It’s a special edition of Wrestling Observer Radio with Jim Valley and Dave Meltzer! The former JONAH is once again Bronson Reed, returning to RAW to help The Miz in his ladder match against Dexter Lumis. We run down a very interesting episode of RAW.
We also discuss ratings for AEW Rampage, which are improving. Dave has an update on the stars most likely to be returning for WrestleMania 39. Plus UFC, slap fighting, booker of the year, traveling to Japan and Mexico City to watch pro wrestling, and much more. This show is packed, check it out.
Bronson Reed has returned to WWE, aligning with The Miz.
16 months after being released from the company, Reed returned to WWE on Monday’s Raw to aid The Miz in defeating Dexter Lumis in a winner takes all ladder match.
A former NXT North American Champion, Reed was released by WWE in August 2021, going on to have a prominent stint outside the company as JONAH.
Reed perhaps made his biggest mark away from WWE in New Japan Pro Wrestling, including defeating Kazuchika Okada in the 2022 G1 Climax tournament. He went on to drop a singles rematch to Okada in October 2022 at Declaration of Power in a featured bout.
As JONAH, Reed was also featured in PWG, competing in the 2022 Battle of Los Angeles tournament and at July’s Nineteen event. A 2021-2022 run in Impact Wrestling culminated in losing a Monster’s Ball match to PCO in a match that aired in May.
Reed’s first WWE run began in 2019 when he was announced as part of the January Performance Center recruiting class. His NXT television debut would come later that year in July. His North American title reign lasted 42 days from May to July 2021.
Two former WWE wrestlers could be returning to the company.
Our own Dave Meltzer revealed on Wrestling Observer Radio that Chelsea Green is expected to be back with the company and JONAH has been offered a contract to return as well. Both wrestlers were released from WWE in 2021.
“WWE bound, most likely,” Meltzer said about Green. “Within the company, it’s been talked about as something that is happening. I don’t know if she’s put pen to paper but she did just finish up with Impact, so it makes sense. Presumably, she’s in but like I said, I can’t confirm the contract signing but I can confirm that they are talking about it as if it is a done deal within the company.”
Meltzer also confirmed that WWE has offered JONAH a contract to return.
“JONAH certainly has an offer from WWE and he’s got to make a decision, he’ll either be New Japan or WWE. He got a great push in New Japan, and it’s going to be his call,” Meltzer said.
JONAH wrestled as Bronson Reed in WWE from 2019 until his release in August 2021. Following his departure, he performed with Impact Wrestling and NJPW. He took part in the G1 Climax 32 this summer where he finished with eight points.
Green made her WWE SmackDown debut on November 13, 2020. She broke her wrist in a four-way match she was originally scheduled to win. The finish was changed due to Green’s injury and Liv Morgan ended up getting the victory. Green was then released on April 15, 2021. Since her departure, she has wrestled with the NWA, ROH, and Impact Wrestling.
JONAH is out of this weekendβs NJPW Royal Quest II events in London.
NJPW announced Saturday morning that JONAH is out due to travel issues stemming from Hurricane Ian. JONAH was originally set to be featured in a tag match on day then, then move on to face Tomohiro Ishii in a singles match on day two.
New matches have been announced as a result of JONAHβs absence. JONAH was originally set to team with Bad Dude Tito against Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii; Zak Knight will take JONAH’s place. On the second night, Ishii will now face a mystery opponent in a singles match.
Here are the updated cards for Royal Quest, which will take place October 1 & 2 and will air at a later date on NJPW World:
Night 1:
IWGP Tag Team Championship: FTR vs. Aussie Open
Will Ospreay vs. Shota Umino
Hikuleo, Jado, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tama Tonga vs. Gedo, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Jay White
Tomohiro Ishii and Kazuchika Okada vs. Zak Knight and Bad Dude Tito
Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, and Tetsuya Naito vs. DOUKI, El Desperado, and Zack Sabre Jr.
Gideon Grey and The Great-O-Khan vs. Ricky Knight Jr. and Michael Oku
Kanji and Jazzy Gabert vs. Alex Windsor and Ava White
Gabriel Kidd vs. Dan Moloney
Night 2:
Tetsuya Natio vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Hikuelo,Tama Tonga, and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Jay White
Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Dude Tito
Tomohiro Ishii vs. X
Gabriel Kidd, Shota Umino, Ricky Knight Jr., and FTR vs. Gideon Grey, Great-O-Khan, Will Ospreay, and Aussie Open
IWGP Womenβs Championship tournament: Jazzy Gabert vs. Ava White
Hiromu Takahashi and SANADA vs. Young Guns (Ethan Allen and Luke Jacobs)
DOUKI and El Desperado vs. Michael Oku and Robbie X
Jay White’s next defense of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is officially set.
NJPW has announced that White will put the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Tama Tonga at Declaration of Power on Monday, October 10. The event is being held at Sumo Hall in Tokyo.
