Big Audio Nightmare: Stardom Korakuen recap, NJPW in Osaka, the Omos/NOAH era ends

Image: NOAH

The Big Audio Nightmare is back as Mike Sempervive and I talk about everything happening in the very busy world of Japanese wrestling.

This week’s topics include:

  • A good laugh at the NOAH/Omos/WWE situation
  • Stardom’s incredible Korakuen double main event
  • Saya Kamitani’s emergence as a major star
  • A Stardom rookie showing tremendous potential
  • In-depth preview of NJPW New Beginning in Osaka
  • Thoughts on Saito vs. Anzai in AJPW…and much more

Click here to listen (sub needed)

Pro Wrestling NOAH declares GHC Tag Team titles vacant

With Omos heading back to WWE, Pro Wrestling NOAH’s GHC Tag Team titles have been declared vacant.

Omos and his tag team partner Jack Morris made a successful defense of the belts against Kaito Kiyomiya & Galeno over the weekend. Following the match, Omos — who had been on excursion in NOAH — announced that he is returning to WWE. He gave his title belt to Daga and said that Morris & Daga were the new champions, but NOAH has announced that the swap is not being recognized and the titles are now vacant.

“On January 25th, at the GHC Tag Championship match held at the Edion Arena Osaka 2nd Stadium, the champions Jack Morris and Omos successfully defended their titles,” the promotion wrote. “At that time, Omos handed over the GHC Tag Team Championship belts to Daga, but this transfer of the titles will not be recognized and the titles will once again be vacant.”

Omos had a 7-0 record for NOAH during this excursion, which began with him and Morris winning the GHC Tag Team titles from Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura on January 1. Omos, Morris & Daga are all members of NOAH’s Team 2000X faction.

NOAH has not yet announced its plans for how new tag champs will be crowned.

News of Omos’ WWE return coincides with the Royal Rumble taking place this Saturday (February 1), leading to speculation that he’ll be a surprise entrant in the men’s Rumble match.

Omos announces WWE return, relinquishes GHC Tag title

Omos is headed back to WWE.

On Saturday’s Pro Wrestling NOAH show in Osaka, Omos revealed that his time with the promotion has ended, although he promised to return. He relinquished half of the GHG Tag Team Championships to his Team 2000X stablemate Daga, making Daga and Jack Morris the new champions.

Omos was revealed as Morris’ mystery partner at NOAH’s New Year’s Day show at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. They defeated Naomichi Marufuji and Takashi Sugiura to win the titles. In the six matches he wrestled during the three weeks he was with the promotion, Omos went undefeated. 

Before debuting with Pro Wrestling NOAH, Omos hadn’t wrestled since April 2024. His last match had been the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the SmackDown before WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. It was one of only two matches of his to air on WWE programming in 2024, with the other being the Royal Rumble. However, he wrestled at several live events throughout the year. 

WWE star Omos wins Pro Wrestling NOAH tag titles with Jack Morris

WWE star Omos is now a champion in Japan.

To kick off 2025, Omos was in Tokyo to compete at NOAH The New Year. He teamed with Jack Morris at the show, dethroning Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura as GHC Tag Team Champions. Omos got the pin on Marufuji after a double-handed chokeslam. This marks the first time a WWE-contracted wrestler has ever been a champion in NOAH.

Morris had teased that he would have the “biggest” ever mystery partner for NOAH The New Year, and that was confirmed to be Omos last week. Omos said before the show that he was a little bit nervous but excited to compete in Japan.

Following the match, Omos & Morris cut a backstage promo where Omos declared that he’s not just a super heavyweight — he’s the “super megaweight of this world.”

“I came to Pro Wrestling NOAH, and I won the Tag Team [Championship],” Omos said. “This is the beginning of history, people. You’re witnessing the greatest thing to ever grace this country.”

The Great Muta congratulated Omos on his win, tweeting that he’s happy he’ll be able to see Omos appear for NOAH again.

