Posts Tagged ‘Jeff Cobb’

NJPW New Japan Cup 2023 Results: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis, EVIL vs. Jeff Cobb

New Japan Pro Wrestling continued its second round of the New Japan Cup on March 13 at the Item Ehime in Ehime, Japan.

The main event had Will Ospreay take on his United Empire faction member Mark Davis in the second round of the New Japan Cup. In the co-main event, EVIL competed against Jeff Cobb. The winner of Ospreay vs. Davis and EVIL vs. Cobb will face each other in the next round of the New Japan Cup on March 17.

NJPW streamed their event live on NJPW World at 6:00 AM ET/3:00 AM PT. However, to watch the New Japan Cup, fans must subscribe to their service, which is $9.99 in the United States.

If you would like more results for this week’s events in wrestling, please check back on our results section.

New Japan Cup 2023 Results (3/13)

  1. Chase Owens & Kenta def. Oskar Leube & Ren Narita
  2. Shota Umino & Tama Tonga def. Kosei Fujita & Zack Sabre Jr
  3. Sho & Yujiro Takahashi def. Taka Michinoku & Taichi
  4. Aaron Henare, Great-O-Khan & Kyle Fletcher def. Gedo, El Phantasmo & David Finlay
  5. Bushi, Hiromu Takahashi, Sanada, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito def. Lio Rush, Yoh, Yoshi-Hashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto
  6. EVIL def. Jeff Cobb- New Japan Cup Tournament Match(Second Round)
  7. Will Ospreay def. Mark Davis- New Japan Cup Tournament Match(Second Round)

New Japan Cup (3/13) Highlights

EVIL def. Jeff Cobb

Will Ospreay def. Mark Davis

Jeff Cobb Open to Appearing in Saturday’s WWE Royal Rumble

Jeff Cobb appears open to an appearance in WWE’s Royal Rumble match.

Cobb recently took part in an interview with WrestlingNews.co and was asked about potentially being a surprise entrant in the match. While Cobb admits he hasn’t been contacted for such an appearance, he seems open to the idea.

“You know what? You never say never. But it all depends on if the stars lined up and all that stuff. Again, if they wanted me for some odd reason, then they’d have to go through the right avenues. I don’t think they could contact me directly because I don’t think that’s legal.

“I don’t know how those things work. But yeah, if for some odd reason, they were like, ‘Hey, we wanna put Jeff in the Royal Rumble,’ I’m not good at Royal Rumbles. I don’t want to run down to the ring either. But yeah, if the stars aligned, I’d be totally down to do it.”

Jeff Cobb
(via AEW)

This year’s Royal Rumble takes place from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on January 28. Jeff Cobb could’ve been part of the Royal Rumble as a member of the WWE roster, but decided to turn down a contract offer from the company in 2020.

The veteran has worked for Lucha Underground, PWG, Ring Of Honor, AEW, and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) throughout the years. He’s currently signed to the latter where the 40-year-old is still going strong.

Quotes via 411Mania

NJPW Tag Team Invades AEW Dynamite (Video)

Former IWGP Tag Team Champions have invaded AEW.

During the May 25 episode of Dynamite, FTR put the ROH Tag Team Championships up for grabs against Roppongi Vice. The match did not end with a decisive winner.

That’s because Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan of the United Empire interfered and attacked both teams. The referee waved off the match but NJPW’s fierce tag team wasn’t done.

Cobb powerbombed Dax Harwood through a table, while Great-O-Khan slammed Trent Beretta through a table with the Iron Claw slam.

By the end of the chaos, the United Empire members held up the ROH Tag Team Titles.

This is the first true hint at what could be in store for the AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door PPV set for June 26.

Jeff Cobb Explains Why He Turned Down WWE Contract Offer

NJPW star Jeff Cobb had a WWE contract offer on the table but he turned it down.

Cobb is currently in the midst of the biggest run in his career. He nearly went undefeated in this year’s G1 Climax, only falling to Kazuchika Okada.

He is currently a member of Will Ospreay’s United Empire faction. Cobb has picked up the slack while Ospreay has been in the United States.

Jeff Cobb On Not Signing With WWE

The A Real Wrestling Podcast interviewed Jeff Cobb, who explained why he turned down a WWE deal back in 2020.

“WWE offered me a contract [for] great money. Money is gonna make a lot of your problems go away but at the end of the day, money won’t make you happy.

“So I wanted to work where I felt that I fit in more and I would be happy. If I went to WWE I wouldn’t be able to do a random indie booking if I wanted to if I was off that weekend or something.”

Cobb ended up signing a full-time deal with NJPW and he says he has no regrets.

“I love Japan. The culture is amazing out there and the style of wrestling I definitely feel like I fit better in. And I felt at the time that New Japan was gonna be my home and it is my home.

“That’s not to take away from other companies that offered me contracts but because I am with New Japan and with this ‘forbidden door’ I’m still able to pop in AEW or Ring Of Honor or MLW or Impact if the time’s right.

“I felt like I made the right choice.”

NJPW definitely seems to be rewarding Cobb for his choice. Time will tell if the promotion eventually gives him a solid title run, whether it’s the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship or even the world title.

Cobb is a former NEVER Openweight Champion. He only held the title for 27 days and that was before he went full-time with NJPW.

H/T to Wrestling Inc for the quotes.

Jeff Cobb Is Returning To MLW This Fall

Former Olympian Jeff Cobb is returning to Major League Wrestling, according to MLW head honcho Court Bauer.

Cobb is riding an all-time high in his career. He cleaned house throughout the G1 Climax 31 before meeting Kazuchika Okada. The big man from Honolulu lost the match, but solidified himself as one of the top pro wrestlers in the world.

Jeff Cobb Returning To MLW

Jeff Cobb is no stranger to the MLW ring and Bauer is welcoming him back. Here’s what the MLW boss told Digital Journal.

“The Opera Cup dates back to the turn of the 19th/20th century and the coveted cup has been claimed by the likes of George Hackenschmidt and Stu Hart. Who will be immortalized by having their name etched in the 100-year-old trophy? Find out in Philly.

“We will also see the vacant National Openweight Championship decided as well as some new faces entering the mix, like NZO and Jeff Cobb.”

Cobb is a member of the NJPW stable, United Empire. The group is led by former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay. With Ospreay missing the tournament due to a storyline, Cobb has stepped up and only suffered one loss in the Climax.

MLW Roster Refresh

Jeff Cobb is one of several notable names appearing for MLW in the months ahead.

Several wrestlers recently finished up with MLW, including former MLW Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, Mance Warner and Jordan Oliver.

In addition to Cobb, Will Ospreay and nZo will be “rotating in” for MLW’s next shows.

SEScoops will let you know who Cobb will be facing once that information is available.

Jeff Cobb Discusses Potential AEW Return

Jeff Cobb has talked about the possibility of making his way to AEW again.

Back in Feb. 2020, Cobb appeared on AEW Dynamite. He served as a bounty hunter for Chris Jericho and The Inner Circle, taking out Jon Moxley. Moxley ended up pinning Cobb the following week.

Jeff Cobb has been making his mark in NJPW as a member of Will Ospreay’s United Empire faction. During an interview with Sports Illustrated, Cobb said that while NJPW is his main focus right now, a return trip to AEW isn’t off the table.

“New Japan is the right decision for me. I have a lot of unfinished business here in New Japan—tons of guys I have yet to suplex and tons of championships to win. I also respect what Tony Khan is doing, especially the level of excitement he has brought into the pro wrestling community and all the amazing crossovers going on.

“Having said that, will I show up in AEW? Right now, I have my sights set on the G1 and the IWGP world heavyweight championship. But if there’s something that interests me or the United Empire, you never know.”

Cobb is currently in the G1 Climax tournament and he has been running through his opponents. At the moment, Cobb has 14 points. That’s tied with Kazuchika Okada for the most points in the tournament. Both Cobb and Okada are undefeated in the tourney and are set to collide on Oct. 20.

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Results (Day 2)

Today is the second day of New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s largest event of the year, Wrestle Kingdom.

This event will be streamed live on NJPW’s streaming service, NJPW World, and on Fite TV. English and Japanese commentary are available on both platforms. This event will have a reduced attendance capacity to comply with COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

NJPW World VOD (English Commentary)
NJPW World VOD (Japanese Commentary)
Fite TV

Start Times: January 5, 12AM Pacific, 3AM Eastern, 8AM UK, 5PM Japan, 7PM East Australia

Results

Four Way Match for the Provisional KOPW 2021 Championship: Toru Yano def. Chase Owens, BUSHI, Bad Luck Fale (7:34)
Both BUSHI and Toru Yano were refusing to enter the ring, at first, but were forced to break up the pin when Chase Owens laid down for Bad Luck Fale to let him win. Owens and Fale worked together to abuse Yano, while BUSHI mostly tried to avoid getting involved. Yano tried to body slam Fale, who fell on top of him and nearly pinned him then and there. Fale and Chase double teamed BUSHI and put him down with the Grenade Launcher, but kept breaking up each other’s pin attempt. They argued with each other and the referee until Yano slid in, low blowed them both, and pinned the still down BUSHI. Toru Yano is the provisional KOPW 2021 Champion, but will only be crowned as such if he retains the trophy until the end of the year.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match: Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) def. Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato
The tornillo that Master Wato pulled off on El Desperado might have been the most impressive he has looked since his return. He and Taguchi took advantage early until Suzuki-gun focused their team efforts on Taguchi, working his legs and cutting off the ring, and attacking Master Wato whenever Taguchi got even close to tagging him in. A hip attack from Taguchi gave him the room needed to rally, but Desperado and Kanemaru’s generous amount of tag team offense had him playing defense soon again. Taguchi tried for the Dodon, but El Desperado rolled through it for a near pinfall. El Desperado decisively finished off Taguchi with the Loco Mono straight punch, followed by Pinche Loco. Suzuki-gun retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships.

