SEScoops

Category: NJPW

  • KENTA: “If This Doesn’t Pan Out, I’m Done”

    KENTA: “If This Doesn’t Pan Out, I’m Done”

    KENTA spent from 2000 to 2014 earning a reputation in Pro Wrestling NOAH. After signing with WWE in 2014, however, things took a different turn for his career. Wrestling as Hideo Itami, KENTA struggled to find a place in NXT or 205 Live. He will take part in this summer’s G1 for NJPW, however, and will open the tournament in Dallas against Kota Ibushi.

    NJPW1972.com released part II of an interview with KENTA where he spoke about his decision to sign with NJPW and compete in the G1.

    “If you look at wrestling all over the world of late, there isn’t another tournament that’s as tough, as rigorous as this one,” KENTA said of the G1. “To come out on top of it all, that’s a tremendous, tremendous achievement. Incredibly difficult, but if I were able to make my mark and get results there, then that will instantly put me on the global map. It’s a huge opportunity.”

    KENTA also talked about his decision to sign with NJPW during the interview.

    “‘I chose to come here after a lot of thought,” KENTA said. “Quite frankly, if this doesn’t pan out, I’m done.”

    KENTA in NJPW

    KENTA also spoke about the difference between the pro-wrestling scene in Japan now and in 2014 when he left.

    “Like I said before, I’ve been away from Japan for five years now. Everything is different now. The wrestlers themselves are different, and this whole business is different. I’m really not equipped to talk about a lot of the scene now. As an example, in Japan, there’s been this term ‘pu-joshi’ to talk about all the female fans who love pro wrestling lately. That word didn’t exist when I was here last.”

    The full interview can be read here.

  • Mark Cuban Responds To Jay White’s Bullet Club Invitation

    Mark Cuban Responds To Jay White’s Bullet Club Invitation

    Mark Cuban is known to speak his mind and did just that when talking about New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

    The AXS TV CEO recently spoke with Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard as part of an interview with Bullet Club leader “Switchblade” Jay White. The invitation of White offering a spot to Cuban as part of the group was brought up. 

    “Mark Cuban has some resources that Bullet Club can use,” said White. “All of us will welcome Mark. Bullet Club can have front-row tickets to Mavericks games to watch Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.”

    Cuban recognized the value of the offer but is unable to make it to the American Airlines Arena this weekend for the G1 Climax: Dallas event. 

    “I love the idea,” responded Cuban. “As you know, I’ve taken and given a few bumps in my life. Unfortunately, I have an NBA meeting in Vegas or I would.”

    Cuban, who is known for appearing on Shark Tank that is a widely popular show that airs on ABC as well as being the owner of the NBA team Dallas Mavericks, is a big wrestling fan. He’s appeared on WWE’s flagship show, Monday Night Raw, a few times in the past.

  • Final Card For NJPW G1 Climax: Dallas

    Final Card For NJPW G1 Climax: Dallas

    The start of the 2019 NJPW (New Japan Pro Wrestling) G1 Climax Tournament is upon us as it begins with an event titled, NJPW G1 Climax: Dallas.

    This show takes place on Saturday from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas with coverage starting at 6 pm ET while airing live and free on AXS TV. The event kicks off the A Block matches. 

    The card features several big matches such as Kota Ibushi taking on a returning KENTA, SANADA vs. Zack Sabre Jr., EVIL vs. Bad Luck Fale, and Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer. The headliner will see Kazuchika Okada will square off with Hiroshi Tanahashi.  

    NJPW G1 Climax: Dallas Card

    • Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – A Block Match
    • Kota Ibushi vs. KENTA – A Block Match
    • SANADA vs. Zack Sabre Jr. – A Block Match
    • EVIL vs. Bad Luck Fale – A Block Match
    • Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer – A Block Match
    • Jushin Thunder Liger, Juice Robinson, and Toru Yano vs. BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, and Tetsuya Naito
    • YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto vs. Chase Owens and Jay White
    • Shota Umino and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Ren Narita
    • SHO and YOH vs. Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga

    Check back this weekend for G1 Climax: Dallas Results.

    https://youtu.be/ucpNMvB823Q
  • Bullet Club Member Turns On Stable, Joins CHAOS

    Bullet Club Member Turns On Stable, Joins CHAOS

    A Bullet Club member has turned his back on his stablemates and instead joined the rival faction CHAOS at the NJPW Southern Showdown event in Sydney on June 30.

    Robbie Eagles had enough of Bullet Club and turned on them by joining CHAOS’ Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada.

    Eagles was frustrated with Bullet Club as he felt that his spotlight was stolen by the addition of Canadian indie star El Phantasmo to the group.

    On Night 2 of the NJPW Southern Showdown event, Eagles was part of the six-man tag team match where he teamed up with Jay White & Bad Luck Fale against Hiroshi Tanahashi, Okada & Ospreay of CHAOS.

    After the match, Eagles turned on Bullet Club after having enough and was subsequently beaten down by his now-former partners. Surprisingly, Ospreay returned to help Eagles and offered him a spot in CHAOS, which he accepted.

    https://twitter.com/WillOspreay/status/1145313538094718976
  • WWE Stars Encouraged Jon Moxley To Participate In G1 Climax

    WWE Stars Encouraged Jon Moxley To Participate In G1 Climax

    In a recent interview with New Japan Pro Wrestling, Jon Moxley talked about being part of the G1 Climax, and his thoughts on Shinsuke Nakamura.

    Although part of All Elite Wrestling’s roster, Jon Moxley is currently competing for NJPW’s G1 Climax tournament and is the IWGP United States Champion. He reveals that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of former WWE Superstars Chris Jericho and Cody Rhodes, as they inspired him to go to Japan.

    “I tried to follow [the careers of Chris Jericho and Cody Rhodes]. When you travel in WWE, you’re kind of in a bubble and it’s difficult to follow along, but I did watch what I could. Then, when I knew I was leaving – Japan in general was definitely on my bucket list. I wanted to have a good run in Japan, and of course NJPW was the goal. So when I got the call from them, I was just like, ‘let’s go, put me on the airplane’.”

    Moxley also revealed that current WWE stars Shinsuke Nakamura and Karl Anderson,who performed previously in NJPW, encouraged him to participate in the tournament.

