Tag: Wrestle Kingdom 17

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

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 (Results) 1/4/2023

  • Ryohei Oiwa vs. Boltin Oleg ended in a three-minute draw
  • SHO, Great-O-Khan, Toru Yano, and Shingo Takagi win the New Japan Rambo to advance to the KOPW Championship match at New Year’s Dash
    • Participants in order: SHO, Hikuleo, EVIL, Tomohiro Ishii, Great-O-Khan, DOUKI, Rocky Romero, KENTA, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Aaron Henare, Ryusuke Taguchi, Jeff Cobb, Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls, Yujiro Takahashi, Toru Yano, El Phantasmo, Taichi, Shingo Takagi
  • Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Togi Makabe def. Minoru Suzuki, Tatsumi Fujinami & Tiger Mask
  • IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship: Catch 22 (Francesco Akira & TJP) (c) def. CHAOS (Lio Rush & YOH)
  • IWGP Women’s Championship: KAIRI (c) def. Tam Nakano
    • Mercedes Mone’ (fka Sasha Banks) appeared, attacked KAIRI, and officially challenged her to an IWGP Women’s Championship match at NJPW Battle in the Valley on February 18
  • IWGP Tag Team Championship: Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) def. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) (c)
    • Bishamon are the new IWGP Tag Team Champions
  • NJPW World TV Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. def. Ren Narita
    • Zack Sabre Jr. is the first NJPW World TV Champion
    • Zack Sabre Jr. joined TMDK after the match
  • NEVER Openweight Championship: Tama Tonga def. Karl Anderson (c)
    • Tama Tonga is the new NEVER Openweight Champion
  • Shota Umino, Keiji Muto & Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI & SANADA)
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi def. Master Wato, El Desperado, and Taiji Ishimori (c)
    • Hiromu Takahashi is the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • IWGP United States Championship: Kenny Omega def. Will Ospreay (c)
    • Kenny Omega is the new IWGP United States Champion
  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada def. Jay White (c)
    • Kazuchika Okada is the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
    • Shingo Takagi challenged Okada to a IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 (Card) 1/4/2023

  • Date: January 4, 2023
  • Location: Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan
  • The event will stream on NJPW World at 3 am ET / 12 am PT for the main card

CARD

EXHIBITION MATCH:
Ryohei Oiwa vs. Boltin Oleg

NEW JAPAN RANBO:
Participants TBA

ANTONIO INOKI MEMORIAL SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH:
Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima and Togi Makabe vs. Tatsumi Fujinami, Minoru Suzuki and Tiger Mask

IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Catch 2/2 (T.J. Perkins and Francesco Akira) (c) vs. LiYoh (Lio Rush and Yoh)

IWGP WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Kairi (c) vs. Tam Nakano

IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
FTR (c) vs. Bishamon (Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi)

NJPW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ren Narita

NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Karl Anderson (c) vs. Tama Tonga

SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH:
Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shota Umino vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Sanada and Bushi)
* This is Muto’s last NJPW match *

IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR-WAY MATCH:
Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. El Desperado vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Master Wato

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

IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Jay White (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada

Trinity Fatu (Naomi) Is In Japan

In anticipation of Wednesday’s NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 event from the Tokyo Dome, Naomi, real name Trinity Fatu, has confirmed through her Instagram Stories that she is in Tokyo, Japan.

As Mercedes Varnado, formerly known as Sasha Banks, is believed to be appearing at the Wrestle Kingdom 17 event, Naomi was expected to be in Japan, as reported by PWinsider.com.

It’s still unknown whether Naomi will appear at the event or is merely there to support her friend. After Banks negotiated her WWE release, Naomi’s WWE status is uncertain.

Source: ewrestlingnews

Tama Tonga Invites AJ Styles To NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17, Vows To Dethrone Karl Anderson

Karl Anderson will defend the NEVER Openweight Championship against Tama Tonga in two weeks at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17. This will be the first time that a WWE-contracted talent wrestles on the show.

Tonga took to Twitter to invite Styles to the Tokyo Dome show so that The OC Leader can watch The Good Bad Guy “smash” the WWE Superstar at the venue. He wrote,

“AJ can come too. He can watch me smash his boy. ( still got love for you #PhenomenalOne ) #Wrestlekingdom17 – January 4, 2023 #AndNew #NeverOpenWeightChampion.”

Earlier this year, Anderson defeated Tonga to win the NEVER Openweight Title at NJPW Dominion. It will be interesting to see if Anderson can retain the title in his second outing with Tonga come January 4th.

Source: ewrestlingnews

NJPW Planning Surprises For Wrestle Kingdom 17 Next Month

NJPW will hold its Wrestle Kingdom 17 event on January 4. It is New Japan Pro Wrestling’s biggest event of the year. 

While appearing on The Sessions podcast, Rocky Romero promised that there would be surprises at the show. 

As previously reported, Mercedes Varnado, better known to WWE fans as Sasha Banks, will make an appearance during Wrestle Kingdom 17.

“I’ve heard a lot of rumors, but I can’t confirm nor deny at this moment. Fingers crossed, you never know what could happen. There will definitely be surprises at the Tokyo Dome.”

Sources: ewrestlingnews and Fightful

Mercedes Varnado (Sasha Banks) Will Reportedly Be At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17

Mercedes Varnado (also known as Sasha Banks in WWE) is expected to be at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17, according to a report from Pwinsider.

It’s unclear whether she will just be in attendance for the show or appearing on the broadcast, but she’s being brought in. This comes after she expressed interest in wrestling former WWE Superstar KAIRI in STARDOM, a sister company to NJPW.

Due to creative differences, Banks walked out of WWE at a Monday Night RAW TV taping back in May. She and Naomi were later indefinitely suspended. Both women have made several public appearances since the walkout.

This past August, it was reported that Banks and Naomi had reached an agreement to return to WWE. However, their return has yet to happen as there have been hang-ups in negotiations for a new deal with Banks due to money.

Source: EWrestlingNews