SEScoops

Category: NJPW

  • Rocky Romero to Take on Josh Alexander on NJPW Strong

    Rocky Romero to Take on Josh Alexander on NJPW Strong

    The current IMPACT Wrestling X Division Champion Josh Alexander is coming back to NJPW Strong. Alexander will make his second appearance for the US wing of the NJPW brand this week, taking on NJPW legend Rocky Romero.

    During his first outing for the promotion, Josh Alexander defeated the LA dojo graduate Alex Coughlin.

    This match is a big one not just for the show, but for both wrestlers involved. For Josh Alexander, he will not want to take a loss as champion, even if this is not for the belt. While Rocky Romero is looking to get back on track with his quest to work back into the NJPW Junior heavyweight championship picture.

    Both men are veterans of the game, and masters of submission. The bout promises to be a technical showcase between two men at the top of their game.

    Rocky Romero Leading the NJPW Strong Charge

    NJPW Strong is a new subdivision of NJPW and based solely in the US. The promotion is only just a year old, but with stars like Rocky Romero leading the way, they have made great strides through the pandemic era.

    The promotion has attracted some great stars to their ranks, and thanks to their working arrangements with other promotions, such as ROH and IMPACT they have been able to offer fans a range of attractive matches.

    Rocky Romero versus Josh Alexander is just one example of this. With NJPW returning to the US for a few shows later this year, the future is looking bright for Rocky Romero and the rest of the NJPW Strong brand.  

  • NJPW Announces Fans To Attend Strong Tapings In Long Beach

    NJPW Announces Fans To Attend Strong Tapings In Long Beach

    NJPW has announced that for the first time ever, episodes of New Japan Strong will be filmed in front of live fans on August 16th. The show will take place from Thunder Studio in Long Beach.

    NJPW has revealed that “extremely limited tickets” will start on June 30th. They are also advertising that 9 matches will take place on the show. General admission seats are $60 with ringside seats going for as much as $120.

    NJPW listed the following names as being on the show:

    • NEVER Openweight Champion: ‘Switchblade’ Jay White
    • STRONG Openweight Champion ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor
    • ‘Flamboyant’ Juice Robinson
    • ‘The Man of the Hour’ Lio Rush
    • Shota Umino
    • Ren Narita
    • ‘Mr. No Days Off’ Fred Rosser
    • ‘The Alpha Wolf’ Karl Fredericks
    • ‘Wild Rhino’ Clark Connors
    • ‘Young Gun’ Hikuleo

    “Premiering in August 2020 on NJPW World and FITE, NJPW STRONG began without a live crowd, but has quickly become critically acclaimed and a favorite of fans around the world,” an NJPW press release reads.

    The show will be part of NJPW’s “Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2021” series of episodes of Strong. The New Japan Strong tapings will take place 2 days after the Resurgence event from The Torch at the LA Coliseum.

  • Karl Fredericks Gets First NJPW Title Opportunity

    Karl Fredericks Gets First NJPW Title Opportunity

    The Young Lion academy is a tough place to come through. Whether in Japan or the LA Dojo. If you want to be part of NJPW, being a Young Lion is the way to go. Karl Fredericks joined the LA Dojo in 2018. Despite having several years’ experience behind him, he went back to basics at the Young Lions academy.

    Following in the footsteps of many NJPW greats, including Shinsuke Nakamura, Tatsuya Naito and Kazuchika Okada, Karl Fredericks graduated from the dojo in June 2020. Since then he has been able to develop his character and build his own story in wrestling. Paying homage to his Native American heritage in both his attire and move names, Fredericks has become a solid name on the NJPW roster. Appearing at both US and Japan-based events.

    This coming Friday on NJPW Strong, Karl Fredericks will get his first chance at a title in NJPW when he takes on Tom Lawler. Lawler is the inaugural Strong Openweight champion, having won the belt earlier this year, beating Brody King in the tournament finals.

    Karl Fredericks Helping NJPW Strong Grow as a Brand

    NJPW Strong is a new brand under the NJPW banner. It is based solely in the US and after coming through the pandemic era of professional wrestling, is growing week by week. Yes, there are some established names on its roster, but it is young lions and graduates such as Karl Fredericks and Clark Connors who are the future of the brand.

    The Young Lions system is an interesting one and has been very successful for NJPW through the decades. There are questions as to whether a system such as that would be useful for companies like AEW. It could be argued that the original thoughts behind NXT were Young Lion-esque however, a fully-fledged dojo system could help promotions build talent for the future, as well as support smaller associated promotions through excursion agreements.

    The future is bright for Karl Fredericks, and while the chances of Lawler dropping the Strong belt so soon in his run are slim, there is definitely gold in Fredericks’s future.

  • Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows Return To NJPW Announced

    Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows Return To NJPW Announced

    Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows have been announced for multiple upcoming shows with New Japan Pro Wrestling. This week on New Japan Strong, the promotion revealed Anderson and Gallows will take part in a single-elimination tag-team tournament.

    The “Tag Team Turbulence” tournament will air on episodes of New Japan Strong thought the second half of July. All 4 first-round matches will take place on the July 16th episode.

    NJPW Tag-Team Turbulence First Round Matches (July 16th):

    • The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) vs. Clark Connors & TJP
    • Yuji Nagata & Ren Narita vs. Fred Yehi & Wheeler Yuta
    • Kevin Knight & The DKC vs. Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs
    • Brody King & Chris Dickinson vs. JR Kratos & Danny Limelight

    In addition to taking part in shows on New Japan Strong, Anderson and Gallows have also been announced for the NJPW Resurgence Show. The event will take place on August 14th from The Torch at the LA Coliseum. Other announced competitors for that show include Jon Moxley, Jay White, Tom Lawlor, Juice Robinson, David Finlay and more.

    Anderson and Gallows are 3x IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions in NJPW. Anderson is a founding member of Bullet Club in 2013. They also won the World Tag League Tournament in 2013.

  • NJPW Resurgence Set for August 14 at the L.A Coliseum

    NJPW Resurgence Set for August 14 at the L.A Coliseum

    NJPW has just announced they are holding their first event on US soil since before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. NJPW Resurgence is scheduled for Saturday, August 14th at the L.A. Coliseum. Fans will also be in attendance for the event. The actual venue is in The Torch, a concert center opening this summer. Initial promotions for the event say a total of 5000 tickets will be available, however, this could be increased to 10,000 if necessary.

    Masks will be mandatory for those in attendance unless eating or drinking. Tickets go on sale on June 30th, with prices ranging from $39 to $299.

    The full NJPW Resurgence match card has not been announced yet, however, Jon Moxley is advertised for the show. No doubt, he will be putting his US title on the line. Interestingly, Shota Umino is returning to NJPW for the first time since leaving on excursion in September 2019.

    NJPW Resurgence Names a Strong List of Stars for the Event

    The NJPW Resurgence show will feature prominent names from NJPW but also a number of talents who perform on the US-based NJPW Strong brand. The advertised list as it currently stands is:

    • Jon Moxley
    • Jay White
    • Tom Lawlor
    • Doc Gallows
    • Karl Anderson
    • Juice Robinson
    • David Finlay
    • Shota Umino
    • Ren Narita
    • Karl Fredericks
    • Clark Connors
    • Alex Coughlin
    • Hikuleo
    • Fred Rosser
    • Lio Rush
    • Brody King
    • Chris Dickinson
    • TJP
    • JR Kratos

    The return of NJPW to American soil is another big step forward for wrestling, as it looks to get back on track. The sport survived the pandemic well, but there is always something special about having a live crowd. Whether watching at home or in the audience, crowds are what make events special.

    An aptly named show indeed, NJPW Resurgence is not only a return for crowds but a return to international touring, which is a very exciting prospect for fans around the world.

  • NJPW Strong: Ignition Results and Highlights (06/18/21)

    NJPW Strong: Ignition Results and Highlights (06/18/21)

    New Japan Pro Wrestling aired their NJPW Strong: Ignition event on NJPWWorld this past Friday. The show featured a number of bouts, including a New Japan debut for the IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Champion and an appearance from a Japanese wrestling legend.

    Here’s the full results from the show as well as highlights. You can find the full programme on NJPWWorld.com:

    • Josh Alexander b. Alex Coughlin – Alexander would take the win after hitting the Divine Intervention
    • BATEMAN and Barrett Brown b. Fred Rosser & Adrian Quest – BATEMAN and Brown took the win after BATEMAN used the This Is A Kill on Quest
    • Satoshi Kojima b. JR Kratos – The New Japan and overall Japanese legend Kojima took the win after hitting the Lariat on Kratos

    Next week’s episode of the show will see ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor defend his NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship against Karl Fredericks.

    Check out some highlights from the show below:

    https://twitter.com/njpwglobal/status/1406080802362822659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1406080802362822659%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightful.com%2Fwrestling%2Fresults%2Fnjpw-strong-ignition-results-618-satoshi-kojima-and-josh-alexander-action
  • Impact Wrestling Champion To Make NJPW Debut This Friday

    Impact Wrestling Champion To Make NJPW Debut This Friday

    Current Impact X Division champion Josh Alexander will be making his debut for NJPW as part of the partnership between the two companies this week.

    The champion will be making his debut for the Japanese promotion in a singles match against Alex Coughlin. The two will face off on this Friday’s ignition episode of NJPW Strong. This will be the beginning of Coughlin’s open challenge series.