    “Well, Shinsuke Nakamura is in WWE and doing very well. I never got to wrestle him sadly, but he heard that I was likely going over to be in the G1, and he was very pleased,” Moxley said. “[He] said it was a great life experience. Karl Anderson, who I’ve actually been friends with since I was 18, since we’re both from Cincinnati, I asked him about the G1. A few others as well, and everybody was great and said, ‘yeah, go for it’.”

    Moxley also had some praise for Nakamura. Moxley believes Nakamura has a differrent style but he fits well in the WWE because of his flamboyance.

    “I think [Nakamura is] doing great there. Fans love him,” Moxley said. “It’s a different style, but he fits in well because he is charismatic, he is flamboyant. He can go, so whether it’s a New Japan ring or a WWE one he can do well anywhere.”

    NJPW announced that the 2019 edition of the G1 Climax would take place from July 6 to August 12. The first night of the tournament will be held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, marking the first time the tournament has been held outside of Japan. Like the previous year, the final three shows will be held at Nippon Budokan. Moxley announced that he will be part of the tournament at at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall. He will be participating in Block B.

  • Tama Tonga Criticizes WWE For Bringing “the Club” To Japan

    Tama Tonga Criticizes WWE For Bringing “the Club” To Japan

    Tama Tonga recently took to Twitter to offer his opinion on WWE presenting “the Club” on their upcoming shows in Tokyo. WWE will present two back-to-back live events from Ryogoku Arena on June 28th and 29th. AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows will team up with Triple H to take on Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley, Baron Corbin, and Samoa Joe on the first night.

    Tama Tonga commented on “the Club” being reunited in Japan:

    WWE In Japan Lineups

    June 28th, 2019:

    • Cesaro vs Ricochet
    • Braun Strowman vs Robert Roode
    • the Revival vs Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins
    • the Iiconics vs the Kabuki Warriors
    • Becky Lynch vs Alexa Bliss
    • Seth Rollins vs Shinsuke Nakamura
    • AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows & Triple H vs Bobby Lashley, Samoa Joe, Drew McIntyre, & Baron Corbin

    June 29th, 2019:

    • Cesaro vs Ricochet
    • Shinsuke Nakamura vs Robert Roode
    • the Revival vs Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins vs Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
    • Becky Lynch vs Asuka vs Alexa Bliss
    • Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, Braun Strowman vs Drew McIntyre, BobbY Lashley, & Baron Corbin

    Tama Tonga Upcoming Schedule

    The 36-year-old Tama Tonga is currently on the Kizuna Road tour with NJPW. Tonga and his brother Tanga Loa successfully defended their IWGP Heavyweight tag team championships at Dominion against EVIL & SANADA.

    Tonga recently requested to not take part in the G1 tournament this year. He had competed in the tournament from 2016 to 2018.

  • Jon Moxley Talks Ring Gear, NJPW Entrance, & Juice Robinson

    Jon Moxley Talks Ring Gear, NJPW Entrance, & Juice Robinson

    Jon Moxley will head back to Japan for the second night of the G1 Climax tournament on July 13th. He’ll miss the scheduled first night of the tournament in Dallas due to AEW holding his rights in the United States. He sat down with NJPW1972.com to discuss his appearances in New Japan thus far and what he has in store for the upcoming tournament.

    Moxley was asked about making his entrance through the crowd at the Best of the Super Juniors, something he often did during his time in WWE.

    “That idea was presented to me and at first, I did think it was leaning a little on things I’d done in the past,” Moxley said. “But thinking a bit about it, it was definitely the right thing to do. I don’t want to be ‘too cool’ and ignore the things I’ve done. It is a cool entrance, and something I helped trail-blaze. The best thing about it was that it was a mood changer. The atmosphere instantly changed and I could feel that change.”

    Jon Moxley Interview

    Moxley was also asked about changing up his ring gear from what he wore in WWE.

    “I wanted to change my look, for sure. When I was in WWE, I always wrestled in jeans, and there was a reason for that; everybody else had fancy tights and I wanted to be the opposite. More grungy, a street fighter type. But wrestling in jeans, honestly, it sucks. They’re hot, sweaty, hard to move in. I’m done with wrestling in jeans! It’s so much easier to wrestle in tights.”

    Moxley was also asked about his relationship with Juice Robinson when they were both in FCW together.

    “Yeah, many drinks were had in FCW. He was younger than me. Like the Young Lions are in NJPW, he was like that, whereas me and my partner, Seth Rollins, were more experienced. He latched onto us, rode in a car with us and tried to learn. We were pals going through the same experience, of training, of being stressed about whether you’re getting called up… we shared that experience together.”

    Moxley then spoke about what it was like wrestling Juice after not having seen him in many years.

    “We hadn’t seen each other for four years (when we wrestled) and when you wrestle, business is business. I’d been playing mind games with him too, you know. So for me, business is business and when the bell rings we can go for a beer, but I don’t think he wants that. He wants to come after me, and that’s fine.”

    The full interview can be read here.

  • Zack Sabre Jr. Will Put His G1 Spot On The Line Against YOSHI-HASHI

    Zack Sabre Jr. Will Put His G1 Spot On The Line Against YOSHI-HASHI

    Things are heating up as New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) heads towards their annual summer G1 Climax tournament.

    In recent weeks, Suzuki-Gun member, Zack Sabre Jr., has developed a rivalry with CHAOS’ YOSHI-HASHI. They have been having a series of escalating encounters during NJPW’s current Kizuna Road tour.

    This feud will come to a head at the end of the tour, as Zack Sabre Jr. puts his G1 Climax spot on the line against YOSHI-HASHI.

    After declining the initial challenge set to him by YOSHI-HASHI, Sabre Jr. would eventually agree to put his RPW British Heavyweight Championship on the line, adding further stakes to their clash.

    Their matchup takes place on the last night of Kizuna Road on Tuesday, June 25th in Sendai Sunplaza Hall.

    If he is successful, Zack Sabre Jr. will stay scheduled to take part in the G1 Climax’s A Block. He will be facing stiff competition on the first night against Los Ingobernables de Japon member, SANADA.

    YOSHI-HASHI is also booked to appear during the G1 Climax and is actually scheduled for the same days ZSJ is. So, if he emerges victorious, he will be able to compete in the A Block without any issue.