Tonga challenging White for the title was set up by Tonga defeating White when they faced off in the G1 Climax.
Kazuchika Okada was crowned the winner of this year’s G1 Climax and is set to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 17 next January. At Declaration of Power, Okada will face off with JONAH in a special singles match.
Okada vs. JONAH was also set up by JONAH defeating Okada in the G1. The winner of the G1 usually has to defend their Wrestle Kingdom title shot on the road to the Tokyo Dome, but Okada stated that he wants to elevate the prestige of the G1 by guaranteeing that the winner of the tournament gets their Wrestle Kingdom title match without having to defend the rights.
White vs. Tonga and Okada vs. JONAH are the first two matches set for Declaration of Power. NJPW noted that the show name is making its return as part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebration.
“October 10 will see NJPW return to Ryogoku Sumo Hall, with a traditional national sports day holiday event back on the calendar,” NJPW wrote. “This time, as NJPW continues to revive classic tour names from our 50 year history, Declaration of Power is back from being a regular series through the late 1990s and early 2000s.
NJPW Declaration of Power (October 10) —
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jay White defends against Tama Tonga
In a late-December interview, he said his agreement ran through Rebellion weekend but didn’t specify why it was a short-term deal (five months) and whose decision that was for such a short deal. It’s unknown whether either side was interested in an extension.
After debuting at Turning Point in late-November and attacking Josh Alexander, he wrestled 15 total matches over his tenure. He went 12-3, losing his last two to Tomohiro Ishii and PCO, respectively. The match with PCO was their third and held under Monster’s Ball rules on Thursday’s Impact on AXS TV.
The 33-year-old has stayed busy since being released by WWE, working frequently in Impact, NJPW and various indies like PWG, Defy, GCW and PROGRESS.
He can next be seen on Saturday’s New Japan Strong taking on Blake Christian.
New Japan legend Ishii will make his Impact debut next Friday at Impact’s Multiverse of Matches on Impact Plus as he takes on Eddie Edwards.
Another singles match was made Thursday as current Ring of Honor World Champion Jonathan Gresham will take on Honor No More leader Eddie Edwards.
Gresham hasn’t agreed with the tactics of his old ROH running mates in Impact and made his return Thursday to aid Rocky Romero after Edwards was attacking him following their match. It was not announced as a title match as Gresham defends against Bandido at ROH’s Supercard of Honor PPV next Friday.
In another update to the April 23rd PPV lineup, “Speedball” Mike Bailey earned his way into an X-Division title shot on the show.
Bailey defeated Laredo Kid and Willie Mack in a three-way Thursday, giving him a spot in the Rebellion three-way against X-Division Champion Trey Miguel and former champion Ace Austin.
Here’s the current card for the Poughkeepsie, New York, event:
Impact World Champion Moose vs. Josh Alexander in a title match
X-Division Champion Trey Miguel vs. Mike Bailey vs. Ace Austin in a title match
— πΏππ πππππππππ (@JoshLBarnett) March 8, 2022
This will be the fifth time that Barnett has competed at Bloodsport. He drew with Minoru Suzuki at the debut event in April 2019, defeated Chris Dickinson at Bloodsport 2 in September 2019, defeated Jon Moxley at Bloodsport 6 in April 2021, then defeated Tiger Ruas at Bloodsport 7 in October 2021.
The bout with Barnett will be JONAH’s first at a Bloodsport event.
Bloodsport 8 will take place at The Collective at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. Six matches are now official for the Thursday afternoon event. The show will air on FITE TV. The lineup:
GCW Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 8, Thursday, March 31, 3 p.m. Cental time —
— πΏππ πππππππππ (@JoshLBarnett) February 25, 2022
The former Bronson Reed in WWE NXT has been plying his trade in Impact Wrestling, New Japan and several indies like PWG in recent months.
The 33-year-old is the latest of a growing list of recent additions to the show that includes Jon Moxley, former NXT rostermates Timothy Thatcher and Biff Busick (the former Oney Lorcan), Minoru Suzuki and Janai Kai.
As of now, no matches have been announced.
The Bloodsport format is one is unique to the weekend as it features no ropes and is grappling/submission heavy. This will be the ninth total event in the lineage with one under Matt Riddle’s name and the rest under Barnett’s name.
Filthy Four Daily with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including our weekly look at Smackdown and New Japan Strong on NJPWworld.com! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Tonight saw the second installment of NJPW Strong: Nemesis tapings from Hollywood.
Karl Fredericks and Kevin Knight defeated Stray Dog Army (Bateman & Misterioso)
Hot start between Knight and Misterioso, who kicked the match off for their teams. Bateman later pulled Fredericks off the ring apron to the floor. He worked over Knight, who kept trying to fire up, but Bateman kept shutting him down, mainly by using barred tactics like eye pokes and gauges, and joint locks.
