Tag: battle in the valley

Hiromu Takahashi teaming with Mayu Iwatani at NJPW Battle in the Valley

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Hiromu Takahashi has revealed his first partner for NJPW Battle in the Valley 2025.

At the January 11 event, Takahashi and Sumie Sakai will be facing off in a six-person tag team bout. It’s Sakai’s retirement match and will feature her teaming with one male partner and one female partner against Takahashi and two female partners. He announced last night that Stardom ace Mayu Iwatani will be one of the members of Team Hiromu.

Sakai, 53, is stepping away from in-ring competition after a nearly three-decade international career. She’s best known for the time she spent in ROH, where she was involved in the promotion’s first-ever women’s match in 2002 and later became the inaugural ROH Women of Honor Champion in 2018.

This match was set up following NJPW’s Strong Style Evolved event last weekend. Sakai approached Takahashi and asked him to be the opponent for her retirement bout. Takahashi said he’d be delighted, but he suggested a six-person tag instead of a singles match so more people could be involved. The other members of Team Sumie have not been confirmed yet.

Battle in the Valley is being held in San Jose, California and will include fallout from Wrestle Kingdom 19 and Wrestle Dynasty. Two matches are now official for the show:

NJPW Battle in the Valley (Saturday, January 11) —

  • Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Tomohiro Ishii
  • Sumie Sakai’s retirement match: Team Sumie (Sumie Sakai, TBD & TBD) vs. Team Hiromu (Hiromu Takahashi, Mayu Iwatani & TBD)

First talent announcements made for NJPW Battle in the Valley 2025

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A slate of wrestlers are being advertised for NJPW Battle in the Valley, the promotion’s first United States event of 2025.

Battle in the Valley takes place from the San Jose Civic in San Jose, California on Saturday, January 11. NJPW has made its first talent announcements for the show with 17 wrestlers confirmed. They include IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. and AEW star Konosuke Takeshita.

Here is the full list:

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr.
  • NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd
  • AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita
  • Jeff Cobb
  • Tomohiro Ishii
  • El Desperado
  • AZM
  • Mina Shirakawa
  • Maika
  • Shane Haste
  • Bad Dude Tito
  • Rocky Romero
  • Royce Isaacs
  • Jorel Nelson
  • Tom Lawlor
  • Fred Rosser
  • HANAKO

The show is happening on the heels of Wrestle Kingdom 19 and Wrestle Dynasty, which are being held at the Tokyo Dome on January 4-5. Before that, NJPW will be in Long Beach, California this Sunday (December 15) for Strong Style Evolved.

Battle in the Valley first took place in 2021 and is now an annual event for NJPW.

NJPW announces Battle in the Valley for January 2025

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Just days after Wrestle Kingdom and Wrestle Dynasty next January, NJPW will make its return to San Jose, California.

The promotion announced today that Battle in the Valley 2025 will be held at the San Jose Civic on Saturday, January 11. Battle in the Valley first took place in 2021 and has now been an annual event for NJPW since 2023.

Tickets are going on sale to the general public this Friday (October 18).

While no match announcements have been made for Battle in the Valley yet, the show will feature the fallout from NJPW’s biggest events of the year. The Tokyo Dome is hosting Wrestle Kingdom 19 on January 4 and Wrestle Dynasty on January 5. Wrestle Dynasty will feature talent from NJPW, AEW, Stardom, CMLL, and ROH.

The main event of Battle in the Valley 2024 was Kazuchika Okada defeating Will Ospreay before both of those wrestlers joined AEW.

NJPW will also be in California for Strong Style Evolved 2024 this December. Long Beach is hosting that show on Sunday, December 15.