    The tournament begins in Dallas, Texas on July 6th. This will be the first time that G1 Climax has been held, let alone started, outside of NJPW’s native Japan.

  • Juice Robinson Seeks Revenge Against Jon Moxley

    Juice Robinson Seeks Revenge Against Jon Moxley

    Former IWGP United States Champion, Juice Robinson, wants revenge.

    Specifically, he wants revenge against Jon Moxley, who recently bested Robinson for the IWGP US Championship.

    Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Robinson explained his vendetta against one of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s latest high profile signings.

    “”Revenge, that’s the word,” said Robinson. “I want revenge on Jon Moxley, and I’ll get it. He has so much charisma and an incredible persona in the ring, and that makes me level up. I want to wrestle Mox every f******g day.”

    “I Have To Hold My Ground”

    The two will clash during this summer’s G1 Climax tournament. Both men are entrants in the B Block, meaning a second encounter is inevitable.

    Aware of this fact, Robinson commented that “My goal is to have that Moxley match at Ryogoku any time my number is called. I need to be able to rise to the occasion and immediately kick ass.”

    He admits that, right now, he’s still not at the level of a Cody, a Chris Jericho, or a Jon Moxley, adding that he is doing everything he can to earn his spot and fit in.

    “[…] I have to try to hold my ground. Big stars come in—Cody comes in, Jericho comes in, Moxley comes in. Now I’m not on their level, but I’m working to get there. I am trying to compete with some big stars, and I am doing everything I can to compete with them. Ospreay, Ibushi, Kenta, there are so many talented people here. I’m just a regular guy trying to fit in.”

    Despite this attitude, he warns Moxley to “watch his back,” adding that he can’t wait to see him in the G1.

  • Jon Moxley to Miss NJPW G1 Climax Day 1 in Dallas

    Jon Moxley to Miss NJPW G1 Climax Day 1 in Dallas

    New Japan Pro-Wrestling has announced that IWGP US Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley will not be in a match on the first day of the G1 Climax 29 tournament at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on July 6th. Also, Moxley will not attend the pre-G1 press conference on July 5th, which normally features speeches from all participants in the tournament.

    Jon Moxley was confirmed to be one of the twenty participants in the G1 Climax 29, competing in Block B. The G1 Climax follows a format of having five tournament matches per day, from the A Block on odd-numbered days and the B Block on even-numbered days. Members of the other block would wrestle in tag team matches on opposite sides of their next opponent in the tournament.

    If Moxley did participate in the first day of the tournament, he would probably have been in a tag team match against his first opponent in the B Block, Taichi, and another member of the Suzuki-gun faction. His teammate would likely have been Shota Umino, the NJPW trainee who Moxley recently adopted as his partner and assistant.

    The schedule for Jon Moxley’s opponents on each of the G1 Climax 29’s B Block days is as follows. All of his matches will be streamed live on NJPW World.

    • Day 2 (July 13): Taichi
    • Day 4 (July 15): Jeff Cobb
    • Day 6 (July 19): Tomohiro Ishii
    • Day 8 (July 24): Shingo Takagi
    • Day 10 (July 28): Tetsuya Naito
    • Day 12 (August 1): Toru Yano
    • Day 14 (August 4): Jay White
    • Day 16 (August 8): Hirooki Goto
    • Day 18 (August 11): Juice Robinson
  • NJPW G1 Climax 29 Full Schedule

    NJPW G1 Climax 29 Full Schedule

    New Japan Pro-Wrestling has just announced the full schedule for 2019’s G1 Climax tournament.

    Opening day in Dallas, Texas on July 6th features a double main event of Kota Ibushi versus KENTA and Hiroshi Tanahashi versus Kazuchika Okada. In the final day of the round robin for the A Block, August 10th, IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada takes on Kota Ibushi. The following day, a never before seen match between Jay White and IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito will round out the B Block competition.

    All G1 Climax block matches have a time limit of 30 minutes except the Final, which has no limit. Wrestlers gain 2 points per win and a time limit draw provides 1 point to both wrestlers. The wrestler with the most points in each block moves in to the Final. If there is a tie for the most points within a Block, the winner of the match between the tied wrestlers moves on to the Final.

    The G1 Climax winner typically challenges for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the following year’s Wrestle Kingdom. If the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion wins the tournament, they are likely to choose a Wrestle Kingdom challenger.

    The entire G1 Climax is available to watch live worldwide on NJPW World,
    with the exception of Day 1 in Dallas, Texas, which can be watched live on NJPW World by all subscribers outside of the United States. American NJPW viewers can only view Day 1 live on AXS TV. It will also be uploaded on a slight delay to NJPW World for American subscribers to watch.

    Note that the matches are not necessarily listed in the order that they will occur on each event.

    Day 1: July 6 @ American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
    3PM Pacific, 5PM Central, 6PM Eastern, 11PM UK, 8AM East Australia

    A Block
    Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer
    EVIL vs. Bad Luck Fale
    SANADA vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
    Kota Ibushi vs. KENTA
    Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada

    Day 2: July 13 @ Tokyo
    2:30AM Pacific, 5:30AM Eastern, 10:30AM UK, 7:30PM East Australia

    B Block
    Juice Robinson vs. Shingo Takagi
    Toru Yano vs. Tetsuya Naito
    Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb
    Hirooki Goto vs. Jay White
    Jon Moxley vs. Taichi

    Day 3: July 14 @ Tokyo
    (7/13) 11PM Pacific, 2AM Eastern, 7AM UK, 4PM East Australia

    A Block
    Will Ospreay vs. SANADA
    Kazuchika Okada vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
    Kota Ibushi vs. EVIL
    Lance Archer vs. Bad Luck Fale
    Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA

    Day 4: July 15 @ Sapporo
    2AM Pacific, 5AM Eastern, 10AM UK, 7PM East Australia

    B Block
    Toru Yano vs. Shingo Takagi
    Juice Robinson vs. Hirooki Goto
    Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jay White
    Jeff Cobb vs. Jon Moxley
    Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi

    Day 5: July 18 @ Tokyo
    2:30AM Pacific, 5:30AM Eastern, 10:30AM UK, 7:30PM East Australia