NEVER Openweight Championship Match: Shingo Takagi (c) def. Jeff Cobb (21:11)
Shingo Takagi found himself in the rare position of being the smaller, weaker man in a singles match, as Jeff Cobb ate his strikes and returned heavier ones, and tossed the former junior heavyweight like a ragdoll. Takagi was forced to get creative, pushing Cobb into the ropes and using the bounce to finally take him off his feet with a backdrop driver. Cobb tried to retaliate with a crucifix powerbomb from the apron to the floor, but Shingo avoided it, knocked Cobb off the apron, and came hurtling through the air. You don’t often see a tope con hilo from Shingo Takagi. Shingo tried to follow up with the Noshigami, but Cobb was too heavy, and he picked Shingo up from behind to land a black tiger bomb. Feeling desperate, Shingo immediately fought back with a Death Valley driver, followed by a superplex. He gave a Pumping Bomber with such speed that, despite impacting Jeff, he couldn’t stop and fell out of the ring. He came back in and immediately looked to the leg, taking Cobb off his feet again with a dragonscrew leg whip, and then hoisting him in the air for Made in Japan, which earned a near fall. Shingo came running for another Pumping Bomber, but Cobb pushed him into the ropes, then caught him on the rebound to deliver Tour of the Islands. He was too hurt to go for the pin right away, and when he did, Takagi’s foot found the bottom rope, breaking the pin. He tried to take Shingo for another Tour of the Islands, but was blasted with one more Pumping Bomber! With the Last of the Dragon, Shingo Takagi retains the NEVER Openweight Championship.

SANADA def. EVIL (23:40)
SANADA attacked EVIL with an uncharacteristic ferocity at Power Struggle, but on this day, in the Tokyo Dome, EVIL was ready with weapons. He tossed SANADA into the barricade, causing the timekeeper’s table (and the timekeeper) to be knocked over. He set up a table outside the ring and attempted to STO SANADA through it, but it didn’t take. Nevertheless, EVIL maintained control, partly thanks to aid from Dick Togo on the outside. He lifted SANADA to the top, then brought him crashing down with a superplex. EVIL applied a scorpion deathlock, but SANADA achieved a rope break. Despite this, he was too hurt to make a comeback, and EVIL landed Darkness Falls, but SANADA weakly kicked out. As soon as SANADA rose to his feet, EVIL barreled towards him, looking for a lariat, but SANADA pushed EVIL into the exposed turnbuckle that he himself was the cause of. Seeing his advantage slip away, EVIL pushed SANADA into the referee, allowing Dick Togo to make his presence known. The two performed the Magic Killer, and Dick Togo rose to the top turnbuckle for a senton, but SANADA kicked EVIL into the ropes, causing Togo to lose his balance and fall. From there, SANADA mounted his first major comeback, trapping EVIL in the Skull End. He went for a top rope moonsault, and then another, but EVIL lifted his knees on the latter. As EVIL distracted the referee, Dick Togo tried to come in and choke SANADA out, but SANADA freed himself and pushed EVIL into Togo, causing Togo to comically crash through the table that EVIL placed. With Togo out, SANADA hit EVIL with EVIL’s own finish hold, and then landed a top rope moonsault for the pinfall victory. No bloodshed, but victory nonetheless.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: Hiromu Takahashi def. Taiji Ishimori (c) (25:31)
At this point, Hiromu and Ishimori know what it’s like to fight each other very well, and often had a hard time making their moves work without being countered. Ishimori’s early strategy was to work over Hiromu’s arms, smart considering many of Hiromu’s best moves start with a fireman’s carry hold. His early attempt at the Yes Lock, with which he tapped Hiromu out at Summer Struggle, was thwarted by a rope break. Before Ishimori’s arm work could pay off, Hiromu was on the offensive, delivering multiple death valley bombs into the corner. Having already wrestled against El Phantasmo last night, Hiromu wasn’t as fresh as Ishimori, and he tried to finish the match early with the Time Bomb. Ishimori would slip out of it and land a Canadian Destroyer to stop Hiromu in his tracks. He kept Hiromu on his knees with the hardest elbow strikes that his compact but overdeveloped body could produce. With a La Mistica into the Yes Lock, Ishimori had Hiromu working for every centimeter as he wriggled to the ropes for one more rope break. Hiromu’s Victory Royale granted him a moment of respite, and he then bowled Ishimori over with a lariat, then drove him into the corner that still had no turnbuckle pad from the previous match. The Time Bomb connected, but Ishimori was not out yet! He tried once more for the Yes Lock, but Hiromu lifted him onto his shoulders and finally pinned Ishimori with the Time Bomb II. “Mr. Belt” is back in the possession of Hiromu Takahashi.

IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental Championship Match: Kota Ibushi (c) def. Jay White (48:05)
It feels like Jay White has been a thorn in Kota Ibushi’s side for years. True, Ibushi defeated him to win his first ever G1 Climax, but he also lost to Jay, and became the first person to ever lose the G1 briefcase. The first ten minutes were almost all Jay, as he grinded Ibushi into the mat with strikes and holds. White cleverly cut off all of Ibushi’s comebacks, sweeping Ibushi’s legs out from under him when he tried for any sort of aerial offense. Gedo called for the Kiwi Crusher, and Jay tried to oblige, but Ibushi fought him off and rallied with a half nelson suplex, followed by the hitodenashi driver. His bicycle knee missed, and Jay was finally able to connect with the Kiwi Crusher for a near fall. He tried for his first Blade Runner, but Ibushi wasn’t having it. Jay tried to roll Ibushi into a pin with his legs elevated on the ropes, but the referee noticed it and refused to count the three. Angered, Ibushi ate Jay White’s elbow strikes and blasted him with kicks, forcing him into the fetal position. He growled for Jay to hit him harder, and would return every strike twice as hard. Ibushi shoved the referee away when they told him to let Ibushi up, but Jay White pounced with a low blow. He took control with repeated German suplexes, and brought Ibushi to the apron. Ibushi rocked him with a high kick and delivered his patented rope-assisted inside to outside German suplex. His first Kamigoye missed, and this gave Jay an opening for him to dump Ibushi on his head with suplexes. He tried again for the Blade Runner, but again Ibushi avoided it, and landed a Kamigoye flush, but Jay kicked out! With no hesitation, Ibushi ascended to the top turnbuckle and delivered a beautiful phoenix splash, but Gedo pulled the referee out of the ring. He tried to hit Ibushi with brass knuckles, but Ibushi caught him and obliterated him with a Kamigoye. Ibushi brought the referee back in, but Jay sprung with a Blade Runner, keeping Ibushi down until just shy of 3. Jay locked in the TTO leglock, but Ibushi crawled with all his might and made it to the ropes. Jay hit a cross-arm Bloody Sunday and tried again for the Blade Runner, and got blasted with a bicycle knee. Jay desperately tried again for the Blade Runner, but Ibushi leveled him with a lariat! He delivered a Kamigoye to the back of Jay’s head, then spun him around for another, and it was all over. Kota Ibushi is still your IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Champion.

SANADA appeared and civilly challenged Kota Ibushi. KENTA could learn a thing or two from him.

Results: NJPW G1 Climax 30 Day 11

New Japan Pro-Wrestling thirtieth annual G1 Climax tournament has arrived!

Watch on NJPW World with a paid subscription. Only live Japanese commentary available. English commentary will be uploaded within several days. This event will have reduced attendance capacity to comply with COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

Start Times:

  • Pacific: 10/7 2:30AM
  • Eastern: 10/7 5:30AM
  • UK: 10/7 10:30AM
  • Japan: 10/7 6:30PM
  • East Australia: 10/7 8:30PM

NJPW World Video

G1 Climax 30 Day 11 Results

Yota Tsuji def. Gabriel Kidd (6:43)
Two of the last three opening singles matches between young lions have ended in time limit draws, including the last one between Tsuji and Kidd. Evidently, the two of them had taken that to heart and didn’t want it to happen again. They spared the audience the formality of grappling at all and went straight to brawling and trying for their finishing holds. After much striking and grunting, Tsuji hit a spear on Kidd and locked in the Boston crab. He leaned back to put even more tension on Kidd’s spine and Kidd had nowhere to go.

