Tag: douki

DOUKI announces ‘boycott’ of NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 33

Posted on by Ian Carey

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion says he will not participate in this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling had originally announced DOUKI as one of 20 participants in the 33rd edition of the tournament, which is scheduled to run from May 14 through June 7.

However, following his successful title defense against Tiger Mask at Hizen no Kuni on April 29 in Saga, DOUKI stated that he is “boycotting” the BOSJ and that the tournament should instead be used to determine his next challenger.

DOUKI also said he would not wrestle again on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour, which continues Thursday and Friday before the Wrestling Dontaku events on May 3 and 4 in Fukuoka.

“DOUKI once again found a way to retain IWGP Junior Heavyweight gold in Saga- before declaring a boycott on Best of the Super Jr. 33 and the remainder of the Dontaku tour?!” NJPW wrote after today’s show.

DOUKI finished off Tiger Mask with a Darkness Stretch, after repeated interference by members of House of Torture.

NJPW Hizen no Kuni results for April 29, 2026:

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI defeated Tiger Mask to retain the title
  • Callum Newman, Zane Jay, Francesco Akira & Jake Lee defeated Robbie X, Taiji Ishimori, Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi
  • Mistico, Aaron Wolf & Boltin Oleg defeated Dick Togo, Don Fale & Ren Narita
  • Jakob Austin Young, Great-O-Khan & HENARE defeated Tatsuya Matsumoto, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto
  • Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles, Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson defeated Masatora Yasuda, Ryusuke Taguchi, Yuya Uemura & Taichi
  • OSKAR & Yuto-Ice defeated Tomoaki Honma & Toru Yano
  • SHO, Yujiro Takahashi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Chase Owens defeated Master Wato, YOH, Taisei Nakahara & Shota Umino

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2026 Lineups:

Night one (Sunday, May 3):

  • IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji defends against Andrade El Idolo
  • NEVER Openweight Champion Ren Narita defends against Oleg Boltin
  • Aaron Wolf vs. Don Fale
  • Shingo Takagi, Drilla Moloney, Taiji Ishimori, Robbie X & Daiki Nagai vs. Callum Newman, Jake Lee, Francesco Akira, Jakob Austin Young & Zane Jay
  • Konosuke Takeshita & Shota Umino vs. Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Tatsuya Matsumoto vs. Will Ospreay, HENARE & Great-O-Khan
  • Yuya Uemura, Taichi, El Desperado & Mistico vs. Ryohei Oiwa, Hartley Jackson, Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita
  • Tomoaki Honma & Masatora Yasuda vs. OSKAR & Yuto-Ice
  • Toru Yano, YOH & Master Wato vs. Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & Taisei Nakahara

Night two (Monday, May 4):

  • IWGP Heavyweight Champion Callum Newman defends against Shingo Takagi
  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Oleg Boltin defend against Will Ospreay, HENARE & Great-O-Khan
  • Yota Tsuji, Drilla Moloney, Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X vs. Jake Lee, Francesco Akira, Jakob Austin Young & Zane Jay
  • Yuya Uemura & Taichi vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson
  • El Desperado & Mistico vs. Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita
  • Aaron Wolf, Toru Yano, Tiger Mask, YOH & Master Wato vs. Ren Narita, Don Fale, DOUKI, SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma vs. OSKAR & Yuto-Ice
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Tatsuya Matsumoto vs. Gedo & Daiki Nagai
  • NJPW World Television Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against Chase Owens
  • Pre-show: Masatora Yasuda vs. Taisei Nakahara

NJPW sets date for Tiger Mask Junior Heavyweight title challenge

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Before he retires from the ring, Tiger Mask IV will attempt to become IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion one last time.

NJPW has announced that the main event of Wrestling Hizen no Kuni will see Tiger Mask challenge DOUKI for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title. The show is happening on April 29 as part of the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour.

Tiger Mask is a six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, with his most recent reign having been in 2009-2010. He confronted DOUKI earlier this month and issued the challenge for a title match. They were then on the opposite sides of an eight-man tag bout at Sakura Genesis where Tiger Mask’s team got the victory.

The longest-serving Tiger Mask in history, Tiger Mask IV (Yoshihiro Yamazaki) is retiring from the ring soon with his final NJPW date set for July 7. He may need to work some already scheduled international dates after that, but that will be his final event in Japan.

