Tag: NJPW

Will Ospreay says his NJPW contract will expire in February 2024

Ospreay figures to be the subject of interest from all the top US wrestling promotions should he choose to explore a move overseas.

Will Ospreay has been a steady part of New Japan Pro Wrestling since 2016, headlining and frequently holding titles. He has competed at multiple Wrestle Kingdom events, including this past January when Kenny Omega defeated him for the IWGP United States Championship.

Despite a successful run, Ospreay could soon see a change of scenery.

In an interview with Christopher Walker of DAZN, the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion said his contract with NJPW expires in February 2024. This came as he addressed the significance of matches receiving high ratings (h/t Fightful for transcription) .

“My contract with New Japan is up next February so from that point who’s not gonna want this kid who’s dedicated to being a hard worker and wanting to put on the best quality of matches,” Ospreay said.

“The reason why I say no is because they don’t impact my paycheque. I still get paid the same regardless. In my humble opinion, [star ratings] don’t matter in terms of financial gain, but in terms of viewership, because I’m this British kid who has done it on Indy shows, I know that when my [NJPW] contract comes up, there’ll be a fight for who wants the best five-star wrestler right now,” Ospreay said.

AEW will logically be one of Ospreay’s suitors given his previous history with them. While AEW has recently bulked up its roster with top talents from other wrestling promotions, such as Roderick Strong’s debut on the April 26 episode of Dynamite, it’s uncertain how the roster will look in 10 months, so a full-time run for Ospreay could make sense.

Ospreay will be a top free agent come 2024. Whether he departs for AEW, joins WWE, or stays with NJPW, his status will be worth watching, as despite injuries, he could make an impact with plenty of prime years left in his wrestling career.

Mercedes Moné is staying in NJPW … for now

Moné lost her title at a Stardom show but immediately said she’d be working a NJPW event in the U.S. in just a few weeks.

Mercedes Moné is no longer the IWGP Women’s Champion, but that doesn’t mean she’s leaving New Japan Pro-Wrestling right away.

That’s significant because for some time, the thought was that Moné was only going to stick around NJPW for a short time, and that dropping the title would be a sign she’d be moving on. She did the first part over the weekend at Stardom All Star Grand Queendom, where she was defeated by Mayu Iwatani in the show’s penultimate match.

But afterward, Moné said she wanted to get the title back at some point and declared that the next stop on her “world tour” would be the NJPW Strong Resurgence show on May 21 in Long Beach.

NJPW is already promoting her for that event, which would be the second card she will work for the company in the U.S. following Battle in the Valley in San Jose in February — where Moné won the IWGP Women’s Championship by defeating Kairi.

Moné’s contract with NJPW and Stardom parent company Bushiroad was said to originally expire after this weekend’s event, but Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported that both sides agreed to an extension several days ago. The question now is how long that extension will be, and if it runs through the summer.

If it does, that could put Moné in play for Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall on June 4. An even more tantalizing prospect would be if she’s available for Forbidden Door, the dual-branded show with AEW which is slated for Toronto on June 25.

Wrestling fans have wondered for some time if the former Sasha Banks might show up in AEW at some point, and Forbidden Door would allow her to do that without actually signing with the company — particularly if the build is like last year’s, where some New Japan talent appeared on AEW Dynamite and Rampage in the weeks leading up to the event.

For now, anyway, Moné will be working for NJPW at least one more time in a place she knows well.

Bullet Club: Who’s in, who’s out?

With David Finlay as self-appointed leader and Bullet Club Gold springing up in AEW, things are changing quickly.

As hard is may seem to believe, we’re coming up rapidly on the 10-year anniversary of Bullet Club. Arguably the most influential stable in all of pro wrestling during that time, the group came together for the first time on May 3, 2013, when Prince Devitt (you may know him better now as Finn Balor) turned on Ryusuke Taguchi and formed a pact with Karl Anderson, Bad Luck Fale and Tama Tonga.

The Bullet Club roster grew and morphed numerous times, and it expanded its influence far beyond NJPW. Some of the top talent in WWE, AEW and promotions all around the world have thrown up the “Too Sweet” sign at one time or another.

But while the leadership of Bullet Club has changed hands several times — occasionally against the leader’s will — and subgroups have formed that don’t always align perfectly with the direction of the main group, the recent ouster of Jay White (necessary because his NJPW contract was coming to an end) set an especially turbulent time in Bullet Club lore in motion.

So who’s in Bullet Club and who’s out? Let’s take a look at the rundown by promotion.