A Block: Tomohiro Ishii def. Yujiro Takahashi (15:25)
Yujiro attacked Ishii before the bell and spent the opening minutes controlling the match against the Stone Pitbull. After slowing Yujiro’s role with a vertical suplex, he took his shirt off and threw it at the laying Yujiro, which drew applause from the crowd. Ishii threw Yujiro with a German suplex into the turnbuckle pad, then lifted him to the top rope for a superplex and a near fall. Yujiro was hurt, but he managed to reverse Ishii’s powerbomb and hit an Olympic slam for a two-count and the Miami Shine for yet another. Yujiro tried for the Pimp Juice DDT, but Ishii blocked it. Yujiro blocked his multiple attempts at the vertical brainbuster, and managed to hit a brainbuster of his own. Desperate, Yujiro tried to roll Ishii up, but that didn’t work. With a headbutt, a sliding lariat, and the vertical drop brainbuster put Yujiro away. Credit to him for lasting as long as he did, though. Ishii 6 points, Yujiro 0 points

A Block: Kazuchika Okada def. Jeff Cobb (11:03)
Okada realized that he would be fighting an uphill battle against the powerhouse Cobb once the opening bell rang. As Cobb was coming off the ropes, Okada tried to jump over him, but Cobb caught him in midair and laid him out with a vertical suplex. Cobb missed a corner splash and Okada used this opportunity to use multiple swinging neckbreakers to ready Cobb for the Money Clip. This was not enough to slow Cobb, though. Okada, a deceptively large man in his own right, experienced being tossed multiple times like an infant. Cobb’s Athletic-Plex and standing moonsault both received close near-falls from the Rainmaker. However, Okada would block Cobb’s try at the Tour of the Islands and hit a standing dropkick and Tombstone piledriver to even the odds. Okada applied the Money Clip, but Cobb was able to get to his feet and hit a standing dropkick of his own! Okada dropeped multiple more attempts at the Tour of the Islands and applied a rana pin for the victory. Okada 8 points, Cobb 4 points

A Block: Will Ospreay def. Minoru Suzuki (14:26)
From jump, the wily Suzuki was frequently ready for Ospreay’s moves. On the outside of the ring, Ospreay tried to do a flying forearm off the barricade, but Suzuki caught him in an armbar. Suzuki kept attacking Ospreay’s right arm, and when Ospreay tried to pop up and hit an elbow strike, he recoiled in pain. Not the smartest tool in the shed. Suzuki laid in his chops and had Ospreay bleeding from the chest. A handspring kick and standing shooting star press helped Ospreay gain some breathing room, but another top rope attack led to him being trapped in an armbar yet again. He was able to put his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold, but Suzuki was still in control. He laughed at Ospreay’s feeble strikes, and when Ospreay tried to go to the top rope again, Suzuki caught him, only for an Ospreay headbutt to send him to the mat. Suzuki blocked Ospreay’s attempt at the Stormbreaker, but Ospreay hit a suplex to grant himself some slight reprieve. Suzuki dodged the Hidden Blade and applied a sleeper hold. He tried for the Gotch-style piledriver, but Ospreay got out of it and hit an enzuigiri, followed by the Stormbreaker for the win. Ospreay 8 points, Suzuki 6 points

A Block: Jay White def. Taichi (15:16)
Every time Jay tried to leave the ring to troll Taichi, Taichi left the ring too, like a never-ending battle of who could hold out for longer. Eventually, Jay got tired of this, and threw Taichi into the barricade. He brought Taichi back in and focused on attacking Taichi’s back until Taichi retaliated with his powerful kicks. When he missed a kick in the corner, Jay capitalized with a chop block, followed by the Bladebuster. After landing a uranage, Jay attempted the Blade Runner, but Taichi blocked it and hit a backdrop driver at the 10-minute mark. Jay couldn’t land the snap sleeper suplex and Taichi applied the Gedo Clutch, but Gedo himself came in to distract the referee so he couldn’t count the pin. Jay pushed Taichi into the referee, and Gedo tried to interfere, but Taichi kicked him in the crotch. Then he kicked Jay White there too, but he kicked out of the Gedo Clutch at 2. Taichi hit an elevated powerbomb for another near fall, then set up for a thrust kick. As he went for it, Jay caught his leg, then swiftly hit the Blade Runner. Jay 8 points, Taichi 6 points

A Block: Shingo Takagi def. Kota Ibushi (21:56)
Ibushi and Shingo have never wrestled in a singles match before, and this match was highly anticipated. These two men are both incredible athletes who can do most anything, but Ibushi has the advantage in speed, Shingo in strength. The winner of this match would be he who could press that advantage greater, and at first it was Shingo. He battered Ibushi with strikes that Ibushi couldn’t match, and Ibushi was confident enough to play Shingo’s game. Finally, Ibushi wised up, and took the advantage using his trademark aerial offense. Shingo would continually cut Ibushi off, though, as his left arm lariat made Ibushi land on the mat head-first, and then he landed the Noshigami for a near fall on last year’s G1 Climax winner. Shingo tried for a German suplex, but Ibushi backflipped out of it and kicked the sitting Shingo right in the back of the head. After Ibushi’s sitout powerbomb achieved a near fall, Shingo would grant himself some space with a death valley driver, then lift Ibushi for the Last of the Dragon. It did not work, but he avoided a kick from Ibushi to land the Made in Japan for a near fall once more. Shingo followed up with two Pumping Bombers, but Ibushi kicked out just in time! Shingo lifted Ibushi to his feet and went for the Last of the Dragon again, but Ibushi shifted his weight to avoid it. A big lariat from Ibushi put Shingo on his back, and a Boma Ye put Shingo down for a two-count. Ibushi tried to finish the match with the Kamigoye, but Shingo grabbed Ibushi’s knee, and lifted him by it into the Last of the Dragon! Shingo 6 points, Ibushi 8 points

G1 Climax 30 Standings

A Block:
8 points – Kota Ibushi, Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, Jay White
6 points – Taichi, Minoru Suzuki, Tomohiro Ishii, Shingo Takagi
4 points – Jeff Cobb
0 points – Yujiro Takahashi

B Block:
8 points – Tetsuya Naito
6 points – Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Juice Robinson, EVIL
4 points – KENTA, Zack Sabre Jr., Hirooki Goto, SANADA
2 points – YOSHI-HASHI

Results: NJPW G1 Climax 30 Day 9

New Japan Pro-Wrestling thirtieth annual G1 Climax tournament has arrived!

Watch on NJPW World with a paid subscription. Only live Japanese commentary available. English commentary will be uploaded within several days. This event will have reduced attendance capacity to comply with COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

Start Times:

  • Pacific: 10/5 3AM
  • Eastern: 10/5 6AM
  • UK: 10/5 11AM
  • Japan: 10/5 7PM
  • East Australia: 10/5 9PM

NJPW World Video (Japanese Commentary)

G1 Climax 30 Day 9 Results

Yuya Uemura def. Gabriel Kidd (7:35)
The neck strength fostered at the NJPW Dojo, and likely most of the dojos in Japan, is truly otherworldly. It’s not even the first time they did this in this series of tournament matches, but watching Uemura bridge while an adult man is kneeling on his torso never fails to impress. What also never fails to please is when someone takes the most obvious move possible, to break the hold they’re trapped in, seen in this match when Kidd ended Uemura’s arm wringer with a loud elbow to the face. I enjoy the struggle that young lion matches embody and oftentimes non-young lions focus more on showcasing their repertoire than embodying that struggle. Yuya Uemura won by submission with a high-angle Boston crab.

A Block: Shingo Takagi def. Yujiro Takahashi (13:38)
Yujiro was sensible enough to understand that fighting dirty was the only hope he had against a powerhouse like Shingo. He bent the rules in every way possible, between hair pulling, biting, and slamming Shingo’s head into the corner post, and a reverse DDT on the apron for good measure. Eventually, Shingo got frustrated enough to bite Yujiro on the hand the way he did to Shingo earlier. It must hurt being bitten by a dragon. Yujiro pushed Shingo harder than I expected, hitting the Miami Shine and trying to set up for Pimp Juice, but Shingo stopped him. Eventually, Yujiro pushed the referee and tried to hit Shingo with his pimp cane, but Shingo lariated it away. A following Pumping Bomber and Last of the Dragon put Yujiro away in decisive fashion. Shingo 4 points, Yujiro 0 points

A Block: Jeff Cobb def. Jay White (12:24)
Taking a lesson from Bullet Club stablemate Yujiro in the previous match, Jay White used underhanded tactics to try and cut Mr. Athletic down to size. At one point, Gedo tried to interfere but Jeff Cobb caught both him and Jay, and delivered a double noggin knocker, something I’m surprised not to see more of in wrestling. Impressively, White was able to lift the rotund Cobb for the Bladebuster, but found himself thoroughly outmatched in a battle of strikes. Jay then transitioned into taking out the big man’s legs with a chop block and a dragonscrew. Cobb fired up and still had enough of a base that he could still try for the Tour of the Islands. Jay blocked it at first, but Gedo came in to distract Cobb and give Jay a moment of reprieve. However, this backfired spectacularly, when Cobb lifted Gedo up, press-slammed him into Jay White, and then hit the Tour of the Islands to pin Jay White. Cobb 4 points, White 6 points