Bryan & Vinny & Craig Show: Granny segment, Shawn returns, plus Battle in the Valley 2024

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

The Bryan & Vinny & Granny & Craig & Shawn Show returns with a lot to talk about including an update on where Shawn has been and how he’s feeling, the usual Granny segment, and then the boys review New Japan Battle in the Valley! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Right Click Save As

Wrestling Observer Radio: All the weekend shows plus Roman Reigns, Cora Jade, line-ups and more

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including full reviews of Battle in the Valley, Collision, Battle of the Belts and Smackdown, plus Roman Reigns not wrestling in Australia, ratings from this past Wednesday night, Cora Jade’s injury, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:

Start: Vince McMahon Netflix documentary, NJPW Battle in the Valley

30:38: News notes on Elimination Chamber, Cora Jade injury update, lineups for this week

36:30: Ratings

44:11: AEW Collision & Battle of the Belts IX update

56:12: WWE SmackDown recap

Right Click Save As

Wrestling Observer Live: Bryan and Filthy Tom talk Battle in the Valley, RAW report, all the news

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including the world famous RAW report, line-ups for NXT, Dynamite and more, Battle in the Valley this coming weekend, plus ratings notes and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Right Click Save As

Wrestling Observer Radio: Battle in the Valley, Smackdown and Collision, wrestling history and Q&A

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including all the line-ups for the next week including Battle in the Valley on Saturday, Smackdown and Collision, a look back at wrestling history and some Q&A questions and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:

Start: Lineups for the next week of wrestling, Matt Striker/Matt Riddle comments, Cody Rhodes will be the best man at a fan’s wedding

13:30: Paul Boesch Q&A question

27:00: WWE SmackDown recap

39:40: AEW Collision recap

51:00: Q&A

Right Click Save As

Will Ospreay challenges Kazuchika Okada for NJPW Battle in the Valley

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Will Ospreay still has unfinished business with Kazuchika Okada.

While speaking as part of NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 18 interview series, Ospreay issued a challenge to Okada for NJPW Battle in the Valley. Ospreay said he’s confident that he’s going to become the first-ever IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion. Ospreay then wants his first title defense to be against Okada in San Jose.

Ospreay is facing Jon Moxley and David Finlay in a three-way match at Wrestle Kingdom 18 to determine the inaugural IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.

Ospreay was the final IWGP United States/United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship before the title was retired. The title belt was destroyed by Finlay during the build to Wrestle Kingdom.

Though this is his last Wrestle Kingdom as a full-time NJPW-contracted talent, Ospreay said he’s still dedicated to competing in an NJPW ring. He wants to show that with this match against Okada. Ospreay has signed a multi-year deal with AEW but will still be able to wrestle for NJPW as well.

Ospreay said in his challenge to Okada:

I’m confident going into this match that I’ll be walking away with this championship. I’m that confident in doing it, like, I’m prepared to make a challenge right here for San Jose. I know it’s on the poster that Okada is on that poster. And we have so much unfinished business. Yeah, granted, I was able to get that win in the G1 and I could finally prove to everybody that I can beat Okada. But I’m happy to put this challenge out right here, right now in front of you all that I want to face Okada in San Jose. 

Okada is facing Bryan Danielson at Wrestle Kingdom 18 on January 4.

Okada’s NJPW contract is set to expire at the end of January. He’s reportedly “seriously entertaining” the idea of signing with a promotion other than NJPW, which would mean WWE or AEW.

Battle in the Valley is being held at the San Jose Civic in San Jose, California on Saturday, January 13.

New talent announcements made for NJPW Battle in the Valley 2024

Posted on by Joseph Currier

New talent announcements have been made for NJPW Battle in the Valley 2024.

NJPW returns to the United States on Saturday, January 13 for Battle in the Valley. Taking place nine days after Wrestle Kingdom 18, it’s the first NJPW US show of the new year. The show is being held at the San Jose Civic in San Jose, California. 

NJPW has confirmed that Shota Umino, Rocky Romero, TJP, Bad Dude Tito, David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Alex Coughlin, Fred Rosser, Tom Lawlor, Jorel Nelson, and Royce Isaacs will be in action at Battle in the Valley.