July 2026 marks the 31st anniversary of Tiger Mask IV’s debut. He initially competed for Michinoku Pro before later joining NJPW.

The two biggest stops on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour are Wrestling Redzone and Wrestling Hizen no Kuni. On the Redzone card, the IWGP Heavyweight and Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles will each be defended.

NJPW Wrestling Redzone (Saturday, April 25) —

  • IWGP Tag Team Champions OSKAR & Yuto-Ice defend against either Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI or HENARE & Great-O-Khan (those two teams are facing off in a number one contender’s match on April 20)
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X defend against Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles
  • Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Gedo & Daiki Nagai vs. Callum Newman, Jake Lee, Jakob Austin Young & Zane Jay
  • Yuya Uemura & Tomoaki Honma vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson
  • Tiger Mask, Oleg Boltin, Aaron Wolf & Togi Makabe vs. DOUKI, Ren Narita, Don Fale & Dick Togo

NJPW Wrestling Hizen no Kuni (Wednesday, April 29) —

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI defends against Tiger Mask
  • Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X vs. Callum Newman, Jake Lee, Francesco Akira & Zane Jay
  • Oleg Boltin, Aaron Wolf & Mistico vs. Ren Narita, Don Fale & Dick Togo
  • Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Tatsuya Matsumoto vs. HENARE, Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young
  • Yuya Uemura, Taichi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Masatora Yasuda vs. Ryohei Oiwa, Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles
  • Toru Yano & Tomoaki Honma vs. OSKAR & Yuto-Ice
  • Shota Umino, YOH, Master Wato & Taisei Nakahara vs. Chase Owens, SHO, Yujiro Takahashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru

Both shows are living live on NJPW World.

NJPW announces Sakura Genesis card change

Posted on by Joseph Currier

To help build toward an upcoming Junior Heavyweight title match, NJPW has made a slight change to the Sakura Genesis card.

Tiger Mask IV and Master Wato have swapped places on the April 4 lineup, with Tiger Mask now set to compete in an eight-man tag match opposite IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI. The match pits Tiger Mask, Aaron Wolf, YOH & Toru Yano against DOUKI, Don Fale, SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru.

As for Wato, he will now team up with Togi Makabe against Hartley Jackson & Kosei Fujita.

The change comes after Tiger Mask confronted DOUKI earlier this week and challenged him to a title match. A date for that bout has not been set yet. Tiger Mask, who only has three months left before the end of his in-ring career, wants to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title and retire as champion.

Sakura Genesis is being held at Sumo Hall in Tokyo and will stream live overnight at 3 a.m. Eastern/midnight Pacific.

NJPW Sakura Genesis 2026 (Saturday, April 4) —

  • IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji defends against Callum Newman
  • IWGP Tag Team Champions The Knock Out Brothers (Oskar & Yuto-Ice) defend against Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa
  • NJPW World Television Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against Shota Umino
  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Oleg Boltin defend against Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens
  • Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan & HENARE vs. Yuya Uemura, Taichi & El Desperado
  • Tiger Mask, Aaron Wolf, YOH & Toru Yano vs. DOUKI, Don Fale, SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Shingo Takagi, Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X vs. Jake Lee, Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young
  • Togi Makabe & Master Wato vs. Hartley Jackson & Kosei Fujita
  • Pre-show: KUSHIDA & Masatora Yasuda vs. Tatsuya Matsumoto & Taisei Nakahara

Two title matches official for NJPW Anniversary event

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NJPW has booked a couple of title bouts for its upcoming Anniversary event.

On March 6, NJPW will celebrate its 54th birthday with an Anniversary show at Ota City Gymnasium in Tokyo. It’s been confirmed that the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles will be on the line. DOUKI is defending his belt against Master Wato, while Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X are challenging Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita for their tag team gold.

This will be the second defense for both DOUKI and Eagles & Fujita during their respective reigns.

