Rey Mysterio Jr. is expected to head to WWE soon but his post-match comments from the G1 Climax 28 final show indicate the luchador may have some unfinished business in NJPW still.
Mysterio has cleared his schedule for the latter part of September, which has led many to believe he’ll be WWE bound then or shortly after. He is still booked for Chris Jericho’s cruise at the end of October, however.
On Sunday, Mysterio teamed with KUSHIDA and Ryusuke Taguchi and defeated Kazuchika Okada and Roppongi 3K. Following the match, Mysterio indicated he’d like to face Okada in a single’s match.
Rey Mysterio Wants Single’s Match With Kazuchika Okada
“I would love to see a single’s match between Okada and Rey Mysterio Jr,” Mysterio said in the back. “Let’s see what happens. Thank you.”
Rey Mysterio Jr. NJPW
New Japan Pro-Wrestling kicks off their “Destruction” tours in September. Mysterio could face Okada in single’s action on any of the big Destruction shows on the tour.
Mysterio will also be in trios action at All In on September 1st. He will team with Fenix and Bandido to face the Young Bucks and Kota Ibushi. Although Cody will face Nick Aldis for the NWA title that night as well, some are saying the trios match could be the night’s main event.
The G1 Climax 28 winner, Hiroshi Tanahashi, has stated he will defend the briefcase against Kazuchika Okada and Jay White.
The winner of NJPW’s annual G1 tournament receives a briefcase with a contract for the title shot at WrestleKingdom inside. In recent years, the G1 winner has had to defend the briefcase before advancing to the Tokyo Dome. No G1 Winner has yet to lose the briefcase before WrestleKingdom, however.
Jay White was the only wrestler to defeat Tanahashi in the tournament while Okada and Tanahashi went to a 30-minute draw on the final night of the round-robin.
His post-match press conference comments were translated by the owner of PuroLove.com:
In his post #g128 press conference now 3 time winner Hiroshi Tanahashi said there's no doubt that the G1 champion will become the center of attention in the second half of 2018. He already has an opponent in mind to whom he lost at Wrestling Dontaku and who he drew with in the G1 pic.twitter.com/YlhVyI3cV5
Tanahashi wants to go to the dome after knocking down Okada. He said he understands Okada's strengh well enough so he thinks there's a need to defend his briefcase against Okada even there is a risk of losing.
Even though he considers his G1 victory a "complete resurrection" (kanzen fukkatsu/????) he thinks it's impossible to avoid Okada. When he was asked about Jay White Tanahashi also added that he would like to defend his certificate against him.
As it stands right now, Okada would have to either defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi for the G1 briefcase or Kenny Omega for the IWGP Heavyweight title in order to be in the main event of WrestleKingdom.
If Okada is not in the main event at WrestleKingdom 13 it will be the first time since WrestleKingdom 8 he hasn’t been.
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Jay White
Tanahashi’s post-match comments centered more around Okada than they did Jay White. Still, as the only person to defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi in the G1, White will likely be given a shot at the briefcase.
White and his CHAOS stablemates have not been seeing eye-to-eye as of late. It’s unclear what White’s future with the faction is.
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega was recently a guest on Sean Waltman’s X-Pac 1,2,360 podcast and talked about his match with Kazuchika Okada at Dominion 6.9.
It was arguably the greatest match in professional wrestling history. The two-out-of-three falls match lasted about 65 minutes and Omega revealed it took “a lot of thought and care” to put together parts of the match.
The Cleaner also divulged that he and Okada didn’t want to do too much in the two falls leading up to the third in order to keep the audience intrigued. Creatively, Omega and Okada didn’t want to exhaust themselves creatively, leaving the door open for a fifth possible meeting between the two rivals:
“It’s what story are we going to tell that complements the other three matches that we’ve done,” said Omega.
“What story do we tell that leaves something open for a possible fifth match, because even though we were never told that there was gonna be a fifth match, I have a feeling that there’s gonna be a fifth match. So I didn’t want to blow everything in that match, and I wanted to leave it for that there is gonna be another one.”
For a fifth meeting between himself and Okada, Omega wants to bring something different to the table “whenever it happens.”
You can listen to Omega on the X-Pac 1,2,360 podcast by clicking this link here.
Longtime pro-wrestling journalist, historian, and expert, Dave Meltzer, confirmed today that Kenny Omega vs Kazuchika Okada from Dominion last weekend was the greatest match he has ever seen. He awarded the match 7-stars out of what was originally only a possible 5.
