SEScoops

Category: NJPW

  • Katsuyori Shibata To Make In-Ring Return At Wrestle Kingdom 16

    Katsuyori Shibata To Make In-Ring Return At Wrestle Kingdom 16

    Katsuyori Shibata is set to end his in-ring hiatus.

    Shibata suffered a life-threatening injury back in April 2017. He took on Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis. The match was a classic but Shibata injured himself after connecting with a headbutt.

    Okada won the match and Shibata ended up collapsing backstage. He was rushed to the hospital and needed to undergo emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma. It’s believed that an accumulation of headbutts, which Shibata had used as a signature, was the culprit.

    Katsuyori Shibata Returns At Wrestle Kingdom 16

    Katsuyori Shibata has been trying to make an in-ring comeback and he will get his wish on Jan. 4, 2022. On the final day of the World Tag League and Best of the Super Juniors, Shibata announced that he will wrestle on night one of Wrestle Kingdom 16.

    It looked as if Shibata would never wrestle again but he has tested the waters since his head injury. Back in summer 2019, Shibata attacked KENTA for turning on his LA Dojo young lions.

    He even took bumps from the Bullet Club members but nothing was aimed at his head.

    Shibata then shocked the wrestling world on the final day of the G1 Climax 31 tournament. He had a surprise UWF rules exhibition grappling match with Zack Sabre Jr. The match went to a five-minute draw.

    https://twitter.com/njpwworld/status/1451322412058959876

    At this time, there is no word on who Shibata’s opponent will be at Wrestle Kingdom 16.

  • Shane Taylor Wants Big Time Title Matches Outside of ROH

    Shane Taylor Wants Big Time Title Matches Outside of ROH

    ROH star Shane Taylor spoke to the Battleground podcast ahead of his Final Battle match against Kenny King.

    The Ring of Honor star discussed several topics during the interview, including how he plans on facing major Champions outside of the company going forward.

    “I make no bones about it that I see myself as a world champion of any company” Taylor began. “As it stands currently, Hangman Page, Moose, Hammerstone, Shingo Takagi, somebody, somewhere is going to lose their spot. 

    “I’m telling you right now. The next few weeks, enjoy the time that you have with your championship, enjoy your time at the top of the ladder, enjoy your time on the throne because in a few weeks, I’m coming to take it all from you” Taylor continued. 

    “I forgot one. Will Ospreay. I can’t disrespect my guy like that because like he’s been saying, he’s the real IWGP World Champion, so I would be disrespecting him if I didn’t mention his name as well” the ROH star concluded.

    Shane Taylor on World Champions

    Here’s the full card for the PPV event tonight:

    • Jonathan Gresham vs Jay Lethal
    • ROH Tag Team Championships Match: The OGK vs The Briscoes
    • Ring of Honor Pure Championship Match: Josh Woods vs Brian Johnson
    • ROH TV Championship Match: Dalton Castle vs Rhett Titus vs Silas Young vs Joe Hendry
    • Ring of Honor Six-Man Tag Team Championships Match: Shane Taylor Promotions vs The Righteous
    • ROH Women’s Championship Match: Rok-C vs Willow
    • Fight Without Honor: Shane Taylor vs Kenny King
    • Homicide, Brody King & Tony Deppen vs Taylor Rust, Tracy Williams & Eli Isom
    • Dragon Lee vs Rey Horus
    • Chelsea Green and The Hex vs Miranda Alize and The Allure
  • Jonah Discusses WWE Release and Conversation with John Laurinaitis

    Jonah Discusses WWE Release and Conversation with John Laurinaitis

    New Japan Pro Wrestling talent Jonah shared his thoughts on WWE releasing him and why it surprised him.

    Fightful’s Denise Salcedo spoke with Jonah about WWE cutting him from the roster in an interview yesterday. When asked about the morale in WWE, Jonah shared that the people are on edge and walking on eggshells. He admitted that he thought WWE would never release him. WWE had Johan wrestle on dark matches, and he thought the company wanted him on the main roster. However, The company released Jonah on August 6th.

    ” I mean, it’s definitely not good for morale. I’ve spoken to people that are still there, and it just puts people on edge. People walking around on eggshells and stuff like that,” said Jonah.

    Jonah explained, “For example, when the first few rounds of cuts happened, which it’s never good when someone gets released. I was one of those people that were never worried about it. I was like, I’m set. I never thought I was going to be released, and from speaking to some of the higher-ups in WWE, they always said like you’re going to have a job for a long time. Not to worry, and then when I then when I was released, there’s people that are close with me in NXT and WWE that now are worried for themselves.”

    Jonah Conversation with John Laurinaitis after his Release

    Jonah shared that he still doesn’t know precisely why WWE cut him in the interview. He tried to ask Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis why WWE released him. However, Laurinaitis didn’t give him a clear answer and told Jonah that the door was always open for a return.

    “…I spoke to John Laurinaitis, and ‘hey said we are releasing you. You have so many days non-compete’. I said, okay, cool, what is the reasoning for you releasing me,” said Jonah.

    He continued, “…he gave me again a bit more blanket statement that didn’t help me at all. It was it’s a no for now, but the door is always open. I was like okay. I rather you tell me it was something to do with character or we didn’t like your size or we didn’t like how you moved in the ring. Whatever it is, because then I know I can work on it and change it.”