NJPW wrote:

  • The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship will be on the line when Master Wato challenges DOUKI. Mere days after HOUSE OF TORTURE rallied around DOUKI to assist him to a first defence of the junior heavyweight title against El Desperado in Korakuen, Wato ensured the H.O.T victory lap was cut short, striking with the Tstenkaku German to pin Japones Del Mal and assert himself as the next number one contender. As the next chapter of HOUSE OF TORTURE with Ren Narita at its helm continues, will the self proclaimed ‘junior heavyweight god’ DOUKI retain by hook and crook again, or on the site of his Best of the Super Jr. tournament victory in 2023, can Wato finally complete his journey to Grand Master status?
  • Also official for Anniversary is a battle over the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita defending against Robbie X and Taiji Ishimori. The last time NJPW was in Ota for New Year Dash, the Ichiban Sweet Boys Eagles and Fujita won the junior tag gold by defeating Robbie X in a four way bout. When Ishimori scored tag team victory for himself and Hiromu Takahashi at New Beginning in Osaka however, defeating United Empire’s Jakob Austin Young and Francesco Akira, the Unbound Co. name seemed to grow stonger in tag contention. Robbie would provide the assist to prevent a post match assault on Hiromu, and backstage, Ishimori would issue a challenge. These two teams tore the house down in a junior tag title clash in Korakuen last April as well as in the Super Junior Tag League in the autumn to bring them to a 1-1 record. This time, which team will not only bring down the house, but bring home the bacon? 

The Anniversary show will air live on NJPW World with English commentary available. Along with these title bouts, the card includes two opening-round matches in New Japan Cup 2026.

NJPW 54th Anniversary Show (Friday, March 6) —

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI defends against Master Wato
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita defend against Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X
  • New Japan Cup first-round match: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jake Lee
  • New Japan Cup first-round match: OSKAR vs. Callum Newman

New champion crowned at NJPW Road to King of Pro Wrestling event

Posted on by Ian Carey

DOUKI has recaptured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.

He defeated El Desperado in the main event of Monday’s Road to King of Pro Wrestling show at Korakuen Hall.

The match was not without controversy due to repeated interference from DOUKI’s House of Torture teammate, SHO. Despite SHO having been banished from ringside before the bout officially began, he returned later and struck Desperado with a wrench and sheet pan, allowing DOUKI to lock in the DOUKI-chokey for the win.

“I guess the only logical reason to end such a great Junior Heavyweight Championship reign would be to end it in the most controversial and displeasing way possible,” wrote our own Cory Michaels in today’s recap of the show.

It was the 99th title change in the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship’s lineage. Desperado’s fifth reign with the belt ends after 275 days and eight successful title defenses.

For DOUKI, he regains the title he lost due to match stoppage at Wrestle Kingdom after he suffered what was at first thought to be a broken arm, and later revealed to be a dislocated left elbow. He missed over five months before returning that June at Dominion. DOUKI’s first reign with the title lasted 183 days with four successful defenses.

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 Junior title match stopped due to injury

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 came to an early end after an injury to one of the competitors.

*The following contains spoilers from NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19*

IWGP Junior Champion DOUKI suffered a left arm injury that forced a stop to his title defense against El Desperado, with the title changing hands due to the injury.

After a brawl on the outside, DOUKI climbed to the top rope to attempt his bombs away senton to the floor. He connected on the move, but his left arm smacked the padded floor. DOUKI immediately grabbed at the arm, and the match was stopped after a short consultation with referee Marty Asami.

Desperado’s music played and he was declared the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. The new title holder cut a short promo celebrating his win, noting that he will not apologize for how he won the title.

The reign is the fifth Junior Heavyweight title reign for Desperado. A reign longer than one day will push him past Will Ospreay into tenth place for most total days as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.

Our full report from Wrestle Kingdom 19 is here.

A video of DOUKI’s injury is embedded below for as long as it’s up before a copyright takedown.

Daily Update: AEW notes, AJ Befumo, DOUKI

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the highlights of this issue:

  • The Cung Le lawsuit settlement was approved, what caused Judge Boulware to do so, winners or losers, who is getting what, looking at the prior settlements that were turned down and the case itself.
  • TKO and Endeavor make a deal to give UFC & WWE new sister companies and what that all entails
  • The most detailed look at the Ring Boys scandal that broke in 1992 and quickly went away, and the lawsuit filed this week with all the details, including why being wrestling helped save WWE from untold bad publicity at the time. We look at the details of a very lengthy suit and what it all means.
  • 2024 Hall of Fame analysis by two researchers looks at what modern candidates are the strongest and weakest in different ways
  • Maple Leaf Wrestling debuts with two incredible main events.
  • The most detailed look at  the TV ratings from the past week, nightly and weekly placings, segment-by-segment, comparisons with the prior year and competition
  • Continuation of CMLL’s women’s wrestling month.
  • American star from a major family says he’ll be the first to win the Triple Crown.
  • Royal Quest notes.
  • MMA star defends pro wrestling world title twice on same show this past week.
  • New movie on 90s star
  • Looking at AEW Full Gear
  • AEW booking issues
  • WrestleDream and Bad Blood PPV numbers update
  • Injury updates
  • Advanced ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW events
  • Streaming and International TV numbers
  • Fighter still hospitalized after five weeks due to weight cutting issues
  • PFL PPV rundown and business
  • WrestleMania and tickets
  • Saturday Night’s Main Event thoughts
  • World Series and wrestling
  • WWE star has surgery to help eye issues
  • Raw & Smackdown 2025 updates
  • Samantha Irvine leaves WWE and details
  • Vince McMahon media pieces looked at
  • Clown show discussing McMahon
  • TV rundowns

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Nathan Frazer & Axiom vs. Je’Von Evans & Cedric Alexander NXT Tag Team title match from last night. Interference by Wes Lee helped cost Evans & Alexander the match.
  • Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (along with the rest of the main cast) is expected to return for the next installment in the Jumanji movie franchise. The film has a scheduled release date of December 11, 2026.
  • “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda dressed up as Dominik Mysterio for a Halloween photoshoot.
  • Sheamus’ Celtic Warrior Workouts series made its return to YouTube today with Randy Orton appearing as the guest.
  • Cody Rhodes was a guest on the Flagrant podcast.
  • Chris Van Vliet interviewed Liv Morgan, who revealed what advice she would give herself if she could go back in time 10 years:
    • I think I would tell myself to have a little bit more confidence in myself. I feel like I spent a lot of the early years of my career feeling like I wasn’t good enough or that I didn’t quite belong because I didn’t have a crazy athletic pedigree or family in this business, I really feel like I had no real reason why I had deserved to be here, and I think that hindered me a little bit in my performance and my confidence in my development. So I think I’d tell her just have a little bit more faith in yourself, you made it this far, have a little bit more confidence, have a little bit more belief in yourself, and that this ride’s gonna be f*cking crazier than you’ve ever, ever, ever thought, and it’s gonna be better than you’ve ever thought.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Jon Moxley told the Canton Repository how important it is to him to provide memories for fans:
    • I don’t think so much about the memories I’ve made for myself. It’s more about the memories I’ve tried to create for other people. People coming up and telling me I’ve given them inspiration or joy with a match means more than any list of accomplishments on paper or personal memories. It means a lot when people tell me that I’ve been a part of their lives somehow. It means something when a father and son tell me they watch my matches together. I’ve also been hearing I’ve grown up with you and been watching you since junior high. That one gets me a bit. I start to go, ‘Oh my God, I can’t be that old now can I?‘
  • Moxley hyped up tonight’s Fright Night Dynamite that’s taking place from Cleveland:
    • I have a message for my fellow residents of Ohio. You are the people I serve and I have a promise. I have something special for you. I speak in absolute truths. I’m not a used car salesman. There is no buy one free get one free special. You are taking off work. You might be getting a babysitter. You’re paying for tickets and parking. Those are significant investments to me and I feel that weight on my shoulders. … I demand you feel something when you leave this event. It might be shock. It might be horror. You might be uncomfortable. I will create a memorable experience for you, though.
  • Moxley has officially applied to trademark the term “Death Riders.”
  • In an interview with TV Insider, Shelton Benjamin promoted his match against Swerve Strickland ahead of Dynamite tonight:
    • As far as the theme goes, I don’t get wrapped up in themes. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween, I work the same way no matter what day it is. I’m about business. I’m going to try to steal the show. I’m going to bust my ass. It doesn’t matter to me. As far as Swerve goes, I would say in the last few years I’ve watched him go from relative obscurity in the mainstream. We knew about his work in NXT and things like that, but he comes from relative obscurity in mainstream pro wrestling. 
    • Now he is on the door of becoming a household name. That is a testament to him as a performer, a man and the faith AEW has put in him. So far he has been delivering. He is phenomenal. I think his ceiling is so high. I think he is going to be the guy for that company for many years to come. MVP and I approached him about doing business together. That didn’t work out the way we wanted. Now it’s the other side. Now I got to know. I’m going in to see why he is so special and why he thinks he is so special. I’m not going to make it easy on him. He has to prove why he thinks he is the man. I think he is a special talent, but he is not the standard of excellence I am.
  • Benjamin addressed the rumors that Bobby Lashley will be joining him and MVP in AEW:
    • If that was the case, that means there would be another monster in the company. Based on whatever his plans are, that could be a threat to everyone. We heard the rumblings and what people were whispering. For the most part, I’m not concerned with that. I’m concerned about what happens Wednesday between Swerve and me. If someone else joins the company, I think it would be a great asset. At the same time, I’m not concerned with that right now. I’m concerned with Wednesday.
  • TikTok star AJ Befumo of the Costco Guys told BroBible that he’d love to do more with AEW after his upcoming Full Gear pre-show match against QT Marshall:
    • I’m very happy with how everything is going with AEW. So we do have a one-match contract, but I am very much open to discussing the future. I would love to continue with AEW if that’s on the table.
  • Befumo discussed his history as an indie wrestler:
    • I wrestled for about 11 years. Probably from sometime around 1994 to about 2005. So I was very active in New Jersey, independent wrestling, and always had such a great time, made some great relationships. And it was always my goal to send the crowd home happy as a kid growing up, loving the heroes in wrestling, loving the Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior and all the good guys, all the heroes. It was always what I wanted to do was to send the kids and send the crowd home happy and that’s exactly what I did.
  • The Philadelphia Inquirer published a story on Wheeler Yuta. He explained what he’s learned from being a Philly sports fan:
    • Pain and patience. No, I’m kidding. I think I’ve learned a lot in terms of work ethic. That’s really the No. 1 thing that Philly sports fans want. They want you to go out and prove that you’re trying your hardest, you’re trying to win, you’re trying to win for them, and trying to win for yourself.
    • That has really resonated with me and helped me continue to grow. I think about the athletes that I cheered or booed as a kid, just trying to get them to bring one home for the city. What I command from the Phillies, the Sixers, and the Eagles, if I’m not putting that out myself, then who am I to throw stones?
  • The Battleground Podcast interviewed Willow Nightingale.
  • AEW wished happy birthday to both Adam Copeland (51) and Luther (56).
  • NJPW uploaded an interview with Kenny Omega.
  • DOUKI would like to face Sammy Guevara at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5. The event is taking place at the Tokyo Dome the day after Wrestle Kingdom 19 and will include wrestlers from NJPW, AEW, Stardom, CMLL, and ROH.
  • MLW announced Okumura vs. Ikuro Kwon for the TV taping portion of their event in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, November 9.