NJPW

In: David Finlay, Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Dick Togo, Evil, Gedo, Kenta, Sho, Taiji Ishimori, Yujiro Takahashi

Out: El Phantasmo

With White gone, it left a leadership void that Finlay was only too happy to fill. Whether he has the support of the entire main Bullet Club group remains to be seen, but if it sticks, this will be his highest profile run in his New Japan career.

Phantasmo was a White loyalist and he paid for it last week, getting violently ejected from the stable at Sakura Genesis.

Impact Wrestling

In: Ace Austin, Chris Bey

Bey was recruited to Bullet Club by White, but there’s no reason to think he isn’t still in good standing. The same goes with Austin, who officially joined the group about a month before his tag team partner.

Most importantly, both men still have Bullet Club in their Twitter bios, and we all know those are unassailable.

AEW

In (according to them): Jay White, Juice Robinson

Unaffected by any drama in Japan, Robinson has been up front about his Bullet Club loyalties since he signed with AEW in December. The real intrigue began when White, who had been rumored to be talking with WWE, became All Elite a few weeks.

On the April 12 episode of Dynamite, White and Robinson declared themselves “Bullet Club Gold,” and fans have taken them to literally mean they were creating their own offshoot. Numerous viewers also noticed they did the guns up taunt but not the “Too Sweet” gesture.

Might that mean something? Finlay seemed to fire a shot across the bow of White and Robinson on Twitter, though this was before this week’s Dynamite.

Reading through the replies to that tweet, one quickly gets the impression that fans aren’t sold yet on Finlay as Bullet Club leader and may back White if there turns out to be a full fledged BC civil war. With Forbidden Door 2023 only a few months away, everything seems to be in place for the rockiest era in the group’s storied history to potentially break out into open combat in the ring.

Stay tuned.

NJPW, AJPW, NOAH announce All Together Again joint show for June 9

Japans’ big three wrestling promotions will have a joint card for the first time since 2012.

More than a decade ago, Japan’s three biggest wrestling promotions — New Japan Pro-Wrestling, All Japan Pro-Wrestling, and Pro-Wrestling NOAH — united for a pair of shows aptly named All Together. Today they announced they’re going to bring that spirit of cooperation back this summer.

At a joint press conference on Wednesday, the three companies confirmed that All Together Again will take place Friday, June 9 in Ryogoku Sumo Hall. It will be the first time NJPW, AJPW and NOAH have joined forces since February 2012.

The presser included a notable talent from each company: NJPW’s Hiroshi Tanahashi, AJPW’s Kento Miyahara and NOAH’s Kaito Kiyomiya. Of the three, both Tanahashi and Miyahara competed on the first two All Together cards, with Kiyomiya noting he was still in middle school when they took place.

“I think the primary goal here is for wrestling fans to enjoy themselves, but then to take a positive energy and power that wrestling provides, and bring that to their families, their friends and their workplaces,” Tanahashi said. “I think that professional wrestling can bring a tremendous positive energy to the world on June 9.”

The promotions will donate a portion of the proceeds from the show to charity, though exact details on what organizations they will support will be revealed closer to the show.

Tickets for All Together Again will go on sale Sunday, April 23. The show will be offered on NJPW World pay-per-view in both Japanese and English, at a price of 3,980 Yen — just under $30 at the current exchange rate.

Stay tuned to Wrestling Junkie for more All Together Again details, including the match card, as they are announced.

Is NJPW finally going to give Sanada his shot as world champion?

Sanada has never been NJPW’s top champion, and if there was ever a time to see what he can do, this is it.

“If I stay in LIJ, nothing new will come of it.”

That’s what Sanada said March 17 when he punctuated his New Japan Cup quarterfinal victory over Tetsuya Naito by revealing that he was leaving Los Ingobernables de Japón and joining Taichi’s Just 4 Guys stable.

(Which, naturally, is now Just 5 Guys.)

But he didn’t stop there. Along with the new allegiance, Sanada has unveiled a new look (clean-shaven with a more normal hair color) and a new finishing move, a modified DDT. As far as turning the page goes, this was as definitive as it gets.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling obviously believes in the “new” Sanada, having him win the New Japan Cup tournament for the first time. He defeated David Finlay in the final — another NJPW wrestler whose profile is on the rise — and now has the opportunity to battle Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis in Ryogoku on April 8.

Sanada has been here before, not just competing for NJPW’s top prize, but against the same man. His title bout against Okada at Wrestling Dontaku 2019 earned five stars from Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer, and his rematch at King of Pro-Wrestling later that year won Tokyo Sports’ Best Bout Award 2019.

The common thread between both of them? Sanada lost.

There’s reason to think this time might be different. Okada is, of course, a generational talent, but we’ve seen him hold the top title for lengthy periods before. He’s had high profile matches against just about everyone NJPW can put forward as a contender. Okada always delivers, it’s just that he’s been doing that for so long that he’s already delivered against the field.