    What’s Next For Jonah

    While Jonah is no longer in WWE, he found a new home in NJPW. He is under a non-exclusive contract, allowing him to wrestle for Impact Wrestling. He made his Impact Wrestling debut at Turning Point on November 20th. Jonah will also wrestle for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla next year. Now working for other wrestling promotions, Jonah plans to show WWE their mistake.

  • Katsuyori Shibata Says He’s Completely Healed, Set For Major Announcement

    Katsuyori Shibata Says He’s Completely Healed, Set For Major Announcement

    Katsuyori Shibata insists that his head has fully healed and he’s got the wrestling world buzzing with speculation.

    The last time Shibata had a full-fledged wrestling match was back in April 2017. He had a classic with Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. In the match, Shibata connected with a gnarly headbutt that nearly turned fatal.

    Shibata collapsed backstage and was rushed to the hospital. He underwent emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma. It had been believed that Shibata’s wrestling career would be over.

    Shibata’s UWF Rules Match

    On the final day of the G1 Climax 31 tournament, Katsuyori Shibata made a surprise appearance. He took on Zack Sabre Jr. in a five-minute UWF rules grappling match. The match went the distance and no winner was determined.

    https://twitter.com/njpwworld/status/1451322412058959876

    Katsuyori Shibata Claims He’s Completely Healed

    During an interview posted on the official NJPW website, Shibata said that he is now 100 percent healthy.

    “I think it was an easy thing to overlook, but in the match you can see me doing a headstand as well. That was all part of the confidence I’d built; it’s been this long since I had surgery, and my skull is completely healed up and hardened now.”

    When it comes to a potential full-fledged comeback, Shibata said that he knows what he’s capable of and how his body is feeling.

    “I do [have a plan], in as much as I think if I don’t have something to work toward, I would be spinning my wheels. Obviously I understand the people that feel I shouldn’t push myself, but at the same time, nobody knows where my body is at better than me. I don’t want to cause the company, or any of the other wrestlers any trouble, or put anybody in a bad position. I know what I’m capable of, and I know best where I can take things.”

    NJPW has announced that Shibata will be attending the final day of the Best of the Super Juniors and World Tag League on Dec. 15. There, he will be making a major announcement.

  • NJPW President Comments on Will Ospreay’s Status for Wrestle Kingdom

    NJPW President Comments on Will Ospreay’s Status for Wrestle Kingdom

    New Japan Pro Wrestling President Takami Obari has addressed Will Ospreay’s status for Wrestle Kingdom 16, which takes place from January 4-6, 2022.

    Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced yesterday that the country is banning foreigners from enterting the country indefinitely. Japan also joins other countries that are trying to combat the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron.

    Japan’s new travel restriction casts doubt on wrestlers like Will Ospreay participating in Wrestle Kingdom 16.

    In an interview with Tokyo Sports, Obari addressed the situation. He shared that Ospreay should be able to visit Japan because he has a work visa. However, the situation in Japan can change.

    “Under the current rules, foreign wrestlers who are regularly participating in the war are not expected to enter the country. I’ve heard that (regular foreign wrestlers) have visas to work in Japan, so they will be treated as re-entry. This has been confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” said Obari.

    Ospreay tweeted the following, reassuring fans that he’ll be there on January 5th.

    NJPW Heavyweight Championship Title Picture

    Ospreay will return to Japan for NJPW since his match with Shingo Takagi at Wrestling Dontaku on May 4. It was also the last match that he defended the NJPW Heavyweight Championship before vacating the title due to a neck injury. After Ospreay relinquished the title, Takagi defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the vacant NJPW Heavyweight Champion at Dominion on June 7. To get back into the title picture, Okada won the G1 Climax.

    It’s unclear if NJPW planned to have all three wrestlers involved, but the Ospreay injury helped build an eight-month storyline.

    Wrestle Kingdom Three Night Event

    Wrestle Kingdom 16 will be a three-night event. It is also the first three-night Wrestle Kingdom in NJPW history. The main event of Night One on January 4 will be Takagi vs. Okada for the NJPW Heavyweight Championship. The winner of Night One will also defend the championship against Ospreay in the main event of Night Two on January 5. It is unclear if the winner will defend the NJPW Heavyweight Champion on Night Three on January 6.

    For now, it seems Ospreay will get his opportunity to reclaim the NJPW Heavyweight Championship on January 5. It is unclear if he is in Japan currently. However, with the new variant of COVID-19, NJPW may also need to have a backup plan just in case.

  • Japanese Wrestling Legend Making Boxing Debut in December

    Japanese Wrestling Legend Making Boxing Debut in December

    Japanese pro wrestling legend Naomichi Marufuji will be making his boxing debut in December 2021.

    PWInsider Elite has reported that the Pro Wrestling NOAH great will be taking to the ring in an exhibition bout just before the holidays.

    “Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Naomichi Marufuji is set to make his boxing debut at Kameda Promotion’s 3150 Fight Vol. 1 event on December 16 in Osaka” PWInsider reported.

    “Marufuji will face comedian Takayuki Kinoshita in an exhibition bout with two two-minute rounds.”

    It is not confirmed at this time if Marufuji will be competing in further boxing events, although at this point it does appear to be a one-off.