    A Block
    KENTA vs. Lance Archer
    Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Luck Fale
    Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
    EVIL vs. SANADA
    Kota Ibushi vs. Will Ospreay

    Day 6: July 19 @ Tokyo
    2:30AM Pacific, 5:30AM Eastern, 10:30AM UK, 7:30PM East Australia

    B Block
    Juice Robinson vs. Jeff Cobb
    Toru Yano vs. Jay White
    Hirooki Goto vs. Tetsuya Naito
    Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi
    Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jon Moxley

    Day 7: July 20 @ Tokyo
    2:30AM Pacific, 5:30AM Eastern, 10:30AM UK, 7:30PM East Australia

    A Block
    Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Bad Luck Fale
    Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Lance Archer
    Kota Ibushi vs. SANADA
    KENTA vs. EVIL
    Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay

    Day 8: July 24 @ Hiroshima
    2:30AM Pacific, 5:30AM Eastern, 10:30AM UK, 7:30PM East Australia

    B Block
    Juice Robinson vs. Toru Yano
    Hirooki Goto vs. Taichi
    Jeff Cobb vs. Jay White
    Jon Moxley vs. Shingo Takagi
    Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito

    Day 9: July 27 @ Nagoya
    2AM Pacific, 5AM Eastern, 10AM UK, 7PM East Australia

    A Block
    Kota Ibushi vs. Lance Archer
    Will Ospreay vs. Bad Luck Fale
    EVIL vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
    Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA
    Kazuchika Okada vs. KENTA

    Day 10: July 28 @ Nagoya
    12AM Pacific, 3AM Eastern, 8AM UK, 5PM East Australia

    B Block
    Juice Robinson vs. Tomohiro Ishii
    Jeff Cobb vs. Taichi
    Shingo Takagi vs. Jay White
    Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Yano
    Tetsuya Naito vs. Jon Moxley

    Day 11: July 30 @ Takamatsu
    3AM Pacific, 6AM Eastern, 11AM UK, 8PM East Australia

    A Block
    Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale
    Kazuchika Okada vs. Lance Archer
    Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL
    Will Ospreay vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
    KENTA vs. SANADA

    Day 12: August 1 @ Fukuoka
    2:30AM Pacific, 5:30AM Eastern, 10:30AM UK, 7:30PM East Australia

    B Block
    Jeff Cobb vs. Shingo Takagi
    Juice Robinson vs. Tetsuya Naito
    Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hirooki Goto
    Toru Yano vs. Jon Moxley
    Taichi vs. Jay White

    Day 13: August 3 @ Osaka
    1AM Pacific, 4AM Eastern, 9AM UK, 6PM East Australia

    A Block
    KENTA vs. Bad Luck Fale
    Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Lance Archer
    Will Ospreay vs. EVIL
    Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi
    Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA

    Day 14: August 4 @ Osaka
    (8/3) 11PM Pacific, 2AM Eastern, 7AM UK, 4PM East Australia

    B Block
    Tomohiro Ishii vs. Toru Yano
    Juice Robinson vs. Taichi
    Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb
    Jon Moxley vs. Jay White
    Tetsuya Naito vs. Shingo Takagi

    Day 15: August 7 @ Hamamatsu
    2:30AM Pacific, 5:30AM Eastern, 10:30AM UK, 7:30PM East Australia

    A Block
    SANADA vs. Lance Archer
    Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale
    Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
    Will Ospreay vs. KENTA
    Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL

    Day 16: August 8 @ Yokohama
    2:30AM Pacific, 5:30AM Eastern, 10:30AM UK, 7:30PM East Australia

    B Block
    Jeff Cobb vs. Tetsuya Naito
    Hirooki Goto vs. Jon Moxley
    Juice Robinson vs. Jay White
    Toru Yano vs. Taichi
    Tomohiro Ishii vs. Shingo Takagi

    Day 17: August 10 @ Tokyo
    2AM Pacific, 5AM Eastern, 10AM UK, 7PM East Australia

    A Block
    KENTA vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
    EVIL vs. Lance Archer
    SANADA vs. Bad Luck Fale
    Will Ospreay vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
    Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi

    Day 18: August 11 @ Tokyo
    2AM Pacific, 5AM Eastern, 10AM UK, 7PM East Australia

    B Block
    Tomohiro Ishii vs. Taichi
    Hirooki Goto vs. Shingo Takagi
    Toru Yano vs. Jeff Cobb
    Juice Robinson vs. Jon Moxley
    Tetsuya Naito vs. Jay White

    Day 19: August 12 @ Tokyo
    (8/11) 11PM Pacific, 2AM Eastern, 7AM UK, 4PM East Australia

    Final: A Block Winner vs. B Block Winner

  • Davey Boy Smith Jr. Reportedly Done With NJPW

    Davey Boy Smith Jr. Reportedly Done With NJPW

    Davey Boy Smith Jr. is reportedly done with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. The 33-year-old had been with the promotion since 2011, taking a 2-year hiatus with his Suzuki-Gun teammates to Pro Wrestling NOAH from 2015 to 2017. According to a report from Voices of Wrestling, Smith will not be returning to the promotion.

    Earlier this spring, Smith was critical of how he’s been booked by “Overseas Companies” following his performance in this year’s Bloodsport event.

    Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Killer Elite Squad

    Smith’s departure from New Japan Pro Wrestling breaks up his decorated tag-team with Lance Archer, Killer Elite Squad.

    Killer Elite Squad’s Championship statistics:

    • 3x IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions
    • 2x NWA World Tag Team Champions
    • 2x GHC Tag Team Champions

    Davey Boy Smith Jr. in MLW

    In MLW, Davey Boy Smith Jr, Teddy Hart, and Brian Pillman Jr comprise the Hart Foundation. The trio is currently involved in a rivalry with MJF’s Dynasty faction. Alex Hammerstone and Richard Holiday are the other two members of that stable.

    The Hart Foundation are the current MLW tag team champions, Teddy Hart is the middleweight champion, and Smith recently won a fan vote to receive a future MLW World Championship match.

    https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1116326168372887553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1116326168372887553&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlw.com%2F2019%2F04%2F18%2Fdavey-boy-smith-the-peoples-choice-for-world-title-shot%2F
  • NJPW G1 Climax 29 Blocks Announced

    NJPW G1 Climax 29 Blocks Announced

    New Japan Pro-Wrestling has just announced the entrants and blocks for the 29th G1 Climax tournament.

