KENTA made his in-ring AEW debut on last night’s Dynamite, teaming with Kenny Omega to defeat Jon Moxley and Lance Archer.
The unsanctioned, falls count anywhere, no DQ, anything goes match featured both teams brawling throughout Daily’s Place, including through a kitchen. Potatoes, chairs, a barbed wire bat and a trashcan were among the weapons used in Omega and KENTA’s victory.
Earlier in the show, Moxley cut a promo on KENTA, his challenger for the IWGP United States Championship on the February 26 edition of NJPW Strong.
In a video posted to social media and YouTube after the show, Omega, Don Callis and The Good Brothers addressed some of the verbal jabs that have been flying between members of NJPW’s Bullet Club, his crew and The Young Bucks. It seems as though the foundation is being built for a feud between the sides.
Sammy Guevara left The Inner Circle on last night’s show after weeks of dissension building between him and MJF. Guevara delivered the news after MJF had attempted to trick him into saying he hated Chris Jericho early in the show. Meanwhile, Jericho and MJF beat The Acclaimed in tag team action.
Tony Schiavone was conducting an interview with Sting, when they were interrupted by Team Taz dragging Darby Allin behind a car in a body bag on the video wall. Allin and Sting will team against Ricky Starks and Brian Cage from Team Taz in a street fight at the March 7 Revolution PPV.
In the show opener, Darby Allin beat Joey Janela to retain the TNT Championship.
KENTA makes his in-ring AEW debut on tonight’s Dynamite, teaming with Kenny Omega against Jon Moxley and Lance Archer in a falls count anywhere, anything goes match.
KENTA debuted last week, attacking Moxley in the main event segment after Moxley, Archer, PAC and Rey Fenix brawled with Omega and The Good Brothers.
Darby Allin will make his second defense of the TNT Championship this evening, taking on Joey Janela.
A week after they became number one contenders for The Young Bucks’ AEW Tag Team titles, Chris Jericho and MJF will face The Acclaimed.
The AEW Women’s World Championship eliminator tournament will kick off with Leyla Hirsch taking on Thunder Rosa.
A Hangman Page speaks segment and a Sting interview with Tony Schiavone have been announced for the show. Page teamed with Matt Hardy in a win over Luther and Serpentico on last week’s Dynamite, while Sting is set to team with Allin against Team Taz in a street fight on the March 7 Revolution PPV.
Cody Rhodes and Lee Johnson vs. Peter Avalon and former NXT talent Cezar Bononi, plus PAC vs. Ryan Nemeth have also been announced for this evening.
These two have met in spectacular matches at PWG and EVOLVE. This wasn’t quite as death-defying but it was a very enjoyable opener.
They performed chain wrestling at the start until Allin took control with an arm drag and a dropkick. They fought on the apron, where Janela dropped Allin over the side of the ring with a release suplex. Janela followed it up with a tope suicida and rolled Allin back in for two.
Janela tried to maintain control with corner forearms, but Allin fired up. He tried to whip Janela into the corner but Janela countered it into a strong Irish whip of his own for two.
Allin tried to make his comeback a few times but Janela would cut him off with his power. Janela landed a diving axe handle and taunted, but Allin pulled him off the top rope on the follow-up. Janela maintained control with a knee strike before Allin sent him into the corner with a running dropkick.
Janela’s arm was the target of Allin’s attack, and Allin followed it up with a low tope that looked great for two. Allin applied the Fujiwara armbar and Janela had to fight to make it to the ropes.
Allin went for the Coffin Drop but Janela turned it into a nice German suplex and followed it up with a thrust kick for two. Janela took too long on the follow-up so Allin sent him to the mat with an arm-wringer.
They exchanged forearms in the center of the ring until Janela downed Allin with a lariat. Allin countered into a stunner and a jackknife pin for two. Allin applied more cradles until Janela hit a spike piledriver for a close near fall.