    It is also not confirmed if fans outside of Japan will be able to see the boxing exhibition. We expect that FITE will be getting the PPV rights, should they be available for the Thursday December 16 event from Osaka.

    Check out the announcement tweet from Pro Wrestling NOAH below:

  • Rocky Romero Discusses WWE Contacting NJPW to Work Together

    Rocky Romero Discusses WWE Contacting NJPW to Work Together

    New Japan Pro Wrestling talent Rocky Romero shared his thoughts on WWE contacting NJPW about a partnership earlier this year.

    Romero appeared on the Battleground Podcast, where he discussed WWE interaction with NJPW. He revealed that WWE did try to work with NJPW with Bryan Danielson’s involvement. However, All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan got involved by signing Danielson and has a working relationship with NJPW. Romero also shared that WWE does talk to NJPW once in a while.

    “…I can say that definitely, they(WWE) reached out. Definitely, WWE reached out, as they do every x amount of years, said Romero. He continued, “Obviously, like Danielson being in the middle of that was no secret, and it was no secret to Tony either or AEW.” Romero also added that he doesn’t believe a deal would’ve happened.

    WWE Discussions with NJPW

    Wrestling Observer Newsletter Dave Meltzer reported in May that WWE had negotiated with NJPW. He shared that Danielson was a part of the early talks between WWE and NJPW, but NXT was also involved in the negotiations.

    “The deal talked about would have been more likely be NXT focused and would have things beneficial for both sides, and it’s not like WWE is going to buy New Japan or bring in Kazuchika Okada to job for Randy Orton or all the crazy speculation from the past week,” wrote Dave Meltzer.

    WWE wanted to keep Danielson in the company with the talks with NJPW helping to re-sign him. However, he left WWE for All Elite Wrestling on September 5th.

    Rocky Romero on AEW Partnership with NJPW

    Romero believes that AEW is a good partnership for NJPW. Several NJPW talent like himself has appeared on NJPW this year. Romero thinks AEW has a better understanding of NJPW than WWE and that wrestlers leaving NJPW helped build AEW.

    “…New Japan wrestlers kind of leaving New Japan helped to start AEW, said Romero. He continued, So there has always been that cross-over connection, so it just seems to make sense in the grand scheme of things to now both companies working together.”

    AEW fans are anticipating more big-name NJPW talent to appear at an AEW event. However, Romero thinks you won’t see the likes of Kazuchika Okada appearing in AEW soon, as he thinks both companies are making long-term bookings with cross-promotion plans. Khan also had teased that more talent from NJPW may appear on AEW in the future.

    While other people have spoken out about WWE negotiations with NJPW, WWE hasn’t released a statement. It’s unclear if WWE is still trying to reach out to NJPW.

  • NJPW vs. NOAH Announced For Night 3 Of Wrestle Kingdom 16

    NJPW vs. NOAH Announced For Night 3 Of Wrestle Kingdom 16

    The “Forbidden Door” has been busted wide open and Japan is no exception.

    In fact, NJPW and Pro Wrestling NOAH had been in cahoots long before talk of the “Forbidden Door” began. At one point, the entire Suzuki-gun faction was sent to cause chaos in NOAH, while Naomichi Marufuji had two stellar matches with Kazuchika Okada.

    Reports surfaced that things turned sour between the two promotions and the partnership was off. Luckily, NJPW and NOAH have patched things up and are back doing business together.

    NJPW & NOAH Reunite

    • (via NJPW)

    Both NJPW and NOAH recently held an “emergency” press conference. During the presser, it was announced that night three of Wrestle Kingdom 16 on Jan. 8 will see cross-promotion matches between the two companies.

    The PPV will be airing live on ABEMA. It’ll be available on NJPW World seven days later.

    Some fans initially expressed concern and disappointment over a third night for Wrestle Kingdom due to the omission of New Year Dash!!. With this cross-promotion announcement, many are now singing a different tune.

    As of this writing, no matches have been announced for the special NJPW-NOAH event. Once more details are available, we’ll be sure to keep you posted.

  • Chris Dickinson Speaks On Injury Suffered At NJPW Battle In The Valley

    Chris Dickinson Speaks On Injury Suffered At NJPW Battle In The Valley

    Chris Dickinson has given an update following an injury.

    Dickinson was in action this past Saturday night (Nov. 13) at NJPW Battle In The Valley. He teamed with Brody King to take on Stray Dog Army. The match didn’t end as planned.

    Dickinson landed wrong on a frog splash and needed medical attention right away. He was then stretchered out of the venue.

    Chris Dickinson Out About 5-6 Months

    Chris Dickinson issued a lengthy statement on his Twitter account. In the post, he revealed that he has dislocated his leg out the rear of his hip socket. He’ll be out around five to six months.

    “So I’m going to give everyone an update on my situation. First off I want to apologize to the fans of NJPW and the company for not being able to compete at the Riverside event and future scheduled STRONG events today.

    “That being said I dislocated my leg out of the rear of my hip socket and in the process experienced an acetabulum posterior wall fracture. I will say the process of dealing with the pain of this type of dislocation is unlike anything I have ever experienced in my lifetime.