All four matches between Omega and Okada have received a 6-star or higher rating from Meltzer.
While assigning a rating or score to a match is controversial, Meltzer’s rating system is the most high-profile of its kind.
Meltzer began reviewing matches with a star-based system back in the tape-trading era. For those unaware, this pre-internet period involved fans connecting via ads in wrestling magazines. Fans would tape (with a VCR) their local shows and mail them to fans outside of the market. Tape trading allowed fans to keep up with promotions from around the world before the internet did.
Meltzer’s match-ratings were originally just to let fans know which tapes they might want to trade for. It wasn’t meant to be used as a way to compare matches or wrestlers. All the same, a 5-star match is usually confirmation that something special has occurred.
Dave Meltzer’s Highest Rated Matches Ever
In total 8 matches have broken Meltzer’s 5-star system by receiving more than 5 stars.
Notable 5-star WWE matches include Bret Hart vs Austin at WM13, Michaels vs Undertaker in the first ever Hell in a Cell match, and CM Punk vs John Cena MITB 2011.
NXT has also produced several 5-star matches in recent years, including Takeover: New Orleans. The North American title ladder match and Gargano vs Ciampa matches from that show each earned 5-stars from Meltzer.
Kenny Omega recently spoke with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) to promote his IWGP Heavyweight Championship match-up against Kazuchika Okada at NJPW Dominion. The Cleaner first discussed how dominant of a champion Okada is, and how he is the one that has been calling the shots:
“As he made those defenses, one after another, after another, it came to a point where no one would just walk through the curtain and say, ‘I’m going to be the next challenger.’ He has done so much and beaten everyone so many times that he calls the shots! He makes the challenges, he makes the rules. That’s the situation we’re in right now.”
He then talked about taking the first fall in their Two-Out-Of-Three Falls match:
“I know the secret to this match, Okada, and the secret is that first fall. I won’t let you take it. So, if you’re thinking, ‘Hey, this is going to be a 15 minutes here, 10 minutes there, and a crazy stretch and we’re goin’ home!’ That’s not gonna happen. I am not going to give you any freebies. I’m not going to give you a first free fall, if I feel like I need a bit of a rest. You’re not getting the first fall. I’m going to take the first fall and control the pace.”
While Omega admits that Okada is probably the best professional wrestler in the world, he believes that he himself is still the best performer:
“You may be the best wrestler on the planet and I’ll admit it, you are. You’re the best and it’s not even an opinion thing anymore, this is something that you’ve proven. But you can’t say you’re the best performer. That goes to me. And if we’re going to move this thing forward, if we’re gonna cause this revolution of professional wrestling and make this something worldwide and something cool.
“We can’t just have the best natural pro wrestler steering the ship. We need someone who captures the imagination. Who captures the heart. We need a performer and a showman, which is why I’m doing everything I can in my power to overtake you’re natural wrestling ability.”
You can read Omega’s full interview with NJPW by clicking this link here.
New Japan Pro Wrestling presents one of the biggest shows of the year this Saturday from Osaka Jo Hall in Osaka, Japan.
The main event will feature a 4th one-on-one match between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada. In their 3 previous matches, each has won once and their match from Dominion last year went to a time-limit draw.
Chris Jericho returns to NJPW this weekend to face Tetsuya Naito. Jericho filmed an expletive-laced promo directed at Naito which aired on the final night of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament this week.
Will Ospreay will defend his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against the winner of this year’s Best of the Super Juniors, Hiromu Takahashi.
Also on the card this Saturday, the Young Bucks will attempt to win heavyweight tag-team gold in the promotion for the first time. The Bucks will challenge Evil and Sanada of Los InGobernables for the IWGP Heavyweight tag-team championships.
Rey Mysterio Jr’s match in NJPW was also put together on the last night of the BOSJ tournament. Marty Scurll kept up the attack on Tanahashi after their tag match on the card, causing Liger to run in and make the save. Liger then said he would team with Tanahashi and Mysterio to take on Scurll and his Bullet Club teammates.
AXS TV sent in the following press release announcing a special block of programming dedicated to the historic IWGP Heavyweight Championship reign of Kazuchika Okada.
For 12 weeknights starting May 31st, AXS TV will air each of Okada’s first 12 title matches against the likes of Kenny Omega, Tetsuya Naito, Katsuyori Shibata and more.
The Okada championship spotlight culminates on Friday, June 15th with the airing of The Rainmarker’s recent title defense against Hiroshi Tanahashi from Wrestling Dontaku 2018 earlier this month.