    The partnership among AEW, Impact and NJPW has been growing in the past few months. Stars from all three companies have been making more and more cross-promotional appearances in recent times.

    The Walking Weapon of Impact has been one of the stars who previously competed against talents from other companies. Alexander defended his title against NJPW’s El Phantasmo during the May 15 episode of Impact.

    NJPW announced a special ignition event for their weekly NJPW Strong show. The two-night special will begin this week and conclude on June 25.

    Apart from the match between Josh Alexander and Alex Coughlin, the episode will also feature bouts such as Satoshi Kojima vs. NWA World Tag Team Champion JR Kratos, and Fred Rosser & Adrian Quest vs. Bateman & Barrett Brown.

  • Fred Rosser Officially Signs With NJPW

    Fred Rosser Officially Signs With NJPW

    Fred Rosser (FKA Darren Young in WWE) has officially signed with New Japan Pro Wrestling. He took to Twitter today to announce the news.

    “I’m excited to officially announce I’ve signed W/ NJPW! All I can say moving forward is, don’t ever let your dreams just be dreams because as long as you’re patient & believe in your dreams, anything is possible. Patience is a talent,” Rosser Tweeted.

    Rosser has been wrestling on episodes of New Japan Strong since September. He just finished a trilogy of matches with HIKULEO. Rosser defeated him in their first singles match in February. HIKULEO then defeated him in the 1st round of the tournament to determine the first New Japan Strong Openweight Champion. They then had a trilogy no disqualification bout last month which Rosser won.

    In addition to wrestling with NJPW, Rosser has been with the NWA as well lately. He was defeated by JTG on the When Our Shadows Fall PPV last week.

    Rosser had a 12-year career in WWE as Darren Young from 2005 to 2017. He was part of the NEXUS angle in 2010-11. Young and Titus O’Neil then wrestled as the Prime Time Players from 2012-14 and then again from 2015-16. They are 1x WWE Tag Team Champions having held the belts for 70 days in 2015.

  • Update On Lio Rush’s Contract With NJPW

    Update On Lio Rush’s Contract With NJPW

    Lio Rush recently announced his retirement from professional wrestling. He had been wrestling with NJPW and MLW before making his AEW debut in the Casino Battle Royale at Double or Nothing. According to an update from Wrestling Observer Radio, NJPW had given Rush permission to sign with AEW as well.

    “New Japan gave AEW the okay to sign him, I mean New Japan would have priority on the dates but originally the nature of the New Japan contract was that he could work for AEW, he could work for MLW, he could do indies but New Japan would have the first priority and New Japan would also have the right to turn things down,” said Dave Meltzer.

    Meltzer would continue to say that NJPW granting Rush the okay to sign with AEW is indicative of the current relationship between the two companies.

    “In fact, they gave him permission to sign an American contract with AEW. Which also I think is very important politically because the fact that New Japan would give someone who they have under contract the okay to sign with AEW tells me that New Japan at this point today believes that they are going to be in business with AEW and not WWE.”

    Rush did say in his retirement announcement that he would be finishing up his New Japan commitments when he returns from his shoulder injury.

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  • Shingo Takagi Makes First Comments As IWGP World Champion

    Shingo Takagi Makes First Comments As IWGP World Champion

    Shingo Takagi defeated Kazuchika Okada at Dominion yesterday to win the vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. The new champion spoke to the media following his victory. NJPW1972.com has translated Takagi’s first comments as world champion.

    “I am the third IWGP World heavyweight Champion, Shingo Takagi, and I am pretty damn tired,” Takagi said. “I went through the wringer last night, finally shut my eyes around 4AM, and then woke up at 7, got on the Shinkansen (bullet train), and wasn’t able to nod off there either. But y’know, waking up this morning and having the belt there in my room let me know that it wasn’t all a dream and what happened was real.”

    Takagi was defeated by the former champion, Will Ospreay, before he vacated the title. Ospreay was supposed to face Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Grand Slam but the event was cancelled. Then Ospreay was forced to vacate the title due to neck injury.

    “I mean, in Fukuoka with Ospreay, losing that match could have put me to the back of the line,” Takagi continued. “I figured I wouldn’t get back to this point for quite a while. But then, I don’t know whether you’d call it luck or what, but Ospreay gets hurt and goes back to the UK, and then I’m in this title match.”

    Shingo Takagi vs Kota Ibushi

    Following his victory, Takagi called out former champion Kota Ibushi. Takagi also spent some time talking about Ibushi following his title victory.