    “It’s a clean break of one piece about the size of your thumb that needs to be reattached otherwise the femur can easily slip out of place. Hip injuries are generally way worse and I’m in good hands with highly experienced trauma surgeons that deal with way more extensive injuries brought on by car accidents, motorcycle accidents, etc.

    “I may be getting surgery today depending on a few other way worse automobile-related accidents that came in but absolutely tomorrow if not.

    “My timeline I’ve been given for recovery is within the range of six months. My surgeon just said because of my background and athletic nature if I do everything right I can probably do it in five months. I give my word I will do my absolute best to return to the ring as fast as humanly possible.

    “Thank you NJPW. I am blessed to have the best company behind me as well as the best brothers that stuck by my side all night on Saturday. I am alone here 3000 miles from home but to get have that in such a situation is the definition of respect and love.

    “I love you guys so much.”

    A GoFundMe has been set up to cover Dickinson’s medical expenses. As of this writing, $9,611 of the $20,000 goal has been met.

  • Buddy Matthews Discusses Magnitude Of Facing Kazuchika Okada

    Buddy Matthews has quite the task going into his NJPW debut.

    Matthews will be sharing the ring with Kazuchika Okada, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest wrestlers today. The match will be taking place at NJPW Battle In The Valley this Saturday (Nov. 13).

    Buddy Matthews Wants Classic With Okada

    During an interview with Forbes, Buddy Matthews said that he’s more than happy with being thrown to the wolves in his first NJPW match.

    “I feel like I’m a better performer when there’s less buildup to it, less pressure and whatnot.

    “I’m just going to go out there, do what I do best and tear it up. I don’t think there’s any bigger match that you could have in a debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling. I wanted to swim with the whales and they gave me the biggest whale they could find.”

    Matthews competed as Buddy Murphy under the WWE banner. He was released from the company back in June.

    Matthews has been praised for his in-ring style. Many fans clamored for him to sign with NJPW since he has the style to match. Those fans will get their wish for at least one night.

    NJPW Battle In The Valley will feature a NEVER Openweight Title match between champion Jay White and Tomohiro Ishii. Plus, Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion Moose will collide with Juice Robinson.

    The self-proclaimed “real” IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay will also be in action. He’ll take on Ren Narita.

  • Juice Robinson Speaks On NJPW Contract Status

    Juice Robinson Speaks On NJPW Contract Status

    Juice Robinson has addressed the report that his New Japan Pro Wrestling contract is expiring soon.

    Fightful was the first to bring word that Juice’s contract will be up in early 2022. There are certainly options for Juice, who has been seen on Impact Wrestling as part of a business relationship with NJPW. It definitely seems that Juice is at least willing to test the market.

    Juice Robinson Talks Future

    During an interview with Sports Illustrated, Juice Robinson confirmed the report and spoke on what the future might hold.

    “I’ll be a free agent [in] February. It’s a great time in wrestling to show up anywhere, and maybe it’s the right time for me to spread my wings and fly.”

    Few can deny that Juice has reached his greatest career success under the NJPW banner. He requested his release from WWE, where he performed as CJ Parker on the NXT brand back in 2015. Juice quickly shot up the ranks in NJPW and became a two-time IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion.

    Juice has also had tag team success. He’s a former IWGP Tag Team Champion and a former Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champion along with David Finlay.

    On Nov. 13, Juice will be taking on Impact World Heavyweight Champion Moose. The match will be featured on the NJPW Battle In The Valley card.

    SEScoops will keep you posted on the latest information regarding Juice Robinson’s future with NJPW. Keep it locked on our homepage in the coming months as things unfold.

  • Jay White Denies Rumors About Being Approached By AEW

    Jay White claims the rumor of him being in contact with AEW isn’t true.

    White has emerged as a major star for NJPW. In a short period of time, White went from Young Lion to IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion. Jay eventually captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and became an IWGP Intercontinental Champion.

    Jay White Slams AEW Rumor

    Earlier this year, there were rumors about AEW being interested in signing White. Tony Schiavone poured cold water on the rumor, noting that Jay still had contractual obligations with NJPW. During an interview with Fightful Select, Jay White took a final dagger to the rumor.

    “I was never or have never been approached in regards to AEW. Especially when they were starting up. I don’t know where that rumor came from. It’s just like everything else to do with wrestling in regards to wrestling, people just like to push sh*t out there as if it’s true and everyone just eats it up. No, I was never approached in regards to AEW. I don’t know where that came from.

    “It just hurts my brain. The only part of that where there was any truth is the very first part of it, talking about the start of this year and about a certain company. Anything after that, none of that is true. It’s completely false. People, I’m sure, they’re probably going to respond and say, ‘Oh, he’s just saying that because he’s not into telling the truth.’ But I’m doing you a favor and telling you the truth here—them approaching me and some contract I was on, both things 100% false.”

    White is the current NEVER Openweight Champion. He has taken advantage of cross-promotion as he’s appeared on Impact Wrestling. He’s scheduled to put his title on the line against Tomohiro Ishii at NJPW Battle in the Valley on Nov. 13.

    It’s possible that Jay can eventually show up in AEW even if he’s still under contract with NJPW. Since those rumors first surfaced, AEW and NJPW have become chummy when it comes to doing business with one another.