AXS TV CELEBRATES KAZUCHIKA OKADA’S HISTORIC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE REIGN WITH A LATE-NIGHT BLOCK SHOWCASING HIS 12 CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES FROM MAY 30-JUNE 14 AT 5aE/2aP
AXS TV Will Present Okada’s Record-Breaking Title Match Against Hiroshi Tanahashi on Friday, June 15 at 8pE/5pP
Los Angeles (May 29, 2018) – AXS TV—the exclusive U.S. broadcast home for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW)—celebrates IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada’s record-breaking fourth reign with a late-night programming block dedicated to “The Rainmaker.” For 12 weeknights starting May 31, the network will air each of Okada’s first 12 title matches, including his epic battles with Kenny Omega, Tetsuya Naito, Katsuyori Shibata and more. Fans are encouraged to set their DVRs to capture these legendary battles airing at 5aE/2aP.
Then, AXS TV presents Okada’s historic match against longtime rival Hiroshi Tanahashi on Friday, June 15 at 8pE/5pP from Wrestling Dontaku 2018, where he broke Tanahashi’s record for consecutive title defenses and continued his run as the longest-reigning champion in NJPW history.
AXS TV’s late-night Okada championship schedule is as follows:
5/30 – Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito – Dominion 6.19 – June 19, 2016
5/31 – Okada vs. Naomichi Marufuji – King of Pro-Wrestling 2016 – Oct. 10, 2016
New Japan Pro Wrestling have announced that their upcoming Dominion event at Osaka-Jo is officially a sell out. The iconic building holds a capacity of around 13,500 (when taking into account the staging for a pro wrestling event).
This is the first time that New Japan has sold out the building for a Dominion show since moving from the Bodymaker Colosseum for the 2015 iteration of the event, the 2017 event drew a crowd of around 11,700.
It should come as no surprise to longtime NJPW fans that this event has sold out, with the blockbuster main event between IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega being the fourth encounter between the two world class performers. The highly anticipated match will be contested with no time-limit and will be contested under a 2 out of 3 falls stipulation.
The show will be taking place on June 9th and will be available to watch live on NJPWWorld.com.
Revolution Pro Wrestling (Rev Pro) have announced that CHAOS member and New Japan Pro Wrestling legend Tomohiro Ishii will be making his way to the upcoming Strong Style Evolved UK shows taking place on June 30th/July 1st in Milton Keynes and Manchester respectively. Ishii is the current reigning Rev Pro British Heavyweight Champion, he successfully defended his title against WWE linked star Keith Lee at last weekend’s Epic Encounter event in Bethnal Green, London.
Ishii is only the second name announced for the two day Strong Style Evolved event, the first being IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada. Fans hoping to see the likes of Kenny Omega at the shows are sadly out of luck, he confirmed recently that he will not be heading to the UK for SSE. More names are expected to be announced for the shows in the coming weeks and we will update here on the site as soon as news becomes available.
Tickets for the first Strong Style Evolved shows outside of the United States are available to purchase via the official Rev Pro website.
Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion: TOMOHIRO ISHII joins his CHAOS stablemate Kazuchika Okada as the 2nd name announced for this summers Strong Style Evolved UK shows.
Japanese wrestling legend Minoru Suzuki will be facing current reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada for his upcoming 30th Anniversary match. Suzuki made the following comments during an interview with New Japan’s English language site NJPW1972.com:
“When we were putting this card together, this match was part of the conversation from the very start. The reason I wanted Okada was that he was born at the same time my career started, and right now he’s at the very top of the wrestling world. It’s really a dream match to show to so many people, all gathered for free under the blue Yokohama sky. He’s the best opponent I could think of to show everyone just what incredible things can happen in life. That’s what I kept in mind as we negotiated the match.”
The match will be part of the Great Pirate Festival, a two day free event on June 23rd and 24th at Yokohama’s Red Brick Warehouse and wrestling cards will be part of the presentation on both days. It has not been confirmed if the event will be shown on NJPWWorld.com however at this juncture it is unlikely to a live broadcast.
Suzuki has also been confirmed for the main event of day 2, where he will be teaming with Hikaru Sato to take on the team of NOSAWA Rongai & MASADA.
New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) star Kenny Omega recently did an interview with Tokyo Sports to talk about several professional wrestling topics. The Cleaner first discussed his upcoming match-up against Kazuchika Okada at NJPW Dominion. It will be the fourth match between the pair.