    “I have my reasons for coming to New Japan in the first place, but getting to throw down with Ibushi, that was definitely one aspect. Having a proper place for us to square off. We didn’t start out as New Japan guys, but a few years ago it hit me that the guy I want to fight the most is in NJPW, and if I want that to happen then I have to be in NJPW too. Then October 2018 I arrived, and two years, what, eight months later… I wouldn’t call that a rapid ascent. I’m 39 this year, I can’t afford to take things slow.”

    Takagi would continue to say that Ibushi has not yet given him a response to his challenge. It seems rather certain Ibushi will become Takagi’s first title challenger, however.

    “Anyway, I am now the third IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but apart from that, nothing’s changed about me. Just like normal, I’m gonna fight like Shingo Takagi fights, bring the fire and tear it up! That’s all I’ve got to say.”

     

  • Fred Yehi To Make NJPW Strong Debut

    Fred Yehi To Make NJPW Strong Debut

    Since its inception in August 2020, NJPW Strong has been a place to see some great wrestling names. This coming week on Strong, Fred Yehi will make his debut. Yehi is a name known to many wrestling fans and is currently the number one contender for the ROH Pure Championship.

    Yehi will perform in a tag team match alongside Wheeler Yuta. Their opponents are Misterioso and Jordan Clearwater.

    Fred Yehi has wrestled for many promotions, including ROH and MLW. Interestingly enough, during this time in MLW, Yehi was a member of Team Filthy.

    Tom Lawler, the leader of Team Filthy is the first and inaugural NJPW Strong Openweight Champion. The stable is the primary one based on the NJPW Strong brand. If Fred Yehi impresses in this match he could secure a regular place on the Strong roster. It is then not inconceivable to assume he will join the team.

    Team Filthy is currently down one member, after Tom Lawlor, orchestrated a beat down of form member Chris Dickinson.

    Fred Yehi is a talented wrestler, and while he might not be the powerhouse that Dickinson was, he could certainly fill the spot in Team Filthy and help them continue their brand dominance.

    As NJPW Strong approaches its one year anniversary, the show is moving from strength to strength. Growing in confidence each week. The use of freelance talent and willingness to not tie fighters down to just their promotion gives them a lot of room to grow. This is a benefit to the brand, and to fighters like Fred Yehi, who are looking to build their career in the business.

  • Shingo Takagi Wins IWGP World Heavyweight Title At NJPW Dominion

    Shingo Takagi Wins IWGP World Heavyweight Title At NJPW Dominion

    Shingo Takagi is the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. He defeated Kazuchika Okada today in a shocking upset at NJPW Dominion to win the vacant title.

    Following the victory, the new champion called out former champion Kota Ibushi as his first challenger. Ibushi had defeated Jeff Cobb in the night’s co-main event.

    The title had recently been vacated by former champion Will Ospreay due to a neck injury. In the wake of Ospreay’s injury, the match between Takagi and Okada was booked for today’s Dominion show.

    Technically, NJPW has separated the lineage of the current belt with the former IWGP Heavyweight title. This became official in March when Ibushi defended both titles successfully on NJPW’s 49th Anniversary show in March.

    The 38-year-old Takagi is also a former 2x NEVER Openweight Champion, 1x Jr. Heavyweight Tag Champion (w/Bushi), and 1x 6-Man tag champion (w/Bushi & EVIL). He won the “Rookie of the Year” award in 2005 as voted on by readers of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Takagi vs Will Ospreay in the 2019 Best of the Super Juniors finals was voted Match of the Year by the same publication.

    Finish of Kazuchika Okada vs Shingo Takagi

    The finish of the match came not long after the 30-minute mark had been passed. Okada was in control at this point but Takagi countered a Rainmaker attempt into one of his own. After the two exchanged strikes for a period, Takagi hit a Death Valley Driver but then Okada hit a series of short-arm Rainmakers before missing a bigger version. Takagi then hit a Pumping Bomber Lariat for a near fall. He then hit a dragon suplex followed by a sliding elbow before landing Last of the Dragon for the win.

    Reactions to Shingo’s Win

    Here are some reactions to Shingo Takagi capturing the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW Dominion:

    https://twitter.com/CiaranRH/status/1401869090277498890
    https://twitter.com/CiaranRH/status/1401870927839830017
  • Backstage News On Chris Jericho’s Contractual Status With NJPW

    Backstage News On Chris Jericho’s Contractual Status With NJPW

    The partnership between AEW and NJPW is growing at a good pace. It has made a lot of people wonder if we can expect to see Chris Jericho making a return to the Japanese promotion anytime soon.

    The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter weighs in on the possibility and provides some backstage news on the AEW star’s current status with the company.

    The newsletter reveals that the former WWE star is no longer under an NJPW contract. Jericho’s deal with the company actually expired in 2020. His fight with Hiroshi Tanahashi was the last match of his contract.