A Block: Kazuchika Okada def. Minoru Suzuki (14:10)
Okada tried to grapple with Suzuki only to get summarily stretched, and then rocked when he tried to throw elbows with Suzuki. Okada has come back from behind to defeat Suzuki in the past, but it never seemed quite so one-sided. Okada tried to run off the ropes, but Suzuki caught him in a sleeper hold and went for an early Gotch-style piledriver. Okada blocked it and hit the Reverse Neckbreaker, which was the most relevant moment of offense he had achieved thus far. Still, Suzuki had the mettle to hold his hands behind his back and challenge Okada to hit him hard enough to hurt. Instead, Okada hit a standing dropkick followed by a Tombstone piledriver, then applied his cobra clutch, the Money Clip. Suzuki got to his feet and made it out of the hold. He put on a sleeper hold with bodyscissors, and when Okada managed to stand up out of it, he applied it again, but Okada grabbed Suzuki’s legs and pushed him down into a prawn hold for the pinfall victory. Likely the least earned win Okada has had in this tournament, and has ever had over Suzuki. Okada 6 points, Suzuki 6 points

A Block: Tomohiro Ishii def. Taichi (18:48)
Taichi truly has come along way over the last several years. In the early going of this match, Taichi was trading his kicks for Ishii’s forearm strikes and coming out the better man for it. Of course, Ishii did eventually find the werewithal to push through the pain and start laying the boots to Taichi. Perhaps his hubris got the better of him, as he went for an early attempt at the brainbuster, but Taichi blocked it and a cracking head kick put Ishii’s head flat on the mat. Ishii made it back to his feet but Taichi continued to punish him with heavy strikes. Ishii popped up yet again and hit a buckle bomb and a lariat, then endured a buzzsaw kick to the head and continued laying on his strikes. He went for the brainbuster yet again, but Taichi dropped out of it. In a moment of desperation, he pushed the referee at Ishii and kicked Ishii in the groin, but even this could not put Ishii away for a three-count. Ishii stood up and hit a lariat but Taichi kicked out at one, then stood up and dropped Ishii on his head with a backdrop driver! Down but not out, Ishii blocked Taichi’s attempt at Black Mephisto and hit a jumping high kick, followed by a sliding lariat. The vertical drop brainbuster finished Taichi off in emphatic fashion. Ishii 4 points, Taichi 6 points

A Block: Kota Ibushi def. Will Ospreay (15:56)
The way Ospreay behaved towards Ibushi as this match began was almost comically condescending. He ruffled Ibushi’s hair with his hand when they were locked up against the ropes, then again with his boot later when Ibushi was on the mat. Ibushi did not take this lightly. When Ospreay did his fakeout Sasuke Special and posed in the ring, Ibushi bolted in and grabbed his arms for a Kamigoye attempt. It did not land, but it’s the thought that counts. Similar to their encounter late last year, Ibushi tried for a top rope Frankensteiner, only for Ospreay to land on his feet out of it, albeit with a bit less balance than last time. He was also getting the better of Ibushi when it came to striking too. Ospreay tried for a Stombreaker early on but couldn’t make it stick, and hit a gnarly sitout powerbomb to put Ibushi down for a two-count. Ospreay set up in the corner for the Hidden Blade, but Ibushi stood up just in time to block it, and hit a powerbomb of his own for a near fall. Feeling the need to end the match quickly, Ospreay went for the Oscutter, but Ibushi hit a jumping knee to hit Ospreay in midair, and then the Kamigoye for an abrupt but utlimately satisfying victory. Ibushi 8 points, Ospreay 6 points

G1 Climax 30 Standings

A Block:
8 points – Kota Ibushi
6 points – Taichi, Jay White, Minoru Suzuki, Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada
4 points – Shingo Takagi, Jeff Cobb, Tomohiro Ishii
0 points – Yujiro Takahashi

B Block:
6 points – Toru Yano, Tetsuya Naito, Juice Robinson
4 points – KENTA, Zack Sabre Jr., Hiroshi Tanahashi, EVIL
2 points – Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, SANADA

Results: NJPW G1 Climax 30 Day 7

New Japan Pro-Wrestling thirtieth annual G1 Climax tournament has arrived!

Watch on NJPW World with a paid subscription. Only live Japanese commentary available. English commentary will be uploaded within several days. This event will have reduced attendance capacity to comply with COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

Start Times:

  • Pacific: 9/30 2:30AM
  • Eastern: 9/30 5:30AM
  • UK: 9/30 10:30AM
  • Japan: 9/30 6:30PM
  • East Australia: 9/30 7:30PM

NJPW World Video

G1 Climax 30 Day 7 Results

Yota Tsuji def. Yuya Uemura
Tsuji and Uemura have become very proficient at expressing the power versus technique dynamic. Watching Tsuji definitively overpower Uemura in a test of strength, forcing him into a bridge, but Uemura laying down to slip out of it and make it back onto his feet impressed me. It’s a level of making something simplistic yet satisfying and interesting that young lions usually become very good at before they graduate, thanks to their intentionally limited moveset. After Uemura nearly made it to the ropes to break the Boston crab, Tsuji busted out a giant swing, and reapplied the Boston crab for the victory. Also, it looks like he’s growing his beard back out too, which is nice.

A Block: Minoru Suzuki def. Yujiro Takahashi (7:53)
Yujiro showed an uncharacteristic energy, as if he had something to prove to the self-proclaimed King of Pro-Wrestling. The fact that Yujiro was putting up more of a fight than expected enraged Suzuki, and he mercilessly beat Yujiro with a chair, then demanded the audience to applaud for him. Suzuki cranked on Yujiro’s neck with a guillotine choke, but Yujiro was able to lift Suzuki into a Fisherman Buster. Yujiro fired up and yelled like a young lion trying to escape certain defeat as Suzuki pelted him with slaps and elbow strikes. Nevertheless, Suzuki hit the Gotch-style piledriver and it was all over. Suzuki 6 points, Yujiro 0 points

A Block: Kota Ibushi def. Jeff Cobb (10:43)
Jeff Cobb’s size and strength was sufficient to intimidate even Ibushi, who was hesitant to engage Cobb in close quarters at first. He tried to stay out of Cobb’s range, hitting sharp leg kicks. This was not enough to deter Cobb, whose surreal agility was on display as he landed a dropkick that Okada would be proud of. As Cobb delivered his arsenal of slams and suplexes, Ibushi needed a reprieve, and hung onto the ropes to catch his breath, but Cobb overpowered his grip and lifted him into the Athletic-Plex. Cobb tried for the Tour of the Islands, but Ibushi slipped out of it and hit a loud jumping knee strike, followed by the Kamigoye for the victory. Ibushi 6 points, Cobb 2 points

A Block: Kazuchika Okada def. Taichi (17:03)
El Desperado was a guest commentator for this match, and pulled out a chair when the match began. The referee left the ring to take the chair away from him, but this was merely a distraction, for Taichi had also gotten a chair and was pummeling Okada’s wrapped back with it. Taichi then rained down fast kicks on Okada, but Okada finally retaliated with elbows and uppercuts. He rose to the top rope, looking for a missile dropkick, but Taichi moved out of the way and Okada landed loudly on the mat. Like a shark smelling blood, Taichi hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and applied a half Boston crab while driving his knee into Okada’s back. As Taichi went for a thrust kick, Okada countered it with a dropkick, but Taichi quickly hit a backdrop driver that gave Okada a dazed facial expression. Desperate, Okada used a turning Tombstone piledriver, followed by a short-range lariat. Okada attempted a discus lariat, but Taichi dodged it and his wrist-clutch Axe Bomber achieved another near fall. Okada applied the Money Clip again and Taichi was visibly losing consciousness, so the referee called for the bell. Okada 4 points, Taichi 6 points

A Block: Will Ospreay def. Jay White (18:46)
Early on, Jay White was laying into Ospreay with backhand chops, but a single chop from Ospreay put White flat on his back, which was likely a wake-up call for Jay. He did his best to keep Ospreay on the mat, using holds like a half Boston crab to wear him down and stop him from taking advantage of his otherworldly speed. Unfortunately, Ospreay was able to get to his feet, but White intelligently bailed out of the ring and to the corner, avoiding Ospreay’s imminent Sasuke Special. Ospreay was visibly slowed by White’s earlier leg attacks. He could see Ospreay’s springboard forearm coming, and smootly reversed it into the Complete Shot. Ospreay was able to finally catch Jay off guard with a springboard shooting star press, but Jay hung onto his leg when he tried for the Oscutter. Ospreay tried for it again, but it was avoided, and he found himself on the receiving end of a Kiwi Crusher. Jay tried for the Blade Runner, but Ospreay reversed it into a sitout powerbomb, and finally managed to hit the Oscutter. Gedo tried to come in and help Jay, pulling the referee away and trying to hit Ospreay with a pair of brass knuckles, but Ospreay stopped him and dispatched Gedo with a rolling elbow. Jay went for a sleeper suplex while his opponent was occupied, but Ospreay backflipped out of it. He followed up with a rolling elbow, the Hidden Blade, and the Stormbreaker for the victory. Ospreay 6 points, Jay 6 points

