Tag: Drilla Moloney

NJPW’s Drilla Moloney reportedly drew interest from U.S. companies

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Drilla Moloney has re-signed with NJPW amid interest from several U.S. companies.

Recently, at NJPW New Beginning Osaka, Shingo Takagi and Moloney defeated Great-O-Khan and HENARE, before Moloney announced his new extended run with NJPW.

Shortly after, Fightful Select shared a report that detailed his contract situation. While he re-signed with NJPW on February 11th, Sean Ross Sapp stated that he politely “declined interest from American companies” and stayed with NJPW.

The report also noted that the deal may have been finalized last week and is a “very favorable” one for Moloney. Possibly a one-year contract, the deal will keep him in NJPW till February 2027.

While many believed he was done with the Japanese promotion, Moloney announced his re-signing with the company and his entry in the 2026 New Japan Cup tournament at New Beginning Osaka.

Last year, Fightful Select had also noted that Moloney and a few War Dogs members’ contracts were nearing expiry in 2026.

NJPW New Beginning notes: David Finlay, Drilla Moloney, Hiroshi Tanahashi

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Notes from Wednesday’s New Beginning in Osaka.

David Finlay strongly hinted at his departure from NJPW following his match with Callum Newman, where he lost cleanly after a lariat. After Newman mocked his opponent and left the ring, Finlay recovered and quickly became emotional. He bowed to the crowd and hugged manager Gedo as he exited the ring. He then bowed in front of and hugged Hiromu Takahashi at ringside before making his exit.

Despite what seemed like a final farewell, Finlay has been announced for New Beginning USA on February 27. But the scene on Wednesday comes as reports indicate that Finlay is looking to explore free agency.

One person who is remaining with the company is Drilla Moloney. After he and Shingo Takagi were victorious in their tag match, Moloney announced that he had renewed his contract with NJPW. Additionally, he declared for the NJPW Cup tournament, which takes place next month.

Prior to the NEVER title match, Hiroshi Tanahashi made a surprise appearance and announced that their next broadcast on national television will take place at NJPW Dominion on June 14 in Osaka-jo Hall. TV Asahi aired Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4, the first time the network had aired a Tokyo Dome event since 2004.

Play-in matches set for final four NJPW G1 tournament spots

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Eight wrestlers are set to compete for the final four spots in NJPW G1 Climax 2025.

Over the weekend, NJPW revealed 16 of the 20 entrants who will be participating in this summer’s tournament. The last four spots are still up for grabs with play-in matches taking place during the New Japan Soul tour with events at Korakuen Hall on June 23 and Budokan Hall on July 4.

Here is the play-in schedule:

Monday, June 23 —

  • A Block play-in match: Taichi vs. Callum Newman
  • B Block play-in match: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Drilla Moloney

Friday, July 4 —

  • A Block play-in match: Ryohei Oiwa vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • B Block play-in match: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Chase Owens

Moloney and Oiwa would be competing in their first-ever G1s if they are able to qualify for the tournament. Moloney is a member of Bullet Club War Dogs, while Oiwa is part of TMDK.

At NJPW Dominion on Sunday, Taichi & Ishii defeated Newman & Great-O-Khan to become the new IWGP Tag Team Champions. Ishii also currently holds singles gold as the NJPW Strong Openweight Champion.

The G1 begins on July 19 and runs through August 17. Here’s what the field looks like ahead of the last four entrants being confirmed:

A Block —

  • Hirooki Goto
  • Oleg Boltin
  • Yuya Uemura
  • Yota Tsuji
  • David Finlay
  • EVIL
  • SANADA
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • Taichi or Callum Newman
  • Ryohei Oiwa or Bad Luck Fale

B Block —

  • El Phantasmo
  • Shota Umino
  • Shingo Takagi
  • Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Great-O-Khan
  • Gabe Kidd
  • Ren Narita
  • Konosuke Takeshita
  • Tomohiro Ishii or Drilla Moloney
  • YOSHI-HASHI or Chase Owens

Two title matches booked for New Japan Soul 2024

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NJPW has made the first two match announcements for its post-Dominion summer tour.

After Dominion takes place this weekend, New Japan Soul 2024 will kick off the following week. The first event is being held in Sapporo on Sunday, June 16. A pair of title matches have been made official for the show. SANADA will challenge David Finlay for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, while Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney are defending the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles against Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles.

An illness forced SANADA out of action in April, but he’s now been medically cleared to return. Finlay is looking to avenge his loss to SANADA from the New Japan Cup 2023 finals.

Tournament losses are also part of the story for Bullet Club War Dogs and TMDK’s Junior Heavyweight Tag Team title match. During this year’s Best of the Super Juniors, Fujita defeated Connors and Eagles defeated Moloney when they faced off in tournament matches. Eagles & Fujita also own a victory over Connors & Moloney from Super Junior Tag League 2023.

Fujita, Eagles & Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Connors, Moloney & Gedo in a six-man tag match at an NJPW event this Monday. At Dominion, there will be another six-man tag match with Fujita, Eagles & Sabre facing Connors, Moloney & LJ Cleary.

The New Japan Soul tour runs through Friday, July 5 and features seven events in total. The final night is being held at Budokan Hall.

New Japan Soul 2024 night one (Sunday, June 16, live on NJPW World) —

  • IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion David Finlay defends against SANADA
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney defend against Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles)

Two title changes at NJPW Strong Independence Day night one

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The opening night of NJPW Strong Independence Day included a pair of tag team title changes.

Bullet Club War Dogs are now in possession of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles and the Strong Openweight Tag Team titles. Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney defeated TJP & Francesco Akira to win the Junior Heavyweight belts, while Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd claimed the Strong Openweight titles by defeating Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI.

There will be a chance for the faction to add more gold as Coughlin & Kidd challenge Goto & YOSHI-HASHI for the IWGP Tag Team titles at Strong Independence Day night two on Wednesday. Goto & YOSHI-HASHI are entering that match at a disadvantage after Coughlin & Kidd continued to attack them following their match on night one.

David Finlay introduced Connors as a new member of Bullet Club at NJPW Capital Collision this April. Moloney, Coughlin, and Kidd were then added to the group at Dominion last month.

Here’s the full lineup for Strong Independence Day night two:

  • Final Death match: Jon Moxley vs. El Desperado
  • NJPW Strong Openweight Champion KENTA defends against Eddie Kingston
  • IWGP Tag Team Champions Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defend against Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd
  • NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Willow Nightingale defends against Giulia
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & The DKC vs. Tom Lawlor, Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs
  • Lance Archer & Alex Zayne vs. Bad Dude Tito & Kosei Fujita
  • Drilla Moloney & Clark Connors vs. YOH & Rocky Romero
  • Homicide & Ryohei Oiwa vs. TJP & Francesco Akira
  • JR Kratos vs. Oskar Leube
  • Kickoff match: Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato & Boltin Oleg vs. Dragon Libre, Takahiro Katori & Rekka