This was Omos’ first match since April. He was off WWE television for most of 2024 but did compete at some house shows earlier in the year.

WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura — the current United States Champion — also wrestled at NOAH The New Year, defeating former UFC fighter Ulka Sasaki. A World title change headlined the event with Taishi Ozawa winning the GHC Heavyweight Championship from Kaito Kiyomiya.

Omos to challenge for Tag Team titles at NOAH The New Year 2025

WWE wrestler Omos will indeed be in action at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s The New Year 2025 event.

As first teased earlier this week, the billed seven-footer will team with Jack Morris in challenging for the GHC Tag Team Championship on January 1 at Budokan Hall. The Omos and Morris due will take on GHC Tag Team Champions Naomichi Marufuji and Takashi Sugiura.

Omos was introduced at the press conference hyping the event with former WWE wrestler Yoshitatsu accompanying him:

Omos has not wrestled since April 2024 when he took part in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the SmackDown before WrestleMania 40. He remains under contract to the promotion.

WWE United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura will also be in action at NOAH The New Year as he takes on Ulka Sasaki in a non-title match, as WWE continues their practice of sending name talent with connections to Japan for NOAH shows. Examples include Nakamura for The New Year in 2023 and 2025, plus AJ Styles worked the Destination event for the promotion this past July.

Daily Update: WWE-Netflix, NXT Level Up, Omos

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The  new issue of the Observer is on the site today (after a snafu):

  • Full coverage of the lessons of Saturday Night’s Main Event, from ratings to execution
  • The Athletic story on Lee Fitting, plus our thoughts on the subject
  • B.J. Whitmer alleged victim Jaime Hawn comments on current and former AEW legal heads
  • Full coverage of New Japan’s show in Long Beach with the Mercedes Mone vs. Hazuki main event
  • Update on Worlds End and the Battle of Orlando
  • CMLL’s international based show on Friday and what went right and wrong
  • Dragon Gate’s lastest major show of the year
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling TV shows and UFC shows including segment ratings, standings for the week and night, demos, comparisons with last year and a lot more
  • Annnouncer leaves company after more than 30 years and why
  • Stardoms’ end of year show
  • Comedy wrestler retires
  • CyberFight (DDT, NOAH and TJPW) financials looked at
  • How sports ratings are doing
  • Notes on a movie on one of the most legendary woman wrestlers of all-time that will be out  in March
  • Chris Jericho and Matt Cardona angle in GCW and how it came about
  • Tessa Blanchard to TNA notes and the bigger picture
  • WWE, AEW and TNA PPV numbers updates
  • Notes on changes in WBD structure
  • More on AEW move to MAX
  • Ticket advanceds for WWE & AEW shows
  • UFC business updates
  • More on WWE to Netflix and international TV notes
  • Dwayne Johnson box office notes

