Category: NJPW News & Results

G1 Climax 33 update: Standings for every block

Six of the eight quarterfinal spots in G1 Climax 33 are still up for grabs heading into the final round robin matches for every block.

The top star in New Japan Pro-Wrestling and its top champion have already secured their places in the knockout rounds of G1 Climax 33. Lots of other competitors have work left to do in the critical final match of round robin action that begins this weekend in Osaka.

That’s the main takeaway from examining the standings in every block after Night 12 of NJPW’s big summer tournament, as every wrestlers has now competed six times. Undefeated IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Sanada is through, as is Kazuchika Okada, who has lost only once so far.

Every other spot in the quarterfinals is up for grabs, particularly in C and D Blocks, where three men are tied in points scrambling for just two spots. Let’s take a look at where things stand headed into the final two nights of round robin matches.

G1 Climax 33 A Block standings

  • Sanada – 12 points (has clinched A1 seeding in quarterfinals)
  • Hikuleo – 6 points
  • Kaito Kiyomiya – 6 points
  • Shota Umino – 6 points
  • Gabe Kidd – 5 points
  • Yota Tsuji – 5 points
  • Ren Narita – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
  • Chase Owens – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)

Analysis: While Sanada is through, only Narita and Owens are out of the running for the second spot from this block. Narita can still play spoiler against Kiyomiya, Tsuji and Kidd will need both a win and some help, and the biggest match figures to be between Hikuleo and Umino, who are both on six points. Hikuleo owns a tiebreaking victory over Kiyomiya, who fought Umino to a draw, so if two men end up with eight points each, this could be very interesting.

G1 Climax 33 B Block standings

  • Kazuchika Okada – 10 points (has clinched a spot in quarterfinals)
  • Will Ospreay – 8 points
  • El Phantasmo – 6 points
  • Taichi – 6 points (eliminated from advancing)
  • Tanga Loa – 6 points (eliminated from advancing)
  • KENTA – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
  • Great-O-Khan – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
  • Yoshi-Hashi – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)

Analysis: Okada is through, but needs at least a draw against Tanga Loa to ensure he is the B1 seed in the quarterfinals. Similarly, Ospreay controls his own destiny — if he defeats El Phantasmo, he could even move up to top seed in the block if Okada stumbles. On the other hand, a draw against ELP will at least clinch a quarterfinal appearance, while a loss would mean Phantasmo advances instead.

G1 Climax 33 C Block standings

  • David Finlay – 8 points
  • EVIL – 8 points
  • Eddie Kingston – 8 points
  • Tama Tonga – 7 points
  • Shingo Takagi – 7 points
  • Mikey Nicholls – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
  • Henare – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
  • Tomohiro Ishii – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)

Analysis: Five men still have a shot at the two quarterfinal spots, and four of them take on someone from that same group on the final night of round robin matches. Only Tonga has what on paper is an “easy” match against Henare, and avoiding an upset will leave him with nine points. Finlay and Kingston could join him there with a draw, or the winner could end up with 10 in what figures to be one of the most critical matches still remaining. EVIL can clinch a spot by beating former stablemate Takagi, while Shingo and Tama could both get to nine points and also wrestled each other to a draw.

G1 Climax 33 D Block standings

  • Jeff Cobb – 8 points
  • Tetsuya Naito – 8 points
  • Zack Sabre Jr. – 8 points
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi – 6 points
  • Hirooki Goto – 6 points
  • Shane Haste – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
  • Alex Coughlin – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
  • Toru Yano – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)

Analysis: There could be quite the logjam at 8 points if a few men fighting for their G1 Climax lives come through. Goto can join ZSJ there by beating him, as can Tanahashi if the Ace defeats Naito. Meanwhile, Cobb figures to be in the best shape: His final match is against the already eliminated Haste, plus he owns tiebreaking wins against Naito, ZSJ and Tanahashi if he slips up.

Will Ospreay is rumored to be headed to AEW All In London — but not to face Kenny Omega

It’s not Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega III, but the match reportedly being considered for Ospreay at All In is intriguing.

Given the importance of AEW All In as the company’s literal biggest show of all time, not to mention the hints provided by Tony Khan since the event was announced, it’s expected that some of New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s top stars will be part of the card. Will Ospreay fits that description, and since All In is taking place in his home country of England, he’s probably a more natural fit than anyone.

The natural expectation is that Ospreay would have a rubber match with Kenny Omega, as the two men have already engaged in two Match of the Year candidates in 2023. But it sounds as if AEW might have another idea in mind for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion.

A new report from Fightful Select (subscription required) says that Ospreay is indeed being considered for All In, but against a legend he’s never faced.

We’re told by NJPW sources that the plan relayed to them in July was Ospreay competing against former AEW, WCW, ROH and WWE World Champion Chris Jericho.