Janela set Allin up on the top rope and starched him with a slap, but Allin turned it into a top-rope Code Red for two. An arm-trap STO set Allin up perfectly to land the Coffin Drop to retain the title.
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Jon Moxley addressed KENTA and his attack last week. What he thinks happened is KENTA realized the time for talk is over, and on February 26, they are going to stand toe to toe in a war of attrition.
That’s a sanctioned match for the IWGP US Championship, but tonight’s match is unsanctioned. Tonight is just for tun.
Moxley did not mention NJPW or Strong by name, but did mention the IWGP US title.
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Sammy Guevara entered the Inner Circle locker room and sent everyone but MJF packing. He said he watched the show last week and knows exactly what he’s doing: trying to take over the Inner Circle.
MJF thought that this was just jealousy at first, because MJF is the new favorite. But now MJF thinks Guevara hates Chris Jericho and wants to take over the Inner Circle.
Guevara got defensive and said “What, you want me to say I hate Chris Jericho?” MJF said that that was exactly what he wanted to hear, and revealed that he had been recording on his phone. Guevara took the phone, chucked it against the wall, and laid out MJF.
The segment came across well but if the cameraman was recording the whole segment, why would Guevara care about MJF recording his voice?
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Cody Rhodes & Lee Johnson defeated “Pretty” Peter Avalon & Cezar Bononi
Cody easily took control over Avalon right away. Johnson tagged in and Bononi made a blind tag and laid out Johnson. Avalon tagged back in, where he was sent to the mat with a dropkick. Johnson reared back for a right hand, but Avalon fled to Bononi for the tag.
A jawbreaker allowed Johnson to tag in Cody, who landed clotheslines on Bononi. Bononi came back with a fallaway slam ahead of the commercial break.
Cody caught an Avalon springboard out of the break and used a backbreaker to escape to Johnson for the hot tag. Johnson hit a series of strikes and a neckbreaker before sending Bononi to the floor, where he landed a great Fosbury flop.
Avalon avoided a springboard but ran into a thrust kick and a neckbreaker for two. Cody tried to dispatch Bononi but the big man was too strong, and he dropped Johnson down hard. Avalon went for the Marti-Knees, but Johsnon avoided them and rolled Avalon up for his first AEW victory.
After the match, Tony Schiavone interviewed Johnson with the whole Nightmare Family looking on. Johnson said he wish he had a lot of words but he doesn’t. He started 0-29, but his trainers showed him that hard work pays off. The Rhodes Family is his family, and they did this for him.
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The Young Bucks were interviewed by Dasha about how they were eliminated so early last week. The Good Brothers showed up and were all hyped and excited about ratings, but the Bucks were angry about them showing up and messing things up.
The Good Brothers pointed out that the Bucks’ real beef is with the Inner Circle, who eliminated them and taunted them. Matt suggested that the Bucks defend their championships against Santana and Ortiz next week. The Good Brothers wanted to Too Sweet, but the Bucks were embarrassed about it because Sting’s with the company now.
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Hangman Page was interviewed by Dasha about a potential tag team with Matt Hardy. Hardy showed up and said that they’re undeniably special together before inviting him to an all-you-can-drink bar. Page accepted the invitation, but as he went to walk away, he ran into the entire Dark Order, which led to an awkward encounter.
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PAC (w/ Rey Fénix) defeated Ryan Nemeth
PAC immediately sent Nemeth to the mat with knee strikes and followed it up with a ridiculously rapid snap suplex. A corner lariat was followed by a missile dropkick, with PAC methodically picking apart Nemeth.
Nemeth tried to fight back with a forearm but PAC laid him out with more kicks. He got a hope spot with a counter DDT but PAC rolled to the floor and sent Nemeth into the barricade.
Back in the ring, PAC beat Nemeth down with more stomps and landed the Black Arrow before transitioning into the Brutalizer for the decisive victory. PAC wouldn’t let go after the match.
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A video played recapping last week’s Kip Sabian & Penelope Ford wedding. Miro cut a promo over it, calling out Orange Cassidy.