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Thursday Update

WWE

  • Liv Morgan attended yesterday’s Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans NFL game that aired on Netflix and was interviewed on the pre-game broadcast, promoting Raw’s January 6 Netflix premiere.
  • Becky Lynch – who has been away from WWE since May but is expected to be back soon – is one of the wrestlers featured in a new commercial for Raw’s move to Netflix.
  • Netflix has added sections for the following WWE content that will be available on January 1:
    • WWE Raw Classics (Big E hosts this must-see collection of Raw matches and moments, featuring WWE Legends and Superstars including CM Punk, Becky Lynch and Triple H)
    • WWE Top 10 (Monday Night Raw hosts some of the biggest and best matches in WWE history, featuring Superstars John Cena, Triple H, Becky Lynch and more)
    • WWE Road to WrestleMania (The Road to WrestleMania goes through Raw, where WWE’s top Superstars raise the stakes in must-see matches and thrilling moments)
    • WWE Superstar Profiles (WWE Superstars step inside the squared circle in pursuit of championships and glory in front of the WWE Universe)
    • WWE Legends Profiles (Legendary Superstars of WWE make history with unforgettable matches and moments inside the squared circle)
  • In an interview with Bill Apter, Goldberg’s son Gage was asked about the negative way Bret Hart has talked about his father:
    • I mean, I don’t really – we don’t really like to talk about that a lot. But, I mean, you got to let things go, 100 percent. Yeah, you can’t just keep harping on this one thing when someone is successful. And, yeah, stuff happens.
  • WWE uploaded a Playlist video featuring the promotion’s most emotional moments of 2024.
  • WWE Vault has a video ranking the 50 greatest moments in ECW history.
  • This Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern, the Vault channel will be streaming a WWE ECW house show from 2006 that took place at the ECW Arena: “WWE Vault unearths footage from June 24, 2006, the night WWE brought ECW back to its home in Philadelphia. Featuring Rob Van Dam vs. Kurt Angle in the main event, plus CM Punk, Sabu, Sandman, Stevie Richards, Big Show and more stars of WWE’s ECW revival in action.”
  • Here’s the lineup for NXT Level Up this Friday night, which is the last-ever episode of the show:
    • Dante Chen competes in a gauntlet match
    • Layla Diggs, Kendal Grey & Carlee Bright vs. Wendy Choo, Lainey Reid & Kali Armstrong

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • MJF makes a brief appearance (at the 0:14 mark) in the trailer for Happy Gilmore 2, which will debut on Netflix in 2025. MJF plays one of Happy Gilmore’s sons in the movie.
  • AEW shared post-Dynamite promos from Daniel Garcia and Kyle Fletcher following last night’s show.
  • On the fourth anniversary of his passing, AEW uploaded a Timeline video documenting Brodie Lee’s career in the promotion.
  • Adam Cole was a guest on Going Ringside.
  • Pro Wrestling NOAH is teasing that WWE star Omos could be Jack Morris’ mystery partner at NOAH The New Year 2025. Morris is facing Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura in a tag match at the January 1 show – and he’s promised that his mystery partner will be the “biggest” in history. WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura is also working the event, facing Ulka Sasaki.
  • NJPW has interviews with AZM and Yota Tsuji ahead of Wrestle Kingdom 19.
  • Mina Shirakawa – who turns 37 years old today – thanked everyone for the messages they’ve sent her: “I’ve received so many birthday messages! Every moment feels meaningful because of all of you. Thank you so much for your endless support and love”
  • The Wrestling Chatter interviewed Nic Nemeth.
  • Revolution Pro Wrestling is premiering a documentary short titled “RevPro: How To Start A Revolution” on YouTube at 5 p.m. Eastern today:
    • ‘RevPro: How To Start A Revolution’ takes you behind the curtain of RevPro’s 12 Year Anniversary event, celebrating its rise from humble beginnings to becoming the UK’s top professional wrestling promotion.
    • Featuring exclusive behind the scenes footage and interviews with stars like Will Ospreay, Zack Sabre Jr., Michael Oku, and more, this documentary offers a rare and inspiring look at the challenges and triumphs of building an independent wrestling empire.

Bobby Lashley on Omos’ WWE TV future: ‘I don’t see him having that opportunity’

Bobby Lashley thinks Omos should be utilized on WWE television, but he doesn’t know if Omos will get that opportunity.

The 7-foot-3 Omos has only worked two televised matches in 2024, appearing in the Royal Rumble and the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. He’s largely been off TV for the past year while still competing at house shows for WWE, but he has not wrestled since the April 5 episode of SmackDown.

While doing a virtual signing with K&S WrestleFest, Lashley was asked about Omos’ future and if he thinks Omos will return to WWE TV.

“I think he should be [back on TV]. Unfortunately, I don’t know. I don’t know. The way that things have changed, I don’t see him having that opportunity,” Lashley said. “I hope that me saying that gives him that opportunity. But a lot of people haven’t had that opportunity, and a lot of people kind of went separate ways with them. So I don’t know what is going on right now. There’s a lot of really good talent that left.”