    Each year, NJPW’s top wrestlers clash for an opportunity to challenge the IWGP Heavyweight Champion at the following year’s Wrestle Kingdom. Last year’s winner, Hiroshi Tanahashi, defeated Kota Ibushi in the Final and successfully defeated Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 13 to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

    This field was announced today during NJPW’s Kizuna Road show Sunday in Korakuen Hall via video package.

    A Block

    • Kazuchika Okada (IWGP Heavyweight Champion)
    • Zack Sabre Jr.
    • Hiroshi Tanahashi
    • Kota Ibushi
    • EVIL
    • SANADA
    • Bad Luck Fale
    • Will Ospreay (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)
    • KENTA

    B Block

    • Tetsuya Naito (IWGP Intercontinental Champion)
    • Tomohiro Ishii (NEVER Openweight Champion)
    • Juice Robinson
    • Toru Yano (NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champion)
    • Hirooki Goto
    • Jay White
    • Jeff Cobb
    • Shingo Takagi
    • Taichi
    • Jon Moxley (IWGP US Heavyweight Champion)

    G1 Climax Tournament 29

    Notable first-time entrants are IWGP US Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay, as well as Shingo Takagi and KENTA, all of whom declared their intentions to enter the G1 at NJPW’s event this past week, Dominion 6.9.

    Taichi of the Suzuki-gun faction and Ring of Honor’s Jeff Cobb are other wrestlers entering the G1 Climax for the first time. Unexpectedly, NJPW veteran Togi Makabe and Suzuki-gun’s leader, Minoru Suzuki, were excluded from this year’s tournament.

    All wrestlers in each block will wrestle each other once during the tournament, and the most dominant wrestlers from each block will meet in the Final. NJPW will announce marquee matches for each day of the tournament in about 24 hours.

    This year’s G1 Climax begins on July 6 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas (the first ever G1 Climax event to take place outside of Japan), and ends on August 12 at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. The entire tournament will be available to watch live or on demand with English Commentary on NJPW World.

  • KENTA Explains Why He Signed With NJPW After leaving WWE

    KENTA Explains Why He Signed With NJPW After leaving WWE

    The former Hideo Itami appeared on New Japan’s Dominion event in Osaka over the weekend. He was accompanied to the ring by Katsuyori Shibata and then declared himself for this summer’s G1 Climax tournament. KENTA sat down with NJPW commentator Chris Charlton recently and spoke about why he signed with NJPW, his history with Shibata and more.

    Charlton asked KENTA why he signed with NJPW after leaving WWE and having been so associated with Pro Wrestling NOAH in the past.

    “Now New Japan goes worldwide,” KENTA said. “I want to show my wrestling to the world as KENTA, not Hideo Itami. I want to show my wrestling to the world and New Japan goes worldwide, US, UK, everybody knows New Japan. So, I decided New Japan.”

    KENTA On Potentially Wrestling Jon Moxley

    KENTA also spoke about Jon Moxley debuting in New Japan and the time they both spent in WWE. He mentioned that in WWE, KENTA and Moxley were on separate paths.

    “(Moxley) was the top of the top in WWE but, you know, I was not,” KENTA said.

    Charlton then asked if KENTA is interested in wrestling Moxley in the G1.

    “Definitely,” KENTA responded. “I want to have a match with him because now I’m not just stupid Hideo Itami, now I’m KENTA. I want to fight him as KENTA.”

    KENTA also spoke on his relationship with Katsuyori Shibata and more. The full interview can be viewed in the player below:

  • WWE Tag Teams Respond To Guerrillas Of Destiny’s Challenge

    WWE Tag Teams Respond To Guerrillas Of Destiny’s Challenge

    Tama Tonga and his brother, Tanga Loa—collectively, The Guerrillas Of Destiny (GOD)—made an interesting challenge during their post-Dominion match interview.

    The pair would throw out a couple of key WWE team names, taunt them as they demanded “fresh blood” to challenge for their titles.

    It appears as though those WWE teams heard GOD as The Usos and The Revival have responded to the request via Twitter.

    The Usos wrote “DAMN. EVERYBODY WANT DIS WORK HUH??” whilst The Revival took a more direct approach, telling GOD “You know where we are. #FTR”

    https://twitter.com/ScottDawsonWWE/status/1138476411977703424

    “Don’t Let The Fences Over There Block You In”

    Guerillas Of Destiny made the demands crystal clear during their backstage interview, with Tanga Loa saying, “Here’s what we want: some new f****** blood.”

    It was at this point that Tama Tonga would call out their rival company’s teams.

    “When we said this is an open invite, open challenge, an open invitation to anybody and everybody […] It’s open. You want some of us? Come. Usos? Come. FTR? Come get some. Don’t let the fences over there block you in. Come out to the open and play, boys. Come out to the open.”

    GOD successfully defended their IWGP Tag Team titles against their Los Ingobernables de Japon opponents, EVIL and Sanada, during NJPW’s recent Dominion event.

    They are also the current Ring Of Honor tag team champions. The brothers won both sets of belts during the ROH/NJPW co-promoted G1 Supercard on April 6th.

  • Chris Jericho Teases Participating In This Year’s G1 Climax

    Chris Jericho Teases Participating In This Year’s G1 Climax

    Jon Moxley may not be the only former-WWE Superstar joining this year’s G1 Climax.

    During a Dominion post-match interview, “The Painmaker” Chris Jericho teased his interest in participating in this year’s tournament.

    Appearing backstage with one of Kazuchika Okada’s “Rainmaker” dollars attached to his forehead, Jericho spoke with the Japanese press. He addressed his loss to Okada before claiming that “The Painmaker never loses, I win big tonight.”

    “G1-icho”

    “Maybe I’ll show up in the G1,” Jericho teased. “Maybe I want to be in the G1. What do you think about that? Maybe I’ll enter the G1.”

    Jericho then asked “Is Okada in the G1? Is Tanahashi in the G1? If they’re in the G1, maybe I’ll show up in the G1, what do you think about that? And I’ll kick Jon Moxley’s ass, too. He still owes me $15,000 for ripping up my light-up jacket three years ago. […] They’re all in the G1. Maybe I’ll join the G1. Chris G1-icho, what do you think about that?”

