANUARY 12

Other Highlights Include the debut of Mercedes Moné, Jay White vs Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title, FTR vs Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI for the IWGP Tag Team Titles, and ‘The Great Muta’ Keiji Mutoh’s Final Match of his legendary NJPW career, & More

LOS ANGELES (January 11, 2023) – AXS TV, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc., presents New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s premiere of Wrestle Kingdom 17, beginning Thursday, January 12 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

The weekly series delivers one hour of blockbuster content compiling the absolute best moments from the groundbreaking promotion’s most recent broadcasts. Each episode is broadcast in English and features expert play-by-play commentary from NJPW’s own Kevin Kelly, Chris Charlton and Gino Gambino.

AXS TV’s upcoming schedule of Wrestle Kingdom 17 coverage is as follows:

January 12—Wrestle Kingdom 17

-The legendary Kenny Omega makes his highly-anticipated return to NJPW for the first time in four years, as he challenges the “Commonwealth Kingpin” Will Ospreay for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.

January 19—Wrestle Kingdom 17

-Bullet Club mastermind Jay White puts the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on the line against the “Rainmaker,” Kazuchika Okada, in a rematch of their championship bout from Dominion 2022, where White shocked the world by taking Okada’s title.

January 26—Wrestle Kingdom 17

-Witness the moment that took the wrestling world by storm, as Mercedes Moné (formerly known as Sasha Banks) makes her NJPW debut with a stunning statement—putting inaugural IWGP Women’s Champion KAIRI on notice just minutes after her first title defense against Stardom standout Tam Nakano.

-Fan-favorite IWGP Tag Team Champions FTR defend their belts against Bishamon brutes YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto.

-Then, heralded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, “The Great Muta” Keiji Mutoh enters the squared circle one last time for NJPW, as he joins forces with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shota Umino to take on Los Ingobernables de Japon’s own Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and BUSHI.

February 2—Wrestle Kingdom 17

-2022 Super Jr. Tag League winners Lio Rush and YOH cash-in on their opportunity to challenge United Empire duo TJP and Francesco Akira for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship.

-Tama Tonga sets his sights on former Bullet Club brother WWE Superstar Karl Anderson, as Anderson walks through the Forbidden Door to defend his NEVER Openweight title.

-IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori steps into the ring for a fearsome 4Way showdown with Hiromu Takahashi, El Desperado, and Master Wato.

In addition to these programs, NJPW on AXS TV is presenting all-new episodes through February.  

AXS TV produces the English-language version of New Japan Pro-Wrestling as a joint venture with New Japan World and in association with TV ASAHI CORPORATION.

NJPW & Pro Wrestling NOAH Announce Joint Show For This Month – Wrestle Kingdom 17 Part 2

New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and Pro Wrestling NOAH have announced a joint show for January 21. The show is being called Wrestle Kingdom 17 Part Two and will go down from the Yokohama Arena.

This was hinted at when NOAH’s KONGO faction confronted Los Ingobernables de Japon backstage at Wrestle Kingdom 17. No matches have been announced as of this writing.

Source: ewrestlingnews