While Jericho has appeared on some NJPW cards in the past, he’s never crossed paths with Ospreay, even in a multi-person match.

Meanwhile, Fightful also notes that Don Callis is expected to be involved somehow. Callis has been trying to recruit Jericho to his “family” for weeks now in AEW, but he assisted Ospreay in defeating Omega at Forbidden Door. One naturally wonders if perhaps Callis’ machinations will somehow tie into his ongoing plans for revenge against his one-time friend, or perhaps Jericho will turn him down and he’ll sic Ospreay on him in revenge.

In any case, while it might not match the frenetic pace and insane risk-taking of Ospreay-Omega, Ospreay vs. Jericho is an intriguing pairing that could qualify as a dream match in its own right to many fans. Though AEW typically doesn’t book even its PPVs too far in advance, All In is now less than a month away, so a potential bout of this caliber could very well take shape over the next few weeks.

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night 4 results: Naito, Tonga get key wins in Sendai

Tetsuya Naito is also looking to bounce back from his 0-1 start during night 4 of G1 Climax 33 action in Sendai.

One of the great things about the G1 Climax is the way it creates the same kind of urgency so prevalent in unscripted sports with some of its early matchups. Such is the case with the night 4 main event in Sendai, which pits two wrestlers against each other who stumbled out of the gate with losses in Sapporo.

Neither Tomohiro Ishii nor Tama Tonga have anything to hang their head over despite the position they’re in. Ishii dropped his C Block opener to Bullet Club leader David Finlay, who is unquestionably as hot as he’s ever been.

Tonga, meanwhile, lost a hard fought contest with EVIL, who has a history of being a tough out at the G1 — especially when he turned his back on LIJ a few years ago. Just like in, say, the NFL, it’s too early in week 2 of block competition to call tonight’s main event a must win, but it sure won’t be easy for the loser to rally from an 0-2 start to make the knockout portion of the tournament.

Speaking of EVIL, he’ll be trying to hand Eddie Kingston his first ever G1 loss in a battle of winners from the first night of C Block action. And Tetsuya Naito, who always seems to have dreams of propelling himself to Wrestle Kingdom using the G1 as a launchpad, will look to right the ship with a victory over 1-0 Hirooki Goto.

We’re anxious to take it all in from Sendai, so let’s see what’s popping in the second night of C and D Block matches.

G1 Climax 33 night 4 results:

Zack Sabre Jr. def. Toru Yano by pinfall

Kevin Kelly notes that Yano has only one victory ever over Sabre, and it was in a KOPW bout where there were no corner pads. Kosei Fujita comes to the ring instead of ZSJ and is introduced as Zack. Sabre appears on the walkway, much to Yano’s dismay, attacking from behind just as the bell rings.

Sabre has Fujita reinforce the ties on all the corner pads, but Yano turns the tables by taping Zack’s legs together. He has to hop back to the ring that way and barely beats the ref’s 20 count.

While Yano is frustrated seeing all the corner pads taped in place, Fujita slips some scissors to ZSJ, who is free but acting like he’s not. That works to lure Yano in to be pinned.

David Finlay def. Mikey Nicholls by pinfall

Both these men are 1-0 entering the night, though Finlay figures to be a heavy favorite to make it two straight wins. Nicholls is able to weather a fast start by the Bullet Club leader and fire back with some stiff offense of his own.

That’s not enough for him to hang for too long, however, as Finlay wears him down with shots to the back of the head before eventually finding the mark with Oblivion.

Jeff Cobb def. Alex Coughlin by pinfall

Just an opinion, but Coughlin’s crazy guy act comes off like he’s trying a little too hard. These two have met just once before, when Coughlin was still a young lion, and Cobb won.

Coughlin makes a tour of the ringside area and teases using his tag team title belt as a weapon, then hurls a young lion at Cobb as well before hurling his foe into the barricade. He shows off some nice strength back in the ring as well with a gutwrench suplex on the larger Cobb.

A couple of additional suplexes allow Coughlin to continue his eyebrow-raising power display, but the Tour of Islands takes him as a passenger eventually and he isn’t kicking out from that.

EVIL def. Eddie Kingston by pinfall

Eddie tries to bring an equalizer down to the ring with him as some Dick Togo insurance but still ends up getting jumped before the bell by EVIL. Togo trips Kingston at the first opportunity, so this is going right to plan by the House of Torture.

They battle into the crowd, where Kingston is hurled into some empty seats as EVIL attempts to win by countout. Eddie makes it back in time but just gets stomped for his trouble. He’s selling his butt off, for sure.