The full list of announced talent can be seen below:

  • Kazuchika Okada
  • Will Ospreay
  • Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Eddie Kingston
  • Giulia
  • El Phantasmo
  • Hikuleo
  • Shota Umino
  • Rocky Romero
  • TJP
  • Bad Dude Tito
  • David Finlay
  • Gabe Kidd
  • Alex Coughlin
  • Fred Rosser
  • Tom Lawlor
  • Jorel Nelson
  • Royce Isaacs

This is NJPW’s second annual Battle in the Valley event. In February 2023, the first Battle in the Valley was headlined by a double main event of Okada vs. Tanahashi and Mercedes Mone vs. Kairi. It aired as a live pay-per-view on Fite TV.

NJPW announces Battle in the Valley 2024 date & location

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW Battle in the Valley is once again coming to California in 2024. 

The promotion has announced that the 2024 edition of the event will be held on Saturday, January 13, and once again take place in San Jose, California.  

Tickets for the show will go on sale on Thursday, October 5 with prices ranging from $29 to $299. No matches or talent have been announced for the show to this point. 

NJPW wrote: 

New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s first US event of 2024 is official, as NJPW heads to the San Jose Civic in San Jose California for Battle in the Valley.

Just nine days after an epic start to the 2024 calendar in the Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Kingdom 18, Battle in the Valley will see NJPW’s best from Japan, America and beyond vie for control of a hotly contested year.

In 2023, a capacity crowd at the Civic bore witness to Mercedes Moné capturing the IWGP Women’s Championship from KAIRI, while Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada continued a classic rivalry over the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. As the struggle for power unfolds in a new year, who will emerge victorious from Battle in the Valley in 2024?

The 2023 edition of Battle in the Valley also took place in San Jose, but was held in February. That show featured Mercedes Mone defeating KAIRI for the IWGP Women’s Championship in her first NJPW match, as well as a Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi main event for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. 

In 2021, Battle in the Valley took place in October, with Tomohiro Ishii defeating Jay White for the NEVER Openweight Championship in the main event. 

Wrestling Observer Radio: Vince McMahon’s asking price, Rocky Romero interview

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I are back for a new Wrestling Observer Radio going over all the news in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter as well as the story of Vince McMahon’s asking price for WWE.

Rocky Romero then joins to talk about New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Battle in the Valley show in San Jose. 

He also talked about the following:

  • His match with Volador Jr. and his strategy to sell the match and feud
  • What skills his job outside of the ring entails
  • Wrestling in many different companies and countries
  • Going on the Jericho Cruise
  • New Japan during the pandemic
  • Okada vs Tanahashi one last time

Click Here To Listen

IWGP World title to be defended at NJPW Battle in the Valley

Posted on by Ethan Renner

An IWGP World Heavyweight Championship defense has been added to NJPW Battle in the Valley on Saturday, February 18. 

NJPW announced Wednesday that the World title holder will make a defense in San Jose at the Battle in the Valley pay-per-view. Kazuchika Okada currently holds the title, but is set to defend it against Shingo Takagi at The New Beginning in Osaka on February 11. 

Already announced for Battle in the Valley is an IWGP Women’s Championship match, with KAIRI defending against Mercedes Mone. 

A pair of matches have also been announced for the pre-show, with David Finlay vs. Bobby Fish, plus JR Kratos vs. Alex Coughlin set to take place on the free kickoff show. 

Here is the updated lineup for the show: 

NJPW Battle in the Valley, Saturday, February 18, 10 p.m. Eastern time on FITE TV PPV —

  • IWGP Women’s Championship: KAIRI (c) vs. Mercedes Mone
  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada or Shingo Takagi will defend the title

NJPW Battle in the Valley pre-show, Saturday, February 18, 9:20 p.m. Eastern time, free on YouTube and FITE TV —

  • David Finlay vs. Bobby Fish
  • JR Kratos vs. Alex Coughlin

KAIRI vs. Mercedes Mone title match official for NJPW Battle in the Valley

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Mercedes Mone’s first NJPW match has now been made official.