Lashley departed WWE when his contract with the company expired this August and is rumored to be AEW-bound, joining his former Hurt Business stablemates MVP and Shelton Benjamin.

MVP managed Omos in WWE and has been a vocal supporter of his. Last month, MVP told K&S WrestleFest that Paul “Triple H” Levesque said he didn’t want Omos to be on TV every week and wanted him to be an attraction that was used periodically.

Lashley and Omos worked a program against each other in 2022 and were WrestleMania opponents that year.

Earlier this year, Omos (real name Jordan Omogbehin) launched a YouTube channel called “The Giant Connoisseur” where he reviews fragrances.

Omos says Brock Lesnar doesn’t ‘get the credit he deserves’

Omos believes Brock Lesnar ‘has figured out this business down to the core.’

The 29-year-old from Lagos, Nigeria told the Daily Mail recently that his WrestleMania 39 opponent doesn’t get the credit he deserves. 

Omos said of Lesnar:

“I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves. He’s such an amazing and talented worker. He has figured out this business to the core. From his facial expressions, to his physicality, to his selling. He gets it. Most importantly he understands his role depending on where he’s put. He has such awareness and that’s the person he is.”

Lesnar defeated Omos on the second night of WrestleMania 39 in a match that went just under five minutes. 

Omos continued to say of Lesnar:

“Working with him, at first he was getting a feel for me and making me feel comfortable and he made sure I felt that way around WrestleMania. I remember having a conversation with him about how to prepare and he just said, ‘Don’t worry!'”

“‘For him, he wanted to see whether I could live up to expectations. Everything in life is a test and I knew I had to go out there and put everything I have learned into that match and I’m glad it came out the way it did.”

“Brock is amazing. He was pleased after. I wanted to make sure he had fun, that’s always my goal. When it’s fun, you want to keep on doing it.”

Omos recalled learning he was going to face Lesnar while backstage at the 2/20 WWE Raw from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 

He continued: 

“It was the night after Elimination Chamber and we had Raw in Ottawa. I wasn’t on the show and I was going to do what I was supposed to do, drive back to Montreal to fly home.”

“I was going to get a haircut and one of our producers said whatever you do, don’t go anywhere. I was on the show, but not a match, a backstage. They said it was a backstage with MVP and you guys are going to call out Brock.”

“The moment they said that I just go blank. They keep talking and I couldn’t hear a word they said. They asked if I was OK, I said, ‘Yes, did you just say Brock Lesnar?’ He said yes. I said, ‘No, THE Brock Lesnar? Woah, OK.'”

“I thought I was getting ribbed. So I go in and get there early and I see Paul Heyman. I say hi, he says Brock is coming and I know it’s real. This is happening.‘”

Omos hasn’t wrestled on WWE programming since losing to Seth Rollins at WWE Backlash from Puerto Rico on May 6. The match went just over 10 minutes and was given a three-star rating from our own Dave Meltzer. He has been wrestling regularly on house shows, however, against opponents such as Dolph Ziggler, Ricochet, and Rick Boogs.

As for Lesnar, he’s currently expected to face Cody Rhodes at WWE SummerSlam on August 5. The two are 1-1 against each other in singles matches, with Rhodes winning at Backlash and Lesnar coming out victorious at Night of Champions via referee stoppage. 

Two title matches, Seth Rollins vs. Omos added to WWE Backlash

Three new matches have been added to next month’s Backlash event in Puerto Rico

The SmackDown Women’s title will be on the line on May 6, as Rhea Ripley will defend the championship against Zelina Vega. Friday’s SmackDown saw Vega ask Adam Pearce for a title match, saying that as a Puerto Rican, she deserves a chance to defeat Vega in the country. The match was confirmed later in the show.

Seth Rollins and Omos will also meet. Rollins was last seen on Monday’s Raw, defeating The Miz.

