Tag: Derby City Rumble

KUSHIDA to face Rich Swann in Impact Wrestling debut

Posted on by Joseph Currier

KUSHIDA now has an opponent for his Impact Wrestling debut.

In his first appearance for Impact Wrestling, KUSHIDA will face off with Rich Swann at this Friday’s Derby City Rumble television tapings. The match will air on a future episode of Impact.

The Derby City Rumble tapings are being held at Old Forester’s Paristown Hall in Louisville, Kentucky this Friday and Saturday. KUSHIDA has been announced for both nights of the tapings.

A singles match between Motor City Machine Guns tag team partners Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin has also been confirmed for Friday’s tapings.

KUSHIDA, who departed WWE this April following the expiration of his contract, made his return to NJPW last month by confronting IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori.

After returning to NJPW, KUSHIDA made an Instagram post noting that he’s still going to be living in the United States and will be based out of Los Angeles. KUSHIDA wrote that he will “look to bring excitement to New Japan, New Japan’s Junior division, and NJPW LA Dojo.”

KUSHIDA debut, Alex Shelley vs. Chris Sabin set for Impact Derby City Rumble

Posted on by Ethan Renner

KUSHIDA’s debut, plus the Motor City Machine Guns facing off have been announced for next week’s Impact Derby City Rumble television taping.

Impact announced on Thursday that NJPW’s KUSHIDA will make his debut for the promotion at the Derby City Rumble taping in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday, July 15, and Saturday, July 16. Also announced for Louisville, the Motor City Machine Guns will square off in a singles match, as Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin go head-to-head.

KUSHIDA has been announced for both days of the TV taping, while Shelley vs. Sabin was specifically announced for the Friday, July 15 event.

KUSHIDA recently returned to NJPW after a stint with WWE as a member of the NXT brand. The six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion left WWE following his contract expiring in April after a three-year run with the company. 

Impact World Champion Josh Alexander, Sami Callihan, Eddie Edwards, Tasha Steelz, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, Ace Austin, and Matt Cardona have also been advertised for appearances at next week’s events.