Tag: wrestle grand slam

Kota Ibushi to challenge for US title at NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A match between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi has been set for Wrestle Grand Slam after Tanahashi issued a challenge to Ibushi.

In a post-match interview after winning the IWGP United States title this past weekend at NJPW’s Resurgence event, Tanahashi called out Kota Ibushi as his next challenger at Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome. NJPW later shared a video of Ibushi saying that the direct path for him was best, and that he must face Tanahashi, accepting the challenge. NJPW later confirmed the match for the Wrestle Grand Slam card that will take place on September 4.

Ibushi has been out of action since July 2, when he defeated Yota Tsuji in a singles match. He has been suffering from aspiration pneumonia. Despite initial reports, the pneumonia is no way related to side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine.

Wrestle Grad Slam in MetLife Dome will take place over two days, on September 4 and 5. A singles match between Jeff Cobb and Kazuchika Okada and Toru Yano vs. Chase Owens for the KOPW title has been announced for September 4. 

Shingo Takagi vs. EVIL for the IWGP World Heavyweight title, Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi vs. SANADA and Tetsuya Naito vs. YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto in a three-way match for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles, and Hiromu Takahashi vs. Robbie Eagles for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title has been announced for September 5.

NJPW reveals two matches for Wrestle Grand Slam night one

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW has made the first two match announcements for Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night one on September 4. 

In a rematch from last Sunday’s Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Kazuchika Okada will face Jeff Cobb. Okada was victorious at Tokyo Dome, pinning Cobb with a quick cradle. Cobb then attacked Okada at Tuesday’s Summer Struggle event in Korakuen Hall to set up the rematch. 

Also announced for MetLife Dome, Chase Owens will defend the KOPW 2021 provisional title against former title holder Toru Yano. A stipulation will be added to this match at a later date. Owens won a 22-man New Japan Ranbo at the Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome to claim the provisional KOPW title. 

Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome is a two-night event. Three IWGP title matches have already been announced for night two. Here are the cards so far:

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome, Saturday, September 4, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
  • KOPW 2021: Chase Owens (c) vs. Toru Yano

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome, Sunday, September 5, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. EVIL
  • IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi

Three title matches set for NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Three title matches have been announced for NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome on Sunday, September 5.

In the main event, Shingo Takagi will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against EVIL. This match was set up at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome when EVIL attacked Shingo after his main event title defense against Hiroshi Tanahashi. 

The IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship will be on the line in a three-way at MetLife Dome. Champions Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. will defend against Tetsuya Naito & SANADA, as well as Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI. Taichi and Sabre defeated Naito and SANADA for the titles at the Tokyo Dome. Following their win, Goto and YOSHI-HASHI appeared and declared their intentions to be the next challengers. 

Also announced, new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles will defend his title against the returning Hiromu Takahashi. Hiromu has been out of action with a torn pectoral, but announced last week that he has been medically cleared. 

Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome will be a two-night event on Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5. No matches have been announced for the September 4 show. 

Here is the lineup for night two:

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome, Sunday, September 5, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. EVIL
  • IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi

Tanahashi replacing Ibushi in NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam main event

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Due to illness, Kota Ibushi is out of the NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam main event.

NJPW announced tonight that Hiroshi Tanahashi is replacing Ibushi in the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestle Grand Slam. Tanahashi will challenge Shingo Takagi for the title.

Tanahashi defeated KENTA in the main event of Summer Struggle in Nagoya this morning. After the match, Tanahashi spoke to the crowd and said he was ready to replace Ibushi at Wrestle Grand Slam if needed.

“As previously reported, Kota Ibushi has been diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia, and as a result has missed the Summer Struggle tour. After careful monitoring of his recovery, Ibushi is unfortunately unable to compete at Wrestle Grand Slam where he was scheduled to face Shingo Takagi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship,” NJPW announced.

“We apologise to fans who were looking forward to seeing Ibushi wrestle. We appreciate your understanding, and hope you join us in wishing Ibushi the best in his recovery.”

Tanahashi defeated Takagi when they faced off in the main event of The New Beginning in Nagoya this January.