IWGP Junior title match set for NJPW Soul tour finale

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A match for the Junior Heavyweight title is set for the finale of NJPW’s Soul tour.

After El Desperado defeated SHO in a steel cage match to win the title on Saturday, DOUKI came out to issue the first title challenge. Desperado accepted, with NJPW making the title match official for July 5 at Tokyo Budokan.

Also announced is a six-man tag team match only featuring members of Los Ingobernables de Japon. Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, and BUSHI will face Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi, and Titan. In NJPW’s preview, it was mentioned that BUSHI and Naito are from the Adachi area of Tokyo where the card is being held.

Ryusuke Taguchi will return to action after suffering injuries from a road accident that took him out of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. The G1 Climax A and B block qualifier finals will also take place.

Here is the updated card for the NJPW Soul tour finale:

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight title: El Desperado defends against DOUKI
  • Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, and BUSHI vs. Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi, and Titan
  • G1 Climax A block qualifier finals
  • G1 Climax B block qualifier finals
  • Ryusuke Taguchi return match

DOUKI vs. Sami Callihan added to Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2

Posted on by Colin McGuire

DOUKI is coming back to America as the NJPW star will take on Sami Callihan at this month’s Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2.

The pay-per-view is set for Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena on Sunday, August 20th.

DOUKI last appeared on American television when he came up short against Jack Perry on the June 21st edition of AEW Rampage. 

Callihan, meanwhile, is currently teaming with Rich Swann as part of the number one contender tournament for the Impact Tag Team titles. The two will face ABC (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) in the semifinals this Thursday.

It’s only the fourth match announced for the show as of this point. Last week, former Impact Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo issued a challenge to Stardom for the event that has yet to be publicly answered.