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Chris Jericho and the Inner Circle were interviewed ahead of their match, but MJF, Guevara, Santana, and Ortiz weren’t there. MJF arrived with his ribs all taped up, complaining about Guevara’s attack, but it was time for the match.
Guevara was the only Inner Circle member not out with Jericho & MJF.
The Acclaimed did their usual rapping schtick.
Before the match, a video played with MJF cutting a promo on the Acclaimed.
Chris Jericho & MJF (w/ Inner Circle) defeated The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens)
MJF rolled to the floor right away, selling his ribs. Jericho tagged in but was met with a shoulder block from Caster, who tagged in Bowens with an enziguiri and an elbow drop. MJF tagged in but was immediately met with a suplex for two.
The Acclaimed targeted MJF’s ribs until MJF forced Caster into the corner, allowing Jericho to make a tag. MJF and Jericho beat Caster down with frequent tags and taunts leading into a commercial break.
Caster and MJF had an abdominal stretch battle coming back from break, and a hip tos bought Caster enough time to reach Bowens. Bowens ran wild on both opponents and dropped Ortiz, who tried to interfere.
Jericho went for the Lionsault, but Caster smacked him with the boombox for a close near fall. The Acclaimed set up for Acclaim to Fame, but Jake Hager knocked Caster off the top rope and Jericho landed the Judas Effect for the win.
– After the match, Sammy Guevara’s music played and he walked to the ring. Jericho asked him what his problem is, and Guevara said that months ago, he gave Jericho the ultimatum about one more thing happening with MJF being the breaking point. He’s done with the Inner Circle — he quits.
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Alex Marvez caught up to Guevara about leaving the Inner Circle, and Guevara said that he needs time to focus and get away from this place.
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Page and Hardy were getting along at the bar. Hardy made a quick toast but secretly dumped out his drink, implying Page was the only one drunk. He pulled out a contract for Page to sign, and while Page signed it, he talked to the cameraman about ensuring that this is documented.
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Tony Schiavone brought out Sting and asked what was on his mind ahead of his street fight. Taz and Powerhouse Hobbs interrupted on the video board, and the camera panned to the back of their vehicle, where Ricky Starks and Brian Cage had put Darby Allin in a bodybag. The vehicle drove away with Allin in the bodybag attached to the back.
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Alex Marvez caught up to Kenny Omega at the golf course. Omega was flabbergasted but told Marvez to watch his shot, which he chunked way over the green.
Marvez asked if Omega should maybe be preparing for tonight’s match instead of golfing, but Omega said he’s already mastered professional wrestling, and golfing allows him to prepare spiritually. He said he wasn’t gonna lose today or tonight, and looked up to the green, where Don Callis had put the ball in the cup.
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Before the match, a video played where Rosa said that her three goals were to win the tournament, win back the NWA Women’s Championship, and beat Britt Baker.
Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament Round 1: Thunder Rosa defeated Leyla Hirsch
They performed some good technical wrestling to start. Neither competitor could gain an advantage until Rosa hit a slam and a senton. Hirsch came back with an escalera hurricanrana and a tope suicida.
Back in the ring, Hirsch tried to lock on a cross armbreaker, but Rosa escaped and hit a rope-hang neckbreaker into the break. Rosa maintained control throughout.
Rosa hit corner knees and a dropkick for two. Hirsch fought back with a series of German suplexes, but Rosa fought out of the third. Hirsch landed a diving crossbody for two.
Hirsch went to the top, but Rosa got her knees up on the moonsault. She followed it up with bicycle knees but missed a step-up moonsault. Rosa went for the Fire Thunder Driver but Hirsch transitioned into the cross armbreaker. Rosa was forced to power out and hit the Fire Thunder Driver to win and advance.
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It was announced that the Japanese side of the Women’s Eliminator Tournament would air on YouTube on Monday at 7pm Eastern.