Takagi won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Kazuchika Okada at Dominion last month. The title was vacant going into that match after Will Ospreay had to relinquish it due to injury.

This will be Takagi’s first title defense since becoming IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

Wrestle Grand Slam is taking place at the Tokyo Dome and will begin on New Japan World at 3 a.m. Eastern time overnight tonight. Here’s the updated card for the show:

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi defends against Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • IWGP Tag Team Champions Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defend against Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado defends against Robbie Eagles
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo defend against Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi
  • New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021 trophy

Ibushi suffering from aspiration pneumonia, off three NJPW shows

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Kota Ibushi has been diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia and will miss the next three NJPW dates.

The website reported that in order to make a full in-ring recovery, he will miss the July 22 and 23 shows in Osaka, and July 24 in Nagoya. They also wrote that a final decision regarding Ibushi’s appearance at Wrestle Grand Slam, where he is slated to face Shingo Takagi for the IWGP World Heavyweight title, will be determined after assessing Ibushi’s recovery.

NJPW further explained that the pneumonia Ibushi is suffering from is not a side effect of a COVID-19 vaccination.

“Ibushi’s illness was originally reported as a result of side effects arising from his COVID-19 vaccination,” they explained. “Aspiration pneumonia has no connection to COVID vaccinations, and Ibushi’s illness is not a result of his inoculation. We apologise for any misunderstanding. Ibushi has also tested negative for COVID-19,” they wrote.

Ibushi was slated to team with Master Wato against Shingo Takagi and BUSHI on all three dates he will now miss. Tomoaki Honma will replace him on all three shows.

The last time Ibushi wrestled was prior to the Summer Struggle tour, where he defeated Yota Tsuji in a singles match on July 2.

NJPW adds KOPW 2021 Ranbo to Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW has added a Ranbo to the Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome pre-show. 

Toru Yano will defend the provisional KOPW 2021 title in the match. To this point, Yano is the only officially announced participant.

Traditionally a part of the Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo Dome shows, the Ranbo rules have participants enter at one-minute intervals. Eliminations then occur by pinfall, submission or being thrown over the top rope. 

Yano won the provisional KOPW title at Wrestle Kingdom 15 in January and has since defended it against Chase Owens in a strap match, and EVIL in a blindfold match. 

Shingo Takagi defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Kota Ibushi will be the Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome main event. 

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Sunday, July 25, pre-show 3 a.m. Eastern time, main card 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

Pre-show —

  • KOPW 2021 Ranbo

Main card —

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi

NJPW announces two Wrestle Grand Slam shows for September

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW has added two more Wrestle Grand Slam shows to its schedule. 

Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome will be a two-night event held on Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5. 

The company also announced today that the Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome event originally scheduled for May 29 will now be held on Sunday, July 25. That show will be headlined by IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi making his first title defense, taking on Kota Ibushi. 

Additionally, the company announced that the Wrestle Grand Slam in Yokohama Stadium event has been canceled. That show was originally set to take place on May 15, but was postponed due to a state of emergency being declared due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The company released a statement that said that scheduling conflicts at Yokohama Stadium made setting a new date for that show in the near future impossible, so the decision was made to cancel. Ticket holders for that event will be refunded. 

NJPW sets new date, main event for Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Shingo Takagi will make his first defense of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Kota Ibushi in the main event of Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on Sunday, July 25. 

NJPW announced the new Wrestle Grand Slam date today. The show had originally been scheduled for May 29, but was postponed due to a state of emergency being declared in Tokyo due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The May 29 show was to have been headlined by a Will Ospreay vs. Kazuchika Okada match for Ospreay’s IWGP World title. Following the postponement, Ospreay vacated the title due to a neck injury. Okada then faced Shingo for the vacant title at Dominion on June 7, a match won by Shingo. 

After defeating Okada, Shingo called out Ibushi and challenged him for his first title defense. Ibushi accepted, but a date for the match was not made official until today. 