    He then issued a warning to Hiroshi Tanahashi, claiming that “The Ace” needs to watch his back. Jericho promised that if Tanahashi intends to compete in the G1 Climax tournament, he will be watching and waiting at every moment for his opportunity to prove why he is “The Painmaker.”

  • NJPW On AXS TV Moving To Different Night

    NJPW On AXS TV Moving To Different Night

    NJPW’s weekly TV show in the United States will no longer air every Friday night come next month.

    On Tuesday, AXS TV issued a press release to announce that its NJPW and WOW television series will be moving to Saturday nights in primetime starting on July 13 at 9 PM EST.

    There were other announcements made in this release. The television network will present a special live broadcast of Night 1 of the promotion’s G1 Climax 29 Tournament in Dallas on July 6 at 6pE/3pP. The event kicks a six-week stretch of same-day, near-live coverage of the tournament.

    It was hyped that “the tournament is expected to include thrilling matches” featuring IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada; “The Golden Star” Kota Ibushi; Los Ingobernables de Japón trio Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, and SANADA; “The Master of The Century” Hiroshi Tanahashi and Bullet Club leader Jay White.

    Starting next month, AXS TV will deliver two hours of NJPW’s G1 Climax events that will have same-day coverage continue through the tournament’s A Block Final on August 10, followed by special presentations of the B Block Final on August 17 and Tournament Final on August 24.

    As of this writing, the blocks of matches for the tournament have yet to be announced.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOlRkAMnfjA
  • NJPW Announces Championship Matches For Kizuna Road & Australia Tours

    NJPW Announces Championship Matches For Kizuna Road & Australia Tours

    New Japan Pro Wrestling announced several matches today for their upcoming shows this month. NJPW will present the Kizuna Road tour from June 14th to June 25th. The promotion will then run two back-to-back shows in Australia on June 29th and 30th.

    3 shows from the Kizuna Road tour will air on New Japan World. Here are the lineups and dates for those shows:

    Sunday, June 16th – Korakuen Hall – Tokyo, Japan

    1. Yota Tsuji vs Yuya Uemura
    2. Ren Narita, Tomoaki Honma, Tomohiro Ishii vs Douki, Kanemaru, and Taichi
    3. Taguchi, Mikey Nicholls, Juice Robinson vs Jado, Tanga Loa, Tama Tonga
    4. Shota Umino, Tiger Mask, Jushin Liger, Yuji Nagata, Kota Ibushi vs BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, SANADA, EVIL, and Tetsuya Naito
    5. Toru Yano, Togi Makabe, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, Jay White
    6. Toa Henare, YOSHI-HASHI, Kazuchika Okada vs Lance Archer, Zack Sabre Jr., Minoru Suzuki
    7. IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: SHO & YOH (c) vs El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori

    Monday, June 17th – Korakuen Hall – Tokyo, Japan

    1. Yota Tsuji vs Yuya Uemura
    2. Shota Umino & Yuji Nagata vs Toa Henare & Tomoaki Honma
    3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan Comeback Match: Tiger Mask, Jushin Liger, Satoshi Kojima, Kota Ibushi vs BUSH, Takagi, SANADA, EVIL, & Tetsuya Naito
    4. Ren Narita, Mikey Nicholls, Juice Robinson, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Taiji Ishimori, Tanga Loa, Tama Tonga, Jay White
    5. NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championships: Ryusuke Taguchi, Toru Yano, & Togi Makabe (c) vs El Phantasmo, Chase Owens, & Yujiro Takahashi
    6. Elimination Match: Sho, Yoh, Tomohiro Ishii, Yoshi-Hashi, Kazuchika Okada vs Kanemaru, Taichi, Lance Archer, Zack Sabre Jr, & Minoru Suzuki

    Tuesday, June 25th – Sendai Sunplaza Hall

    1. Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Yota Tsuji & Yuji Nagata
    2. Ren Narita, Shota Umino, Tomoaki Honma, Togi Makabe, & Kota Ibushi vs BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, SANADA, EVIL, & Tetsuya Naito
    3. Mikey Nicholls & Juice Robinson vs Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (non-title)
    4. SHO, YOH, Toa Henare, & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Taiji Ishimori, Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, & Jay White
    5. Tiger Mask, Jushin Liger, Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii, & Kazuchika Okada vs DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi, Lance Archer, & Minoru Suzuki
    6. British Cruiserweight Championship: El Phantasmo (c) vs Ryusuke Taguchi
    7. British Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs YOSHI-HASHI

    The lineups for NJPW’s two shows in Australia to close out June are as follows:

    Saturday, June 29th – NJPW Southern Showdown In Melbourne Australia

    1. Ren Narita, Shota Umino, & Toa Henare vs Michael Richards, Andrew Villabos, & Mark Tui
    2. Aaron Solow vs Slex
    3. SHO, YOH, & Toru Yano vs Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, & Gino Gambino
    4. YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii vs Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi
    5. Rocky Romero vs El Phantasmo
    6. Mikey Nicholls & Juice Robinson vs Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (Non-title)
    7. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs Robbie Eagles
    8. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada vs Jay White & Bad Luck Fale

    Sunday, June 30th, NJPW Sothern Showdown in Sydney, Australia

    1. Michael Richards & Andrew Villabos vs Stevie Flip & Tome Flip
    2. Rocky Romero vs Tony Kozina
    3. Jack Bonza vs Mick Moretti
    4. Aaron Solow vs Chase Owens
    5. Toru Yano, Mikey Nicholls & Juice Robinson vs Gino Gambino, Tanga Loa, & Tama Tonga
    6. Tomohiro Ishii vs Toa Henare
    7. Will Ospreay, Hiroshi Tanahashi, & Kazuchika Okada vs Robbie Eagles, Bad Luck Fale, & Jay White
  • NJPW Super J-Cup Coming To USA In August

    NJPW Super J-Cup Coming To USA In August

    New Japan Pro Wrestling announced today that the Super J Cup will be returning in 2019 and will be held outside of Japan for the first time in history. Jushin Liger announced the news today at an NJPW press conference in Japan.