    Former NJPW president Harold Meij had a negative opinion of their deal because of its high cost. Although others in the company had a different opinion.

    Chris Jericho also seems to be interested in making a return. The former IWGP US champion has expressed interest in facing opponents such as Jay White, Minoru Suzuki, and Kota Ibushi in the past.

    Though even if the company is interested in bringing Y2J back to the promotion, they are going to have to get their finances back on track after the pandemic to the point where this level of deal makes sense.

    Would you like to see Chris Jericho making a return to NJPW anytime in near future? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

  • Yuji Nagata Comments On His AEW Experience

    Yuji Nagata Comments On His AEW Experience

    Yuji Nagata was recently interviewed by NJPW1972.com about his experience in AEW. Nagata challenged Jon Moxley for the IWGP United States title on AEW Dynamite but according to him, he had thought his entire trip to the US was to film shows for New Japan Strong.

    “I honestly had thought the whole time we were going to do it on NJPW STRONG. However much I thought about how NJPW and AEW relate, I didn’t think we would do it on Dynamite at all,” Nagata said during the interview.

    Nagata was also asked about having returned to TNT in the United States. Nagata regularly appeared on WCW Nitro as part of his excursion to the United States in the 1990s.

    “It was a nice piece to that story. In a real way that was part of a warm welcome from them, to have that touch of having that match live on TNT,” Nagata said.

    “I’ve always believed in showing that Yuji Nagata has a lot more fire than the average wrestler. That’s the same for every match, but this time in particular, I was back on TNT for the first time in 23 years.”

    “It was being broadcast across the US, and there was a big reaction before the match even started, with social media I definitely got that impression. It was just a shame with COVID, the crowd was pretty limited.”

    Yuji Nagata On Wrestling in the United States

    Nagata continued to talk about how he was wrestling for the cameras and TV audience while in AEW.

    “When you wrestle over there though, it isn’t as much about wrestling to the people in the building as it is wrestling to the cameras and the TV audience. That’s what had me fired up.”

    Nagata continued to talk about meeting Moxley in June of 2019 when he ran into the former AEW World Champion at a World Tag League show.

    “I thought I would just say hello to be polite, but we ended up chatting for a while. He said he had been watching my matches for a long time, that he had wanted to meet me for a while.”

    “I’m a different generation to him, but apparently he saw recent matches of mine and got drawn in,” Nagata continued to say of Moxley.

    Nagata also mentioned that he got to meet up with his old WCW manager, Sonny Onoo at the AEW show. He also was visited by Shinsuke Nakamura.

    “Sonny isn’t in the best of shape with his heart, but he made it all the way from Iowa to Jacksonville. Shinsuke Nakamura came by my hotel as well.”

  • NJPW Cancel June 4th Road to Dominion Event

    NJPW Cancel June 4th Road to Dominion Event

    The wrestling world is trying hard to get back on track in the wake of COVID-19. However, changes to the state of emergency in Tokyo, Japan have resulted in NJPW cancelling the upcoming Road to Dominion event. The event, one of three events in the build-up to Dominion was scheduled for June 4th at the Ota City General Gymnasium.

    NJPW has confirmed that the two other Road to Dominion events for June 1st and 2nd will still take place at the Koruken Hall venue.

    Dominion is a stable fixture in the NJPW calendar. Despite being rescheduled from June 6th to June 7th, the event is still taking place, as promised.

    This is not the first time NJPW have had to cancel shows since resuming live shows after the pandemic. This time, it is not because of a COVID outbreak among its stars, but rather to stick within the government protocols that have been brought in.

    The road to Dominion has not been smooth for NJPW. With their World Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay having to vacate the belts after suffering a serious neck and spine injury. The main event at the June 7th show will feature Shingo Takagi going up against Kazuchika Okada. The winner getting to claim the vacant gold.

    Last-minute cancellations are now part of modern wrestling. With the way NJPW run their shows like Road to Dominion, it’s often impossible to reschedule them. At least NJPW is offering a full refund to anybody who bought the ticket

  • Chris Jericho Talks His ‘Unfinished Business’ in NJPW

    Chris Jericho Talks His ‘Unfinished Business’ in NJPW

    AEW star and former IWGP Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho recently spoke to Mike Beauvais of TSN ahead of the AEW Double or Nothing 2021 PPV event. Jericho will be joining The Inner Circle to take on MJF’s stable The Pinnacle in the second ever Stadium Stampede match.

    During the interview, Jericho would address his status in New Japan Pro Wrestling, saying there is still a lot for him to do in the promotion. “There’s a lot of unfinished business for me in New Japan,” Jericho noted. “Jay White is one [potential opponent], [Minoru] Suzuki is another one that would draw big money. Kota Ibushi and [Will] Ospreay — those four guys I’d love to work with.”