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Tony Schiavone talked to Jungle Boy about FTR kidnapping Marko Stunt. Schiavone said that Stunt is okay, but didn’t elaborate. Jungle Boy addressed Dax Harwood and said he had never been in a fight like that, but he came out on top a different man. Jungle Boy didn’t want FTR suspended, but when he sees Harwood again, he’s gonna make him his “bitch.”
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Next week’s Dynamite lineup:
FTR vs. Matt Sydal & Mike Sydal
Hangman Page, Matt Hardy, & Private Party vs. The Hybrid2 & Chaos Project
Sting calls out Team Taz
Women’s Eliminator Tournament: Riho vs. Serena Deeb
AEW World Tag Team Championships: Young Bucks (c) vs. Santana & Ortiz
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KENTA came out to his NJPW music and graphics holding the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship briefcase, and Moxley came out with the belt itself.
This match was must-see television, a complete spectacle of professional wrestling and one of the best matches in Dynamite history.
KENTA cracked Moxley with the briefcase right away, while Archer attacked Omega. KENTA hit Archer with the briefcase, but Archer no-sold it, and Omega chop-blocked him from behind. Omega hit the Kotaro Crusher on Archer and he and KENTA took turns beating down Moxley, but they weren’t on the same page.
Whatever their issue was, they resolved it, and traded strikes on Moxley. Archer pounced Omega across the ring, and he and Moxley hit runnign clotheslines on their opponents. Archer went for a powerbomb, but Omega hit a hurricanrana out of it and the two went to the floor.
In the ring, Moxley and KENTA exchanged forearms. KENTA went for the GTS, Moxley went for the Paradigm Shift, but Omega interrupted with a trash can shot on Moxley. You Can’t Escape followed, using a trashcan for assistance on the moonsault. KENTA hit the corner dropkick through the trash can for two.
Archer introduced a ladder into the mix and ran over both Omega and KENTA. Moxley landed a tope suicida on KENTA and Archer suplexed Omega head-first into the ladder, which looked terrible.
This was a commercial break you don’t wanna tune out for — lots of brawling and weapon shots. KENTA and Moxley fought over a chair while Omega and Archer brawled at the ringside area.
Back from break, KENTA attacked Pretty Peter Avalon for some reason with a GTS. Archer attacked KENTA, but Omega went for a springboard. Archer caught him out of midair and chokeslammed him through Avalon’s bed setup at ringside.
Moxley entered the fray and sent KENTA into the barricade. He set KENTA up on a chair and landed a mid kick for two. Moxley brought KENTA up into the stands, where they brawled up the stairs.
The camera cut to the kitchen area, reminiscent of the Young Bucks and the Butcher & Blade’s great Falls Count Anywhere match. Moxley and KENTA took turns tossing each other into all the equipment. They fought on top of a table, where KENTA hit a DDT and locked on Game Over.
Archer broke up the submission with a box of potatoes, but Omega beat him down with a trash can. The announcers recapped the action so far and cut back outside, where Omega and Moxley brawled towards the ring. Moxley attacked with a chair and a kendo stick.
Moxley went for a diving kendo stick shot, but Omega hit a V-Trigger out of midair. KENTA and Archer appeared out of the tunnel as Omega hit another V-Trigger on the floor, setting Moxley up on the table. Archer sent the announcers away and tried to powerbomb KENTA through the table, but KENTA fought out and jumped off the stage with a diving foot stomp through Moxley.
Omega tried to defend himself against Archer with a kendo stick, but Archer caught it and snapped it over his knee. Archer hit a chokeslam and his rope-walk moonsault for a close near fall.
Archer set up for Blackout, but the Good Brothers ran out, allowing KENTA to attack with the distraction. KENTA hit two spinning backfists, but Archer no-sold them. Anderson hit a Gun Stun on Archer, but Jake Roberts came into the ring and dispatched Anderson with a short-arm clothelsine.