    H/T Heel By Nature for the quotes

  • Juice Robinson’s NJPW Contract Set To Expire Soon

    Juice Robinson’s NJPW Contract Set To Expire Soon

    Juice Robinson may find himself with a slew of options soon.

    Robinson has garnered the most success of his wrestling career under the NJPW banner. He had been on WWE’s NXT brand as CJ Parker. Robinson ended up having his release request granted by WWE and he made the move to NJPW.

    Juice Robinson’s NJPW Contract Status

    Fightful Select is reporting that the current NJPW deal for Juice Robinson will expire at the end of Jan. 2022. At this time, it’s unclear if NJPW has begun the renegotiation process. It’s been said that many promotions would be interested in Juice if he ends up being available.

    As of late, Juice has been seen with his tag team partner Finlay on Impact Wrestling. This is part of a partnership between NJPW and Impact. Under the NJPW banner, Robinson has been a two-time IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion and is a former IWGP Tag Team Champion with Finlay.

    Juice has even won gold during his time with Impact. He and Finlay are the former Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions. The two held onto the championship gold for 65 days.

    Back in October, Juice and current WWE star, Toni Storm announced their engagement.

  • Kota Ibushi Shares Theory On How His Shoulder Dislocated

    Kota Ibushi Shares Theory On How His Shoulder Dislocated

    Kota Ibushi believes he knows why he suffered a dislocated shoulder against Kazuchika Okada.

    Ibushi and Okada did battle in the finals of the G1 Climax 31 tournament. Things went south when Kota Ibushi missed a Phoenix Splash and landed hard on his arm. The match was stopped immediately and Ibushi was diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder. He’s expected to be out of action for about two months.

    During an interview with Tokyo Sports, Ibushi shared his take on why he ended up suffering the injury (rough translation via Google).

    “There is a cause for it, weight control. This time, I’ve lost or gained weight by then. I was able to practice Phoenix, but there were too many waves. If that is 100 grams different, it’s completely different (feeling). Because it’s such an advanced technique. That was 3 kilometers different on the day of the KENTA match (18th). I was intentionally increasing it for the championship-deciding match, but I think I was tired … I wonder if my weight was definitely (influenced).”

    Ibushi has had a string of bad luck as of late. This year for the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion has been riddled with injuries and illness. Ibushi was hospitalized earlier this year due to Aspiration Pneumonia.

    Ibushi was out of action from July until September. He was able to return just in time for the G1 Climax. In the tournament, Ibushi had a highly praised match with current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi. Ibushi went over 25 minutes with Okada before the injury occurred.

  • NJPW Announces “NJPW Xtra” YouTube Show

    NJPW Announces “NJPW Xtra” YouTube Show

    New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced a new weekly show on its English-language YouTube channel beginning Monday, November 1st. The show will feature an exclusive match each week not available anywhere else. Additionally, the show will feature news and highlights from NJPW action from both Japan and NJPW of America shows.

    “Bringing together all the big news from NJPW rings around the world, Xtra will deliver highlights from action in Japan and on NJPW STRONG. Plus, fans can expect to see an exclusive match every week not available anywhere else!” A New Japan press release reads.

    The exclusive match for the debut episode will be Jordan Clearwater, Kevin Knight, and The DKC vs Bateman, Misterioso, and Barrett Brown. The match was taped at the New Japan Resurgence show in August.

    The November 8th exclusive match will feature Will Ospreay taking on Alex Zayne. That match was filmed at the promotion’s recent New Japan Strong tapings in Philadelphia.

    NJPW Battle in the Valley – November 13th Lineup

    Upcoming for NJPW’s American brand is Battle in the Valley in San Jose on November 13th. The following matches have been confirmed for the show.

    1. NEVER Openweight Championship
      Jay White (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii
    2. Will Ospreay vs. Ren Narita
    3. Jeff Cobb & TJP vs. Karl Fredericks & Clark Connors
    4. Fred Rosser, David Finlay, Rocky Romero, Alex Coughlin & Alex Zayne vs. Tom Lawlor, JR Kratos, Danny Limelight, Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson
    5. Brody King & Chris Dickinson vs. Bateman & Misterioso
  • Katsuyori Shibata Hopes To Make ‘Full-Fledged Comeback’ In NJPW

    Katsuyori Shibata Hopes To Make ‘Full-Fledged Comeback’ In NJPW

    Katsuyori Shibata is seemingly testing the waters of a comeback.

    Shibata broke the hearts of Japanese wrestling fans after he suffered a subdural hematoma in his classic IWGP Heavyweight Championship match with Kazuchika Okada back in April 2017. A series of headbutts, specifically a gnarly one near the end of the match, was to blame.

    While Shibata hasn’t had a full-on wrestling match since the showdown with Okada, he has gotten physical. During the G1 Climax 29 finals event back in 2019, Katsuyori Shibata attacked KENTA after KENTA turned heel and joined Bullet Club. At the G1 Climax 31 event, Shibata and Zack Sabre Jr. had a surprise five-minute grappling match that ended in a draw.

    https://twitter.com/njpwworld/status/1451322412058959876

    After the match, Shibata said the next time he’s in the ring it’ll be in his wrestling gear.

    Shibata told Tokyo Sports that more and more, he’s itching to make a comeback (h/t Reddit user Weezy-NJPW_Fan).