Putting the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on Sanada would be different. It would be fresh, like his presentation. It would give Just 5 Guys, despite a horrible name, real status as a top stable. There’s plenty that could be done with the jilted members of LIJ, especially Naito, looking for some payback.

Sanada is also 35. He’s not old, but he’s no up and comer either. If there was ever a time to see what he can do as New Japan’s top champion, this is it.

There’s one caveat. Forbidden Door, NJPW’s joint PPV card with AEW, is returning again this June. As Wrestling Observer Live hosts Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive pointed out this week, Sanada is better known in Japan than he is internationally. Maybe New Japan gets skittish about having someone untested as the top dog head into that event with the title. Perhaps Sanada wins in Ryogoku but loses it back to Okada before Toronto.

But as Alvarez and Sempervive also expressed, what would be the point? Hardcore fans already admire Sanada for his skill and style. He’s never been given the ball and been allowed to run with it to see how he’d do. Hopefully, NJPW is going to give him an honest chance to find out.

Jeff Cobb warns Kenny Omega he’s coming to see him on Dynamite in St. Louis

Cobb and Omega have never met in a single match, so why not on the upcoming Dynamite in St. Louis?

Kenny Omega might want to have eyes in the back of his head, because Jeff Cobb is planning on paying him a visit.

Not at home, mind you, but on the road next week as AEW Dynamite hits St. Louis.

Following his participation in this year’s NJPW New Japan Cup, where he was eliminated in the second round by Evil, Cobb used his post-event interview time to shift his focus all the way across the ocean. He accused Omega of ducking him for months and lashed out at the Twitter backlash he received from previous attempts to goad Omega into a match.

Now Cobb is tired of waiting around.

“I’m telling you firsthand, I am coming to St. Louis,” Cobb said. “And I’m gonna knock on your door. I’m gonna find the EVPs’ dressing room, knock on it, and see if you let me in.”

You can watch Cobb’s whole promo here (h/t PW Insider):

Omega and Cobb have never faced each other in a singles match, and have shared a ring together only once in a tag team match earlier this year. Cobb has gotten a taste of AEW, however, losing to Jon Moxley on a February 2020 episode of Dynamite and defeating Cash Wheeler on Rampage last summer.

The timing of Cobb’s challenge is interesting for another reason: AEW recently confirmed that its dual-branded pay-per-view with NJPW, Forbidden Door, is returning this June in Toronto. Though there is another AEW PPV between now and then — Double or Nothing in Las Vegas in late May — it’s not too early to start planting the seeds for programs for Forbidden Door.

Omega has an ongoing if off and on feud with Cobb’s United Empire teammate, Will Ospreay, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if this angle sparks things up again between those two men. In any case, watch for Cobb to appear on the March 29 episode of Dynamite, and we’ll see if Omega answers his knock on the door.

Mercedes Moné may already be done with NJPW next month

The outcome of Moné’s next match could be a big clue to what move she decides to make next.

The reign of Mercedes Moné as IWGP Women’s Champion might not last more than another month or so — because her time with New Japan Pro-Wrestling could be over in April as well.

According to Dave Meltzer in his latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required), Moné has only a little more than a month left on her deal with Bushiroad, the parent company of NJPW and women’s-focused sister promotion Stardom.

Moné is scheduled to wrestle Mayu Iwatani at Stardom’s All Star Grand Queendom show on April 23, and the outcome of that match could be a big hint toward what she plans on doing after that.

As of right now, Mercedes Mone has no dates left with Bushiroad after the 4/23 Yokohama Arena show. Unless that changes, logic would say she would drop the IWGP title to Mayu Iwatani at that show. If Mone wins, it would mean she’s reached an agreement for a longer deal.

After leaving her Sasha Banks identity behind in WWE earlier this year, Moné made headlines by appearing at Wrestle Kingdom in January, NJPW’s biggest event of the year. She successfully won the IWGP Women’s Championship from Kairi in February in San Jose, becoming only the second woman to hold the relatively new title.

While Moné made it clear while talking to Wrestling Junkie’s Under the Ring podcast that it was an “easy, easy decision” to join NJPW and Stardom because the promotions had wrestlers who would push her in new ways, it’s no surprise that her time there could be brief. She has also spoken about her desire to go on a “world tour” and wrestle in other countries, and Moné also signed with a talent agency in February to pursue opportunities in other areas of entertainment.

And, of course, there’s a school of thought that she will make her way back to WWE after stretching her wings a bit this year. That certainly can’t be ruled out, but it’s apparent right now that she is enjoying her time holding all the cards — and we’ll see which ones Moné decides to play after April 23.