A three-way for the United States title has also been added, with champion Austin Theory defending against Bronson Reed and Bobby Lashley. Theory and Lashley were wrestling for the title on Monday’s Raw when Bronson Reed, who faced Bobby Lashley in a match that ended in a double count out the previous week, attacked Lashley for the DQ.

Here is the card so far for Backlash:

  • The Usos & Solo Sikoa vs. Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Matt Riddle
  • Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar
  • WWE United States title: Austin Theory (c) defends against Bronson Reed and Bobby Lashley
  • SmackDown Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) defends against Zelina Vega
  • Seth Rollins vs. Omos

Brock Lesnar & Omos weigh-in announced for next week’s WWE Raw

Brock Lesnar and Omos will weigh-in on the final episode of WWE Raw before WrestleMania 39. 

As announced during this week’s show, a Lesnar and Omos weigh-in is set to take place on the March 27 Raw in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Lesnar and Omos have had one face-to-face showdown on the road to WrestleMania in an in-ring confrontation on the March 13 Raw. In that segment, Lesnar attempted to suplex Omos, but Omos pushed him away and sent him over the top rope to the floor. 

The weigh-in is the only segment announced for the WrestleMania go-home Raw. 

WrestleMania 39 is set for Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. 

Here is the announced card for the event to this point: 

WWE WrestleMania 39, Saturday, April 1 & Sunday, April 2, 8 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock & WWE Network —

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns defends against Cody Rhodes
  • SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair defends against Rhea Ripley
  • Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair defends against Asuka
  • United States Championship: Austin Theory defends against John Cena
  • Intercontinental Championship triple threat match: Gunther defends against Drew McIntyre & Sheamus
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: The Usos defend against Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens
  • Hell in a Cell match: Edge vs. Finn Balor
  • Brock Lesnar vs. Omos
  • Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul
  • Trish Stratus, Becky Lynch & Lita vs. Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai & IYO SKY)
  • Women’s four-way tag team showcase match: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. TBD vs. TBD vs. TBD
  • Men’s four-way tag team showcase match: Braun Strowman & Ricochet vs. The Viking Raiders vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy

VIDEO: Dave Meltzer & Bryan Alvarez discuss Omos-Lesnar segment from WWE Raw

Brock Lesnar and Omos had one spot. It didn’t exactly work.

Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed the segment between Lesnar and Omos on Raw Tuesday morning on Wrestling Observer Radio. The spot was supposed to have Omos take Lesnar and throw him over the top rope to the floor. However, it did not go according to plan, causing the spot to look sloppy in execution.

“They did a replay of this later and managed to make it look like it worked, which was pretty impressive, but it did not work live,” Alvarez said.

Both noted that the crowd were interested in the segment at first, but it died as soon as they shook hands and the spot went down.

“It actually kind of made me more excited for the match,” Alvarez said, “because I just have to see this. Like, what in God’s name is going to happen in this match.”

Meltzer noted that it can’t be as bad as one of the worst matches of last year.

“Look, last year’s WrestleMania had Vince McMahon and Pat McAfee,” Meltzer said. “And I just don’t believe we’re going to see a match worse than that.”

Omos and Brock had one spot. It didn’t work: Wrestling Observer Radio

Brock Lesnar and Omos had one spot. It didn’t exactly work.

Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed the segment between Lesnar and Omos on Raw Tuesday morning on Wrestling Observer Radio. The spot was supposed to have Omos take Lesnar and throw him over the top rope to the floor. However, it did not go according to plan, causing the spot to look sloppy in execution.

“They did a replay of this later and managed to make it look like it worked, which was pretty impressive, but it did not work live,” Alvarez said.

Both noted that the crowd were interested in the segment at first, but it died as soon as they shook hands and the spot went down.

“It actually kind of made me more excited for the match,” Alvarez said, “because I just have to see this. Like, what in God’s name is going to happen in this match.”