Kingston eventually gets EVIL lined up for some machine gun corner chops and works his way toward a near fall. But he’s thrown into the barricade again, much to the dismay of the poor ring announcer on the other side. EVIL locks on the Darkness Scorpion on the floor, and Togo almost makes Eddie miss the 20 count.

A ref bump allows Togo to play an even more active role, but Dick ends up taking a kendo stick show intended for Eddie, who goes to town on both of them. Kingston eventually chops down his foe and stacks up his pin, but EVIL kicks out at two.

EVIL manages to use the ref to unwittingly help deliver a Magic Killer, and now both wrestlers and the official are all down. Eddie gets EVIL in a stretch muffler but has to let go when Togo tries to lend a hand, and a low blow sets up Everything Is Evil for the win.

Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Shane Haste by pinfall

Haste does some impromptu guest English commentary while Tanahashi is being introduced. The Ace is holder of many G1 records, but as Kelly notes, is starting to give some wins back at this point in his career.

This is a much different challenge for Tanahashi than the technical showcase against ZSJ a few days ago, but the fans are able to rally him to a near fall after a somersault senton. He takes some shots to the had and back before pulling off a trademark dragon screw, but gets countered by a back suplex while looking for the Sling Blade.

Tanahashi finally hits the Sling Blade after a Twist and Shout, but Haste meets him on the middle rope. The Ace fights his way free and hits Aces High, then High Fly Flow for the dub.

HENARE def. Shingo Takagi by pinfall

These two know each other well, and start out at a deliberate pace before they inevitably start trading bombs. Shingo is able to outsmart his foe a little, however, and takes control on the outside.

A popup Samoan Drop finally puts HENARE on the front foot, and his Berserker Bomb gets a near fall, as does a senton. Shingo rallies behind a powerbomb for two, then tries choking out his foe on the mat.

Takagi calls for the finish but is outstruck by HENARE and hit with the Rampage, which nearly wins it. Shingo also has to get his boot to the ropes to break a submission hold.

HENARE wins a battle of headbutts but gets countered trying for Streets of Rage. He hits it on his second attempt but is too beaten up to cover right away, and Shingo rolls under the bottom rope.

Less than five minutes remain when Takagi connects on Made in Japan, but now it’s his turn to be slow to follow up. His running lariat gets only two as time ticks under three minutes to go.

After more heavy shots each way, the men lean on each other in the center of the ring. HENARE pulls off a second Streets of Rage and covers with less than 30 seconds left, and he just beats the bell with a pin.

Tetsuya Naito def. Hirooki Goto by pinfall

Naito’s early posing doesn’t sit well with Goto, who kicks him in the spine and sends him to the floor. Naito fights back with a neckbreaker on the outside, which takes a bit out of him too — but it’s Goto who is slow to beat the 20-count.

Both men have their moments over the next few minutes, including a springboard DDT by Naito. There’s a top rope hurricanrana as well, but it’s not enough to put Goto away.

An attack on Naito’s knees leaves both men on the canvas. Kelly notes that the last two matches between these two went past 20 minutes, which can’t happen under this year’s rules.

Goto hits the GTW but Naito makes him chase for the cover, and there are now less than five minutes left. A Ushikoroshi gets Goto a two count, but Naito counters his attempt at a GTR.

Naito hits a DDT out of the corner for a two count, and follows with a Destino to seal a win with just a few minutes remaining.

Tama Tonga def. Tomohiro Ishii by pinfall

Kelly passes along a statistical note on how tough Ishii is to beat in Sendai, though it’s Tama who gets out to a strong start. Ishii slugs his way back, as he is wont to do.

Tonga’s forearm shot sends Ishii to the mat and allows him to lead the fans in some clapping, and a powerslam earns him a near fall. Ishii counters a Tongan Twist with a vertical suplex, which works well.

Ishii pounds Tama down to the mat in the corner as Red Shoes checks on Tonga. They go back and forth a bit until Tama tries for Supreme Flow and finds no one home.

A big vertical superplex scores for Ishii and is good for a two count. He stalks Tonga but runs right into a dropkick, which looks to be a momentum changer. The Tongan Twist finds the target right at the 10-minute mark, and now Tama is calling for the finish and the fans are clapping again.

Ishii strikes before the Gun Stun can arrive, then headbutts his foe to the mat. A powerbomb leads to a stacked cover, but Tonga kicks out at two. He has to dig down and kick out again after a diving lariat.

Tama fires off several straight moves and off comes the shirt. He drops Supreme Flow and gets a very close two count of his own.

After shrugging off a dropkick, Tama hits the Veleno for a near fall. But Ishii has an answer in the form of his take on the Gun Stun, then runs the ropes with a big lariat that comes close to winning it.

Tama connects on a Gun Stun out of midair, follows with the Jay Driller, and that’s enough to take it.