Gallows took down Roberts with a right hand and Omega set up for a V-Trigger. Moxley cut him off with a barbed wire bat, running wild on everyone. KENTA hit the GTS on Moxley, Archer went for a double chokeslam, but Omega and KENTA both hit low blows. The Good Brothers hit the Magic Killer and Omega hit the V-Trigger and an assisted One-Winged Angel on Archer to end it.
A KENTA appearance, along with three other matches, have been announced for NJPW Strong.
The promotion announced today that KENTA will be on the show to speak ahead of this IWGP United States title match against Jon Moxley on February 27. Moxley said last week that KENTA would have to kick a hole in his chest in order to win the title.
KENTA made a surprise appearance on last week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, attacking Moxley and laying him out with the GTS. The two will take part in a lights out match on Wednesday, with KENTA teaming with Kenny Omega to take on Moxley and Lance Archer.
The main event for this week’s episode of Strong will be a tag team match. Team Filthy, consisting of Chris Dickinson and Danny Limelight, will take on the team of TJP and Ren Narita. Clark Connors will take on ROH’s Bateman in the second match, while Jordan Clearwater will face JR Kratos in the opener.
As was widely expected, even with the pandemic, the increase in television revenue led to the WWE’s most successful year financially in history, with $974,207,000 in revenue and $131,892,000 in profits, the first time the company has ever topped $100 million in profits during a given year.
The profit margin would have been higher but there was money spent from a contract in 2019 regarding leasing new headquarters, a loss of $4.4 million from an equity investment and normalized profits would have been $141,600,000.
Of that income, $868,200,000 came from media, which would be mostly rights fees for content and WWE network revenues. $19.9 million came from live events in the early part of the year before the pandemic and $86.1 million came from consumer products.
As far as profitability went, the media department had $409.9 million in profitability in the division while the live events department, because of the lack of shows, lost $14.0 million and the consumer product department had $28.8 million in profits.
KENTA’s AEW in-ring debut is officially set for next week’s Dynamite.
AEW has announced that AEW World Champion Kenny Omega & KENTA will face IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley & Lance Archer in a falls count anywhere, anything goes match on Dynamite next Wednesday. KENTA made a surprise appearance at the end of last night’s Beach Break episode of Dynamite, attacking Moxley after the main event.
In a post-show video after last night’s Dynamite, Omega & KENTA vs. Moxley & Archer was teased for next week. Omega tried to welcome KENTA (who is a member of Bullet Club in NJPW) to the “American Club,” but KENTA told him to “shut the f*ck up” and said Omega isn’t his friend. KENTA said he was there to beat Moxley. When KENTA walked away, Omega said that works for him. Omega then challenged Moxley & Archer to face him and KENTA in an unsanctioned falls count anywhere match next week.
Omega & The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) defeated Moxley, PAC & Rey Fenix in the main event of last night’s Dynamite.
KENTA is challenging for Moxley’s IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship on the Friday, February 26 New Beginning USA edition of NJPW Strong. Moxley hasn’t been able to wrestle for NJPW since last February due to the COVID-19 pandemic. KENTA became the number one contender to his title by winning the 2020 New Japan Cup USA tournament and has since successfully defended his title shot briefcase against Jeff Cobb, Hiroshi Tanahashi, David Finlay, Brody King, and Satoshi Kojima.
Here’s the updated card for next week’s Dynamite:
Falls count anywhere, anything goes match: Kenny Omega & KENTA vs. Jon Moxley & Lance Archer
TNT Champion Darby Allin defends against Joey Janela
Chris Jericho & MJF vs. The Acclaimed
Cody Rhodes & Lee Johnson vs. Peter Avalon & Cezar Bononi
NJPW’s KENTA attacked Jon Moxley in the show-closing segment of last night’s AEW Dynamite Beach Break.
KENTA, set to challenge Moxley for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship on The New Beginning USA. edition of NJPW Strong on February 26, hit Mox with a Go 2 Sleep.