Meltzer noted that it can’t be as bad as one of the worst matches of last year.

“Look, last year’s WrestleMania had Vince McMahon and Pat McAfee,” Meltzer said. “And I just don’t believe we’re going to see a match worse than that.”

Brock Lesnar & Omos face-to-face segment added to WWE Raw

A face-to-face segment between two WrestleMania 39 opponents has been added to Monday’s WWE Raw lineup.

As announced during Friday’s SmackDown show, Brock Lesnar and Omos will go face-to-face on Monday’s Raw episode. 

Omos and MVP issued the challenge to Lesnar to face Omos at WrestleMania on the February 13 Raw show. Lesnar responded the following week in an appearance on Raw in MVP’s VIP Lounge, agreeing to the contest and laying MVP out. Lesnar and Omos will wrestle on one night of the two-night WrestleMania set for Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. 

Another face-to-face between WrestleMania opponents was already set for Raw, as Finn Balor and Edge will meet ahead of their Mania match. 

Two matches are also set for Raw. 

Here is the announced lineup: 

WWE Raw, Monday, March 13 —

  • Brock Lesnar & Omos face-to-face
  • Edge & Finn Balor face-to-face
  • Bianca Belair vs. Chelsea Green
  • Elias vs. Bronson Reed

Brock Lesnar turned down Bray Wyatt match at WWE WrestleMania 39

Brock Lesnar did not want to have a WrestleMania match against Bray Wyatt. 

As first reported by Fightful, Lesnar is said to have turned down wrestling against Wyatt on the show. This has led to Lesnar vs. Omos being scheduled instead and Wyatt now working a program with Bobby Lashley. 

Our own Dave Meltzer addressed the situation on Wrestling Observer Radio and noted that the finish of Lesnar vs. Lashley at The Elimination Chamber had to be changed as a result of the modified WrestleMania plans. 

Meltzer said: 

Fightful reported this and I checked it out and it’s definitely accurate.

This was also not the original idea but an idea for Brock Lesnar was Brock Lesnar and Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania and Brock said no to that, which doesn’t surprise me in the least. When I heard that story, it made all the sense in the world to me because for Brock Lesnar to be involved in that hocus pocus with the aura that he has…

Originally, what was going to happen was Brock was beating Bobby Lashley at Elimination Chamber and that was going to lead to Brock against Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania and that’s why Bray Wyatt did that interview but after they did that, they had to change the finish. 

That’s why we ended up with Lesnar and Omos. Remember I said that this has just changed and it changed from Wyatt but Wyatt had also been the change so I don’t know who the original one was, but it was not Gunther, I know that. So, they had two changes in that one in the last few weeks. 

Lesnar vs. Omos was made official for WrestleMania on Raw this week when Lesnar accepted the challenge made by MVP and Omos the week prior. Also on Raw this week, a video featuring Wyatt doing “The Muscle Man Dance” aired following Lashley’s defeat of Elias. 

Brock Lesnar vs. Omos official for WWE WrestleMania 39

Brock Lesnar vs. Omos is official for WWE WrestleMania 39. 

After Omos and MVP issued a challenge to Lesnar on last week’s episode, Lesnar accepted the challenge as a guest on MVP’s VIP Lounge segment on Monday’s Raw. 

Lesnar asked MVP to sell him on why he should face Omos, and MVP responded with a promo explaining how Lesnar would not be able to F5 Omos. Lesnar enthusiastically responded to the promo and accepted the challenge, then proposed a toast with MVP from a flask. MVP spat the contents of the flask on Lesnar, who then left MVP laying with an F5. 

Four matches are now official for WrestleMania on April 1 and April 2 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. 

The lineup so far: 

WWE WrestleMania, Saturday, April 1 & Sunday, April 2, 8 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock & WWE Network —

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
  • Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair (c) vs. Asuka
  • SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
  • Brock Lesnar vs. Omos