Once Ishii clears out of the ring, Tama gets some mic time to say this G1 will be his best ever.

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night 2 results: Kingston wins debut, Cobb knocks off Naito

EVIL and Zack Sabre Jr. also picked up big wins on night 2 of G1 Climax 33.

G1 Climax 33 got off to an intriguing start on night 1 in Sapporo, with Will Osprey taking an ‘L’ in his first match. Night 2 promises to have its share of talking points as well, as it’s the first time we’ll see the competitors from the C and D blocks in action.

There are some tasty matchups in store toward the end of the card, including Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr., and the main event that pits Tetsuya Naito against the power of Jeff Cobb. Still, the big draw for American wrestling fans is almost sure to be the G1 Climax debut of Eddie Kingston, who will have his hands full right out the gate with Shingo Takagi.

Without the multi-man matches that usually kicked off G1 Climax shows in some past years, it means we’ll be getting right to the tournament bouts on night 2. Let’s jump into it!

G1 Climax 33 night 2 results from Sapporo:

David Finlay def. Tomohiro Ishii by pinfall – C Block match

Nothing surprising in the opening minutes as Ishii and Finlay appear content to go right at each other. A chop block by the Bullet Club leader seems like a good idea, as it allows him to slow the pace.

The fans attempt to rally Ishii, but Finlay appears to have an answer each time. A big backbreaker coming out of the corner finds the mark, but Ishii kicks out at two.

Ishii’s big superplex gets a strong crowd reaction but isn’t enough to win the bout. After several near falls both ways, Ishii nails a headbutt and a powerbomb and still sees Finlay kick out in time.

A running clothesline also looks like it might win it for Ishii, but a series of counters allows Finlay to hit Into Oblivion and get the dub. Bullet Club teases some abuse for the Stone Pitbull after the bell but decides against it.

Hirooki Goto def. Toru Yano by pinfall – D Block match

These two wrestled a very quick match a few years ago, and the pace of the first few minutes makes it look like it might be over in a blink again. There’s almost always something wacky in any Yano match, and the two men tiring each other out on the floor by continually reversing Irish whips certainly qualifies.

So does Goto ending up wearing a mascot head against his will, nearly getting counted out. Goto manages to survive all the hijinks and pick up the win, however.

Mikey Nicholls def. Aaron Henare by pinfall – C Block match

Both of these gents are candidates to be the “guy who does surprisingly well” in C Block, but it’ll need to start with a win here. Nicholls suffers for his craft, getting busted open and bleeding pretty nicely from the face, probably during an exchange of headbutts.

A nasty running corner knee by Henare isn’t going to make his face feel any better, but to his credit, Nicholls prevails and picks up the victory.

Shane Haste def. Alex Coughlin by pinfall – D Block match

Coughlin is stronger than he looks. That’s the biggest takeaway from the first few minutes of this contest. He also tries to use some chairs and his title belt, but those efforts backfire, and Haste is able to put him away.

Eddie Kingston def. Shingo Takagi by pinfall – C Block match

Kingston just seems like he’s a perfect fit for Strong Style contests like this one. He certainly welcomes a chopping contest with the Dragon, which not everyone would.

Their battle goes to the floor as well, where Kingston simply runs over his foe before the ref begins to count. Into the corner they go, trading strikes until Eddie can execute a suplex for a near fall.

A lariat earns Shingo a breather as he fans begin to clap. He treats Eddie to a generous helping of the suplex game, though eventually both men end up down on the mat. Kingston shrugs off a flurry of offense to kick out at one, then kicks out at two following a running clothesline.

Kingston hits his own clothesline after a series of reversals, but now it’s Shingo kicking out at one. He isn’t as fortunate next time, however, and Kingston wins a hard fought G1 Climax debut.

Zack Sabre Jr. def. Hiroshi Tanahashi by pinfall – D Block match

This seems like a cruel first pairing for the Ace, who hasn’t been in the best of physical condition the last few months. Tanahashi holds up fine in the opening mat exchanges, but we’ll see if he can keep that up.

He’s certainly game for an exchange of uppercuts, and Tanahashi works his own submission game to boot. But ZSJ starts targeting his left leg, forcing him to endure both pain and taunting.

The Ace swings things back in his favor and even scores a near fall, and he hip tosses his way out of potential octopus hold danger. Tanahashi ends up on his back and threatening Sabre with a leg triangle, but the TMDK frontman escapes and goes after the left leg again.

Not even sure what ZSJ’s hold is called, but Tanahashi reaches the ropes to force a break. It’s his turn to dish out targeted damage, working repeatedly on Sabre’s left arm. Both men hit low dropkicks and the Ace nails a Sling Blade for a quick two count.