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door returns as centerpiece of Canadian tour

Forbidden Door 2023 will be the debut AEW PPV in Canada and the first to ever take place outside the U.S.

The Forbidden Door will swing open again in 2023, but this time, it will lead to Canada.

AEW announced today that its popular Forbidden Door pay-per-view held in conjunction with NJPW will take place Sunday, June 25, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. That event will serve as the centerpiece of a larger Canadian tour by AEW that includes Dynamite/Rampage tapings in Hamilton and Edmonton, a swing through Saskatchewan for Dynamite in Saskatoon and Rampage in Regina, and an AEW House Rules live event at the Saddledome in Calgary.

The first AEW shows in Canada were held in Toronto in

“Canada has a rich wrestling heritage, and our debut in Toronto last year served as a special moment in our incredible relationship with fans throughout the country,” AEW CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan said in a press release. “Now, we’re not only entering new markets but also paying homage to the history of Canadian wrestling with unique moments like AEW House Rules taking place from the iconic Calgary Stampede. This summer is shaping up to be massive with the return of Forbidden Door, and
now Canadian fans in six separate markets will get the chance to witness what AEW has to offer up close and personal.”

Last year’s inaugural Forbidden Door took place in a market AEW has visited often, as more than 16,000 fans headed to Chicago’s United Center. The well-received card featured AEW and NJPW talent in every match but one (an AEW Women’s Championship bout) and was headlined by Jon Moxley defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi in a showdown Moxley had long called a dream match.

AEW’s late summer pay-per-view, All Out, typically takes place in Hoffman Estates right outside Chicago, which may have contributed to the desire for Forbidden Door to be held elsewhere. It will be the first ever AEW PPV at a venue outside the U.S.

Tickets for Forbidden Door and all of the Canadian tour stops go on sale Friday, March 24 at AEWTix.com.

WrestleMania events 2023: Full list of all the wrestling in L.A. during WrestleMania week

Get the when, where and how much for all the WrestleMania week wrestling shows in Los Angeles.

Prior to the pandemic, WrestleMania week had a history of becoming the epicenter of the entire pro wrestling universe. Promotions from all over the country, and indeed, the world, would converge on the host city, offering fans a smorgasbord of options leading up to WWE’s biggest show.

Things have been trending back in that direction, and it’s safe to say that for WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles, that same feel has fully returned. Starting several days before the Showcase of the Immortals, there is pro wrestling of all kinds running straight through the weekend — and even into Monday night, counting the always intriguing Raw After WrestleMania.

If you’re heading to L.A. or just want to keep tabs on everything going down during WrestleMania week, we’re here to help. We’ve gathered up all the wrestling shows by day, along with links to tickets where there’s still some left.

Scroll on down and find the stuff that interests you most, and we hope to run into you sometime during WrestleMania week.

(All times PT)

Tony Khan on Forbidden Door 2: ‘We’re looking forward to doing it together again’

Forbidden Door 2 feels less like a matter of if and more a question of when and where.

AEW’s next big pay-per-view event, Revolution, is just a few weeks off. But it’s another potential card that is on the mind of many fans, and that’s a sequel to last year’s Forbidden Door show that brought AEW together with New Japan Pro-Wrestling in Chicago.

The two companies have so far not announced a Forbidden Door 2, but AEW boss Tony Khan has mentioned it as a possibility enough times that it feels highly likely. He talked it up again on a recent appearance on the In The Kliq podcast (h/t Ringside News), discussing how much he enjoys working with NJPW.

“We always build up this big event, AEW and NJPW coming together for Forbidden Door,” Khan said. “I think Forbidden Door 1 was such a big success, we’re looking forward to doing it together again. They send a lot of their top stars to AEW and to ROH and I love working with them. It’s been a great relationship and there’s a lot of trust between the parties.”

The inaugural Forbidden Door drew more than 16,000 fans to Chicago’s United Center last June. The card was a hefty one featuring 10 matches (plus several more on the pre-show), and was headlined by a four-way match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and an AEW World Championship match between Jon Moxley and Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Khan has so far not signaled where or when a Forbidden Door 2 might take place, except to express his feeling that it should remain in the U.S. There is a fairly lengthy time between AEW’s Double or Nothing each May and All Out in September that make the summer appear a perfect time to keep holding the event if the companies so choose.

AEW has also had great success in the Chicago market to date, but with All Out traditionally held in that area too, it might make sense for Forbidden Door 2 to head somewhere else. In any case, it’s safe to say fans and industry observers will be watching carefully every time Khan teases a big announcement — something he’s done for this week’s episode of Dynamite.