    “In 1994, Jyushin Thunder Liger was inspired to propose the Super J-Cup, a single elimination tournament for junior heavyweight wrestlers from promotions around the world. The was an immense success, and from then on, it has served as an irregular Olympic style event; a festival for the world’s very best junior heavyweight wrestlers and a chance for its participants to shine bright on a global stage,” an NJPW press release reads.

    Super J Cup 2019

    The 3-day tournament will consist of 16 wrestlers competing in a single-elimination tournament.

    The tournament dates and locations are:

    • Tacoma, WA at the Temple Theatre on August 22nd (Round 1)
    • San Francisco, CA at the SFSU Student Life Events Center on August 24th (Round 2)
    • Long Beach, CA at the Walter Pyramid on August 25th (Semi-Finals and Finals)

    Tickets will go on sale Monday, June 24th.

    Jushin Liger Comments

    Liger had the following to say regarding today’s announcement:

    “I am honored to be the producer of ‘Super J-Cup 2019’. The excitement from Best of the Super Juniors hasn’t faded, and NJPW is planning another big tournament for the junior heavyweights. It’s been three years since the last tournament, a true all-star event filled with dream matches.”

    “We’ve had several events in the United States over the last few years, including Madison Square Garden. Now, the juniors are taking over in America, as Super J-Cup hits the west coast,” Liger continued.  

    Super J Cup Previous Winners

    • 1994: Wild Pegasus
    • 1995: Jushin Liger
    • 2000: Jushin Liger
    • 2004: Naomichi Marufuji
    • 2009: Naomichi Marufuji
    • 2016: KUSHIDA
  • Kazuchika Okada Says He Wants Revenge On Chris Jericho

    Kazuchika Okada Says He Wants Revenge On Chris Jericho

    The IWGP Heavyweight champion Kazuchika Okada wants revenge on Chris Jericho for his actions following the main event of Dominion yesterday. Okada scored a pinfall victory over Jericho using a pinning combination but then Jericho kept up the attack after the bell.

    Jericho delivered his Judas Effect elbow and also used a chair to assault Okada post-match. He draped a chair around the champion’s neck and tossed him into the steel post on the outside. Hiroshi Tanahashi would eventually make the save, preventing Jericho from delivering more damage.

    The attack left Okada too badly beaten to deliver his standard post-match address to the live crowd in Osaka. This led to a negative reaction from those in attendance when it was revealed Okada would not be delivering his post-match address.

    Today in Japan, Okada spoke to media and said he wants revenge on Chris Jericho.

    “I’m very upset. Very angry,” Okada said. “The match was done, and Jericho assaulted me. It was a sold out Osaka Jo Hall, and I couldn’t send those fans home happy. I’m sorry for them. But to Jericho, I’m not done and will pay you back down the road. That said, I’m still the champion and will represent as champion through Kizuna Road and the G1 Climax.”

    Kazuchika Okada on Chris Jericho

    Okada also commented on how the match was more Jericho’s style than Okada’s.

    “That was absolutely a Jericho match,” Okada continued. “He has an uncanny ability to change the rhythm, think and catch you at times. He’s a great wrestler. But I don’t ever want to adopt that approach he has. I don’t respect his style. I don’t have any respect for that kind of low down fighting. He doesn’t need it, after however long he’s been in the business, in my opinion.”

    Okada then said he is looking forward to the new challenges and challengers that the G1 Climax tournament will bring. He noted that he still has unfinished business with Jericho, however.

    “I’m fine either way. If he wants me to put the belt on the line so I can get my revenge, that’s cool,” Okada said about possibly giving Jericho a rematch for the title. “But I feel he’s started something I need to finish.”

    The full interview can be read here.

  • Jon Moxley Discusses Interest In G1 Climax, Claims “Ball Is In New Japan’s Court”

    Jon Moxley Discusses Interest In G1 Climax, Claims “Ball Is In New Japan’s Court”

    Jon Moxley competed yesterday at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s (NJPW) Dominion event. He would open the show against Young Lion, Shota Umino.

    The new IWGP United States Champion didn’t take long in putting away his enthusiastic opponent.

    After the matchup, Moxley would get on the mic and declare his interest in being a competitor in this year’s G1 Climax tournament.

    Backstage, Moxley reiterated his demand.

    “I Speak The Language Of Violence”

    Propping up a barely conscious Shota Umino, Moxley complimented his opponent, saying “he did good. He did real good.”

    He joked that he liked Shota and that he is his new personal Young Lion, intending to have him act as a spotter in the gym and personal driver going forward before turning his attention to the tournament itself.

    “I think tonight, I made my intentions clear,” Moxley said. “The ball’s in New Japan’s court now. See you at the G1.”

    As he was leaving, Moxley would turn towards the camera once more after hearing a reporter speak in Japanese, seemingly asking a question pertaining to the G1 Climax.

    “I speak the language of violence, but I’m also pretty good with words. Do you understand me? I want in the G1.”

    The opening night of the G1 Climax tournament takes place on July 6th from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. It is the first time any G1 Climax show has taken place outside of Japan.

  • Jon Moxley Discusses Comparisons To CM Punk, Comments On WWE “Buying” The Indies

    Jon Moxley Discusses Comparisons To CM Punk, Comments On WWE “Buying” The Indies

    Jon Moxley continues to make an impact since leaving WWE and arriving in both All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). Competing recently for the first time in NJPW, he defeated Juice Robinson and became the new IWGP United States Champion.

    A number of key interviews with Moxley have been released in recent weeks, including one with the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast, and another with Talk Is Jericho. His interview with Jericho, in particular, has caught the attention of many within the industry—with people comparing it to CM Punk’s insider interview with Colt Cabana.

    Speaking with 25 Years Later, Moxley discussed this comparison to Punk and also touched on WWE buying the indie scene, folding it into their corporate machine.

    “The Sum Of Wrestling Outside Of WWE Is Bigger Than WWE”

    It was highlighted that, whereas Punk’s interview with Cabana burned bridges, Moxley’s instead simply told the truth. This acted as a key difference between the two former WWE Superstars mindsets.

    “A bridge is never burnt in WWE,” Moxley said.”Vince [McMahon] would have me back tomorrow and would love it if I came crawling back to him. I think Punk had a lot more personal animosity towards WWE and specific people. I don’t know every detail of his story, and I haven’t spoken to him since he left WWE. His experience drove him to not like wrestling anymore, I think. For me, I wanted the exact opposite. I just got pro wrestling back after losing it years ago. I’m like “Whoa, I’m back in the game, here we go!’”