Tanahashi flies for a high cross body, but Sabre rolls through and kicks his foe in the chest for a near fall. As both men try to pull off armbars on each other, ZSJ is able to roll through and keep Tanahashi’s shoulders pinned just long enough for the ref to count to three.

EVIL def. Tama Tonga by pinfall – C Block match

EVIL wastes no time showing his true colors, attacking Tama before the bell. He fares less well in the opening minutes of the actual match, but he eventually takes his foe partway up the ramp for a suplex and then fights further out into the crowd. EVIL rings the bell to imply he’s going to win by countout, but Tama hustles to return by the time the count gets to 19.

Jado urges on Tama along with the fans, and he responds with a corner splash for a two count. Red Shoes tries his best not to get caught up in the action, but he finally takes a bump.

That brings Dick Togo into the fray, helping to stomp Tama after smacking Jado off the apron. A Magic Killer gives EVIL a chance to cover just as the ref is coming to, but Tonga kicks out.

A Scorpion Deathlock puts Tama through some agony before he can work his way free. A flurry of offense includes a Tongan Twist, and he flies from the top rope with a splash for two.

Togo gets involved again and almost sets Tama up for Everything is Evil, but EVIL has to settle for a lariat instead after some counters. Darkness Falls is on target too, but Tama manages to kick out.

Though wobbly, Tonga is able to survive some lariats, coming back with an even stronger one of his own. Togo runs in and gets a Gun Stun, and Tama signals for the finish. Alas, after Red Shoes is shoved into the corner, EVIL uses a low blow to set up Everything is Evil and get the three count.

Jeff Cobb def. Tetsuya Naito by pinfall – D Block match

Naito matches always take a while to get going, but he probably wishes this one took longer as he’s thrown right into a battle on the outside. Cobb is able to match him dropkick for dropkick back in the ring, cracking a smile afterward.

Cobb teases a dive to the floor and does his version of Naito’s trademark pose. Naito is slow to rise and takes until the count of 16 to return to the ring, where more punishment awaits him.

That changes as he connects on several consecutive moves, including the Cabron Combinacion. He tries for an armbreaker but is hoisted to his feet, and they battle to the top turnbuckle where Cobb delivers a hellacious falling powerbomb. Jeff crawls for a cover but sees his foe kick out not once but twice.

Naito’s next flurry leads to a Destino attempt that is countered with a Tour of the Islands, and now both men are down as the ref counts. They beat the 10 count, leaning on opposite ropes.

Several near falls are scored by Naito before he is dumped on his head with a suplex. Another Tour of the Islands follows, and Cobb picks up a huge win.

Is Kenny Omega’s former Golden Lovers partner about to come help The Elite?

If Kota Ibushi is on his way in for some AEW appearances, Blood and Guts would be the perfect spot for him to debut.

The Elite and Blackpool Combat Club are going to try to finally settle their ongoing beef once and for all at Blood and Guts on the July 19 episode of AEW Dynamite at Boston’s TD Garden. The issue on The Elite’s side is that the format calls for five-person teams, and there are only four members of the group. A new report suggests that it could be someone from Kenny Omega‘s past who answers the call.

Fightful Select (subscription required but well worth the $5 a month) says it has confirmed that “conversations have taken place between international star Kota Ibushi and All Elite Wrestling.” On top of that, talent expects him to appear soon, and “specifically for the upcoming Blood & Guts show.”

Ibushi is known for his time in NJPW, where he won numerous titles including the inaugural IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (formed by unifying the prior IWGP World Championship and IWGP Intercontinental Championship). He last wrestled for New Japan during the G1 Climax tournament in the fall of 2021 before having a very public falling out with the company — though one that reportedly has since been resolved.

Th 41-year-old Ibushi returned to action during WrestleMania weekend in Los Angeles, taking part in two of the GCW Collective shows. He’s been open about the idea that he would probably talk to AEW at some point.

Ibushi has a long history with Omega, including runs in several promotions as the Golden Lovers. The expectation is that he’d be the fifth member for The Elite, as he has aligned himself with the group in the past without ever becoming an “official” member.

(As an aside, the arm injury to Bryan Danielson means the BCC team also needs a fifth combatant, but the angle from this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite suggests that Chris Jericho may be convinced by Don Callis to fill that spot.)

With two weeks left before Blood and Guts, AEW could reveal that Ibushi is coming in, or choose to keep people guessing until the last minute. But if he is indeed on the way, that would make an already anticipated match that much more compelling.

Even Eric Bischoff loves Will Ospreay: ‘A tougher Shawn Michaels’

Eric Bischoff enjoyed the way Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega blended modern ring work with old school psychology at Forbidden Door.

It’s fair to say that Will Ospreay is having a moment.