NJPW also announced that the Wrestle Grand Slam event originally scheduled for May 15 in Yokohama has been canceled. The company said in a statement that scheduling conflicts at the Yokohama Stadium venue made rescheduling that show in the near future impossible. Ticket holders for that event will be refunded.

Instead, NJPW will run two more Wrestle Grand Slam shows in September. The MetLife Dome in Saitama will host the events on Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5. 

NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam results: LIJ vs.CHAOS

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The Road to Wrestle Grand Slam tour continued today as NJPW ran their third straight night in Korakuen Hall. 

A new set of challengers for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles were established, as Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and BUSHI made a challenge for Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI to defend the titles against them at an upcoming show. YOSHI-HASHI accepted the challenge on behalf of his team. 

The show was also notable for the return of Kazuchika Okada. 

Okada kicked off the show by cutting a promo. He said that he feels great and wants to challenge for the vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. 

Here are results from today’s show: 

Shingo Takagi defeated Yota Tsuji (11:09)

Shingo won by referee stoppage after a forearm strike and a choke. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato defeated Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens & Taiji Ishimori (10:58)

Tanahashi used a Texas Clover Hold to submit Yujiro. 

Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI (11:56)

Loa pinned DOUKI after hitting three powerbombs. 

Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb defeated Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma (12:04)

Cobb pinned Honma after a Tour of the Islands. 

Cobb laid Ibushi out after the match with a Cobb-igoye.

Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (23:24)

Naito pinned YH with a jackknife cradle. 

After the match, Naito issued a challenge for the NEVER Six-Man titles. YOSHI-HASHI came back to the ring to accept, but got jumped three-on-one by Naito, SANADA and BUSHI. Goto ran back in to make the save for YH. 

**********

Up next are three Road to Dominion shows next week on June 1, June 2 and June 4, all at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World. Dominion will be held on Sunday, June 6 in Osaka-Jo Hall at 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World. No cards have been announced for the tour. 

NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam results: Golden Ace in action

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The Road to Wrestle Grand Slam tour continued today as NJPW ran their second of three straight nights in Korakuen Hall. 

The focus of the show was on Kota Ibushi vs. Jeff Cobb, which will likely be a match for Dominion on June 6. 

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito in a singles match, plus Ishii, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI defending the NEVER Openweight Six-Man titles against Naito, SANADA and BUSHI look to be upcoming matches as well. 

There has still not been an announcement regarding the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, vacated by Will Ospreay. 

By process of elimination, Shingo Takagi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the vacant title in a rematch of a match of the year contender from The New Beginning in Nagoya on January 30 seems likely. 

Here are results from today’s show: 

Chase Owens defeated Yota Tsuji (8:34)

Owens pinned Tsuji after a package piledriver. 

Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI defeated Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori (9:44)

Sabre submitted Yujiro with Barry from Eastenders (modified octopus hold).

Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato (12:44)

Tama pinned Wato after a Magic Killer. 

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI defeated Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Ryusuke Taguchi (17:11)

Shingo pinned Taguchi with a Made in Japan. 

Naito and Ishii had to be pulled apart after the match. They continue to tease both a singles match with Naito and Ishii, as well as a NEVER Six-Man Tag title match with Goto, Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defending against Naito, SANADA & BUSHI. 

Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb (15:53)

Ibushi pinned O-Khan after a Kamigoye. 

Ibushi and Cobb stared each other down after the match. That singles match has been teased for quite some time and should be announced for Dominion any day now. 

**********

Here is the lineup for tomorrow’s show: 

NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam, Wednesday, May 26, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
  • Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens & Taiji Ishimori
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Yota Tsuji

NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam results: Eight-man tag main event

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW World broadcast their first event in 20 days today, a Road to Wrestle Grand Slam show from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

NJPW returned to action on Saturday after an 18-day break following the May 4 Wrestling Dontaku event. 

A state of emergency in Tokyo and other prefectures in Japan forced the postponement of the Road to Wrestle Grand Slam tour and both planned Wrestle Grand Slam stadium shows. 

While the Road to Wrestle Grand Slam tour started on Saturday, new dates for the stadium shows have yet to be announced. 