In a video posted on social media after the show, KENTA met with AEW World Champion Kenny Omega. Omega proposed a lights out match on next week’s Dynamite where the two would team against Lance Archer & Jon Moxley.
Before KENTA’s attack, Moxley, PAC & Fenix lost to Omega & The Good Brothers in a six-man tag when Gallows pinned Fenix after a Magic Killer.
Beach Break kicked off with a tag team battle royal to determine number one contenders for The Young Bucks’ AEW Tag Team titles at Revolution. Chris Jericho & MJF won the match, with Jericho last eliminating Top Flight’s Darius Martin.
Jericho also inadvertently eliminated his stablemate Sammy Guevara in the match’s closing stretch and further dissension within The Inner Circle was teased throughout the show.
Kip Sabian & Penelope Ford’s wedding also took place on last night’s show. Impact Wrestling’s James Mitchell officiated the ceremony. Things seemed to be going off without a hitch until Chuck Taylor cuffed Miro’s leg to the ropes during Miro’s best man toast. Orange Cassidy then emerged from the wedding cake and attacked Sabian. Ford got sent face-first into the cake, while Miro was unable to help Sabian as he was cuffed.
On the Wednesday edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that a “deal is done” on a working relationship between AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
KENTA’s appearance at Wednesday’s Beach Break and next week’s lights out match with he and AEW World Champion Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley and Lance Archer are kicking things off, but Meltzer said he’s unaware of anything else planned after that.
However, Meltzer said, “I know people that can’t wait to go back to Japan. Put it that way.”
The impetus for the deal was New Japan’s desire to have Jon Moxley defend the IWGP U.S. title he won back in January 2020. Because of pandemic-related travel restrictions, that was unable to happen but they also didn’t want to strip him of the title. Since KENTA lives in Orlando, Florida, that made a match possible but since it would have to be in the U.S., a deal had to be struck with AEW’s Tony Khan first.
Meltzer didn’t say when the deal was struck, but speculated that the pandemic actually helped move things along quicker as Moxley would have just traveled to Japan to defend the title if travel was unrestricted.
Moxley vs. KENTA for the IWGP U.S. title will air on the February 26th New Japan Strong and was taped recently.
There was interest in having both sides work together when AEW was launching, but New Japan was skeptical of how successful the new venture would be and wanted Khan to come to Japan to meet with them. He sent Chris Harrington and the Young Bucks to make the deal instead which they didn’t like as they thought it was a slight. Meltzer said that once Harold Meij left New Japan as president, the door was open to talking again.
Kenny Omega has proposed a lights out tag team match for next week, with him and NJPW star KENTA taking on Jon Moxley and Lance Archer.
A video that was posted on social media following tonight’s Dynamite had Omega issuing a challenge to Lance Archer and Jon Moxley. He said he would talk to KENTA to team up with him to challenge the two to a lights out match, where pinfalls would count anywhere.
The start of the video had Omega catch up with KENTA backstage, greeting him warmly and saying that “brother Switchblade” never told him to expect a guest. Omega went for the “too sweet” hand gesture, but KENTA blew him off, saying that he was not his friend and was here to beat Moxley. KENTA then walked away as Omega issued the challenge.
Tonight’s episode of Dynamite closed with KENTA making a surprise appearance, laying out Moxley with the GTS. Moxley is scheduled to defend the IWGP United States title against KENTA on the February 26th episode of NJPW Strong.
KENTA made a surprise appearance at AEW Beach Break Wednesday, attacking Jon Moxley following the main event.
As Moxley was about to exact some revenge on Kenny Omega, a masked man jumped in the ring and hit Moxley from behind. The man revealed himself as KENTA and gave Moxley a GTS as Excalibur mentioned on commentary that he will challenge Moxley for the IWGP U.S. title without giving the date.
The AEW World Champion looked on approvingly as Don Callis (on commentary) said it was amazing how these things came together when they were all there. Excalibur questioned whether “the break in the Bullet Club has been fixed.” KENTA, a member of the New Japan roster, stared at Omega and then left the ring, continuing to glare at Moxley.