While fans of New Japan and aficionados of the wider world of pro wrestling have been aware of how good the 30-year-old Englishman is for some time, this past weekend’s Forbidden Door event allowed Ospreay to compete on the biggest stage yet in front of a North American audience.

(Though it must be said, Ospreay’s match with Orange Cassidy at Forbidden Door 2022 slapped pretty hard as well.)

Ospreay didn’t disappoint, as he and Kenny Omega managed to somehow top their already incredible first meeting at Wrestle Kingdom in January. Their IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship match is being hailed as an instant classic, the type that will live in memory for years to come.

It was the kind of performance that makes new fans, even those who have been around the business for years. Case in point: Former WCW, WWE and TNA executive turned part-time curmudgeon Eric Bischoff.

While he has done some work with AEW, Bischoff has been outspoken about how he dislikes much of what that company does. We’re guessing that would apply to NJPW as well were he exposed to more of it.

But guess who he does like? Ospreay, after getting a chance to watch Omega-Ospreay II. In fact, on his 83 Weeks podcast (h/t Fightful), Bschoff had high praise for the match and for Ospreay in particular, comparing him to a WWE Hall of Famer and unquestioned all-time great.

I did see it. I will also admit that I have not seen much of Will Ospreay’s work, or Omega’s, for that matter. I was blown away. I hate to make comparisons because everybody’s unique and different in their own way, but Ospreay reminds me of a tougher Shawn Michaels. He’s got the look. His in-ring capabilities are just otherworldly at this . It was like the new school, the very athletic, physical, dynamic, incredibly difficult and high-risk type of offense, it had all of that, but it also had Nick Bockwinkel, Verne Gagne-esque psychology.

Bischoff said the match was “awesome,” something with which many fans no doubt agree. Maybe he’ll even tune in for the rubber match between Ospreay and Omega if it happens, and that’s not something he likely would have said prior to Forbidden Door.

Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega say nice things about each other after their bloody Forbidden Door epic

Both victorious Will Ospreay and defeated Kenny Omega said complimentary things about each other after their amazing rematch at Forbidden Door.

Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega pushed each other to the limit for the second time this year at Forbidden Door Sunday night in Toronto. In what seems certain to be a Match of the Year finalist for anyone who gives out such honors, they took huge risks, showed incredible heart and bled what seemed like buckets of blood.

They also probably don’t like each other any more now than they did before the sequel to their equally mesmerizing meeting this January at Wrestle Kingdom. But it sounds like they do respect one another.

In a tweet sent earlier today, Ospreay called his victory over Omega “legitimately the most challenging and yet rewarding task of my life” and said that the Canadian superstar had earned the right to say he was “above elite.”

That followed Omega saying that the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship — which Omega had claimed from Ospreay in their first matchup — “is in good hands” while imploring Ospreay to keep it away from Don Callis, who aided the new champ by slipping him a screwdriver.

Omega is apparently OK after a wince-inducing spot during the bout where he appeared to land directly on his head taking a Tiger Driver ’91 from Ospreay. AEW CEO and GM Tony Khan declined to give a detailed update on Omega’s health while talking to the media after Forbidden Door but said he hoped Omega would be fine.

The fact that the series between the two wrestlers is now tied 1-1 raises the prospect of a potential rubber match, with two big events looming as possibilities. AEW is holding its biggest show ever, All Out London in Wembley Stadium, later this summer, and Khan has mentioned that he expects some NJPW talent may be involved.

If that’s too soon to run it back, Wrestle Kingdom is always an option next January in Tokyo. If a third bout does happen, it’s probably not going to see Ospreay and Omega be buddies leading into it, but at least wrestling fans know now the mutual respect between them is definitely there.

Bryan Danielson says he broke his arm during Forbidden Door main event

Bryan Danielson says he expects to be out 6-8 weeks after injuring himself during an elbow drop by Kazuchika Okada at Forbidden Door.

Fans watching the second annual AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door card from Toronto on Sunday night were concerned about the health of Bryan Danielson during the main event. While his twitching on the mat turned out to be just a way to lure in Kazuchika Okada, the American Dragon really was injured in the course of the bout.

It wasn’t Danielson’s neck, which earlier in his career had caused his retirement for several years, that was the issue in Toronto. During the media scrum after the event, Danielson said he broke his right arm before his eventual victory over Okada (h/t Daniel Yanofsky of The Sporting News).

Danielson was notably favoring his left arm late in the match, with the announcers noting that his right arm appeared to be hurt. He also had trouble applying his submission hold of choice, the LeBell Lock, due to his ailment.

Instead, Danielson pivoted to use his legs to work over Okada, eventually trapping both of the New Japan star’s arms behind his back. When Okada tapped out, it caused a crowd that had been hot all night to quiet down quickly out of sheer surprise.