    “It was a great space. It’s a special place. This is the only way for me. My desire to make a full-fledged comeback seems to have grown stronger. I’m living my life one step at a time, and year by year, the ring is getting closer and closer. Anyway, if I don’t have a goal, I really don’t know who I am, so I always keep it there. As Okada said when I was injured, pro wrestlers are superhuman.

    “Three steps forward, two steps back. Sometimes I take three steps forward and four or five steps back. But I don’t want to give up. This is all I can do. I’m not going to give up. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be doing this job.”

    Shibata has played a key role in NJPW’s LA Dojo system. He has been tasked with ensuring that foreign talent is able to grasp Strong Style before breaking free from being a Young Lion.

  • NJPW Star Minoru Suzuki Wraps Up United States Tour

    NJPW Star Minoru Suzuki Wraps Up United States Tour

    Minoru Suzuki is going back home.

    Suzuki didn’t participate in this year’s G1 Climax tournament. This allowed the “King of Pancrase” to travel to the United States. Suzuki made his mark for various promotions including AEW, Impact Wrestling, and GCW.

    The man even delivered a Gotch-style Piledriver to Nick Gage through a door.

    Playtime is over in the “Land of the Free,” however as Minoru Suzuki is returning to “The Land of the Rising Sun.” Suzuki expressed gratitude on his Instagram account (rough translation via Google).

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVfdTnmvtgR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

    “Thank you America.

    “The entire two-month long tour ‘Minoru Suzuki’s Alone National Circuit Tour’ (long laughter) has been completed, and I’m leaving the hotel for the airport. Two months spent with American professional wrestling fans. I carved a lot of experience and wounds on my body. No … I’m getting stronger again. .. .. You can live anywhere in the world with professional wrestling!

    “See you next time… I’m the KING.”

    Suzuki certainly made the most of his time in America. He mixed it up with the likes of Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, Jonathan Gresham, Nick Gage, and Josh Alexander. Time will tell what’s next for Suzuki in NJPW but judging by his social media post, we may have not seen the last of him in the United States.

  • Update on Kota Ibushi’s Shoulder Injury, How Long He’ll Be Out

    Update on Kota Ibushi’s Shoulder Injury, How Long He’ll Be Out

    Last week, the G1 Climax Final match between Kota Ibushi and Kazuchika Okada was stopped early after Ibushi suffered an injury. After missing a Phoenix Splash attempt, Ibushi was attended to by ringside physicians and the match was stopped and Okada was declared the winner.

    NJPW1972.com released an update on Ibushi’s condition today.

    “The evaluation revealed a right anterior dislocation of the shoulder, and joint lip damage. Recovery is expected to take two months,” reads NJPW’s update.  

    If all goes well in his recovery, Ibushi will be able to return in time for 3-night Wrestle Kingdom on January 4, January 5, and January 8, 2022.

    NJPW Power Struggle Lineup

    The next big event for NJPW in Japan will be Power Struggle in Osaka on November 6th. Below are the announced matches for the card.

    • Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI
    • Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Tiger Mask vs. Tanga Loa, Gedo & Jado
    • Yuji Nagata, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
    • NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championships
      Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (c) vs. EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi
    • KOPW Trophy
      Toru Yano (c) vs. Great-O-Khan
    • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
      Robbie Eagles (c) vs. El Desperado
    • IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship
      Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. KENTA
    • Title Shot at Tokyo Dome
      Kazuchika Okada (G1 Winner) vs. Tama Tonga
    • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
      Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Kazuchika Okada Brings Back Retired IWGP Heavyweight Championship

    Kazuchika Okada Brings Back Retired IWGP Heavyweight Championship

    Kazuchika Okada has kept his word and brought back the retired IWGP Heavyweight Championship as a symbol of his promise to Kota Ibushi.

    NJPW Road to Power Struggle tour kicked off last night. The G1 Climax winner entered the arena with the belt instead of the usual contract as he had suggested earlier:

    The finals of the G1 climax saw Okada going up against Kota Ibushi. However, Ibushi couldn’t complete the match because of a dislocated shoulder, and Okada was declared the winner.

    Before the rainmaker picked up his trophy, he checked on his opponent. He promised Ibushi that they will have a rematch when he is ready to step back into the ring again.

    On the G1 climax press conference, Kazuchika Okada asked chairman Naoki Sugabayashi if he can bring back the retired belt. He said that he wanted to hold it instead of the contract that’s usually awarded to the G1 winner.

    IWGP Heavyweight Championship
    IWGP Heavyweight Championship

    The fourth championship belt was unified with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship back in March. Kota Ibushi was the final wrestler to hold both the belts.

    The G1 climax winner gets to face the IWGP world heavyweight champion at the following Wrestle Kingdom event. Though Okada will be defending his title shot against Tama Tonga at Power Struggle on November 6.

    Tetsuya Naito Out Of G1 Climax 31 Due To Injury

  • Kazuchika Okada Added To NJPW Battle in the Valley

    G1 Climax 31 winner Kazuchika Okada is making his way back to the United States.

    Okada is on his way to the Wrestle Kingdom 16 main event if he can maintain his hold on the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship shot. He’s set to meet Tama Tonga at Power Struggle on Nov. 6. Tonga is the only participant to have beaten Okada in this year’s G1 Climax.