Misterioso missed a flying legdrop, which allowed the babyface LA Dojo team to make a comeback. Fredericks and Misterioso had a fiery exchange towards the end, but it was Fredericks who would pin Misterioso with the Manifest Destiny to pick up the win.
Brody King defeated Dave Dutra
Stiff match. βThe Battle Kingβ Dave Dutra has appeared on AEW Dark in the past. He chopped Brody King early. Both the audience and King knew that Dutra had bit off slightly more than he could chew already. The βYou f*cked up!β chants began raining down. King was super over with the Hollywood crowd.
King threw Dutra to the floor and chopped him up, much to the pleasure of the audience in attendance. Dutra would come back and land a big moonsault to the floor onto King. Heβd put King down with a swinging DDT at around the five-minute mark.
King fired back with a rolling lariat and a massive elbow shot and the Gonzo Bomb for the win. Dutra took a beating. Hardcore 1βBlack Metal 0.
JONAH defeated David Finlay
Finlay was great. These two had their first encounter at the Battle in the Valley special in San Jose back in November. JONAH attacked both Finlay and his tag team partner, Juice Robinson, after Robinsonβs match against Moose.
JONAH charged at Finlay at the bell. Finlay dodged him. Some fans booed Finlay while some in the crowd cheered him. His haters were noisy, but more liked Finlay than disliked him.
JONAH ragdolled Finlay around on the floor outside the ring after catching him mid-air. He landed a big standing senton on Finlay before abusing him some more in the corner post.
When the five-minute call sounded, Finlay had fired himself up and mounted a comeback. Heβd fly onto JONAH with a pescado to the floor. When Finlay was in control, a number of fans started chanting for JONAH.
JONAH come back and put Finlay out with a backbreaker, a massive lariat that turned Finlay inside out, a power bomb, and finally a huge splash off the top rope, which would put Finlay away for good.
Final thoughts:
Tonight saw another solid section of the recent Nemesis tapings. JONAH vs. Finlay is worth checking out. I expect to see more of these two plus Juice Robinson mixing it up going forward.
Next week’s episode sees Team Filthy take on Fred Rosser, Tyler Rust, & Rocky Romero in the main event.
Three matches have been announced for this week’s episode of NJPW Strong.
In the main event, JONAH will take on David Finlay. JONAH has targeted Finlay and his tag partner Juice Robinson since debuting in NJPW in November at Battle in the Valley.
In the second bout, Brody King will face indie veteran Dave Dutra. The match will be Dutra’s first for NJPW.
In the opening contest, LA Dojo products Karl Fredericks and Kevin Knight will face Stray Dog Army’s Bateman and Misterioso.
The Nemesis episodes of Strong were taped on December 9, 2021 in Los Angeles, California at the Vermont Hollywood. Saturday’s show will also be available on demand immediately following airing.
Here is the full lineup for this week:
NJPW Strong Nemesis night two, Saturday, January 15, 8 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World–
JONAH vs. David Finlay
Brody King vs. Dave Dutra
Karl Fredericks & Kevin Knight vs. Bateman & Misterioso
Jonah said in an interview Tuesday that his agreement with Impact Wrestling runs through April 23rd’s Rebellion pay-per-view in Poughkeepsie, New York.
The former Bronson Reed in WWE NXT made his debut at November’s Turning Point Impact Plus special, attacking Josh Alexander from behind. The two are set to square off at the January 8th Hard to Kill PPV in Jonah’s second match with the company.
In the aforementioned interview with WrestleZone, Jonah confirmed he would be with Impact through Rebellion but didn’t specify the reason for the short term deal or if he was interested in anything longer.
He said he is excited to be part of the company’s recently-announced mini-tour of sorts that will see them visit Dallas, Texas; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Louisville, Kentucky and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before wrapping up in Poughkeepsie.
“I think itβs exciting to be on the road and be in different cities where those people can see Impact Wrestling rather than being set in one place,” saying that while running shows in NXT in Orlando, Florida was fine during the pandemic, “itβs always good when you can go to different towns and get a feel from different crowds.”
Jonah is also currently working with New Japan in addition to some indie dates.
Jonah has been announced for the PWG Battle of Los Angeles tournament.
PWG confirmed this evening that Jonah is the first entrant of the 2022 tournament. No other names have been confirmed as of yet.
The company announced last month that their annual tournament, which was last held in 2019, would return this January. Instead of the normal three-day event held during the summer, the tournament will now take place over two days, January 29 and 30, the same weekend as this yearβs WWE Royal Rumble event.
Jonah, formerly Bronson Reed, was released from WWE in August, having previously won the NXT North American Championship during his run with the company. He recently returned to action following his 90-day no-compete, debuting last month for both New Japan Pro Wrestling and Impact Wrestling. He made his in-ring debut for NJPW on an episode of NJPW Strong this past week, where he defeated Lucas Riley.