If Danielson is on the money with his assessment of how long he’ll be out, it would put his participation at AEW’s next big card, All In London, in jeopardy. That show is slated for Wembley Stadium on Aug. 27, and it’s widely presumed AEW will want as many top names in action as possible for what will be the biggest live audience it’s had to date.

Ironically, CEO and GM Tony Khan just mentioned during his media call ahead of Forbidden Door that one difference between this year’s show and the inaugural event in 2022 was how much healthier the AEW roster was. He may have jinxed himself just a bit with Danielson, so here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for the American Dragon.

Forbidden Door 2023: Top takeaways as AEW, NJPW deliver again

AEW and NJPW teamed to put on the best night of top to bottom wrestling in 2023 at Forbidden Door.

Backstage drama seems to be All Elite Wrestling’s new norm but when the bell rings, the young promotion routinely delivers.

Forbidden Door this past Sunday was just the latest example.

With the help of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, AEW presented what will probably be the best pure wrestling show all year. There will be shows with hotter finishes and more dramatic moments, but as far as in-ring action goes, it would be hard to find something that matches what we witnessed in Toronto this past Sunday night.

However, that does not mean Forbidden Door was a perfect show by any means. Here are my takeaways from the event:

Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay have a bloody good time

The encounter between Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay at Wrestle Kingdom got quite bloody toward the end, but this one was somehow even bloodier.

If you’re squeamish about seeing blood, you may want to skip this one because plasma was everywhere. If that wasn’t enough, Omega and Ospreay beat the crap out of each other for nearly 40 minutes.

And the finish — my lord the finish! The match ended with Ospreay delivering a brutal-looking Tiger Driver ’91 to Omega, which is saying something considering how awful that particular Tiger Driver already looks. The level of danger involved doesn’t necessarily need to be heightened.

With all of that said, I still really enjoyed this match, and it was probably my favorite of the night. I know the blood can be overwhelming for some, especially considering the health risks involved. But in my opinion, it added to the tension of the match and enhanced it. Omega and Ospreay went on a mission to tear down Scotiabank Arena brick by brick, and they succeeded.

Bryan Danielson and Kazuchika Okada have a less bloody, but still brutal main event

While Omega versus Ospreay was the bloodiest match of the night, the most painful-looking contest was the main event between Bryan Danielson and Kazuchika Okada.

For nearly 30 minutes, Danielson and Okada punished each other with devastating moves. At least they looked devastating because both of these men looked to be in a great deal of pain for a good chunk of the match. Sure, that could be tremendous selling, but I am willing to bet some of that was real.

(Editor’s note: Turns out it was, as Danielson says he broke his arm during the bout.)

The fans got a little spooked during the match when Danielson looked to be having some sort of medical episode in the ring. Given his injury history, it was not outside the realm of possibility that Danielson could suffer such an event. Fortunately, it was just a ruse, which meant Danielson was OK, but I think the fans were a little taken aback by it.

Speaking of taken aback, the finish came sort of out of nowhere. I mean, you look at the way Danielson was bending Okada’s arm during the modified version of the LeBell lock and I’m sure I would have quickly tapped out as well.

However, it didn’t feel like the crescendo to a high-stakes encounter. It just felt like the end of a match. Hopefully, there is more in store from these two in the future so they could potentially rectify it.

Jack Perry turns on Hook

After being a good guy for his entire AEW career, Jack Perry is turning a new leaf: He is entering his bad boy phase.

Gone are the days of catering to the fans. Gone are the days when fans sang along to “Tarzan Boy” by Baltimora. Gone are the days of Perry being “Mr. Nice Guy.”

I can see it now. Perry walks out on Dynamite in dark shades and a black leather jacket despite being indoors at the end of June. He then berates the fans and says he doesn’t need their support anymore. Signs with “Why, Jungle Boy? Why?” written on them are scattered throughout the arena, but Perry doesn’t even give any answers because he is playing by his own rules now.

In short, Perry will be acting brand new, and while that sounds extremely cliché, I am kind of here for it.

This is a necessary step in Perry’s progression. Being “Jungle Boy” was only going to get him so far. The character had very little depth outside of being the late Luke Perry’s son.

Now, he has an opportunity to show a little bit more of his personality, which MJF routinely criticized him for not having a whole lot of during the lead up to Double or Nothing.

Also, what a great first opponent in Hook. The fans LOVE Hook, which should make it easy for Perry to immediately garner heat.

Forbidden Door featured zero skips

I don’t recall a match on this card that I would flat out skip upon a second viewing of this show. Every match is worth a re-watch.

Everyone will talk about Okada-Danielson, Omega-Ospreay, MJF-Hiroshi Tanahashi, and even the 10-man tag. But a match that I believe is a hidden gem will be the AEW Women’s World Championship bout between Toni Storm and Willow Nightingale.