A Block: Tomohiro Ishii def. Shingo Takagi (26:01)
When two wrestlers like Ishii and Shingo meet in the ring, you know what’s coming. You could probably count the number of moves that were not strikes in this match on two hands. Nevertheless, it always stays compelling, because of the way that they differ. Shingo wrestles Ishii the way he would wrestle an older, more weathered version of himself, peppering his strikes with a certain level of disdain and pity. How could he become weaker than he used to be? But when Ishii, with his flabby midsection and graying stubble starts fighting back, or kicking out, it’s all the more satisfying for it. Ishii kicked out of Shingo’s Made in Japan and Pumping Bomber, and put Shingo on his back with a running lariat of his own. He tried for the vertical drop brainbuster, but Shingo stuffed it and landed a pop-up death valley driver. He kicked out of Ishii’s lariat at a count of one before rising to his feet and collapsing on top of his opponent. Ishii landed a sliding lariat for a near fall and tried again for the brainbuster, but Shingo got out of it and delivered a sliding elbow that made Ishii crumple to the mat, followed by Pumping Bomber that Ishii kicked out of just a split second before 3. Shingo readied the Last of the Dragon, but Ishii dropped down out of it into a DDT! Finally, he hit an enzuigiri followed by the vertical drop brainbuster for the victory! Ishii 2 points, Shingo 2 points

G1 Climax Updated Standings

A Block:
6 points – Taichi, Jay White, Minoru Suzuki, Kota Ibushi, Will Ospreay
4 points – Kazuchika Okada
2 points – Jeff Cobb, Shingo Takagi, Tomohiro Ishii
0 points – Yujiro Takahashi

B Block:
6 points – Toru Yano, Tetsuya Naito
4 points – Juice Robinson, KENTA
2 points – Hirooki Goto, Zack Sabre Jr., EVIL, YOSHI-HASHI, Hiroshi Tanahashi
0 points – SANADA

Results: NJPW G1 Climax 30 Day 5

New Japan Pro-Wrestling thirtieth annual G1 Climax tournament has arrived!

Watch on NJPW World with a paid subscription. Only live Japanese commentary available. English commentary will be uploaded within several days. This event will have reduced attendance capacity to comply with COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

Start Times:

  • Pacific: 9/27 12AM
  • Eastern: 9/27 3AM
  • UK: 9/27 8AM
  • Japan: 9/27 4PM
  • East Australia: 9/27 5PM

NJPW World Video

G1 Climax 30 Day 5 Results

Gabriel Kidd def. Yota Tsuji (7:40)
The match began with Gabriel Kidd taking the advantage over Yota Tsuji while mat wrestling, as the commentators speculated that Kidd’s training in Lancashire wrestling would grant him the edge when working on the ground. Yota Tsuji, whose new blown out hair style is reminiscent of Andre the Giant, gained control with his superior power landing a body slam into a running splash. He applied a single-leg Boston crab, but Kidd achieved a rope break. Kidd landed a dropkick and won the match with a double underhook suplex.

A Block: Taichi def. Yujiro Takahashi (11:03)
Unfortunately, Yujiro and Taichi’s valets, Pieter and Miho Abe, were absent for this match. As one would expect from a match between two of the dirtiest fighters in NJPW, this match was full of rule-bending. The first move of the match was Yujiro hitting Taichi with his cane, but Taichi would respond with choking Yujiro with a microphone cable and slamming his head into the ring post. Taichi seemed to have the advantage in physical prowess, and he wore Yujiro down with kicks. He yelled at Yujiro, mentioning Tetsuya Naito, likely alluding to how far above Yujiro Naito is now, when years ago they were a tag team. He then hit the Axe Bomber for a near fall. He stood in the corner waiting for Yujiro to rise to his feet, but as he went for the thrust kick, Yujiro caught him and hit the Miami Shine, for another two count. He went to follow up with the Pimp Juice DDT, but Taichi pushed him away, then hit a sneaky low blow and pinned him with the Taichi-style Gedo clutch. Taichi 6 points, Yujiro 0 points.

A Block: Minoru Suzuki def. Jeff Cobb (9:24)
Suzuki started by laying on his back and challenging Cobb to grapple with him, a tall order considering Cobb’s Olympic-level ability at freestyle wrestling. And yet, despite Cobb’s physical advantages, Suzuki seemed to be getting the better of him on the mat. Cobb moved to his feet, and from there he used his great strength to throw Suzuki with suplexes. Suzuki made it behind Cobb and applied the sleeper hold, but Cobb threw him off easily when he attempted the Gotch-style piledriver. Cobb continued his series of suplexes and slams, but when he went for the Tour of the Islands, Suzuki caught him in a guillotine choke and forced himself free. He then applied the sleeper hold again and lifted the bulky Cobb up for the Gotch-style piledriver. Suzuki 4 points, Cobb 2 points

A Block: Kota Ibushi def. Tomohiro Ishii (15:41)
Ibushi and Ishii went at each other with a great intensity from the getgo, throwing strikes and with Ishii blocking Ibushi’s loud kicks. Ishii backed Ibushi into the corner and egged him on, tanking Ibushi’s elbow strikes. He knocked Ibushi to the ground and landed kicks of his own, but Ibushi rose up and engaged Ishii in a strike battle: his kicks versus Ishii’s backhand chops. Ishii finally started showing pain, taking a knee, but he Isfired up and they traded German suplexes, but a dropkick from Ibushi put them both on their backs. They sat up and exchanged slaps but Ibushi dropped Ishii with a final slap to the chest. Ishii fired back up, but Ibushi just stared blankly at him and then kicked him in the head, then hit an elevated powerbomb for a near fall. Ibushi tried for a Frankensteiner, but Ishii countered it, then Ishii went for the vertical drop brainbuster, but Ibushi countered that too. In a desperation move, Ibushi went for the Kamigoye, but with a headbutt, Ishii had averted it. However, Ibushi hit the Boma Ye for a near fall, followed by another Boma Ye and the Kamigoye for the victory, in a match that was exhausting to watch and keep up with. Ibushi 4 points, Ishii 0 points

A Block: Shingo Takagi def. Will Ospreay (22:03)
These two men have only fought in one singles match before, and it was in the final of last year’s Best of the Super Juniors. Ospreay won that match and since then he has grown in mass, but so has his ego. He spoke recently about wanting to beat Shingo in Kobe City, where this event is taking place, because it’s where Dragon Gate, Shingo’s home promotion, is based. These two fought with great intensity, and Ospreay continues to demonstrate that his increased bulk has not come at the cost of his agility, getting the better of Shingo in the early going. Shingo tried to neutralize Ospreay’s speed by applying a Figure Four Leglock, but Ospreay stopped it before it was cinched in, and when Shingo tried for the Noshigami, Ospreay reversed it into a stunner. Ospreay lifted Shingo for the stormbreaker, but instead hung Shingo upside down over the turnbuckle and hit a corner-to-corner dropkick. Ospreay went for the Oscutter, but Shingo countered it into the Noshigami, then hit the Sol del Japon for a near fall. Shingo went to follow up with the Pumping Bomber, but Ospreay moved out of the way and hit a Liger Bomb for a near fall of his own, and then the Oscutter only for Shingo to kick out again! Ospreay went for the Stormbreaker, but Shingo blocked it and lifted Ospreay into the Made in Japan. Ospreay blocked the Last of the Dragon, when Shingo went for another Pumping Bomber Ospreay reversed it into a spanish fly. Ospreay landed a heavy rolling elbow and went for the top rope Oscutter, but Shingo got to him and hit the Stay Dream from the middle rope for the near fall. He hit one last Pumping Bomber and the Last of the Dragon for the victory! Shingo 2 points, Ospreay 4 points

A Block: Jay White def. Kazuchika Okada (18:48)
Like the villain he is, Jay White got on the microphone before the match began and chanted for Okada, encouraging the audience to do so as well, except they aren’t allowed to cheer out loud. Gedo was a continual thorn in Okada’s side throughout this match, making minor offences like pulling Okada’s leg from the outside, but running like a coward whenever Okada was perturbed enought to confront him. Jay White was dominating Okada, wearing him down with punches to the lower back, but when Okada went after Gedo again, Jay chased after him. It ended up with Okada planting both Gedo and Jay with a double DDT on the entrance ramp. Okada then put Gedo’s bucket hat on, which made the audience laugh. In the ring, Okada tried for the reverse neckbreaker, but his back was in too much pain, and he crumpled to his knees when he tried to lift Jay onto his back. Okada irish whipped Jay into the ropes and followed up with the dropkick, but Jay hung onto the ropes and Okada just landed on his back. Gedo yelled for Jay to do the Rainmaker, but Okada countered Jay’s Rainmaker into the tombstone Piledriver, then applied Money Clip. Jay was able to reach the bottom rope to break the hold, however. Okada hit a rolling lariat and applied the Money Clip again, but Gedo distracted the referee and Jay broke the hold with a low blow. Jay went for the Blade Runner, but Okada blocked it applied the Money Clip again from a standing position. Still in the hold, Jay hit the SSS suplex and the Blade Runner for the victory, which made the crowd react in shock. Jay 6 points, Okada 2 points

Jay White got on the microphone and thanked Okada for wrestling him when two years ago, almost on the same day of the year, Gedo turned on Okada and teamed up with Jay. He said that he is the present and the future, and that Okada is history.