Omega talked about the history he has with Okada and the amazing matches they’ve put on with one another:
“In a normal match [Wrestle Kingdom 11], Okada won. In a match, where we both prepared to perfection (last year’s Dominion), it was a draw. In a match where we were both broken down and beaten up, I won.”
In regards to how he thinks he and Okada’s rivalry should be put to bed, he’d like to see a Three Fall match to cap things off:
“A three fall match is the best possible way, the fairest way for us to match stamina, technique and strength.”
You can read Omega’s full interview with Tokyo Sports by clicking this link here.
Current reigning New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada has been announced for the upcoming ‘Strong Style Evolved’ NJPW/Rev Pro co-promoted shows.
Okada is the first officially confirmed name for the first Strong Style Evolved shows outside of the United States, the original event took place on March 25th from the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. That show saw Will Ospreay defeat Japanese legend Jushin Thunder Liger as well as the hotly contested main event between the Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) and The Young Bucks.
The two-date UK event takes place on June 30th/July 1st from Milton Keynes and Manchester respectively. Tickets are available to purchase via the tweet below or Revolution Pro Wrestling’s official website.
IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada, has also declared he will be at the event on September 1st, 2018.
Okada’s inclusion in the event is significant for a few reasons. He is NJPW’s top star and the event will be taking place not long after the annual G1 tournament. When it comes time for All-In, Okada might already be involved in his next big storyline rivalry.
New Japan has announced the top matches for their upcoming ‘Wrestling Dontaku’ tour which begins on 4/23. This yearly tour usually determines the top bouts for the major Dominion show that will be taking place June 9th and will once again emanate from the historic Osaka Jo Hall.
Arguably the biggest match that will be taking place is the Day 2 main event between two of New Japan’s biggest stars: Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi. These two men have one of the most high profile rivalries in NJPW history and have faced each other on the biggest stages that Japanese wrestling has to offer, a collision between Tanahashi and arguably the man whose career he helped make in Okada could be considered a MOTYC if the stars align.
Here is the full schedule for the tour:
Road to Wrestling Dontaku (April 23)
Six Man Tag Team Match: Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & EVIL vs. Minoru Suzuki & Killer Elite Squad
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
Road to Wrestling Dontaku (April 24)
Six Man Tag Team Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto & Gedo
IWGP US Heavyweight Championship Match: Jay White (c) vs. David Finlay
Road to Wrestling Dontaku (April 27)
Special Tag Team Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi & KUSHIDA vs. Kazuchika Okada & Will Ospreay
NEVER Openweight Championship: Hirooki Goto (c) vs. Juice Robinson
Wrestling Hinokuni 2018 (April 29)
Singles Match: BUSHI vs. El Desperado
Singles Match: Hiromu Takahashi vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
IWGP Tag Team Championship: SANADA & EVIL (c) vs. Killer Elite Squad
IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito
Wrestling Dontaku 2018 Day 1 (May 3)
NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship: Bad Luck Fale & Guerrillas of Destiny (c) vs. The Young Bucks & Marty Scurll
Singles Match: Kota Ibushi vs. Cody
Singles Match: Kenny Omega vs. Hangman Page
Wrestling Dontaku 2018 Day 2 (May 4)
Bullet Club vs. Bullet Club 10-Man: Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Bad Luck Fale & Guerrillas of Destiny vs. Cody, Hangman Page, Marty Scurll & The Young Bucks
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs. KUSHIDA
IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
Following the New Japan Cup finals, we now know what the main event of Sakura Genesis will be.
Earlier today (March 21), the New Japan Cup finals took place. The two men fighting for the trophy and a title shot of their choosing were Hiroshi Tanahashi and Zack Sabre Jr. Going into the bout, they were 1-1 against each other. Sabre Jr. broke the tie by submitting NJPW’s “Ace” and becoming the second foreign New Japan Cup winner.
Sabre Jr. said he was going after Kazuchika Okada’s IWGP Heavyweight title. This is a fresh challenge for Okada as he hasn’t competed against Sabre Jr. yet. Sabre Jr. has beaten a bevy of top-level NJPW talent on his way to a title opportunity.
The first man Sabre Jr. got past in the New Japan Cup was Tetsuya Naito. Sabre Jr. submitted Naito, who appears to be on his way to an Intercontinental title clash with Suzuki-Gun leader Minoru Suzuki. The submission specialist then put away Kota Ibushi, followed by SANADA in the same fashion.
The fact that Sabre Jr. submitted Tanahashi means that he put away two former IWGP Heavyweight champions in just one tournament. We’ll find out if he can end Okada’s historic reign on April 1.