Here are results from today’s show: 

Yujiro Takahashi defeated Yota Tsuji (8:24)

Yujiro pinned Tsuji after hitting Pimp Juice. 

Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI defeated Chase Owens & Gedo (10:58)

Sabre beat Gedo with a straightjacket sleeper. 

Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Tomoaki Honma (9:12)

Loa beat Honma with the Operation Jado Killer. 

Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cob defeated Kota Ibushi & Master Wato (14:11)

Cobb pinned Wato after hitting a Tour of the Islands. 

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI (16:18)

Shingo pinned YOSHI-HASHI after hitting a Last of the Dragon.

**********

Here are the lineups for the next two events: 

NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam, Tuesday, May 25, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
  • Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Ryusuke Taguchi
  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori
  • Chase Owens vs. Yota Tsuji

NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam, Wednesday, May 26, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
  • Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens & Taiji Ishimori
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Yota Tsuji

NJPW postpones Wrestle Grand Slam events due to state of emergency

Posted on by Bryan Rose

New Japan Pro Wrestling has delayed both of their stadium shows that were to take place later this month in Yokohama and Tokyo.

NJPW said the following in a statement on their website:

On Friday May 7, the Japanese government announced an extension to the state of emergency currently in place in Tokyo and other prefectures. In light of this announcement, as well as current COVID-19 infection status, and in order to prevent any potential further spread of the virus,  New Japan Pro-Wrestling has arrived at the decision to postpone the Wrestle Grand Slam events in Yokohama Stadium and the Tokyo Dome previously scheduled for May 15 and 29 respectively.

The company said that new dates for the upcoming shows are currently being finalized. They ask for fans to retain their tickets, and that any fan that is unable to attend the new dates will be eligible for a refund.

The only match officially announced for either show was an IWGP World Heavyweight title match between Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada for the Tokyo Dome event.

Originally set to expire on May 11, Japan extended its state of emergency until the end of May. This applies to the Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo, and Kyoto prefectures. Two more prefectures, Aichi and Fukuoka, have been added to the list.

Okada to challenge for IWGP title at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome

Posted on by Joseph Currier

When NJPW returns to the Tokyo Dome next month, Kazuchika Okada will be in the main event.

NJPW has announced that Okada will challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on Saturday, May 29. Will Ospreay is the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Before Wrestle Grand Slam, Ospreay will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Shingo Takagi at Wrestling Dontaku night two on Tuesday, May 4.

Ospreay won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Kota Ibushi at Sakura Genesis this Sunday. After the match, Ospreay called out Okada and declared that he wants revenge for his loss to Okada from earlier this year. Takagi, who defeated Okada in this year’s New Japan Cup, then joined Ospreay and Okada in the ring and said he wanted a title shot first.

Ospreay defeated Takagi in this year’s New Japan Cup finals.

If Ospreay retains against Takagi and goes on to face Okada at Wrestle Grand Slam, it will be the second time Ospreay and Okada have faced off at the Tokyo Dome this year. Okada defeated Ospreay at Wrestle Kingdom 15 night one on January 4.

NJPW has two Wrestle Grand Slam events set for next month. Wrestle Grand Slam in Yokohama Stadium is taking place on Saturday, May 15.

NJPW announces ‘Wrestle Grand Slam’ stadium events for May

Posted on by Bryan Rose

NJPW has announced two stadium shows that will take place in May.

The company has announced Wrestle Grand Slam, an event that will take place on two nights. The first event will take place on May 15 at Yokohama Stadium, and the second event will take place on May 29 at the Tokyo Dome. 

This will be the first Tokyo Dome event outside of January in 16 years. This will also be the first time that NJPW will run an event in Yokohama Stadium, which is an open-air baseball stadium. This is similar to last year’s Summer Struggle in Jingu event, which was also held in an outdoor stadium.

New Japan continues their schedule with the 49th Anniversary Show that will be held this morning. The New Japan Cup will run through March 21, where a winner will be crowned. For April, NJPW has Sakura Genesis on April 4 at Sumo Hall. Wrestling Dontaku follows on May 3 and 4 in Fukuoka.