Here’s the current lineup:

  • X-Division Champion Lio Rush & Trey Miguel vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Mike Bailey
  • Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • DOUKI vs. Sami Callihan
  • NJPW TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. & Shane Haste vs. Moose & Eddie Edwards

Wrestling Observer Live: Dismantling age-old stereotypes

Posted on by Jim Valley

It’s Saturday and that means it’s time for Wrestling Observer Live — an episode focused on the dismantling of age-old stereotypes.

On Friday, The Acclaimed’s Anthony Bowens reminded both Harley Cameron and the AEW Rampage crowd in Chicago that he’s gay and the crowd then led babyface cheer of “HE’S GAY!” 

That’s not the only example of how many of the old pro wrestling tropes don’t apply anymore.

From Friday’s WWE SmackDown: LA Knight is over, but is he too old to push? Also, Roman Reigns passed Pedro Morales and The Uso Penitentiary is back.

Speaking of Rampage, the show had good wrestling and some notable surprises including John Hennigan and Tom Lawlor. We run down all the wrestling on Friday and preview Saturday’s AEW Collision.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Four wrestlers not cleared to compete in New Japan Road matches

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NJPW has announced several changes to the cards for its current New Japan Road tour.

Alex Coughlin and Yuto Nakashima will both miss the three remaining shows on the tour due to injury. Coughlin has sustained an injury to his left calf muscle, while Nakashima has a left elbow injury.

YOH has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been self isolating. He’ll miss the New Japan Road events on Sunday, July 3 and Monday, July 4 but will be cleared to return in time for the Tuesday, July 5 show, where YOH, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto will challenge EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & SHO for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles.

DOUKI is off the New Japan Road tour due to being in close contact with someone who was infected with COVID.

Here is the full list of card changes:

Sunday, July 3 —

– Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Yuto Nakashima will now be Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Ryohei Oiwa & X (mystery partner)

– Alex Coughlin, Clark Connors & The DKC vs. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Shingo Takagi will now be Yuji Nagata, Clark Connors & The DKC vs. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Shingo Takagi

– YOH, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Dick Togo, Yujiro Takahashi & SHO will now be Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Dick Togo & Yujiro Takahashi

– Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Taichi & DOUKI will now be Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Taichi & TAKA Michinoku

Monday, July 4 —

– Yuto Nakashima vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru will now be X (mystery opponent) vs. TAKA Michinoku

– Alex Coughlin, Clark Connors & The DKC vs. Taichi, El Desperado & DOUKI will now be Yuji Nagata, Clark Connors & The DKC vs. Taichi, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru

– YOH, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Dick Togo, Yujiro Takahashi & SHO will now be Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Dick Togo & Yujiro Takahashi

Tuesday, July 5 —

– Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Yuto Nakashima will now be Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & X (mystery partner)

– Alex Coughlin, Clark Connors & The DKC vs. Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & Alex Zayne will now be Yuji Nagata, Clark Connors & The DKC vs. Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & Alex Zayne

– Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI will now be Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & TAKA Michinoku

NJPW BOSJ 28 night 10 results: Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Ehime.

Hiromu Takahashi took on DOUKI in the main event, while IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado faced Ryusuke Taguchi in the semi-main. 

The other tournament action was comprised of SHO vs. Taiji Ishimori, YOH vs. El Phantasmo, Robbie Eagles vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and Master Wato vs. BUSHI.

Young Lions Kosei Fujita and Ryohei Oiwa faced off in the non-tournament opener. 

Here are today’s results: 

Kosei Fujita drew with Ryohei Oiwa (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

Best of the Super Juniors: Master Wato defeated BUSHI (11:15)

Ishimori used the Bone Lock to pick up the submission win.

Best of the Super Juniors: Robbie Eagles defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (12:23)

Eagles used the Ron Miller Special to get the submission victory.

Best of the Super Juniors: YOH defeated El Phantasmo (14:32)

YOH got the pin with the Five Star Clutch.

Best of the Super Juniors: Taiji Ishimori defeated SHO (13:30)

Ishimori won by pinfall with a backslide after a low blow.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Desperado defeated Ryusuke Taguchi (18:11)

Desperado used Numero Dos for the submission. 

Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi defeated DOUKI (20:34)

Hiromu got the pin after hitting Time Bomb.

NJPW Summer Struggle results: Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s Summer Struggle tour wrapped up today with a Korakuen Hall finale. 