    One week after Power Struggle, Kazuchika Okada will be making his way to San Jose, California. NJPW has announced that the former five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion will be competing on the Battle in the Valley card on Nov. 13.

    https://twitter.com/njpwglobal/status/1451941491316719619

    This will be Okada’s first match in the U.S. since Nov. 2019. He teamed with Will Ospreay to take on Kota Ibushi and Amazing Red. Okada and Ospreay emerged victorious.

    Battle in the Valley will feature the likes of Will Ospreay, Jay White, Tomohiro Ishii, Juice Robinson, David Finlay, and more. As of this writing, no matches have been announced for the show. With the show approaching soon, you can expect the full card to be released soon.

    Stick with SEScoops for the latest details on the NJPW Battle in the Valley card. We’ll also be bringing you results once the event has wrapped up.

  • Bronson Reed Has Interest From NJPW & Impact (Report)

    Bronson Reed Has Interest From NJPW & Impact (Report)

    Former WWE NXT Star Bronson Reed is still on the free agent market, but he is gaining some interest from two promotions – New Japan Pro Wrestling and Impact Wrestling. 

    NJPW has reportedly made a big play for Reed (via Fightful), who is going by his previous moniker of Jonah Rock. Impact is also interested in signing him, but those in the promotion were said to not be confident that he would be making his debut this weekend. 

    Impact holds its Bound for Glory pay-per-view event on Saturday night and then TV tapings on Sunday and Monday. 

    Reed was let go by WWE earlier this year after his reign ended as North American Champion. He had a 30-day non-compete clause due to him being under an NXT contract so he’s been free and clear to sign with anyone since early last month. 

    Before Reed had been released due to budget cuts, the company had him work several dark matches at a time where they were trying out various NXT stars such as Karrion Kross, Shotzi Blackheart, and Teagan Nox before calling them up to the main roster. 

    Last week it was revealed that former WWE star Buddy Murphy would be joining the promotion to work on their United States brand.

  • Okada Wants To Bring Back Retired Belt, Ibushi Update After G1 Injury

    Okada Wants To Bring Back Retired Belt, Ibushi Update After G1 Injury

    New Japan Pro Wrestling held a press conference this week to address the conclusion of the G1 Climax tournament finals.

    Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi first addressed the media. He revealed that they will be lifting some of the restrictions imposed due to Covid. NJPW shows will feature more matches moving forward.

    Providing an update on Ibushi after his unfortunate injury, he confirmed it was a dislocated shoulder that caused the abrupt end to the match.

    “Kota Ibushi incurred a dislocated right shoulder during the match, and was treated by the ring doctor and training personnel,” said Sugabayashi.

    “Further updates to Ibushi’s condition and a timetable for return will be announced after Ibushi has received more thorough appraisal.”

    IWGP Heavyweight Championship

    Kazuchika Okada then spoke to the media. He was asked to elaborate on his comments regarding the fourth championship belt.

    Okada said that he wants something ‘concrete’ to represent his promise of a rematch to Ibushi Instead of the usual contract awarded to the G1 Climax winner, Okada says he wants to carry the retired IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

    IWGP Heavyweight Championship

    He clarified that he doesn’t want people to call him a heavyweight champion, but wants to hold the belt Ibushi retired until he is healthy to return.

    Okada hopes to fire up NJPW as the G1 champion until he gets to face Ibushi again. Sugabayashi said that he will need some time for consideration.

    Shawn Michaels: Kazuchika Okada Would Adjust “Fantastically” To WWE
  • Kazuchika Okada Declared G1 Climax Winner After Kota Ibushi Suffers Injury

    Kazuchika Okada Declared G1 Climax Winner After Kota Ibushi Suffers Injury

    Kazuchika Okada has been declared the winner of the 31st G1 Climax tournament after his opponent Kota Ibushi suffered an injury during the finals and was unable to complete the match.

    Ibushi suffered the injury due to a botched phoenix splash. He landed hard on the mat and was seen clutching his arm. The referee decided to stop the bout and the NJPW star was immediately attended by the medical team.

    Kota Ibushi wanted to continue the match but the medical staff didn’t allow it. Okada was then declared the winner. Ibushi made his way back as Kazuchika Okada was being presented the trophy.

    Before Ibushi was taken to the back, Okada told him that they would do this again. He addressed the crowd after receiving the trophy. The former IWGP champion said that this wasn’t the ending he wanted and he is willing to face his opponent again.

    In the backstage presentation after this match, Tama Tonga challenged Kazuchika Okada for the briefcase. He mentioned how he was the only one to defeat Okada during the tournament.

    No official details are available on Ibushi’s condition but the announcer Kevin Kelly believed that he has suffered a dislocated shoulder. Officials appeared to have popped his shoulder back into place.

    This is the third G1 Climax victory for Okada and the first since 2014. He will now challenge the IWGP world heavyweight champion at Wrestle Kingdom 16, that is if he can keep hold of the briefcase until the event.

    Tetsuya Naito Out Of G1 Climax 31 Due To Injury
  • Bryan Danielson Confirms WWE-NJPW Negotiations

    Bryan Danielson Confirms WWE-NJPW Negotiations

    Bryan Danielson has confirmed that WWE had talks with New Japan Pro Wrestling earlier this year.