Standings

A Block:
6 points – Taichi, Jay White
4 points – Will Ospreay, Minoru Suzuki, Kota Ibushi
2 points – Kazuchika Okada, Jeff Cobb, Shingo Takagi
0 points – Tomohiro Ishii, Yujiro Takahashi

B Block:
4 points – Tetsuya Naito, Juice Robinson, Toru Yano
2 points – Hirooki Goto, KENTA, Zack Sabre Jr., EVIL
0 points – YOSHI-HASHI, SANADA, Hiroshi Tanahashi

Quick Results: NJPW G1 Climax 30 Day 3

New Japan Pro-Wrestling held their third day of the G1 Climax 30 tournament today.

NJPW World Video (Japanese commentary)

English commentary will be uploaded this week.

NJPW G1 Climax 30 Day 3 Results

Gabriel Kidd def. Yuya Uemura (7:21, Pinfall, Double Underhook Suplex)

A Block: Jeff Cobb def. Shingo Takagi (11:44, Pinfall, Tour of the Islands)

A Block: Kazuchika Okada def. Yujiro Takahashi (12:01, Submission, Money Clip)

A Block: Taichi def. Minoru Suzuki (12:11, Pinfall, Black Mephisto)

A Block: Will Ospreay def. Tomohiro Ishii (18:20, Pinfall, Stormbreaker)

A Block: Jay White def. Kota Ibushi (20:28, Pinfall, Blade Runner)

Standings

A Block
4 points – Will Ospreay, Taichi, Jay White
2 points – Jeff Cobb, Kazuchika Okada, Minoru Suzuki, Kota Ibushi
0 points – Tomohiro Ishii, Shingo Takagi, Yujiro Takahashi

B Block
2 points – Juice Robinson, Toru Yano, KENTA, Zack Sabre Jr., Tetsuya Naito
0 points – EVIL, Hirooki Goto, SANADA, Hiroshi Tanahashi, YOSHI-HASHI

Results: NJPW G1 Climax 30 Day 1

New Japan Pro-Wrestling thirtieth annual G1 Climax tournament has arrived!

Watch on NJPW World with a paid subscription. Only live Japanese commentary available. English commentary will be uploaded within several days. This event will have reduced attendance capacity to comply with COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

Start Times (September 19, 2020): 1AM Pacific, 4AM Eastern, 9AM UK, 5PM Japan, 6PM East Australia

G1 Climax 30 Day 1 Results

Yuya Uemura def. Yota Tsuji (6:57)
Yota Tsuji has shaved his goatee off since his last match, and I’m personally not a fan of the clean-shaven look. These two are going to be wrestling a lot over the course of the tournament. Every date, except perhaps the last, will start with a singles match involving a combination of Uemura, Tsuji, and Gabriel Kidd, so it will be enlightening to see if anyone gets an edge against each other. These two in the ring has demonstrated the dynamic between them after their years as young lions: Tsuji being the harder hitter while Uemura has more finesse and is more easy to root for. Uemura hit a beautiful dropkick and submitted Tsuji with a high-angle Boston crab for the victory.

A Block: Will Ospreay def. Yujiro Takahashi (7:34)
Will Ospreay is back in Japan, and he got a great reception from the crowd. He has gained significant muscle mass over the last half year, and his billed weight has increased to 105 kilograms. Nevertheless, he seems not to have been slowed down too much by the weight gain, still flying through the air with ease. Yujiro tried to slow him down whenever possible, but Ospreay had too much energy and power for him. Ospreay hit the Stormbreaker for the not that hard-fought pinfall victory. Afterwards, he got on the microphone and talked about how he has nothing to fear because he is Will Ospreay. Not just his body, his head has clearly gotten bigger as well. Ospreay 2 points, Yujiro 0 points

A Block: Taichi def. Jeff Cobb (12:47)
Jeff Cobb seems to have acquired the goatee that Yota Tsuji removed, and it looks good on him. Rumor has it that he is now a contracted NJPW full-time wrestler, so he has a lot to prove. Unfortunately, Miho Abe will be absent for all of Taichi’s matches in the G1. Taichi did not want to fight Cobb head-on, and Cobb had to chase him around the ring until Taichi hit him with the bell hammer, which he had stealthily stolen. Now in control, Taichi tried to immobilize Cobb through attacking his legs, but Cobb would rise to his feet and dominate Taichi with his powerful throws. Taichi retaliated with beautiful leg kicks and slowed Cobb’s pace to a crawl, flooring him with a jumping high kick. Cobb tried to pick Taichi up for the Tour of the Islands, but Taichi slipped out of it and delivered a backdrop driver as the crowd swelled with applause. He finally was able to lift Jeff Cobb for the Black Mephisto and make it on the G1 board. Taichi 2 points, Cobb 0 points

A Block: Minoru Suzuki def. Tomohiro Ishii (13:00)
Neither Ishii nor Suzuki brought the belts they possess to the ring, which is irrationally upsetting to me. Nevertheless, these two men started as we knew they would, at each other’s throats and just slapping, punching, and mouthing off to each other without a care in the world. They both made early attempts at their match-ending moves, but these were in vain. The really loud elbow strikes they threw resounded especially in the building where the crowds can only clap, not cheer loudly. Suzuki took the edge in the battle of strikes, and Ishii crumpled to the ground, but not for long. He rose up and continued taking the fight to Suzuki. They traded headbutts before Ishii lifted Suzuki and hit a reverse piledriver! In a last-ditch effort, Suzuki hit a fast Gotch-style piledriver for the win! Suzuki 2 points, Ishii 0 points

A Block: Jay White def. Shingo Takagi (19:28)
Since we’re talking about facial hair so far on this show, Jay White still has the disgusting-looking goatee, and it suits him. As the match began, Jay White continued to stall for time, but when he finally did get in the ring to fight, Gedo helped him intermittently, such as by holding Shingo’s leg to give Jay an opening. Shingo tried for the Noshigami, but Jay blocked it and dropped Shingo on his back with repeated suplexes. Shingo tried to run to the ropes for a lariat, but Jay hit the Complete Shot to slow his roll once again, which was the theme of this whole match: Jay continuing to cut Shingo off whenever he mounted a comeback. Jay attempted the Blade Runner, but Shingo reversed it and hit the Made in Japan for a near fall. Shingo lifted Jay for the Last of the Dragon, but Jay grabbed the referee so Shingo would lose his balance. Fed up, Shingo hit the Pumping Bomber and the Last of the Dragon again, but while Jay was on Shingo’s shoulders, he kicked the referee so there was no one to count the pinfall. With the referee down, Jay hit a low blow followed by the Blade Runner when the refeee made it back in the ring. Jay 2 points, Shingo 0 points

A Block: Kota Ibushi def. Kazuchika Okada (21:35)
Ibushi and Okada were tentative to confront each other, despite the fact that if they were to last as long against each other as they did in their Wrestle Kingdom match this year, this bout would end in a time limit draw. Okada’s victory eight months ago seemed to make him not take Ibushi too seriously, as even when he gained an advantage, he would clap and stomp to rile up the crowd instead of putting the pressure on Ibushi. Okada applied the Money Clip, which is the name for the cobra clutch that he’s been using ever NJPW resumed, but Ibushi got his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Okada pulled Ibushi outside the ring and tried to hit the tombstone piledriver on the floor, but Ibushi got out of it, and then hit an asai moonsault to Okada on the outside. Okada and Ibushi fought over another piledriver in the ring, but Okada was finally able to hit the tombstone. Okada let Ibushi get to his knees and challenged him to hit him, but Ibushi got to his feet and kicked the kneeling Okada in the head. Ibushi tried to follow up, but Okada caught him and hit a spinning tombstone piledriver, than applied the Money Clip again, but Ibushi was able to get Okada off him. Okada grabbed Ibushi’s hands like he was going for the Kamigoye himself, but Ibushi lifted him into a sitout powerbomb, and then hit the Kamigoye for the three count! Ibushi 2 points, Okada 0 points

Standings

A Block:
2 points – Will Ospreay, Taichi, Minoru Suzuki, Jay White, Kota Ibushi
0 points – Jeff Cobb, Tomohiro Ishii, Kazuchika Okada, Shingo Takagi, Yujiro Takahashi

B Block:
0 points – EVIL, Hirooki Goto, KENTA, Tetsuya Naito, Juice Robinson, Zack Sabre Jr., SANADA, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI

Update On Jeff Cobb’s Future & Which Company He Signed With

Jeff Cobb’s future is coming into focus.

The 38-year-old Olympian has been one of the top free agents in pro wrestling. He’s had notable runs with Lucha Underground, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor. He was briefly aligned with Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle earlier this year with a 2-week stint on AEW Dynamite.