In a clip shared on Twitter, Omega welcomed KENTA to “the American club” but KENTA told him to “shut the f**k up” and that he was here to beat Moxley. Omega later challenged Moxley and Lance Archer to face he and KENTA in a lights out match next week on Dynamite.
Moxley will defend the U.S. title against KENTA on the February 26th edition of New Japan Strong in a match that has already been taped. Moxley won the title at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in January 2020, but hasn’t been able to work for NJPW since last February due to the pandemic.
Omega, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson defeated Moxley, Rey Fenix and PAC in Wednesday’s Beach Break main event.
NJPW has set a date for Jon Moxley and KENTA’s IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship match.
Moxley defending his IWGP United States Heavyweight title against KENTA will air on NJPW’s The New Beginning USA 2021 on Friday, February 26. NJPW has announced that the Friday, February 19 and February 26 editions of NJPW Strong will be New Beginning USA episodes. The February 19 show will be headlined by El Phantasmo vs. Lio Rush.
NJPW Strong is filmed in California and airs weekly on NJPW World.
On this Friday’s Lion’s Break: Contender episode of Strong, Moxley made his return to NJPW and laid out KENTA. NJPW has also announced that Moxley will appear on NJPW Strong’s Road to The New Beginning USA next Friday (February 5). Moxley will give his thoughts on his match against KENTA.
Moxley has been IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion since winning the title at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in January 2020, but he hasn’t been able to wrestle for NJPW since last February due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
KENTA became the number one contender to Moxley’s title by winning last year’s New Japan Cup USA tournament. KENTA has since successfully defended his title shot briefcase five times, defeating Jeff Cobb, Hiroshi Tanahashi, David Finlay, Brody King, and Satoshi Kojima.
NJPW is hyping up Moxley vs. KENTA as being “the most anticipated match in professional wrestling.”
Jon Moxley appeared at the end of tonight’s NJPW Strong, making it clear he would face KENTA in Japan.
KENTA, Hikuleo, and El Phantasmo jumped Lio Rush, Fred Rosser, and TJP following tonight’s main event when Rush pinned ELP. The lights then suddenly went out. Jon Moxley appeared when they came back on with the IWGP United States title and laid out Hikuelo and ELP with the belt. Moxley and KENTA traded blows, with KENTA going for the GTS. Moxley countered and landed the Death Rider DDT.
Moxley took a microphone and said that he doesn’t play political games, and that KENTA’s dream of becoming the United States champion had just become a nightmare. He then said into the camera that he would face KENTA in Tokyo “one of these days”.
Moxley has been IWGP United States champion for 392 days, defeating Lance Archer at Wrestle Kingdom 14 on January 4 of last year. However, he has been unable to come into Japan to defend the championship due to COVID-19 restrictions.
KENTA defeated David Finlay in a New Japan Cup USA tournament final in August to win a briefcase with a IWGP United States title match contract. He successfully defended the briefcase at Wrestle Kingdom 15 on January 4, defeating Satoshi Kojima.
NJPW has announced cards for the next two weeks of NJPW Strong, with Lio Rush making his debut on the program on Friday, January 29.
Rush, who is looking to avenge his first round loss against El Phantasmo during last month’s Super J Cup, will team with TJP and Fred Rosser in the main event of the January 29 show to face KENTA, El Phantasmo, and Hikuleo.
The main event for this week’s show will have LA Dojo young lion Ren Narita take on ROH’s Bateman. Narita will be making his debut on Strong following his appearance at the Super J Cup, where he teamed with Kevin Knight in a losing effort against Hikuleo and KENTA. Bateman is also making his first in-ring appearance on the program.
Here are the full cards for both shows:
January 22:
Ren Narita vs. Bateman
Brody King vs. JR Kratos
Jordan Clearwater and Kevin Knight vs. Sterling & Logan Riegel
January 29:
Lio Rush, Fred Rosser, and TJP vs. KENTA, El Phantasmo, and Hikuleo
NJPW has announced the lineup for Friday’s Road to Lion’s Break Contender edition of NJPW Strong.
El Phantasmo will make his Strong debut, teaming with Bullet Club stablemates KENTA and Hikuleo in the main event. They will face Fred Rosser, ACH and Blake Christian in six-man tag action.
KENTA is coming off a win at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15, where he successfully defended his IWGP United States Championship right to challenge briefcase against Satoshi Kojima. ELP lost to Hiromu Takahashi on night one of Wrestle Kingdom, but was victorious in an eight-man tag at New Year Dash, where he and Taiji Ishimori established themselves as the number one contenders for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag titles.
In Friday’s semi-main event, TJP will take on Adrian Quest.
In the show’s opener, 2020 Lion’s Break Crown tournament competitor Barrett Brown makes his first appearance on Strong since losing in that tournament. He will take on Misterioso.
Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing.
Here is Friday’s card:
Road to Lion’s Break Contender – Friday, January 15 —
KENTA, El Phantasmo & Hikuleo vs. ACH, Blake Christian & Fred Rosser
Though he wasn’t able to make an in-person appearance at the show, video of a pre-recorded promo from IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley aired during Wrestle Kingdom 15.
The promo aired prior to KENTA’s IWGP United States Heavyweight title shot contract defense against Satoshi Kojima at Wrestle Kingdom 15 night one.
“Many men have vied for that US title contract,” Moxley said. “But they all thought they were gonna get off easy. They all hoped and prayed that the United States Heavyweight Champion would never return. But I am the boogeyman in New Japan Pro Wrestling. I will get you eventually. So whoever walks out of the Tokyo Dome with that contract, make no mistake about it — I’m coming for you.”
The promo was from NJPW’s United States dojo.
KENTA defeated Kojima at Wrestle Kingdom 15 to retain the title shot contract. He’ll challenge Moxley for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship at some point in the future.
KENTA became the number one contender to Moxley’s title by winning the 2020 New Japan Cup USA tournament. He’s since successfully defended the contract against Jeff Cobb, Hiroshi Tanahashi, David Finlay, Brody King, and Kojima.
Juice Robinson was originally supposed to challenge for KENTA’s title shot contract at Wrestle Kingdom 15, but Robinson was pulled from the show due to a fractured orbital bone.
Moxley has been IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion since winning the title from Lance Archer in a Texas Death Match at Wrestle Kingdom 14 night one in 2020. Moxley hasn’t been able to wrestle for NJPW since February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Satoshi Kojima will face KENTA for the IWGP US title right to challenge contract on January 4.
NJPW shot an angle on this morning’s Road to Tokyo Dome show where Kojima challenged KENTA to a match for the briefcase. The company has now confirmed on their website that Kojima will replace Juice Robinson on January 4.
Juice Robinson had been slated to face KENTA for the championship at Wrestle Kingdom. However, he suffered a fractured orbital bone during the December 22 Road to Tokyo Dome show. He did not participate in the following morning’s press conference, and later was announced as being off the remaining Road To Tokyo Dome and Wrestle Kingdom cards due to the injury.
During this morning’s press conference, NJPW revealed the full cards for Wrestle Kingdom 15, which takes place on January 4 and 5. The cards are as follows:
January 4:
Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles
Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Great-O-Khan
KENTA vs. Satoshi Kojma for the IWGP US title contract briefcase
Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Guerillas of Destiny for the IWGP Tag Team titles
Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Phantasmo
King of Pro Wrestling Ranbo
January 5:
Winner of Naito-Ibushi vs. Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles
Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu-ELP winner for the IWGP Jr. title
SANADA vs. EVIL
Shingo Takagi vs. Jeff Cobb for the NEVER Openweight title
El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi for the IWGP Jr. Tag Team titles