    Back in May, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter broke the news that WWE and NJPW were negotiating for a working relationship. It later came out that Bryan Danielson’s desire to wrestle for NJPW while under WWE contract was the genesis for the unexpected outreach.

    During a recent appearance on the Kliq podcast, Danielson explained what he knows about how it all unfolded.

    “I don’t know how far along the talks went and I don’t know even if I was the start of them, for sure, but one of the things when I was talking to them when WWE was trying to re-sign me was, I said, ‘I want to be able to work in Japan.’”

    Bryan continued, “They were trying to come up with an agreement to where I would be able to go and do that. It was definitely something that was talked about. I don’t know where it went or anything, all I know is now it seems like AEW has a really great relationship with New Japan. So, I feel like it couldn’t have gone that well.”

    WWE x NJPW

    The initial report in May stated that Nick Khan was in talks with New Japan. WWE was looking for an exclusive talent-sharing deal.

    “In what could end up being among the biggest wrestling stories of the year, or a non-story, depending on the end result, Nick Khan has been in talks with New Japan Pro Wrestling about WWE being the exclusive American partner with the promotion,” Dave Meltzer wrote.

    More information about that report is available in the link below:

    WWE & NJPW Negotiating For Major Partnership (Report)

    H/T to Fightful for the transcribed quotes

  • Spoilers: NJPW Strong Showdown Night 1 & 2 Results

    Spoilers: NJPW Strong Showdown Night 1 & 2 Results

    The NJPW Strong Showdown tapings were held from the 2300 arena in Philadelphia over the weekend. The tapings featured stars such as Will Ospreay, Jon Moxley, Minoru Suzuki and more.

    SEScoops correspondent Samira was on hand for both nights and sent in these detailed results.

    Showdown saw several big announcements, including the confirmation of the NJPW debut of former WWE star Buddy Matthews for an upcoming show in November.

    The main event match of the first night of tapings saw Suzuki going up against Chris Dickinson. He defeated Dickinson using his signature gotch-style piledriver.

    The second night featured a Philly street fight between the teams of Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer and Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston for the main event.

    This extreme match was won by the team of Suzuki and Archer with the opponents shaking hands at the end. Here are the quick results from both nights of NJPW Strong Showdown tapings

    NJPW Strong Showdown Night 1 Results:

    • Hikuleo defeated Kevin Knight
    • Bateman, Misterioso, and Barrett Brown, defeated Brody King, Karl Fredericks, and The DKC: Bateman pinned DKC to win the match for his team.
    • JR Kratos, Royce Isaacs, and Jorel Nelson defeated David Finlay, Alex Coughlin, and Yuya Uemura: Isaacs won the match for his team when he pinned Uemura with some help from Nelson. Kratos and Coughlin got into a fight after this match. Crowd chanted “F**k you Kratos” and in response, Kratos flipped everyone off.
    • Juice Robinson defeated El Phantasmo: After the match, Juice called out Impact Wrestling star Moose.
    • Alex Zayne defeated Ariya Daivari: The two showed respect to each other by shaking hands at the end.
    • Fred Rosser & Rocky Romero defeated Tom Lawlor & Danny Limelight: Rosser pinned Lawlor for the win. In response, Lawlor attacked him after the match. Danny then gave scissors to Lawler. Lawlor ended up cutting Rossers’ hair while the crowd chanted “you sick f**k”
    • Ren Narita & Clark Connors defeated Will Ospreay & TJP: Ospreay tried to attack Narita after the bout but Narita countered. He then got on the mic and expressed the desire to face Will Ospreay.
    • Jay White defeated Fred Yehi: post-match, Jay White issued an open invitation for anyone from any company to come and fight him for the Never Openweight title.
    • Minoru Suzuki defeated Chris Dickinson: After the match, Suzuki says tomorrow night: “Jon Moxley. Eddie Kingston. F**k you.”

    NJPW Strong Showdown Night 2 Results:

    • Yuya Uemura & Kevin Knight defeated Juice Robinson & David Finlay
    • El Phantasmo & Chris Bey defeated Lio Rush & Ariya Daivari: Bey pinned Daviari for the win
    • Jonathan Gresham defeated Alex Coughlin: The two shaked hands after the match
    • Fred Rosser, Karl Fredericks, Rocky Romero, Ren Narita & The DKC vs. Tom Lawlor, JR Kratos, Royce Isaacs, Jorel Nelson & Danny Limelight: The match ended in DQ after everyone started attacking each other. Rosser showed up with a shaved head after last night. At one point, Tom got onto the mic and said that he was tired of Romero and Rosser who he called with his WWE name Darren. He said that Darren will be the next loser to the title.
    • Brody King, Daniel Garcia and Chris Dickinson defeated Bateman, Misterioso Jr and Barrett Brown: King picked up the victory for his team.
    • TJP defeated Clark Connors: Connors was holding the rope but the referee didn’t see it
    • Jay White & Hikuleo defeated Fred Yehi & Wheeler Yuta: White won the match by pinning Yuta. He grabbed the mic after the match but dropped it and then left without saying anything.
    • Will Ospreay defeated Alex Zayne
    • Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer defeated Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston: The brawl went all over the place including the parking lot. The opponents shook hands after the bout.