Cobb has teased in recent months that he signed with a major wrestling promotion, but did not reveal which company he committed to.

On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said it’s all but certain that Cobb has signed with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Jeff Cobb will enter this year’s G1 Climax Tournament, one of several signs that NPW is his new home. The general feeling within the industry is that Cobb’s goal was to use Ring of Honor as a stepping stone to New Japan.

With this news going public, keep an eye out for public comments from Cobb himself.

Discussion: Do you think Jeff Cobb made the right call by joining NJPW?

Jeff Cobb Teases Promotion Announcing His Signing

Jeff Cobb is still a free agent, but that might be changing soon. 

Cobb teased a major promotion announcing his signing during an appearance on Wrestling Inc. Daily. 

“Well, technically I’m a free agent until whatever group announces that I signed. I’m enjoying what I’m doing. I was going to make a decision but then this craziness kind of happened. So kind of just laying low until the company announces it, and then we’ll go from there. 

I want the company to do it so the company will get the recognition. I’d rather them do it that way so they can get the spotlight instead of me, and I’ll go from there.”

Cobb’s contract with ROH expired back in January.  A few months ago, he made it known to ROH officials that he wanted to stay and work with ROH, but was enjoying his time as a free agent. 

Back on the February 12th episode of AEW Dynamite, Cobb made a surprise appearance by attacking Jon Moxley. The following week, Moxley beat Cobb in a singles match. He hasn’t been seen since then on AEW TV. 

He is currently competing as part of NJPW Strong in the New Japan Cup for the opportunity to challenge for the IWGP United States Championship.

NJPW Strong to Premiere Friday, August 7th on NJPW World

Today, New Japan Pro-Wrestling released a video announcement made by NJPW of America CEO, Takami Obari. He discussed how NJPW wrestlers based in the United States are not currently able to travel to Japan to partake in NJPW events.

In the meantime, NJPW Strong will be a weekly show on NJPW World. Obari mentions that it’s difficult for US-based wrestlers to compete in Japan. Starting Friday, at 10PM Eastern, NJPW Strong will be presented on NJPW World.

It will begin with New Japan Cup USA 2020, an eight-man single elimination tournament, and the winner will be eligible to challenge for the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship, currently held by Jon Moxley, at a later date.

The first round matches are as follows, and are scheduled for the premier episode on August 7th.

August 7th: New Japan Cup USA First Round

  • Karl Fredericks vs. KENTA
  • Jeff Cobb vs. Tanga Loa
  • David Finlay vs. Chase Owens
  • Brody King vs. Tama Tonga

August 14th: New Japan Cup USA Semifinals

  • Two semifinal matches

August 21st: New Japan Cup USA Final

  • Final match

Jeff Cobb Details His Brief Run In AEW

Jeff Cobb made an appearance on the second episode of the ROHStrong podcast where he spoke about his brief stint in AEW earlier this year.

Cobb made a surprise appearance on the February 12th episode of AEW Dynamite by attacking Jon Moxley. The following week, Moxley beat Cobb in a singles match. 

Cobb says his agreement to work two shows for AEW was kept pretty quiet. Only Cody Rhodes, Jon Moxley and a handful of other people knew he was coming in.

At the time, AEW made it known on Twitter that Cobb was “All Elite,” an indication that he would be wrestling for the company going forward but that wasn’t the case. After losing to Moxley, he hasn’t been seen on Dynamite since. 

Cobb stated that on January 1st, his contract with ROH expired but he made it known to ROH officials that he wanted to stay and work with ROH. The reason for that is due to his belief in ROH and the direction that the company is going. 

He put over ROH having a talent roster that is ridiculous. His goal was to stay with ROH but the AEW opportunity came up and he took it. 

“I feel it was good for both parties. Because now people that only watch AEW are like ‘well, I thought Jeff is Ring of Honor?’ or some people are like, ‘what’s Ring of Honor?’ Then they come over and look at Ring of Honor and now there’s more eyes that wouldn’t have been on Ring of Honor that are going over now. I think it helped everybody in the grand scheme of things. It was fun. Good pay day.”

Cobb also noted that he’s okay with not being signed to an exclusive contract with any promotions. However, he does know there are pros and cons with being exclusive and being non-exclusive. Thus, he eventually thinks he’ll settle down. 

NJPW Announces New Japan Cup 2020 First Round Matches

New Japan Pro-Wrestling has announced the lineup for the first round of their annual springtime single-elimination tournament, the New Japan Cup.

NJPW has confirmed that the winner of the New Japan Cup 2020 will challenge Tetsuya Naito for his IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships at Sakura Genesis on March 31st. All days of the New Japan Cup 2020 will be broadcasted live on NJPW World with an English commentary option.

Similar to last year, the field will consist of 32 NJPW wrestlers. The first round will take place over four events on March 4, 7, 8, and 9. The second round will take place over four events as well, on March 10, 12, 13, and 14. The quarter-finals will be held over three events on March 16, 17, and 18. Finally, the semi-finals will take place on March 20th, with the final match to decide the New Japan Cup winner on March 21st.

In the 2019 New Japan Cup, Kazuchika Okada took victory against SANADA in the final, and used the victory to challenge Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. He would go on to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the G1 Supercard event at Madison Square Garden during WrestleMania weekend.

Day 1: Round 1 (March 4)

  • Togi Makabe vs. Jeff Cobb
  • Toru Yano vs. Chase Owens
  • Colt Cabana vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Toa Henare

Day 2: Round 1 (March 7)

  • David Finlay vs. Tanga Loa
  • Juice Robinson vs. Alex Coughlin
  • Yuji Nagata vs. Minoru Suzuki
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White

Day 3: Round 1 (March 8)

  • Mikey Nicholls vs. SANADA
  • Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Taichi

Day 4: Round 1 (March 9)

  • Hirooki Goto vs. Yujiro Takahashi
  • Karl Fredericks vs. KENTA
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. EVIL

Update On Jeff Cobb & AEW Contract Negotiations

Jeff Cobb was announced as Chris Jericho’s hired gun to face Jon Moxley this week on AEW Dynamite. Cody Rhodes addressed Cobb’s deal with the promotion on a recent media call, noting that Cobb was signed for more dates but nothing full-time or long-term. According to a recent report from the Wrestling Observer, AEW has offered Cobb a deal that will allow him to still work with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

“Jeff Cobb was offered a deal this past week. Tony Khan had never met him until this week. Cody had been trying to get him since the start of the year. Cobb had only agreed to a few dates,” wrote Dave Meltzer.

“They offered him a deal where he could still work New Japan and that’s where talks left,” the report continued. Being able to work with New Japan is said to be quite important to Cobb.

Jeff Cobb In NJPW

Cobb entered his first-ever G1 Climax tournament in 2019 with New Japan Pro Wrestling. He finished tied for 4th in Block B with 8 points. He still has yet to compete in a New Japan Cup. Cobb is also a former NEVER Openweight Champion in New Japan Pro Wrestling. He defeated Will Ospreay for the title at the G1 Supercard in Madison Square Garden before dropping it to Taichi at Wrestling Dontaku.

Jeff Cobb Offered Contract By AEW, Still Wants To Wrestle For NJPW

Jeff Cobb made his surprise debut for All Elite Wrestling this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite. Cobb appeared as Chris Jericho’s hired hitman and aligned himself with the Inner Circle and attacked Jon Moxley. Chris Jericho had said earlier on the show that he searched the world for a hitman and he found Cobb, which he recruited for a match with Moxley next week.

Reports had surfaced that despite the big debut and high-profile match for the promotion, Jeff Cobb is not signed to a long term deal with AEW. Now in the latest update from Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer has provided some more details on the situation.

Despite getting booked for a huge match next week, Cobb is still promoted for Ring of Honor shows, up to April’s Supercard of Honor event.

The report says that AEW wants Jeff Cobb to work full-time, and has offered him a contract. However, the wrestler wants to work for other promotions like New Japan Pro Wrestling, along with working his Ring of Honor dates.

Meltzer noted that at this point, Jeff Cobb is for an angle. Cobb has wanted to work with NJPW as much as he can, and there’s no indication if that has changed.

Reportedly, Cody Rhodes has had a keen interest in Jeff Cobb ever since his Ring of Honor contract ended. The company has wanted him in a full-time role, but right now Cobb is only in for the angle and hasn’t signed a contract.

On the February 12 episode of Dynamite, after Moxley defeated Santana in the main event match, Jeff Cobb attacked him by hitting the Tour of the Islands.

While it’s not sure if we’ll see more of Jeff Cobb after February 19’s Dynamite. he is scheduled to appear for ROH’s Gateway to Honor show on February 9 and the aforementioned Supercard of Honor on April 4.

Jim Ross Talks AEW’s Focus Regarding New Talent Signings

AEW Commentator Jim Ross recently took part in a Q&A episode of his ‘Grilling JR‘ podcast. The former voice of WWE answered questions across his illustrious career, both for WWE and his new home on TNT with AEW.