NJPW has confirmed that the former Sasha Banks will challenge KAIRI for the IWGP Women’s Championship at Battle in the Valley on Saturday, February 18. The show will be available as a Fite TV pay-per-view with English commentary.

The title match was set up when Mone made her NJPW debut at Wrestle Kingdom 17. Following KAIRI’s IWGP Women’s Championship defense against Tam Nakano, Mone confronted KAIRI and laid her out. Mone announced that she’s coming to both NJPW and Stardom, declaring herself as “the standard, the conversation, the blueprint, and the CEO” of the women’s division.

Mone told KAIRI to enjoy the IWGP Women’s Championship while she still has it — because Mone is going to leave her bankrupt at Battle in the Valley.

In her post-show comments after Wrestle Kingdom, Mone said this is just her first stop — because she’s on a “world domination tour.”

Wrestle Kingdom was Mone’s first pro wrestling appearance since walking out of WWE last May.

KAIRI, who was formerly known as Kairi Sane in WWE, was crowned as the inaugural IWGP Women’s Champion this past November.

Battle in the Valley is taking place at the San Jose Civic in San Jose, California. KAIRI vs. Mone is the first match that’s been announced for the event.

Impact Wrestling talent added to NJPW Battle in the Valley

Posted on by Ethan Renner

A pair of Impact Wrestling stars have been added to next week’s NJPW Battle in the Valley event in San Jose. 

Impact’s World Champion Moose will be in action against Juice Robinson. Moose also took part in the NJPW Resurgence event in Los Angeles this past August, losing to Tomohiro Ishii. 

Also added, Impact’s Josh Alexander will take on Yuya Uemura. Alexander briefly won, then quickly lost the Impact title to Moose at last week’s Bound for Glory pay-per-view. 

Already announced for the show, Jay White will defend the NEVER Openweight Championship against Tomohiro Ishii, Will Ospreay takes on Ren Narita, Jeff Cobb and TJP tag against Karl Fredericks and Clark Connors, Brody King and Chris Dickinson face Bateman and Misterioso, plus Fred Rosser, David Finlay, Rocky Romero, Alex Coughlin and Alex Zayne take on Tom Lawlor, JR Kratos, Danny Limelight, Royce Isaacs and Jorel Nelson in a ten-man tag. 

Battle in the Valley will air with English commentary on FITE TV, and with Japanese commentary on NJPW World. 

NJPW Battle in the Valley, Saturday, November 13, 11 p.m. Eastern time on FITE TV and NJPW World —

  • NEVER Openweight Championship: Jay White (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • Juice Robinson vs. Moose
  • Josh Alexander vs. Yuya Uemura
  • Will Ospreay vs. Ren Narita
  • Jeff Cobb & TJP vs. Karl Fredericks & Clark Connors
  • Fred Rosser, David Finlay, Rocky Romero, Alex Coughlin & Alex Zayne vs. Tom Lawlor, JR Kratos, Danny Limelight, Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson
  • Brody King & Chris Dickinson vs. Bateman & Misterioso

Kazuchika Okada added to NJPW Battle in the Valley

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Kazuchika Okada has been added to NJPW’s San Jose show next month.

NJPW this morning announced in a video that Okada is coming to NJPW’s Battle in the Valley event on November 13 at the San Jose Civic Center. They said it was the first time Okada would be in the United States in two years. Okada’s last match in the United States would be back on November 9th, 2019, when he teamed with Will Ospreay to defeat the team of Amazing Red and Kota Ibushi at NJPW’s Showdown in San Jose event. 

Talent already announced for Battle in the Valley includes Tomohiro Ishii, Will Ospreay, Jay White, and Filthy Tom Lawlor.

Okada most recently competed in this year’s G1 Climax 31 tournament, defeating Kota Ibushi to win the tournament for a third time. The match had to end early after Ibushi injured his shoulder following a missed phoenix splash attempt. Okada will defend his Wrestle Kingdom 16 IWGP World Heavyweight title contract against Tama Tonga at Power Struggle on November 6.