    Moxley later added, “That’s probably the biggest difference between my interview and the Punk interview. He was basically saying f*** pro wrestling, and I was saying that I got my love of pro wrestling back. I want to wrestle everyone. Let’s drop all the bridges, get all the companies together and have a super show that sells out a stadium right now. Fuck it. The sum of wrestling outside of WWE is bigger than WWE.”

    “Buying The Indys”

    Looking back at his time on the independent circuit, Moxley expresses that he feels it’s a bad idea that Triple H and WWE are simply “buying the indys.”

    “He [Triple H] basically started buying the indys. I remember thinking that it might not be a good idea. Then where are all of these good ideas going to come from? If they signed Daniel Bryan at 21, he never would’ve become Bryan Danielson, and you never would’ve had WrestleMania 30. If they signed Punk before he really became CM Punk, he never would’ve done what he did. If they signed me at 21, I never would’ve become anything good. I had to develop first before getting brought in. Buying up all of the indy scene was the same as Vince buying up all the territories back in the day. There’s nobody left to cherry pick for talent.”

    Despite this, Moxley commented on the indie scenes resurgence in popularity, stating that the strength of independent wrestling makes him optimistic about the future of pro wrestling as a whole.

    Jon Moxley recently defeated Shota Umino at NJPW’s Dominion event. It was during this show that he declared his intentions to compete in this year’s G1 Climax tournament, which gets started on July 6th from Dallas, Texas.

  • NJPW Dominion Results

    NJPW Dominion Results

    New Japan Pro Wrestling presented Dominion today. It was the 11th event in the history of the annual summer-time show from Osaka, Japan.

    NJPW Dominion – June 9th, 2019 – Results

    1. Jon Moxley defeated Shota Umino
    2. Shingo Takagi defeated Satoshi Kojima
    3. Jushin Liger & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr.
    4. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, and Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Jay White, Chase Owens, and Taiji Ishimori
    5. NEVER Openweight Championship: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Taichi (c) – New Champion
    6. IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: The Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) (c) defeated EVIL & Sanada
    7. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay (c) defeated Dragon Lee. – New Champion.
    8. Intercontinental Championship: Tetsuya Naito defeated Kota Ibushi (c). – New Champion.
    9. IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Chris Jericho

    5 championship matches took place at NJPW Dominion with the challengers winning 3 of the bouts. Jon Moxley declared himself for the G1 Climax tournament this year after defeating Shota Umino in the night’s opening contest. Later in the show, KENTA was led to the ring by Katsuyori Shibata and also declared for the G1.

    Following the night’s main event, Chris Jericho attacked the retaining champion. He was prevented from delivering even more damaged by Hiroshi Tanahashi, who was ringside doing commentary for the main event.

  • KENTA To Enter G1 Climax Tournament

    KENTA To Enter G1 Climax Tournament

    The former Hideo Itami was announced for this year’s G1 Climax tournament today in Japan. Katsuyori Shibata made a surprise appearance at NJPW’s Dominion event today in Osaka and accompanied KENTA to the ring. KENTA then declared he will enter this year’s G1 Climax tournament.

    The 38-year-old KENTA last competed for WWE in January. He dropped a match to Akira Tozawa on an episode of 205 Live from January 29th. News of his release broke the following day.

    G1 Climax Tournament

    The first night of this year’s tournament will be on July 7th from the American Airlines Arena in Dallas. The tournament will then resume in Japan the following week. Following the 1st night in Dallas, the tournament will run from July 13 to August 12th. The final 3 nights of the tournament will all be held in the Nippon Budokan.

    New Japan has yet to confirm a list of participants for this year’s tournament.

    KENTA In New Japan Pro Wrestling

    KENTA has previously only wrestled 2 matches in New Japan Pro Wrestling. He lost a match to Wataru Inoue at NJPW Cross Road in 2002. KENTA also competed in a multi-tag match at a joint NJPW/NOAH/AJPW show titled “All Together” from 2011.

  • Jon Moxley To Enter G1 Climax Tournament

    Jon Moxley To Enter G1 Climax Tournament

    Jon Moxley officially confirmed he will enter this year’s G1 Climax tournament. Moxley defeated Shota Umino today in the opening match from New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Dominion event in Osaka. It was just Moxley’s second match in the promotion, having won the IWGP United States championship from Juice Robinson in his first on Wednesday.

    Following today’s match in Osaka, Moxley cut a short promo and confirmed he will be entering this year’s G1.

    Later in the evening, KENTA (fka Hideo Itami) was also confirmed for this year’s tournament.

    The tournament kicks off on July 7th with a show from the American Airlines Arena in Dallas. It will then return to Japan will it will take place from July 13th to August 12th.

    G1 Climax Tournament Previous Winners

    Since re-branding as the G1 in 1991, here are the tournament’s previous winners:

    • 1991: Masahiro Chono
    • 1992: Masahiro Chono (2)
    • 1993: Tatsumi Fujinami
    • 1994: Masahiro Chono (3)
    • 1995: Keiji Mutoh
    • 1996: Riki Choshu (2) *
    • 1997: Kensuke Sasaki
    • 1998: Shinya Hashimoto
    • 1999: Manabu Nakanishi
    • 2000: Kensuke Sasaki
    • 2001: Yuji Nagata
    • 2002: Masahiro Chono (4)
    • 2003: Hiroyoshi Tenzan
    • 2004: Hiroyoshi Tenzan (2)
    • 2005: Masahiro Chono (5)
    • 2006: Hiroyoshi Tenzan (3)
    • 2007: Hiroshi Tanahashi
    • 2008: HIrooki Goto
    • 2009: Togi Makabe
    • 2010: Satoshi Kojima
    • 2011: Shinsuke Nakamura
    • 2012: Kazuchika Okada
    • 2013: Tetsuya Naito
    • 2014: Kazuchika Okada (2)
    • 2015: Hiroshi Tanahashi (2)
    • 2016: Kenny Omega
    • 2017: Tetsuya Naito (2)
    • 2018: Hiroshi Tanahashi (3)