One of the questions posed to Jim Ross revolved around AEW’s stance in terms of new signings. Ring of Honor star Jeff Cobb appeared in a shock appearance on Dynamite this week to the end the show. Interestingly, although JR is reportedly not involved in talent relations he did mention that the likes of Cobb would be a great fit for All Elite.

“I’m a big fan of Lance Archer, I’m a big fan of Jeff Cobb” – Jim Ross

When asked about the type of talent AEW should be looking for JR replied “size. Athletic, big guys. I don’t know who is signed. I [just] know that I’m a big fan of Lance Archer, I’m a big fan of Jeff Cobb. I’m a big fan of the former Harper in WWE [now Brodie Lee].”

Jim Ross elaborated further, saying “guys like that have ability that we all can see. [Guys] That have not been given the total opportunity to become a global star with a spotlight on them. I like those kind of guys, because all those guys I just mentioned are from athletic backgrounds. So that means to me that since being a kid they were competitive. That’s important. Because this business is not easy. So finding athletes to become pro wrestlers is not a bad formula, it worked for generations in our country. Bronko Nagurski is an NFL Hall of Famer. [He] was playing football in the height of his career, but left the NFL [to] wrestle full time cause he made more money wrestling at that point.”

Jim Ross also made the point of saying that AEW needs to look at bringing in bigger stars to play the heel role. “We need heels, big heels, we need heels on our roster to develop. We [AEW] probably have too many babyfaces. So I think big athletic heels are something they’re looking for.”

Who do you think AEW are likely to sign next? Let us know in the comments

News On Jeff Cobb’s AEW Contract Status Following Dynamite Debut

Former ROH TV Champion Jeff Cobb made his AEW debut on this week’s episode of Dynamite, as seen blow.

Despite an impressive debut and a high-profile match scheduled for next week’s show, Jeff Cobb has not signed a long-term deal with the promotion. PWinsider reports that the 37-year-old Olympian remains a free agent.

Cobb’s appearance with AEW should not be seen as the start of a working relationship with ROH, as the appearance was booked independently.

It was announced during this week’s episode of Dynamite that Le Champion Chris Jericho has hired Cobb to take out Jon Moxley in a match next week.

Cobb made a surprise debut during the closing segment of the show. After Moxley scored a hard-fought victory over Inner Circle member Santana, he was taken on a Tour of the Islands.

Jeff Cobb will return to AEW programming next week to take on Mox in the announced match, but this report puts his future beyond that in doubt.

Chris Jericho defends the AEW World Heavyweight Championship against Jon Moxley later this month (2/29) when AEW Revolution invades the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.

Jeff Cobb To Make AEW In-Ring Debut Against Top Star Next Week

Jeff Cobb is all elite as he’s in AEW now.

The news was made on Wednesday’s episode of AEW Dynamite on TNT via AEW World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho. It was revealed that Cobb is slated to take on Jon Moxley in a singles match on next week’s episode of Dynamite in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Cobb made an appearance at the end of this week’s show by attacking Moxley. Next Wednesday’s will mark the go-home show for the Revolution pay-per-view. Also set for next week is Cody Rhodes vs. Wardlow inside of a steel cage.

Cobb is a former ROH World Television Champion and former PWG World Champion. As of this writing, his status with AEW and ROH is not fully known as Ring of Honor and All Elite Wrestling hasn’t had a working relationship up to this point. 

While it’s likely that Cobb will be working for AEW full-time going forward, he’s still working dates for ROH. In wrestling you can’t rule out much so technically it’s possible that this could be a one-off appearance. 

An update on Cobb’s status is likely to surface in the coming days. Ironically, ROH announced minutes before this AEW announcement that Cobb would be working an ROH show on WrestleMania weekend. 

Cobb and Dan Maff face KENTA and Taiji Ishimori in a tag match at Supercard of Honor in Lakeland, Fla., on April 4th.

Nyla Rose Wins AEW Women’s Title

NJPW World Tag League 2019 Teams, Schedule Released

New Japan Pro-Wrestling has just announced details for 2019 edition of their annual heavyweight tag team tournament, the World Tag League.

The last major tour of the NJPW calendar, this tournament determines IWGP Tag Team Championship challengers for the following year’s Wrestle Kingdom.

This year’s World Tag League will have a single block with sixteen teams. Over the seventeen day tournament, each team will compete against each other, earning 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.

All matches will have a 30-minute time limit. Los Ingobernables de Japon’s EVIL and SANADA have won the World Tag League for the past two years.

World Tag League 2019 Teams

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay
  • Toru Yano & Colt Cabana
  • CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI)
  • Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks
  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi
  • Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls
  • Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL & SANADA)
  • Los Ingobernables (Shingo Takagi & El Terrible)
  • TenKoji (Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan)
  • Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma)
  • Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa)
  • Suzukigun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi)
  • Suzukigun (Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer)
  • Bullet Club (Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale)
  • Bullet Club (KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi)

World Tag League 2019 Schedule

November 16 Live on NJPW World

  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks
  • Toru Yano & Colt Cabana vs. Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls
  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Shingo Takagi & El Terrible
  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer vs. Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma
  • Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi

November 17 Live on NJPW World

  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Toru Yano & Colt Cabana vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls
  • Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • EVIL & SANADA vs. Shingo Takagi & El Terrible

November 18 Live on NJPW World

  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks
  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan
  • Toru Yano & Colt Cabana vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer
  • KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi vs. Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Shingo Takagi & El Terrible
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi

November 19 VOD Only

  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay
  • Shingo Takagi & El Terrible vs. Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Toru Yano & Colt Cabana
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls vs. EVIL & SANADA

November 21 VOD Only

  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan
  • Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay
  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi
  • EVIL & SANADA vs. Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Shingo Takagi & El Terrible vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi

November 23 VOD Only

  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls
  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. EVIL & SANADA
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Toru Yano & Colt Cabana
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Shingo Takagi & El Terrible
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI
  • Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa

November 24 VOD Only

  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. Toru Yano & Colt Cabana
  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI
  • Shingo Takagi & El Terrible vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • EVIL & SANADA vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa

November 25 VOD Only

  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Toru Yano & Colt Cabana
  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls
  • Shingo Takagi & El Terrible vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer
  • Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI
  • EVIL & SANADA vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi

November 27 VOD Only

  • Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks vs. Shingo Takagi & El Terrible
  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI
  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Toru Yano & Colt Cabana vs. EVIL & SANADA

November 28 Live on NJPW World

  • Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks vs. Toru Yano & Colt Cabana
  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. Shingo Takagi & El Terrible
  • Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • EVIL & SANADA vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi

November 29 Live on NJPW World

  • Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks vs. Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls
  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Toru Yano & Colt Cabana
  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL & SANADA

December 1 December NJPW World Schedule TBA

  • Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer
  • Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls
  • Toru Yano & Colt Cabana vs. Shingo Takagi & El Terrible
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. EVIL & SANADA
  • Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa

December 2 December NJPW World Schedule TBA

  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Shingo Takagi & El Terrible
  • Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls vs. Chase owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Toru Yano & Colt Cabana vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • EVIL & SANADA vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI

December 3 December NJPW World Schedule TBA

  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Toru Yano & Colt Cabana
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer
  • Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks vs. EVIL & SANADA
  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa

December 5 December NJPW World Schedule TBA

  • Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks vs. Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI
  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. EVIL & SANADA
  • Shingo Takagi & El Terrible vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer

December 6 December NJPW World Schedule TBA

  • Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks vs. Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shingo Takagi & El Terrible
  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. EVIL & SANADA
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Toru Yano & Colt Cabana vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer

December 8 December NJPW World Schedule TBA

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs. Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks
  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. EVIL & SANADA
  • Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • Toru Yano & Colt Cabana vs. Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale
  • Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls vs. Shingo Takagi & El Terrible
  • Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer vs. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi

The match order for the final day on December 8 will be decided based on team standings as of the final day. There is no specific Final match to determine the winners. A de facto final match will be determined based on the highest ranking teams going into the final day.

Rush And Jeff Cobb Teaming Up For ROH Honor United Tour

Ring of Honor is making its return to the UK with three big shows this month as part of the Honor United 2019 tour. The tour kicks off in London on October 25, then head to Newport on October 26 and will conclude in Bolton on October 27.

The company has now revealed additional details for the tour. In a press release, ROH has revealed that RUSH and Jeff Cobb will team up on the tour to take on PCO and Brody King of the Villain Enterprises. The tag team match will take place in Newport, Wales on October 26 at the Newport Centre.

RUSH and Cobb are doing great in ROH, with the former being undefeated in the promotion whereas the latter has only suffered one pinfall loss since signing with the company.

PCO and King of the Villain Enterprises are former ROH World Tag Team Champions and are currently the two-thirds of ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions along with Marty Scurll.

The tag team match also takes place before RUSH’s match against Cobb where he will defend his ROH World Championship.

Other matches scheduled for the event are:

-Matt Taven vs. Joe Hendry

-Lifebloods’ Bandido & Tracy Williams vs. Villain Enterprises’ Marty Scurll & Flip Gordon

-ROH World Tag Team Champions Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis)

Jay Lethal and Dalton Castle are also signed to appear.