Hirmou Takahashi returned after being sidelined with a torn pectoral. He took on Suzuki-gun’s DOUKI in the main event. 

Hiromu’s Wrestle Grand Slam opponent, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles, faced Master Wato in the semi-main. 

Kazuchika Okada and Jeff Cobb’s tag team series continued. Okada and Togi Makabe faced Cobb and Great-O-Khan. Okada and Cobb will face off at Wrestle Grand Slam on September 4.

A preview of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match at Wrestle Grand Slam was featured in the second match of the night. Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI and Ryusuke Taguchi took on Minoru Suzuki and IWGP Tag champs Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi.

The opener featured new Young Lions Ryohei Oiwa and Kosei Fujita meeting for the fourth time in as many nights. 

Below are results from today’s show. 

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Ryohei Oiwa drew with Kosei Fujita (10:00)

The Young Lions went to their fourth consecutive time limit draw.

Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki defeated Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Ryusuke Taguchi (3:32)

This was really more of an angle than a match. Goto, YH and Taguchi attacked as Suzuki-gun made their entrance and a brawl ensued before the bell. 

Taichi pinned Taguchi after the Tensho Zack Driver.  

Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan defeated Kazuchika Okada & Togi Makabe (9:13)

Cobb pinned Makabe after a Tour of the Islands.

Robbie Eagles defeated Master Wato (17:32)

Eagles won by submission with the Ron Miller Special.

Hiromu Takahashi defeated DOUKI (29:43)

Hiromu won with Time Bomb.

These guys tore the house down. DOUKI works harder than anyone on every show he’s on and Hiromu was great in his comeback match. 

Eagles and Hiromu had a brief staredown after the match. Hiromu cut a promo on the IWGP Junior title. Eagles left, then Hiromu addressed the crowd for a long time as the show closed. His promo might still be going on. 

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Here are the announced lineups for Wrestle Grand Slam:

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night one, Saturday, September 4, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • IWGP United States Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
  • Provisional KOPW 2021 No DQ, I Quit match: Chase Owens (c) vs. Toru Yano

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night two, Sunday, September 5, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. EVIL
  • IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi

NJPW reveals participants for Best of the Super Juniors 27

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The participants for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors 27 tournament have been announced

This year’s format is a dramatic change from last year’s tournament. Instead of two blocks and twenty entrants, this year there is only one block with ten wrestlers. The top two wrestlers who score the most points will meet each other in the finals.

Most of this year’s participants are NJPW regulars. Robbie Eagles, who has not appeared on a New Japan Pro Wrestling card since the COVID-19 pandemic, will make his return on this tour. Master Wato, who returned from excursion earlier this year, will make his Best of the Super Juniors debut.

The ten participants for this year’s tournament include:

  • Ryusuke Taguchi
  • Master Wato
  • SHO
  • Robbie Eagles
  • Hiromu Takahashi
  • BUSHI
  • El Desperado
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • DOUKI
  • Taiji Ishimori

The finals will take place on December 11 at Nippon Budokan.

The tournament, which usually runs in May, will instead run in conjunction with this year’s World Tag League. The original tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Six-Man tag title match set for NJPW Road to Power Struggle night one

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles will be on the line at Road to Power Struggle night one.

NJPW has revealed the full card for Road to Power Struggle night one, with it being headlined by NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defending their titles against Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI. The match was set up by Taichi, Sabre Jr., DOUKI & El Desperado defeating Ishii, Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano in an eight-man tag match at the G1 finals.

DOUKI pinned YOSHI-HASHI to get the win in that eight-man tag match. After the match, Taichi, Sabre & DOUKI attacked Ishii, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI and posed with the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag team titles.

Ishii, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI have been NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions since winning the titles in a tournament this August. EVIL, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI were the champions prior to that, but the titles were declared vacant after EVIL joined Bullet Club.

NJPW has yet to reveal the cards for the rest of the Road to Power Struggle tour. The tour is leading into Power Struggle being held at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan on Saturday, November 7. Power Struggle will feature six singles matches.

Road to Power Struggle night one is taking place at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo this Friday (October 23) and will air live on NJPW World starting at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time. Here’s the full card for the show:

  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defend against Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI
  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. EVIL & Dick Togo
  • Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Jay White, KENTA & Gedo
  • Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Kazuchika Okada & Gabriel Kidd vs. Will Ospreay & The Great O-Khan
  • Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura