Tag: jake lee

NJPW announces full card for Ignition to Dominion

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The full card has now been confirmed for NJPW Ignition to Dominion.

Taking place in Karatsu this Wednesday, the show could set the stage for the Dominion 2026 main event. Callum Newman & Jake Lee are facing off against Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi. If either Unbound Co. member scores a pinfall over Newman, they earn an IWGP Heavyweight Championship shot against him at Dominion. But if United Empire win, neither Tsuji nor Takagi can challenge for the title again as long as Newman is champion.

Newman issued the challenge for this match after cheating to retain his title against Takagi at Wrestling Dontaku. The youngest IWGP Heavyweight Champion in history, Newman won the belt from Tsuji last month at Sakura Genesis.

Dominion is being held in Osaka on June 14. An IWGP Tag Team title match with Yuto-Ice & OSKAR defending against Great-O-Khan & HENARE of United Empire looks likely for that show. At ignition, they’ll be part of a 10-man tag match with Yuto-Ice, OSKAR, Taiji Ishimori, Gedo & Daiki Nagai facing O-Khan, HENARE, Francesco Akira, Jakob Austin Young & Zane Jay.

The full card for Ignition is listed below. It’s airing live on NJPW World at 4 a.m. Eastern/1 a.m. Pacific and is the last stop for NJPW before Best of the Super Juniors begins on May 14.

NJPW Ignition to Dominion (Wednesday, May 6) —

  • Callum Newman & Jake Lee vs. Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi
  • Yuto-Ice, OSKAR, Taiji Ishimori, Gedo & Daiki Nagai vs. Great-O-Khan, HENARE, Francesco Akira, Jakob Austin Young & Zane Jay
  • Aaron Wolf, Oleg Boltin & Tiger Mask vs. Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo
  • Yuya Uemura & Masatora Yasuda vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita
  • Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma vs. Taichi & El Desperado
  • Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Tatsuya Matsumoto vs. Toru Yano, YOH & Master Wato
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Taisei Nakahara vs. SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru

NJPW sets up tag team match with IWGP title implications

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A high-stakes tag team match looks set to take place on the road to NJPW Dominion.

Night two of Wrestling Dontaku ended with IWGP Heavyweight Champion Callum Newman issuing a challenge to Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi. At Ignition to Dominion this Wednesday (May 6), Newman & Jake Lee will team up against the Unbound Co. duo. If United Empire win, neither Tsuji nor Takagi can challenge Newman for the IWGP Heavyweight title again. But if either Tsuji or Takagi manage to score a pinfall over Newman, that competitor earns the right to challenge for his belt in the main event of Dominion on June 14.

NJPW has not officially announced the tag match or revealed the full card for Ignition to Dominion. The show is airing live on New Japan World on Wednesday with a start time of 4 a.m. Eastern/1 a.m. Pacific.

At Dontaku today, Newman used a low blow to retain his IWGP Heavyweight Championship over Takagi. It was Newman’s first defense since winning the title from Tsuji at Sakura Genesis 2026.

Newman’s immediate focus remains on the United Empire/Unbound Co. feud, but a match against his former mentor Will Ospreay appears to be the ultimate direction. Issues between Newman and Ospreay continued to build at Dontaku, where Ospreay did not approve of Newman cheating to win. Ospreay was then initially reluctant to help United Empire with their post-match attack on Takagi and Tsuji. Backstage, Ospreay reaffirmed his commitment to United Empire and said he’s trying his best to be the kind of competitor Newman wants him to be.

Night two of Dontaku saw United Empire capture more gold with Ospreay, Great-O-Khan & HENARE defeating Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Oleg Boltin for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles.

Yota Tsuji’s first IWGP title challenger confirmed

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Jake Lee is officially first in line to challenge Yota Tsuji for the IWGP Championship.

In an angle that took place today, Tsuji finally agreed to defend his IWGP Championship against Lee at New Beginning in Osaka on February 11. The match will be formally announced by NJPW when the full card is revealed in the coming days.

A match between Tsuji and Lee has been building since Wrestle Kingdom 20, when Tsuji was attacked by Lee following his victory over Konosuke Takeshita. Lee returned to NJPW that night when he was unveiled as the newest member of United Empire. Tsuji did not immediately accept Lee’s challenge, instead saying that Lee needed to show why he was worthy of a title shot.

United Empire (Lee, Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young) defeated Unbound Company (Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo) in a 10-man tag match at today’s Road to New Beginning event. To get the victory, Lee pinned Takagi while the rest of United Empire held Tsuji back and forced him to watch.

After the match, United Empire beat down Unbound Company as they continued to force Tsuji to look on. The champion then agreed to face Lee at New Beginning in Osaka, saying he could not watch United Empire do this to his friends.

Tsuji holds both the IWGP Championship and IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship at the moment. He’s set a clear distinction between the titles, saying the IWGP Championship will be defended in Japan against the best competition NJPW has to offer. The Global title will be defended overseas and in Japan against “invaders” from outside the company.

Edion Arena is hosting the New Beginning in Osaka, with the following matches either official or having been set up:

NJPW New Beginning in Osaka 2026 (Wednesday, February 11) —

  • IWGP Champion Yota Tsuji defends against Jake Lee
  • IWGP Tag Team Champions The Knock Out Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) defend against Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura
  • NEVER Openweight Champion Aaron Wolf defends against Ren Narita
  • Global title number one contender’s match: Gabe Kidd vs. Andrade El Idolo (not yet official)

Newest member of United Empire revealed at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The newest member of the United Empire has been revealed.

Jake Lee made his return from injury at Wrestle Kingdom 20, joining Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, Henare, and Andrade El Idolo as the latest incarnation of the United Empire. Members of Bullet Club War Dogs in the ring reacted in anger, upset that their stablemate had turned their back against them. Lee scored the win for his team, pinning Unaffiliated’s Hiromu Takahashi.

After the match, a masked man entered the ring and added insult to injury by superkicking Hiromu. He revealed himself to be none other than Francesco Akira, returning from injury. 

Lee has been out of action since September of 2024 when he suffered a foot injury during the Road to Destruction tour. He had made his NJPW debut that April, leaving Pro Wrestling NOAH to join NJPW, specifically the Bullet Club War Dogs. He entered his first G1 Climax tournament shortly thereafter, failing to make it to the playoff stage.

Joining AJPW in 2011, Lee became one of the company’s top stars, winning the Triple Crown Championship on two occasions and won the 2021 Champion Carnival. His contract expired in 2022 and joined NOAH soon after.

Jake Lee suffers foot injury, pulled from NJPW show

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Jake Lee is being evaluated after suffering an injury at NJPW’s Road to Destruction event on Wednesday.

Lee was injured while teaming with David Finlay & Gabe Kidd against Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI in a six-man tag match. NJPW has confirmed that the injury is to Lee’s right foot. He’s been pulled from this Saturday’s Road to Destruction show. Past that, there is no date for Lee’s return.

“We apologize to fans looking forward to seeing Jake wrestle, and appreciate your understanding,” NJPW wrote. “Jake Lee is currently undergoing [evaluation] and his return date is to be determined. NJPW joins fans in wishing Jake a speedy, full recovery.”

Lee, Finlay, Kidd & Gedo vs. Goto, Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Tomoaki Honma was originally scheduled for Saturday’s event. It will now be Finlay, Kidd & Gedo vs. Ishii, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI.

The 35-year-old Lee — who is a former champion for NOAH and AJPW — became a full-time member of the NJPW roster when it was announced earlier this month that he had signed a contract with the promotion. He’s a member of Bullet Club War Dogs.

Daily Update: WWE notes, Adam Copeland, Matt Riddle

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • WWE Bash in Berlin coverage, business, records, interest level, crossover buys with AEW and an overview of the show.
  • AEW All Out
  • NXT No Mercy coverage
  • The life and career of Villano V, son of one of the biggest stars in history, Ray Mendoza, his sons, formation of a promotion that became one of the  hottest in the world at the time, the background of Los Villanos from a movie, his run in WCW as enhancement talent, the legend of Villanos  vs. Brazos and Villano V vs Blue Panther in Mexican legacy and life after wrestling.
  • How Turki Alashikh is trying to change boxing on PPV, possible motives, and how AEW does on PPV is a key in analyzing this.
  • Kevin Kelly and the Tate Twins sue AEW, the most detailed look at the suit itself  what it means, and potential outcomes
  • The life and times of Sonny King,  wrestling all over the world, from early WWWF tag champion to Crockett headliner, when he was stabbed, his days as a manager, philosophy of wrestling, and more.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling shows over the past week, demos,
  • segments placing and competition.
  • Chris Jericho talks about returning to Mexico
  • All kids of major events planned for Arena Mexico in upcoming weeks
  • Celebrity knocks company that used him and praises their opposition
  • Stardom Five Star Grand Prix finals
  • NOAH’s N-1 finals
  • Suzuki vs. Shibata in Japan
  • Honoring Yoshihiro Takayama and Don Frye talks
  • Three generations of superstars in one match
  • Nikki Bella/Garcia news coverage
  • Notes on movies and TV shows featuring current stars
  • Santo retirement tour
  • The Wrestling Combine
  • Rich Swanna going to rehab
  • TNA big show coverage
  • Lots more on All In business
  • Tony Khan press call
  • Health updates on wrestlers
  • Nigel McGuinness talks wrestling
  • Mark Henry had words regarding AEW and Tony Khan
  • International TV ratings
  • Sting’s son training for wrestling update
  • Highest merch sellers in WWE and AEW
  • UFC record gate coming
  • Fighter sues manager for embezzling $2 million
  • WWE television changes
  • More Janel Grant court issues
  • Firing of Odyssey Jones
  • Vince McMahon documentary
  • Lawsuit against WWE and Cody Rhodes
  • More people leaving WWE after decades with the company

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • Zelina Vega remembered her late father Michael Angel Trinidad, who died on this day in 2001 while working in the World Trade Center during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
  • Following his run in Pro Wrestling NOAH’s N-1 Victory tournament, Tavion Heights returned to NXT last night, helping Charlie Dempsey retain the Heritage Cup against Je’Von Evans.
  • WWE uploaded the full Trick Williams vs. Pete Dunne Last Man Standing number one contender’s match from NXT.
  • ESPN ranked Nick Khan (third), Paul “Triple H” Levesque (fifth), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (sixth), AEW’s Tony Khan (12th), and Logan Paul (13th with his brother Jake) among the 15 most influential people in boxing, MMA, and pro wrestling.
  • WWE Shop is once again selling CM Punk friendship bracelets. They had been taken down after a fan named Victoria – who made the original bracelet that was used in Punk’s feud with Drew McIntyre – posted that WWE did not reach out to her about the product. The names of Punk’s wife (AJ) and dog (Larry) were on the original bracelet but now have been replaced with “CM” and “Punk.”
  • Scarlett & Shotzi’s Chamber of Horrors series – where they visit infamously haunted places – will return to WWE’s YouTube channel with new episodes this October.
  • The NHL’s Calgary Flames thanked WWE and Sami Zayn for paying tribute to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau on Raw following their tragic deaths.
  • WWE wished Paul Heyman a happy 59th birthday.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • While speaking with AMNY, Adam Copeland praised the storytelling in Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page’s feud:
    • It feels like we’re getting more storyline emphasis because dream matches can only happen so often, and how sustainable is it? Story is always sustainable. Good story can last and last and last, and then you can always revisit it. And I look at the Hangman/Swerve story and I’ve just loved watching the slow progression.
  • Copeland – who is out of action right now with a fractured leg – expressed his disappointment at having to miss AEW All In at Wembley Stadium:
    • I was pretty pumped about Wembley, I’ve never performed there. I grew up watching Queen and the Foo Fighters, just like all of these massive concerts, and then just the feel — I was pretty pumped about that. That is one that I loved watching, but it was also difficult at times to watch. Arthur Ashe I have never performed there either so I am missing out on that one too. But more than anything, I just want to get back and contribute.
  • AEW referee Bryce Remsburg shared that he and Mark Henry had a “mature, considerate discussion” after Henry was critical of a refereeing moment from Remsburg in Bryan Danielson vs. Jack Perry:
    • Good morning! @TheMarkHenry called me this morning and we had a mature, considerate discussion. We understand each other’s perspective better. 
    • I regret the reaction of negativity I helped to create. Support each other and support pro wrestling. Onward! Upward!
  • In an interview with Inside the Ropes (conducted before All In last month and uploaded this week), Bryan Danielson was asked if he’s sad that he never got to face CM Punk in AEW:
    • Sad isn’t the right word — like, it was something that I thought was going to happen that didn’t happen, right? It would have been really cool and really fun for me.
  • Chris Jericho filed a trademark for his “Hi Guys” catchphrase on September 10.
  • Jake Lee suffered a right knee injury at today’s NJPW Road to Destruction show.
  • Matt Riddle told The Takedown that he thinks there’s an “extremely high” chance he’ll return to WWE at some point in the future:
    • The chances of me going back, I think they’re extremely high. If CM Punk, who filed a lawsuit against WWE, and then raked them through the mud for a decade, then goes to the competition, I’ll tell you this, if he can do that, everything can be forgiven. I know I wasn’t the easiest to work with at times. I think the door is always open.
    • I think the longer I’m away, the harder I work, and the more I do, the more likely I could come back. But I’ll also say this, if I never go back ever again, and they never talk to me again, I’ll be ok with that.
  • Scott D’Amore tweeted that he’s “stoked” ROH has sanctioned the ROH Women’s World Championship match between Athena and Gisele Shaw that’s happening at Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s debut weekend.
  • AKIRA vs. Ikuro Kwon in a Taipei Death Match will take place on the TV taping portion of MLW’s Fightland event in Atlanta this Saturday.
  • MLW also announced that Minoru Suzuki & Ikuro Kwon will defend their Tag Team titles against Bomaye Fight Club (Alex Kane & Mr. Thomas) at Slaughterhouse 2024 in St. Petersburg, Florida on Friday, October 4.

Jake Lee officially signs with NJPW

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jake Lee has officially signed with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Lee was brought into the company in storyline by the Bullet Club War Dogs to attack Tetsuya Naito, which he did at a Korakuen Hall show in April. Later that month, he teamed with the War Dogs in an Elimination match against LIJ at a show in Hiroshima. He then returned in July for the G1 Climax 34 and finished the tournament with 8 points.

Lee held a press conference on September 3 to announce he is now a full-time member of the NJPW roster.

“Do you know what this is?’ he asked while holding an envelope containing his new contract. “Quite probably, yes. New Japan Pro-Wrestling wanted to do what it took to sign me, and out of the goodness of my heart I signed.”

“As a member of War Dogs, what I should do is wreak havoc in that ring. Smartly,” Lee continued.

Lee was asked about holding a press conference to announce his signing, something rarely done by “heels” in the company.

“I’d like you to consider the answer before you ask me,’ Lee responded. “But kindly as I am, I will answer. I’m a heel in the ring, or to put it more accurately, a betrayer, a conniver and a Smart Bastard. But I have a kinder side to me. That’s part of my smartness, you can say. Out of the kindness of my heart or smartness of my brain, I hosted this press conference. How about it?”

Asked about the possibility of one day signing with AEW or WWE, Lee responded:

“Just because there are big companies elsewhere does that make this a small pond? Does it? Of course not. This is a symbol of Japanese wrestling and there is more than enough to be done here. I truly believe that with all my heart- that is, if I have a heart. Hahaha!”

Lee was originally trained in the All Japan Dojo in 2011 and remained with the promotion until the end of 2022. He then debuted with Pro Wrestling NOAH in January 2023.

The press conference is available below:

Tetsuya Naito vs. Jake Lee set for next All Together event

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Tetsuya Naito and Jake Lee are set to face off in a one-on-one match for the first time ever.

The two will meet in a grudge match at United Japan Pro-Wrestling’s All Together event in Sapporo on Saturday, June 15. They’ve been feuding since Lee made a surprise NJPW appearance this April and attacked Naito.

With a goal of advancing pro wrestling in Japan following the COVID-19 pandemic, United Japan-Pro Wrestling is an industry group feating nine promotions. The promotions are continuing to operate separately while also collaborating together.

The first show under the United Japan Pro-Wrestling banner was Monday’s All Together event at Budokan Hall in Tokyo. It aired live on Abema pay-per-view.

Since Lee’s attack on Naito, they’re 1-1 against each other in tag matches. Lee teamed with David Finlay & Gabe Kidd to defeat Naito, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji at Monday’s All Together show.

NJPW wrote:

Lee first appeared in NJPW on the Road to Dontaku in a shocking attack at Korakuen Hall that saw him gift a victory to Drilla Moloney. Days later in Hiroshima, Lee was eliminated over the top rope in a tag team main event that saw Los Ingobernables De Japon victorious against the BULLET CLUB War Dogs. Yet Lee was insistent that without a pinfall or submission, nothing had been proven.

That led to All Together int he Nippon Budokan, and a win for Lee over Naito with the Face Break Shot. Now 1–1, both men want a decisive result in singles action, and get it on Lee’s home turf in Sapporo. Who will prove superior? Find out when All Together hits Hokkai Kita-Yell!

Naito lost the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to Jon Moxley last month. Lee is a former GHC Heavyweight Champion for Pro Wrestling NOAH and Triple Crown Champion for AJPW.

A portion of the proceeds from All Together are again going to benefit victims of the Noto Peninsula earthquake that happened earlier this year.

NOAH’s Jake Lee attacks Tetsuya Naito at NJPW Road to Dontaku

Posted on by Ian Carey

“The Good Looking Emperor” made a surprise appearance at Korakuen Hall on Tuesday. 

After a ref bump in the Tetsuya Naito vs. Drilla Moloney match, Jake Lee of Pro Wrestling NOAH attacked Naito, eventually leading to Moloney picking up the victory. 

Chris Charlton noted on commentary that Lee aligning with the Bullet Club War Dogs is likely a marriage of convenience and not him joining the stable. He still appears to be a member of NOAH’s GLG (Good Looking Guys) stable and was wearing a shirt with the faction’s logo on it when he attacked Naito on Tuesday. 

It was later announced that Lee will join the Bullet Club team for Saturday’s show in Hiroshima. Lee will replace Gedo in the five-on-five elimination match against members of LIJ. 

NJPW Road to Dontaku on April 23, 2024 results —

  • Taiji Ishimori, Chase Owens & KENTA defeated Shoma Kato, YOSHI-HASHI, & Hirooki Goto
  • Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Katsuya Murashima, El Desperado, El Phantasmo, & Hikuleo
  • NEVER Six Man Tag Team Champions Boltin Oleg, Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Yujiro Takahashi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & EVIL
  • Yota Tsuji defeated Gedo
  • Gabe Kidd defeated BUSHI
  • Shingo Takagi defeated Clark Connors
  • Drilla Moloney defeated Tetsuya Nait
  • David Finlay defeated Hiromu Takahashi

NOAH The New Year notes: Jake Lee, Hiroshi Hase, new champions crowned

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Some surprise appearances went down at NOAH’s The New Year 2023 event at Budokan Hall Sunday morning, along with new GHC Jr. Tag Team Champions.

Jake Lee appeared as a surprise, appearing after Jack Morris defeated Timothy Thatcher in a singles match. Lee, a former Triple Crown Champion, left All Japan Pro Wrestling last month. Lee and Morris ended up shaking hands.

Prior to that match, former NJPW and AJPW star Hirose Hase was revealed as the mystery tag team partner for Kendo Kashin, Kazuyuki Fujita, and NOSAWA Rongai. Hase scored the pinfall for his team, defeating Katsuhiko Nakajima, Manabu Soya, Masakatsu Funkai, and Hajime Ohara. Back in March of last year, Hase was elected governor of the Ishikawa prefecture.

The GHC Junior Tag Team titles changed hands, as KZY and Yo-Hey lost the titles to Yoshinari Ogawa and Eita. KZY and YO-Hey only held the titles for slightly over a week, originally defeating Atsushi Kotoge and Seiki Yoshioka on December 23.

Other title matches on the show had AMASUKA defeat Junta Miyawaki to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight title, Satoshi Kojima & Takashi Suigura defeat KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji to retain the GHC Tag Team titles, and Kaito Kiyomiya defeat Kenoh to retain the GHC Heavyweight title in the co-main event.

Daily Update: Jake Lee, Toni Storm, Impact ratings

Posted on by Bryan Rose

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WON NEWSLETTER: December 27, 2021 Observer Newsletter: COVID hits pro wrestling again, Corporal Kirchner passes away

In this week’s issue: 

  • The first new wave COVID issues for pro wrestling
  • The life and times of Corporal Mike Kirchner and Super Leather
  • WWE’s traditionally biggest house show run of the year and notes on how every show is doing
  • Updates on WWE Day 1, new matches, matches originally set, interest level in the show
  • WWE company value
  • Lots of news regarding prospective WWE new signees
  • Ticket sale updates for all major upcoming WWE & AEW events
  • How the AEW audience grew for Page vs. Danielson
  • Which pro wrestling show was the youngest skewing sports show of the past week
  • TV ratings for the major shows and the why
  • The ratings category WWE SmackDown led in that they almost never do
  • International TV ratings
  • Bret Hart honored in Canada
  • Wrestling Hall of Famer named to state sport Hall of Fame
  • A horrible in-ring incident and background
  • Stardom PPV notes
  • Full UFC coverage

Current subscribers click here to read.

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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • CBS has a story of Liv Morgan finding the “Angry Liv Girl” seen after Morgan lost her Raw Women’s tit;e match earlier this month. “I have found Angry Liv Girl,” Morgan said. “She’s awesome and I’ve been waiting to reach out. I found her and I’m going to send her a little DM,” Morgan said. “I would love for Angry Liv Girl and Angry Becky girl to both be there [at WWE Day 1]. They’ve both been stars during this feud. I would love for them to both be there.”
  • Toni Storm on the Out of Character podcast talked about not being used after initially being called up to the main roster. “When you’re sat in catering, it’s not a good feeling,” she said (h/t SEScoops). “Just sitting there waiting for your shot. Waiting for your big break. Waiting to show everyone what you’ve worked your life to be good at. I just sat there [asking] ‘When am I next? What’s happening?’ Now [when] stuff starts happening, I’m still like, ‘what’s going on?’ Oh, my God. What is my life?”
  • Drew McIntyre praised Madcap Moss in an interview with Sportskeeda. “He’s somebody who does ask questions [behind the scenes], got a great attitude, a great work ethic, which does exist now but not as much as it used to, which is a bit disappointing,” said McIntyre. “He does have that work ethic, which is amazing to see.”
  • Adam Pearce on Twitter thanked WWE staff and crew following a difficult weekend due to COVID-19: Just a quick note of gratitude: As COVID continues to be a struggle, I want to publicly thank our staff, crew, and incredible Superstars who drop it all to do whatever it takes to make sure the show goes on. It’s an honor to work alongside you.”
  • The company has a list of their top 25 matches of the year. 
  • Bianca Belair has a feature on Us Weekly’s website about her night time routine.
  • Full matches added to WWE’s YouTube today include Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair from Clash of Champions 2019, Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton in a Punjabi Prison match from WWE Battleground 2017, and Asuka vs. Emma from WWE TLC 2017.

AEW

  • This week’s Road to video on New Year’s Smash, focusing on the debut of Kyle O’Reilly, Thunder Rosa vs. Jade Cargill, and more.
  • In an interview with PWInsider, Tony Khan talked about Kyle O’Reilly’s debut on Wednesday. “I’m very excited about Kyle joining AEW. I’m excited that Kyle debuts this week on Dynamite. It’s a huge match, Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O’Reilly debuting as a trio in AEW against another one of the top trios in AEW, Orange Cassidy, Trent, and Chuck the best friends.  It’s a dream match for a lot of our fans.   It’s also something that I had no idea would be possible at the start of the year. It is absolutely a dream come true to reunite Cole, Fish and O’Reilly in AEW and I think it’s very fitting that they debut as a trio, and that Kyle O’Reilly makes his AEW debut, period, in Daily’s Place, this week on the last show of the year. I think this show is going to have a really surreal feel.”
  • Khan also talked to Sports Illustrated about AEW going into 2022.
  • Matt Hardy is set to launch a new podcast, “The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy”, starting on January 7.
  • This week’s Sammy Guevara vlog.

Other Wrestling

  • Jake Lee has forfeited AJPW’s Triple Crown Championship after suffering a nasal fracture and a fracture of the inner wall of the left orbital bone during a match on the 26th. The company hasn’t announced what its plans to do with the Triple Crown title.
  • K-Ness of Dragon Gate announced his retirement from pro wrestling due to neck injuries.
  • In a Metro interview a few weeks prior to his release, Jeff Hardy talked about a potential reunion with his brother. “I feel like there will be one more [run]. I don’t know that, but it’s like everything I’ve had visions of in wrestling, it’s always happened.”
  • NJPW has a subtitled interview with Shingo Takagi ahead of his IWGP World Heavyweight title match against Kazuchika Okada on January 4.
  • GCW announced that they will be making a major announcement later tonight convering the GCW World Championship, which Jon Moxley currently holds.
  • Last Thurday’s Impact scored 79,000 viewers with a 0.02 in 18-49, up from last week’s 71,000.
  • Tokyo Sports has an article on a new addition to the AJPW roster, Yuma Anzai, a member of the wrestling team at Chuo University. He was scouted by Suwama and will join the roster in the spring.
  • Jordynne Grace will defend the Impact Digital Media Championship against Willow Nightingale at Beyond Wrestling’s Heavy Lies the Crown on December 31.
  • Tickets are on sale now for MLW’s debut in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Sting wins WCW title at Starrcade 1997

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New Triple Crown Champion crowned at AJPW Champions Night

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Jake Lee won the vacant Triple Crown championship at this morning’s 2021 Champions Night event at the Ota Ward General Gymnasium.

The rules of the match had Kento Miyahara (PWF World Heavyweight Championship), Yuma Aoyagi (NWA United National Championship), and Jake Lee (NWA International Championship) represent the three different titles that the Triple Crown title is comprised of. The first person that pinned both opponents in a gauntlet-style format would become the new champion. Miyahara picked up the first pinfall, pinning Aoyagi with the German suplex hold. Lee then entered the match and got the win over Miyahara with a back suplex, then pinned Aoyagi, giving him the two wins needed to win the match and the Triple Crown title for the first time.

The title was vacated on June 20 after former champion Suwama tested positive for COVID-19, pulling himself off of today’s card, where he was scheduled to defend the title against Lee, who won the Champion Carnival tournament earlier the year. Suwama had held the title for 454 days, defeating Miyahara back on March 23, 2020.

AJPW to crown new Triple Crown Champion at Champions Night

Posted on by Joseph Currier

All Japan Pro Wrestling has revealed how their next Triple Crown Champion will be decided.

At AJPW’s Champions Night show at Ota Ward Gymnasium in Tokyo this Saturday (June 26), Jake Lee, Kento Miyahara, and Yuma Aoyagi will take part in a three-person battle where they’ll face off in singles matches that will take place one after another. The first wrestler to win two matches in a row will become the new Triple Crown Champion.

A lottery will be held before the show to determine the order of the matches.

Lee, who won this year’s Champion Carnival tournament, was originally set to challenge Suwama for the Triple Crown title at Champions Night. But Suwama had to vacate the title after testing positive for COVID-19. Suwama had held the Triple Crown Championship since winning the title from Miyahara in March 2020.

Miyahara & Aoyagi were scheduled to defend their AJPW World Tag Team titles against Koji Doi & Kuma Arashi at Champions Night, but that match has been postponed due to Miyahara and Aoyagi both being in the Triple Crown Championship match. Doi & Arashi will now face Ryuki Honda & Shotaro Ashino in a tag match at the show.

Lee and Aoyagi have both never held the Triple Crown Championship previously. Miyahara is a four-time former champion.

AJPW crowns Champion Carnival 2021 tournament winner

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Jake Lee has won this year’s Champion Carnival tournament.

Lee defeated Kento Miyahara this morning to win the tournament for the first time. Lee ended the tournament with 12 points, losing only two matches to Yuma Aoyagi and Suwama.

Leading up to the tournament, Lee had turned heel and formed a new faction called Total Eclipse. Members include Hokuto Omori, Koji Doi, Kuma Arashi, Yusuke Kodama, and Tajiri.

With the win, Lee will challenge the current Triple Crown champion, Suwama, on May 16 in Ota Ward Gymnasium. Suwama has held the Triple Crown title for over 400 days, defeating Kento Miyahara on March 23, 2020. He also holds the record for most championship reigns with seven.

This year’s tournament featured only one round robin block of ten wrestlers, the first time this has happened since 2001. Lee and Miyahara entered the finals both with 10 points each. Yuma Aoyagi, Kohei Sato, Zeus, Shuji Ishikawa, and Suwama also had 10 points but were already eliminated prior to the final match. Shotaro Ashino scored 8 points, Shinjiro Otani (who had to forfeit his last two matches due to injury) scored 4 points, and Koji Doi scored 2 points.

AJPW announces participants for the 2021 Champion Carnival

Posted on by Bryan Rose

AJPW has announced the participants for this year’s Champion Carnival tournament.

During this evening’s show at Korakuen Hall, the company announced the ten participants for this year’s tournament: 

  • AJPW Triple Crown Champion Suwama
  • Zeus
  • Kento Miyahara
  • Shuji Ishikawa
  • Jake Lee
  • Yuma Aoyagi
  • Shotaro Ashino
  • Koji Doi
  • Kohei Sato
  • Shinjiro Otani

Zeus won last year’s tournament, pinning Miyahara in the finals. That tournament, originally scheduled to take place last April, was delayed to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s tournament will start on April 9 in Osaka and will conclude on May 3, with the finals taking place at Korakuen Hall. The dates for this year’s tournament are as follows:

  • April 9th in Osaka
  • April 10th in Nagoya
  • April 11th in Niigata
  • April 17th in Shinkiba
  • April 18th in Chiba
  • April 24th in Shinkiba
  • April 25th in Korakuen Hall
  • April 28th in Hodogaya
  • April 29th in Korakuen Hall
  • May 3rd in Korakuen Hall