Impact Wrestling is back on POP tonight. The show will also be available tomorrow on-demand for subscribers to the Global Wrestling Network.

Eddie Edwards will challenge Austin Aries for the Impact World Championship tonight. Another former Impact World Champion will also be in action as Pentagon Jr takes on Matt Sydal.

Impact Wrestling 8/9 Preview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83GthIHgvTQ

Impact World Championship
Austin Aries (c) vs Eddie Edwards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ugYeYKzaeU&frags=pl%2Cwn

Eddie Edwards has spiraled out of control ever since his feud with Sami Callihan. His obsession with his rival has caused Edwards to jeopardize his marriage and career. Tonight, however, Edwards has a chance to win the Impact World Championship.

The former GHC Heavyweight Champion will have a tough task tonight, however. Austin Aries has been a fighting champion since winning the belt earlier this year. Edwards may represent his most significant test yet, however.

Konnan’s LAX Is Waiting To Attack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7_f7ETfWr4

Last week on Impact, Konnan pulled back Santana and Ortiz after they attacked the OGZ. LAX looked to have the upper hand in the melee but Konnan withdrew his troops and later claimed the OGZ were setting a trap.

Konnan then told his team they need to wait for the right time to get their revenge and take back their property, the Impact tag-team titles. Is that time tonight? We’ll find out in just a few hours.

Alisha Edwards vs Tessa Blanchard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-S0fKEaIqw

Alisha Edwards returns to the ring tonight. She better hope her marriage problems with Eddie Edwards aren’t occupying her thoughts, however. Any weakness will be exploited by her opponent Tessa Blanchard.

Aside from two losses via pinning combination to the veteran Madison Rayne, Blanchard is undefeated in Impact Wrestling. She will look to move closer to a Knockouts Championship match by beating Edwards tonight. Last week, Blanchard was quite upset that Allie was being positioned for a title shot after being Su Yung in tag action. Blanchard defeated the hometown favorite Allie at Slammiversary.

The Desi Hit Squad vs Taiji Ishimori & Petey Wiliams

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ugd3NOGAtE&t=9s

Two weeks ago on Impact Wrestling, the Desi Hit Squad attacked Taiji Ishimori and Petey Williams after their single’s match. Ishimori defeated Williams but after the bout, the Great Gama Singh ordered his disciples to take out the X-Division wrestlers.

The Desi Hit Squad have been winning their matches through under-handed tactics or clever tag-team wrestling as of late. They will have their biggest test yet when they face two former X-Division Champions tonight.

Matt Sydal vs Pentagon Jr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JflTo5tli0I&t=10s

Last week, Matt Sydal said the X-Division Championship is no longer his destiny. The X-Division title, he said, chose Brian Cage. Now, Sydal must follow a new path.

As for Pentagon, he comes into this match knowing Sami Callihan will be watching and waiting.

New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced that Day 1 of their upcoming Best of the Super Juniors (BOSJ) Tournament will be free to view on the NJPWWorld.com streaming service.

The first night will be taking place on May 18th from the world famous Korakuen Hall, the main event of that show will see IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay take on the newest member of the NJPW roster: Taiji Ishimori. Ishimori attacked Ospreay during his recent defence of his title against KUSHIDA, the former Pro Wrestling NOAH star was revealed as the new ‘Bone Solider’ character before laying out the Champion and now Ospreay has his chance at vengeance.

Other Round 1 matches scheduled for the first night are as follows:

• YOH vs BUSHI

• Flip Gordon vs ACH

• Tiger Mask vs Yoshinobu Kanemaru

You can find more information on the tournament via NJPW1972.com or you can keep track of all the NJPW News as it happens right here on SEScoops.

Full lineup announced for Best of the Super Juniors 25! Ishimori, Lee, ACH and more! Flip Gordon and Chris Sabin make BOSJ debuts!#njpw #njbosjhttps://t.co/dO5JwySwNC pic.twitter.com/rdeaSWjHhK

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) May 8, 2018

Last week, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced the return of Bone Soldier, a former member of Bullet Club. The role had previously been performed by Mitsuhide Hirasawa, who had been performing as Captain New Japan.

According to a recent report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Bone Soldier will not be played by Hirasawa when the character returns. It also noted that Hirasawa was released over a year ago due to gambling issues. The report continued to say there have been rumors that Taiji Ishimori might be the new Bone Soldier and also enter the Best of the Super Juniors tournament in May.

Taiji Ishimori As Bone Soldier

Ishimori, who has been a regular for Impact Wrestling as of late, recently left Pro Wrestling NOAH. If Ishimori has signed with NJPW, it would seemingly contradict statements he made in March. Ishimori told Tokyo Sports he was leaving NOAH to wrestle more internationally.

“Lots of Japanese wrestlers are active internationally right now,” Ishimori said in an interview to Toky Sports (translated by author Chris Charlton). “I want to be among them, for Taiji Ishimori to appeal on a global scale. I’m open to offers at home and abroad.”

It would seem odd for Ishimori to leave on Japanese-based promotion in March in order to pursue international opportunities only to sign with another Japanese based promotion the next month. Still, Ishimori might feel NJPW will offer him more freedom outside of the promotion than Pro Wrestling NOAH would.

Ishimori wrestled for 12 years in NOAH, winning the promotion’s junior heavyweight championship on 3 occasions. He’s also won the Impact Wrestling X-Division championship as well. After defeating Tyson Dux to earn a title shot, Ishimori defeated Trevor Lee for the X-Division title last November.

Ishimori was a young lion in NJPW’s dojo but left the company to join NOAH in 2006.

A 12-year Pro Wrestling NOAH mainstay is saying goodbye to the promotion.

Taiji Ishimori announced that he’s leaving NOAH in a move that has stunned the Japanese wrestling community. Ishimori will now become a freelance wrestler. Under the NOAH banner, Ishimori captured GHC Junior Heavyweight gold three times. He is also a six-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team champion.

Ishimori had been with NOAH since 2006. Prior, he made numerous appearances for New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling. Most recently, Ishimori made some appearances for Impact Wrestling and even won the X-Division title.

Why Now?

In an interview with Yahoo Sports Japan, Ishimori said that his exit from NOAH is being done with the hopes of ultimately signing with the WWE (translation via F4W Online):

“While I personally do like to fight on the front line of things, I have experienced [a] overseas expedition and [am] more interested in the outside world now. I have been at NOAH for twelve years and a wrestler for sixteen. If I do not make this decision, I will regret it unless I take the first step.”