    Chris Jericho on NJPW Return

    “I’d love to do a ‘Golden Jets’ team — Kenny and Jericho — versus [Kazuchika] Okada and Ibushi or [Hiroshi] Tanahashi and Okada or Tanahashi and Ibushi” Jericho added. “I think that’s a Tokyo Dome main event right there.”

    “So there’s a lot of stuff I’d still like to do in New Japan and as soon as we can start going over there again, I’m more than agreeable to doing more work there” Chris Jericho would reveal. “I really enjoyed the six matches that I had there in 2018 and 2019 and think there’s plenty of room for more.”

    Would you like to see Chris Jericho back in New Japan? Who would you like to see ‘Le Champion’ face? Let us know in the comments

  • IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match And More Announced For Dominion

    IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match And More Announced For Dominion

    NJPW has announced a small change in date and a number of big matches for their upcoming Dominion event, including the bout to determine the new IWGP heavyweight champion.

    The company made the announcements via a tweet and revealed that the upcoming PPV event will have to be delayed by a day due to the extension of the state of emergency which is in place in Osaka.

    The tweet confirmed that Dominion will now be taking place on Monday, June 7 instead of the originally announced date of Sunday, June 6.

    A more interesting news is the announcement that Kazuchika Okada will be taking on Shingo Takagi in a singles match for the currently vacant IWGP heavyweight championship:

    For those who don’t know, the previous champion WIll Ospreay had to vacate the championship due to a neck injury. He went back to UK for his rehabilitation and he recently revealed that he might be suffering from a back injury as well.

    Apart from this, the company has also announced a match between Yoh and El Desperado for the IWGP junior heavyweight championship and a bout between Kota Ibushi and Jeff Cobb. NJPW Dominion this year will be taking place from the Osaka Jo Hall on Monday June 7.

  • Kenny Omega Discusses Will Ospreay Vacating IWGP Heavyweight Title

    Kenny Omega Discusses Will Ospreay Vacating IWGP Heavyweight Title

    Kenny Omega was the top North American talent to work in NJPW, but when he left the promotion for AEW, NJPW had to find someone to fill that role and they decided on Will Ospreay. 

    Ospreay rose up the ranks and eventually became the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. However, after winning it earlier this year, Ospreay had to vacate it due to an injury. 

    Omega did an interview with Sports Illustrated and spoke about Ospreay no longer being the champion. He started out by noting that he pulled aside Ospreay and Jay White when he left to tell them it’s in their hands to represent “at least the western expansion and the pride of the foreigners” because he knew NJPW would look to them to carry it. 

    The reason he told them was that he knew it was a likely scenario and also hoping to light a fire under both of them. He continued by noting that Ospreay really came into his own and made a complete career shift, and he was going to be a fantastic champion. Omega thinks Ospreay became the person that he needed to be the champion of the company.

    “Unfortunately, becoming champion wasn’t enough for him. He tried to fill my shoes. Physically, even though he is one of the most gifted performers to ever step foot in the ring, there is only one Kenny Omega—and you can’t fill those shoes. 

    Thus, now his belt is vacant, so perhaps it was always meant to be my belt and my belt alone. That’s not me making a firm statement as to whether I’ll make a venture out there, just that there is no one there that can fill my shoes or override my legacy. When Ospreay comes back, he’ll have to re-analyze who he is and who he’s meant to be, because he’s not meant to be me.”

    Omega will defend the AEW World Heavyweight Championship against PAC and Orange Cassidy this Sunday at Double Or Nothing.

  • WWE & NJPW Negotiating For Major Partnership (Report)

    WWE & NJPW Negotiating For Major Partnership (Report)

    WWE and New Japan Pro Wrestling have had talks regarding a potential partnership that would change the entire landscape of the professional wrestling industry.

    According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE President Nick Khan has been negotiating with NJPW in a deal that would see WWE become NJPW’s exclusive partner in the United States.

    “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.

    There have been several indications that something major in pro-wrestling has been brewing. WWE is said to possibly be loosening its stance on not working with other companies. Nick Khan appears to be the driving force behind this. NJPW has been sending talent to Impact Wrestling and AEW over the last few months.

    “There are no indications where talks are at past they date back to late March or early April. But it would include WWE sending talent and WWE top stars being allowed to work in New Japan if talks go anywhere,” Meltzer continued.

    Where Daniel Bryan Fits In

    Daniel Bryan recently made several comments regarding wanting to work with other wrestling companies and WWE at the same time. His recent free agency and teases it could be leading to something major may factor into this. Bryan’s free agency was discussed earlier this month on Wrestling Observer Radio.

    “I will just say that if anyone tells you that they know, they are lying to you,” Meltzer said about Bryan’s situation. 