This past Tuesday saw New Japan present their 46th annual Anniversary show which was headlined by a huge match pitting the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay against his CHAOS stablemate IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada in the main event.
The match received critical acclaim and New Japan’s long reigning Heavyweight champion Okada was quick to praise his opponent and face of NJPW’s new crop of Junior talents. He stated after the match “Everything will be fine as long as Ospreay is around, but Ospreay and Okada, we’ll make it rain in New Japan. Yes, we are money and New Japan’s got the two of us.”
This was the second time that the two have faced in singles action, the first coming at Rev Pro’s Global Wars event wherein Ospreay impressed Okada so much that he insisted on bringing him over to Japan.
You can catch the full event and this bout over on NJPWWorld.com right now.
Saturday in Osaka, Kazuchika Okada defeated SANADA from Los InGobernables to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. It was Okada’s 10th title defense in his record-breaking title reign.
Okada’s CHAOS faction also defeated Los InGobernables 3-2 over 5 singles matches on the show including 3 championship matches.
Following his victory, Okada challenged IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Will Ospreay to a match at the upcoming Anniversary show on March 6th, 2018.
Kazuchika Okada versus Will Ospreay
Okada challenged Ospreay for the Anniversary Show as on that night the heavyweights will be busy preparing for the upcoming New Japan Cup, so it’s a convenient time for him to take on CHAOS’ junior heavyweight.
At the post-match press conference in Osaka, Ospreay wondered if his faction’s leader was testing him by issuing the challenge but thanked Okada and accepted the match anyway.
Earlier in the evening, Ospreay had defeated Hiromu Takahashi to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
New Japan’s biggest event of the year Wrestle Kingdom has now come and gone…however that is not the only show that you can expect from the company in January.
If you subscribed to NJPWWorld.com for the January 4th spectacular then you can catch the whole of FantasicaMania as well as some of the upcoming ‘New Beginning’ tour.
Some of the biggest matches on offer from January 27th to February 10th include IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay taking on the hugely popular Hiromu Takahashi, Kazuchika Okada and Hirooki Goto challenging SANADA and EVIL for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships and Okada defending his IWGP Heavyweight Title against SANADA on February 10th live on NJPWWorld.com.
Here is the breakdown of the biggest matches on offer over the tour:
The New Beginning in Sapporo 2018 (Day 1)
January 27 (English Commentary Available) @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center, Sapporo
Katsuya Kitamura 7-Match Proving Series (Match 2): Katsuya Kitamura vs. Michael Elgin
NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship Match: Bad Luck Fale & Guerrillas of Destiny (c) vs. Togi Makabe, Toa Henare & Ryusuke Taguchi
Jay White & Roppongi 3K vs. The Elite (Omega & Young Bucks)
IWGP Intercontinental Championship Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki
The New Beginning in Sapporo 2018 (Day 2)
January 28 (English Commentary Available) @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center, Sapporo
Katsuya Kitamura 7-Match Proving Series (Match 3): Katsuya Kitamura vs. Juice Robinson
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match: The Young Bucks (c) vs. Roppongi 3K
IWGP US Heavyweight Championship Match: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Jay White
Road to The New Beginning 2018
February 5 @ Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Katsuya Kitamura 7-Match Proving Series (Match 4): Katsuya Kitamura vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
David Finlay vs. Jay White
Ten Man Elimination Tag: CHAOS (Okada/Goto/YOSHI-HASHI/Ospreay/Gedo) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Naito/EVIL/SANADA/BUSHI/Hiromu)
Road to The New Beginning 2018
February 6 @ Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Katsuya Kitamura 7-Match Proving Series (Match 5): Katsuya Kitamura vs. Satoshi Kojima
IWGP Tag Team Championship: SANADA & EVIL (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto
The New Beginning in Osaka 2018
February 10 (English Commentary Available) @ EDION Arena, Osaka
Katsuya Kitamura 7-Match Proving Series (Match 6): Katsuya Kitamura vs. Yuji Nagata
Gedo vs. BUSHI
Tetsuya Naito vs. YOSHI-HASHI
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
NEVER Openweight Championship: Hirooki Goto (c) vs. EVIL
IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. SANADA
New Japan Pro Wrestling have been releasing a number of high profile bouts from their back catalogue for free on YouTube over the past couple of months. The company’s latest free to view contest is the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match between Kazuchika Okada and Finn Balor (then Prince Devitt) from 2013.