I wrote in my predictions for the show that Nightingale was set to have a star-making performance, and I believe she lived up to that expectation. I also like that the door (not of the forbidden variety) was left open for Storm and Nightingale to have another match in the future. I personally would like to see more from these two.

Does every match need dueling chops/slaps/forearms?

I mean, come on. Do they have to happen in every single match? All of them?

I know that’s part of Strong Style wrestling, but when every match has the same standoff in the middle of the ring, where the combatants trade either chops, slaps or forearms, it gets pretty repetitive.

The best one of the night by far was when Eddie Kingston squared off against Jon Moxley during the aforementioned 10-man tag. At least that particular encounter had some backstory behind it, making it more meaningful.

The others, however, just felt routine. At some point of a match, it inevitably becomes time to just stand in the middle of the ring and willingly wait for your opponent to hit you real, real hard. Besides the fact that it defies common sense, it also bogs down matches for me sometimes.

To clarify, I am not against the spot itself. When it has meaning, it can make for a pretty cool moment. What I am against is its over-reliance, especially at one singular event.

Forbidden Door 2023 results: Bryan Danielson stuns, submits Kazuchika Okada

Despite looking like he was injured in the process, Bryan Danielson managed to submit Kazuchika Okada at Forbidden Door 2023.

The fans start a “holy s–t” chant before the match even officially get underway, so psyched to see these two in the ring together. Bryan Danielson returned to “The Final Countdown” for his entrance, which was fun.

As they go through their initial lockups, the crowd switches to an “Okada” chant for the Rainmaker. Kazuchika Okada almost ends up in an inverted surfboard, but Danielson dishes out some punishment instead and plays to the crowd.

Okada runs over Danielson and runs the ropes multiple times before hitting a lariat. A sliding dropkick catches Danielson on the ear, but the American Dragon gets the momentum back on the floor and knocks Okada into the announce table before dropping a running knee off the apron.

From the top rope, Danielson lands on Okada’s right arm, then covers for a quick two. The American Dragon knees Okada in the back and torques the right arm. Hammer and anvil elbows are dropped, and Danielson transitions to the cattle mutilation. Okada’s shoulders are on the mat, forcing him to kick out at two.

A series of strikes land on Okada’s chest, but they only seem to anger the Rainmaker. Okada tries for forearm shots but sells the previous damage to his right arm, so he opts for a flapjack instead.

A big boot drops Danielson as Okada gets some momentum going. A DDT scores too and leads to a two count. A dropkick knocks Danielson to the floor, then Okada puts him into the crowd for his trademark cross body over the barricade.

They fight back to ringside, and Okada resets the 10 count. Back to the ring they go, where Okada applies the Money Clip. A neckbreaker is next, and Danielson has to kick out again.

Both men end up on the top turnbuckle, where Danielson uses a flurry of strikes to set up a missile dropkick. With both men on the canvas, the ref is counting, but Danielson leads them up and into an exchange of strikes. The European uppercuts are flowing both ways.

A shotgun dropkick from Okada breaks the chain, but Danielson responds with a German suplex. Danielson launches into two running corner kicks but takes a dropkick back. There’s another lovely one from Okada after Danielson evades a Rainmaker.

Okada tries a top rope elbow, but Danielson sees it coming and works some submissions. He gets the LeBell Lock applied, meaning Okada must use his legs to reach out for a rope break.

On the outside again, Danielson takes control by the ramp, finally hitting his trademark kicks. Okada finds an awesome answer in a Tombstone on the ramp.

They slowly both make it back to the ring, where Okada hits his top rope elbow this time. Okada strikes the Rainmaker pose, but the ref stops him and calls for the ringside doctor. Okada shakes off the doc, but it looks like Danielson was baiting his foe as he hits a busaiku knee.

Who can get up first? Okada takes wrist control but ends up eating another busaiku knee for a two count. Danielson says he’s going to “kick his f–king head in” and stomps Okada in the face. The LeBell Lock actually gives Okada a chance to try for a pin, getting another two.

Danielson hits a spinning kick and leads some “yes” chants, but he runs into a dropkick and a landslide. The Rainmaker finds the mark, but Danielson kicks out at two.

Maintaining wrist control, Okada keeps beating on his foe. An exchange of counters finds Danielson dragging Okada to the ground even though he’s heavily favoring his left arm. There’s a LeBell Lock again as the fans try to rally Okada.

Danielson uses his legs to trap Okada’s arms behind his back, improvising like crazy. In a crazy predicament now, Okada can’t get to the ropes, and he ends up tapping out.

Click here for full Forbidden Door 2023 results from Toronto.