    “There’s some crazy things going on in wrestling, some really crazy things going on in wrestling but they haven’t happened yet. I’m sure one of them will be when he shows up somewhere, which could be WWE, could be somewhere else. That’s about it for now,” Meltzer continued.

    WWE & NJPW Talent

    Bryan also said in recent interviews that he feels WWE wrestlers would do well in NJPW. He used Cesaro and Otis as examples.

    “If all of a sudden you saw Cesaro in New Japan for example like people would be like, ‘oh my god, this guy is the greatest!’”

    “I think you put Otis in New Japan and people would be like ‘Holy cow! This guy is amazing!’ Like Vader from the 90s type of vibe. People think of him as the worm guy but it’s just a different presentation.”

    Bryan also hinted that he would like to see a talent-exchange between NJPW and WWE.

    “I’ve brought it up to a lot of people and now is more than ever is a time when people are open to new ideas,” Bryan said during the interview. “I think I have made some headway whether any of it actually happens, who knows?”

    “I also think it would just be good for WWE and just wrestling in general. For people that are in the developmental system right now, for them to be able to go and learn in other places. I wouldn’t be the performer I am today if I hadn’t wrestled in Japan and not just like Japan where it’s like sports stuff but also like Butlins in the UK where it’s all comedy.” 

  • Will Ospreay Provides Update On His Neck Injury

    Will Ospreay Provides Update On His Neck Injury

    Will Ospreay has had a rough month. It started with an injury that ended up forcing him to relinquish the IWGP heavyweight title. Now it appears that the damage may be more serious than first thought.

    NJPW had not revealed a lot of details about his condition when they announced that the title is being vacated. They only confirmed that the former champion is dealing with a neck injury.

    The high-flying star has now provided an update on his condition himself. Ospreay made a tweet earlier today revealing that the doctors fear that his back may have similar issues as to his neck:

    Though the good news for fans is that the former ROH star seems determined to make a wrestling return before the end of the current year. So it appears that his issues are not career-threatening.

    Will Ospreay had reached the peak of his NJPW journey recently when he formed a new United Empire stable. He then went on to defeat Kota Ibushi at Sakura Genesis to become the new IWGP heavyweight champion.

    Since an exact timeframe for his return is not known at the time, it’s hard to say if the young star will continue his NJPW run when he returns to the ring. We will keep you posted on his status.

  • Kazuchika Okada Admits to Testing Positive for COVID

    Kazuchika Okada Admits to Testing Positive for COVID

    New Japan Pro Wrestling has been hit by several outbreaks of COVID within its ranks since it returned to action.

    Until now they have not named any specific wrestlers who tested positive. However, acting on his own accord, NJPW legend Kazuchika Okada admitted to testing positive.

    Okada was pulled from the Wrestling Dontaku card, with initial reports being it was due to close proximity to other positive wrestlers. However, according to sources at Tokyo Sport Kazuchika Okada initially tested negative but returned a positive result after developing a fever.

    NJPW pulled Kazuchika Okada, along with several other wrestlers, from cards as of May 4th. While most are making their return on the current series, Okada is still absent.

    Ending the rumours, Okada openly spoke about his positive results, and vowed to return bigger and better than ever.

    “I’ve revived a lot and my taste has revived. I’d like to come back to you in a healthy way and play a hot game, so everyone. Please look forward to it, ” Kazuchika Okada told Tokyo Sport.

    When talking about his time at home, Okada said his wife moved away for two weeks, leaving him to fend for himself. Admitting that he found an interesting way to keep himself occupied.

    “I didn’t have the energy to practice,” Okada said when walking about this time off. To pass the time he openly admits developing an addiction to Korean television dramas.

    One thing is for sure, once Kazuchika Okada finishes his current binge-watch, and is back to fighting shape, NJPW will be all the stronger for it.

  • Revolution Pro Provides Update on Status of Will Ospreay

    Revolution Pro Provides Update on Status of Will Ospreay

    As recently reported, Will Ospreay had to recently relinquish his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship due to injury. NJPW1972, New Japan’s English language website, revealed that the British star was suffering from neck related issues and therefore had to relinquish the title.

    “On May 4’s night two of Wrestling Dontaku in Fukuoka, Will Ospreay sustained a neck injury” NJPW1972 wrote. “As a result, Ospreay will not be participating in the next series of events and will instead return to the UK for treatment and rehabilitation.”

    In an update to the story, British based promotion Revolution Pro Wrestling have made a statement regarding Ospreay’s status. Ospreay is currently the Rev Pro British Heavyweight Champion; it was believed that he would also be relinquishing the title in his home country’s promotion.

    Will Ospreay Returning To The UK

    “Too early to say. Our situation is very different to NJ” was the initial response from Rev Pro regarding the status of Ospreay. “No immediate changes need to be made as we hadn’t factored any title defences for first shows back. Time will tell. But we’ve spoken to Will & he will likely address the situation in person at one of our first shows back.”

    It is believed that Will Ospreay is already, will be shortly, back in the United Kingdom to undergo treatment for his neck injuries.

  • Multiple NJPW Wrestlers Reportedly Upset With Company

    Multiple NJPW Wrestlers Reportedly Upset With Company

    It’s been a difficult last few weeks for New Japan Pro Wrestling. The company has postponed its two planned “Wrestle Grand Slam” events including the May 29th show which was to eminate from the Tokyo Dome. At least 9 wrestlers on its roster has tested positive for COVID-19 following night 2 of Wrestling Dontaku at the start of the month. On top of all that, Will Ospreay has been forced to vacate the IWGP World title due to a neck injury.

    According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, several of the promotion’s foreign talent are upset with the company over being kept in the dark regarding the company’s schedule and quarantining rules.

    “There is also a lot going on behind-the-scenes with New Japan since the COVID outbreak and unhappiness regarding going through quarantine, particularly among the foreign contingent,” wrote Dave Meltzer.

    The report would continue to say that wrestlers who have tested positive for the virus have been quarantining in the Dojo. The only reported names at this point are David Finlay and Jay White.

    “There is a lot of unrest among some of the foreign talent because of the situation there, the dates canceled and the feeling they’ve been kept in the dark,” Meltzer continued.

    David Finlay Considering Leaving NJPW?

    Recently, it was reported that David Finlay is looking at options outside of NJPW. His father Fit was on a podcast recently and spoke to his sons situation.

    “I don’t know how New Japan are going to handle this new outbreak or, I don’t know, no one does,” Finlay said (transcriptions via POST Wrestling). “But, he’s a little bit confused at the minute as what to do next, you know? Is he going to stay in Japan, does he want to try here, like WWE or whatever. But him and I are gonna sit down when he does eventually come home and try and figure it out but he just needs a little bit of wisdom put in his head. Not that I have any.”

  • Will Ospreay Vacating IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Due To Neck Injury

    Will Ospreay Vacating IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Due To Neck Injury

    NJPW has announced that the current IWGP heavyweight champion Will Ospreay will be vacating the championship due to a neck injury.

    The company announced the news on their website early Thursday morning. The high flying star suffered the injury during his title defense against Shingo Takagi on the night two of Wrestling Dontaku in Fukuoka on May 4.

    Due to the injury, Ospreay will be returning to UK for his treatment and rehabilitation and he will not be able to participate in upcoming NJPW events.

    Since a timetable for his return to action is not known, the company officials have made the decision to vacate the title. An announcement about the future of the championship will come at a later date.

    Will Ospreay In NJPW

    Will Ospreay
    Will Ospreay

    Will Ospreay has been with NJPW since 2016. He started his career in the company as part of their junior heavyweight division and won the junior heavyweight title for the first time in October 2017.

    The English star found his own United Empire stable in 2020. He went on to win the 2021 New Japan Cup, which also earned him the right to challenge Kota Ibushi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

    Ospreay then defeated Ibushi for the title at Sakura Genesis in April earlier this year to become the new heavyweight champion before being forced to vacate it. We will keep you posted about his health and the future of the title.

  • David Finlay Considering a Move to WWE

    David Finlay Considering a Move to WWE

    In a recent session talking with Briscoe and Bradshaw, WWE legend Fit Finlay opened up about this son, David Finlay. David Finlay has been a star for New Japan ever since graduating through their dojo system. He is currently one-half of the IMPACT world champions with his NJPW colleague FinJuice.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CMYlBGEJP-_/

    However, according to his father, there may be some doubt as to whether David will stay in Japan for the long haul. The Covid pandemic and recent outbreaks within the NJPW ranks have forced wrestlers to review their current position.

    “So I guess Japan have had an outbreak of COVID and so they started cancelling shows. He works for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. They started having an outbreak. A lot of the talent got COVID so they were sending them home.” Finlay told the show.

    The wrestling legend then went on to talk about how his son is finding his feet as a wrestler. He is at that pivotal point where a decision can be made without having to build a reputation back from the bottom rung of a company.

    “But, he’s a little bit confused at the minute as to what to do next, you know? Is he going to stay in Japan, does he want to try here, like WWE or whatever. But he and I are gonna sit down when he does eventually come home and try and figure it out but he just needs a little bit of wisdom put in his head.”

    It is an interesting conundrum, Fit is a WWE legend, while David Finlay’s tag team partner Juice Robinson has experienced the darker side of the current generation of WWE executives.

    Whatever happens, David Finlay has an exciting wrestling future ahead of him.