The match is essential viewing for any WWE fan that has never seen Balor outside of his NXT/WWE run. As the first leader of the now world wide phenomenon that is the Bullet Club Balor would work as a vicious heel character, he would dissect his opponents and cheat using his stablemates in Gallows, Anderson and Bad Luck Fale to draw the ire of the traditional Japanese fans.
Check out the match below:
Kazuchika Okada vs Prince Devitt IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH?July 20, 2013? NJPW Free Match of the Week. https://t.co/Nzv6JWIvGA
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada recently spoke with Fox Sports Australia to talk about various topics. Here are the highlights:
His run in TNA where he was given a stereotypical gimmick: “For me, [it was a] good experience. TNA doesn’t care about [having a] good match. But they taught me about character, for a TV show and for the cameras. So it was good for me to become ‘The Rainmaker.’ So, wrestling, being strong, having good matches? I learned that in New Japan. But as a TV character? TNA was good [for me].”
Chris Jericho coming to NJPW to face Kenny Omega and a potential match with Jericho: “[I found out at] Power Struggle in Osaka. I didn’t know that news. I was in the locker room watching the show same as the fans. I thought, ‘Woah! What the?’ I’m OK. I just want to enjoy, as a fan, Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho.”
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada performed for Melbourne City Wrestling today in the main event of #MCWRain.
Okada defeated ‘The Business’ Slex in front of a sold out Thornbury Theatre in what was MCW’s biggest event to date.
During his time in Australia the ‘Rainmaker’ made some promises that will be massively beneficial to the Australian independent scene going forward, namely that he will be bringing in fellow New Japan Pro Wrestling stars Tanahashi, Naito and Kenny Omega to MCW “as soon as possible.”
Make of that what you will but this is a very exciting time for the Australian wrestling scene and it looks to keep getting bigger and bigger as time rolls on.
Are you based in Australia? Did you Okada in MCW today? Let us know in the comments…
Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega have had arguably one of the greatest trilogies in wrestling history this year, and now their third match from this year’s G1 Climax tournament will be aired on AXS TV this Friday night.
As always commentary will be provided by Jim Ross and Josh Barnett, if you have not yet seen this bout then I urge you to check this out on Friday night.
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada will be appearing for Australia’s Melbourne City Wrestling on November 11th.
New Japan star Will Ospreay recently stated that he plans to put Australian wrestling “on the map” and that he may be bringing some friends with him…well it looks like MCW fans have got their wish with Ospreay’s CHAOS stablemate heading to the promotion.
Are you an MCW regular? Will you be heading to #MCWRain on November 11th? Let us know in the comments.
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada spoke with NJPW’s official website. Here are the highlights:
Calling Los Ingobernables “too soft”:
“Well, they’re certainly popular, there’s no doubt about that. You see LIJ shirts at all the venues, and even outside of wrestling on the street there are LIJ shirts and caps. They’re super popular. But as an actual team … I think they’re still a little too soft.” “Well, generally speaking, they’re a young team. They should be really representing what the present and future of wrestling is, but I’m not sure that’s something they’re getting across to the fans. CHAOS aren’t as young as them, maybe we don’t beat them in terms of speed, but we have a lot more up our sleeves. That’s what makes us a great team.”
Younger wrestlers wanting to challenge him: “I think whatever field you’re in, you always need something new, always need change. That’s how something everyone loves and that’s what’s inspirational. I don’t want fans in the future to say ‘Okada was cool, but after that…'”
New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced several big matches for their upcoming King of Pro Wrestling event that takes place on October 9th at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Four title matches are slated to take place at the show.
Kazuchika Okada will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against EVIL in the main event. The other three title matches are IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion KUSHIDA vs. Will Ospreay, IWGP Tag Team Champions Killer Elite Squad vs. War Machine vs. Guerillas of Destiny, and IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champions Ryusuke Taguchi and Ricochet vs. Roppongi 3K.
Here is the full lineup:
— IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL
— Tetsuya Naito vs. Tomohiro Ishii for the WrestleKingdom 12 briefcase
— IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion KUSHIDA vs. Will Ospreay
— Hiroshi Tanahashi and Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi and Juice Robinson
— YOSHI-HASHI, Baretta and Jado vs. Kenny Omega, Cody and Marty Scurll
— IWGP Tag Team Champions Killer Elite Squad vs. War Machine vs. Guerillas of Destiny
— IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champions Ryusuke Taguchi and Ricochet vs. Roppongi 3K
— Toru Yano and Hirooki Goto vs. Minoru Suzuki and Zack Sabre Jr.
— Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi and Leo Tonga vs. SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI