Search Results: "New Japan Pro Wrestling"

NEWS

He’s Out There: Former World Champion Officially A Free Agent, Possibly Heading To WWE

March 4, 2023

He’s available. There are some incredibly talented wrestlers throughout the world who do not get to appear on the big stage that often. While they might appear on some very big shows, they do not make regular appearances in either WWE or AEW. Those are the stages where wrestlers will have the biggest audiences, and now a top international star is able to go anywhere he chooses. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WRESTLING RUMORS: Possible Sign That Naomi Is Done With WWE Earlier this year, former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jay White lost a Loser Leaves Japan match, signaling that he was done with New Japan Pro Wrestling. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, White is now officially a free agent, as his deal with New Japan expired on February 28. While it is not confirmed, it is expected that he will be signing with WWE. White has previously made appearances in AEW. White is an incredible talent. Check out what he can do: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post con..

NEWS

WRESTLING RUMORS: Possible Sign That Naomi Is Done With WWE

March 3, 2023

That’s a telling sign. Last May, Naomi and Sasha Banks both walked out on WWE, while still the reigning WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Banks, now known as Mercedes Mone, has since resurfaced in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Naomi however has not been seen in a wrestling capacity since the walk out. Now a new development is suggesting that she is no longer part of WWE whatsoever. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: They’re Out? WWE Expected To Split Up NXT Tag Team WrestleCon, the wrestling fan convention held over WrestleMania weekend, has announced that Naomi, under her real name of Trinity Fatu, will be a guest at the convention. WWE contracted wrestlers are rarely allowed to do outside appearances such as this, which would suggest that Naomi is no longer under contract to WWE, or will not be when the convention takes place. This is to be considered speculation as there is NO report that she has officially left WWE. https://twitter.com/wrestlecon/status/1631648476743315457 Naomi was a star while ..

NEWS

Get Well Soon: Missing WWE Star Reportedly Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

March 1, 2023

That explains some things. There are all kinds of reasons for a wrestler to be out of the ring and a good number of them are health related. If someone is injured, there is very little that they can do to get back in the ring without risking a much bigger problem. Such an injury can explain a lot of absences and now we know about another such injury that is preventing an expected return. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: It’s A Dangerous Place: NXT Star Attacked In Parking Lot By Unknown Assailant Back in May 2022, Naomi and Sasha Banks walked out on WWE vacating the Women’s Tag Team Titles in the process. While Banks has gone on to wrestle in New Japan Pro Wrestling under the name Mercedes Mone, Naomi has not been seen in wrestling. During a virtual signing with Golden Ring Collectibles, Ariane Andre, formerly known as Cameron and Naomi’s former tag partner, revealed that Naomi is recovering from shoulder surgery. There is no word on when the surgery took place or Naomi’s recovery time. It is ..

NEWS

WATCH: Naomi And Mercedes Mone Appear Together In New Advertisement

February 21, 2023

They’re still a thing. Nine months ago, Naomi and Mercedes Mone (then Sasha Banks) walked out on WWE on the same night, vacating their Women’s Tag Team Titles in the process. That is the kind of career altering change that you do not see a wrestler deal with very often, but the two seemed united in what they were doing. Now we will get to see them united again in a very different world. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Maybe Later: How WWE Nixed Plans To Bring Back Finn Balor’s Demon The Bar Rescue Twitter account has sent out a video advertising an upcoming episode. The video includes a clip of Naomi and Mone, though it is not clear if it will be in the advertised February 26 episode. While Naomi has not wrestled since walking out on WWE in May 2022, Mone has gone on to wrestle for New Japan Pro Wrestling, including winning the promotion’s Women’s Title over the weekend. The team was good while it lasted. Check out the ad, plus the team in the ring: [This post contains video, click to play]..

NEWS

A Big One: WWE Reportedly Believes They Can Sign Kenny Omega

February 18, 2023

Yeah he’s big. AEW has accomplished a lot of things over its short history, but the biggest might be bringing so many new names to a much higher level. Fans have been exposed to various wrestlers who might never have gotten a chance otherwise and that has shaken up the wrestling world a bit. WWE has seen them as well, and now it seems that they have their eye on a top AEW name. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: They’re Next? WWE Reportedly Plans Callup For One Of These NXT Stars Jay White seems to be on his way out of New Japan Pro Wrestling, having lost a Loser Leaves Japan match and being set for a match where he cannot wrestle for the promotion again should he loser. However, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE is reportedly interested in bringing in an even bigger name. According to Wrestlingnews.co, that name would be former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega, whose AEW contract is reportedly set to expire soon. However, according to Fightful Select, there is the chance that A..

NEWS

Farewell? New Japan’s Jay White Signals He Is Ready For A New Era, Possible Move

February 16, 2023

That’s different. There are all kinds of talented wrestlers around the world and it can be fascinating to see what happens when they move from one promotion to the other. The bigger the star, the more interesting the move can be, which is the case with anyone from any promotion. Now one of the bigger international stars is indicating that he is in for a major change. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Clean Slate: Backstage Meeting Reportedly Held Over AEW Star’s Past Actions Earlier this month, Jay White lost a Loser Leaves Japan match, signaling that he would be leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling. Earlier this week, White sent out a tweet saying “Peace” with the hashtag “SwitchbladeEra”, referencing his Switchblade nickname. White is still scheduled to face Eddie Kingston for New Japan in San Jose, California this weekend, though his New Japan deal is expected to expire shortly thereafter. This has led to speculation that he is coming to either WWE or AEW, though nothing has been confirmed. Peac..

NEWS

RUMOR KILLER On Mercedes Mone’s New Japan Payday

February 13, 2023

She’s worth it? One of the bigger moments of the wrestling year so far was the debut of Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks during her time in WWE, in New Japan Pro Wrestling. This was Mone’s first wrestling appearance in about seven months after walking out on WWE. It was a big acquisition for New Japan but now we know a little something else about the appearance. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: That’s Special: Bayley And Becky Lynch Receive Special Honor From WWE Before Mone’s January 4 debut, a rumor circulate that she would make more money per appearance than Chris Jericho during his most recent New Japan run. Jericho refuted the claim, saying that he was never given a guaranteed amount per appearance and was paid according to the show’s revenue. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the rumor, which has begun circulating again, is inaccurate, as Mone is not making as much as Jericho. She is also not making as much as she could make with WWE or AEW, but is working New J..

NEWS

Glow On? Details On Naomi’s Current WWE Status, Possible Future

January 20, 2023

Working on it? Eight months ago, Naomi and Sasha Banks walked out on WWE, resulting in the Women’s Tag Team Titles being vacated. While Banks has moved on to New Japan Pro Wrestling under the name Mercedes Mone, Naomi has yet to make an appearance in wrestling. Now we know some more details about Naomi’s current WWE status and how things were going before she left. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: They’re In: WWE Signs Two More Former College Athletes Fightful Select has more details on Naomi’s WWE departure and current status. Naomi is reportedly still in contact with WWE and according to one “higher-up” in the company, it is expected that she will return to the company at some point. When Naomi originally left, her contract with WWE was set to expire, with both sides being interested in a new deal. Naomi is said to have been likely to sign the biggest money contract of her career. Naomi was a star while she was around. Check out some of her time in WWE: [This post contains video, click to ..

NEWS

It’s A Start: Possible Backstage Heat On Mercedes Mone (Sasha Banks) In New Japan

January 14, 2023

Already? Earlier this month, one of the longer running wrestling questions in recent months was answered, as Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks, made her debut with New Japan Pro Wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 17. That seemed to be the end of things but also a new beginning. As it turns out, there might already be some issues with Mone and her new boss. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WATCH: Steve Austin Works Does The Weather And Works The Drive Thru At Restaurant According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there might be some heat on Mone in New Japan and Stardom (New Japan’s sister promotion). Mone had been talking about how she wanted to face wrestlers from the Sendai Girls and Tokyo Joshi Pro promotions, both of which are seen as competition to Bushiroad (the parent company of New Japan and Stardom). While in Japan, Mone went to the Sendai Girls dojo but not the Stardom dojo. There is no word on what this could mean for Mone, or if she will be in any actual trouble. It has b..

NEWS

Up For Grabs: Former IWGP World Champion Jay White Free Agent Soon, WWE And AEW Interested

January 11, 2023

He’s up next? The rise of AEW has changed the way the wrestling world works, as wrestlers are no longer stuck picking between WWE and everything else. AEW now offers another large scale promotion where wrestlers can go and showcase themselves with more exposure. It means that a wrestler becoming a free agent means a lot, and that is the case again with a top international star. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Farewell: Wrestling Legend Says His Career Is “Probably Over” According to Fightful Select, former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion is expected to leave New Japan Pro Wrestling when his contract expires. While there is no firm date for when his deal is up, it is believed to be in the near future. White will be courted by both WWE and AEW, with a source saying that WWE will come out on top. On February 11, White is scheduled to face Hikuleo in a Loser Leaves Japan match. Neither White nor New Japan have responded to inquiries about the situation. White is one of the best in the world. Che..

NEWS

Next Target: WWE Reportedly Interested In 40 Year Old Second Generation Star

January 8, 2023

On the radar. There are a lot of talented wrestlers in the world who have nothing to do with WE. Those wrestlers often grow a following and reputation of their own and that can be enough to get WWE’s attention. WWE will often go after wrestlers from other promotions and that seems to be what they are trying to do now with a pair of second generation international stars. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Farewell? Weekly Wrestling Series Seems To Be Coming To An End Earlier this week, New Japan Pro Wrestling held its annual Wrestle Kingdom event. During the show, Tama Tonga defeated Karl Anderson to become the new Never Openweight Champion. According to Fightful Select, WWE is interested in Tonga and has been for quite some time. There is no word on if Tonga is interested in leaving New Japan or when his current contract expires. Tonga is quite the star. Check out his work around the world on his own and as part of the Guerrillas of Destiny team: [This post contains video, click to play] [Th..

NEWS

Feel The Glow? Here’s The Latest On Naomi’s WWE Status

January 7, 2023

One more run? WWE has seen several wrestlers coming and going from the company in recent months as the roster has dramatically changed. There have been multiple reasons for wrestlers to leave, but two of the most prominent left on their own accord. One of them has since settled elsewhere, but the other might be still have a chance to return to WWE if things go another way. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WATCH: WWE Runs Surprise Attack Angle After This Week’s SmackDown Back in May 2022, Naomi and Sasha Banks both walked out on WWE, vacating their Women’s Tag Team Titles in the process. Banks has since debuted with New Japan Pro Wrestling, under the name Mercedes Mone, while Naomi has not appeared for a promotion since. According to the Wrestling Observer Radio, there are no changes in Naomi’s status with WWE. A return is still possible, but nothing has been agreed to so far. Naomi was seen in Japan with Mone for her New Japan debut but did not appear and has no known deal with any promotion. ..

NEWS

LOOK: WWE, AEW And New Japan Stars Recreate Classic Photo This Week

January 5, 2023

The best of several worlds. There are all kinds of wrestling promotions throughout the world, from the biggest companies around to some rather small independents and all points in between. Every now and then you get to see these promotions doing something together and now that is the case again, albeit this time there were three major companies recreating something from the past. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WRESTLING RUMORS: More Evidence WWE Is Teasing A Hurt Business Reunion Earlier this week, New Japan Pro Wrestling held its annual Wrestle Kingdom event, featuring wrestlers from AEW. The event also included the debut of former WWE star Sasha Banks, now known as Mercedes Mone. Current WWE star Bayley accompanied her for the debut, though she did not appear on television. Dax Harwood posted a photo of the four together this week, as compared to the four together at some point in their WWE/NXT career. Harwood captioned the two photos with the phrase “What a life.” What a life. pic.twitte..

NEWS

International Incident: WWE Star Loses Title At Major International Event

January 5, 2023

It had to happen eventually. There are all kinds of titles in wrestling and some of the most well known are in WWE. Those are not all of the titles around the world though as other promotions have championships and honors of their own. You will occasionally see those paths cross though, and now one of the crossings that led to some interesting questions have been closed. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: He’s Back: Former Champion Officially Returns To WWE After Leaving AEW New Japan Pro Wrestling held its annual Wrestle Kingdom show earlier this week, featuring several title matches. One such match saw Tama Tonga defeat Karl Anderson to win the NEVER Openweight Title. Anderson currently works for WWE as part of the Monday Night Raw roster and was the reigning champion when he returned to WWE in November. The title reign was referenced on WWE programming but the title never appeared. He has some better times. Check out what Anderson has done since returning to WWE: [This post contains video, ..

NEWS

BREAKING: Former NXT Champion Makes Surprise Return On Monday Night Raw

December 20, 2022

Welcome back. One of the biggest trends of the new WWE regime has been the amount of returning superstars. After several wrestlers were released over the course of about a year and a half, a good number of them have returned now that Triple H is in a position of power. All kinds of returns have taken place and now another former champion has made a surprise appearance. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Other Ring: Former WWE Star Makes Pro MMA Debut This week’s Monday Night Raw featured a ladder match between the Miz and Dexter Lumis. Late in the match, Bronson Reed, known elsewhere as Jonah, made a surprise return to take Lumis out, allowing Miz to win the match. Reed, 34 years old, is a former NXT North American Champion who was released from WWE in 2021. Following his departure from WWE, Reed wrestled for Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Reed was a star in NXT. Check out some of his time there: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to..

NEWS

Worlds Apart: Here’s Another Reason Sasha Banks And WWE Went Their Separate Ways

December 17, 2022

Out of her league? After a seven month ordeal, it seems that Sasha Banks’ time with WWE is about to come to an end. While there is always the chance that something could change at the last minute, Banks seems to be heading over to New Japan Pro Wrestling, ending her ten year tenure with the company. Now we might know an important detail that led to the two sides splitting. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WATCH: SmackDown Mystery Attacker Revealed Backstage According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, one of the issues involved the value of the contract Banks was looking to receive. Banks reportedly wanted a deal close to the same value as Charlotte and Becky Lynch, but was not being offered numbers near those. Internally, WWE is said to not believe that Banks, 30, will be a top star for the next five years. During her time in WWE, Banks headlined multiple pay per views, including the first night of WrestleMania 37. Banks has done a lot of impressive things during her tenure with the compa..

NEWS

RUMOR KILLER On Chris Jericho And Sasha Banks’ New Japan Payoffs

December 16, 2022

He would know. There are a lot of wrestlers in the professional wrestling industry, but one of the most important parts of the industry is the first word: professional. These wrestlers are out there competing for money and the more successful they have been in their careers, the more money they are going to make. Now one wrestler is setting the record straight, or at least straighter, on some of his pay issues. Sasha Banks is currently set to debut with New Japan Pro Wrestling at the January 4 Wrestle Kingdom 17 event. A report earlier this week said that she would be making $100,000 per appearance, which was said to be more than Chris Jericho made for his appearances with the company. Jericho has since responded to the rumor, saying that he never had a flat appearance deal and was paid according to the event. In addition, Jericho said that he made more per event than he made for “MOST of my Wrestlemania matches”. Jericho wrestled six matches with New Japan from 2018-2020. For the re..

NEWS

How Much? Sasha Banks’ New Japan Contract Reportedly Beats Chris Jericho’s

December 14, 2022

That’s a lot. One of the most up and down stories of this year has been that of Sasha Banks. After walking out on WWE in May, Banks has still yet to return and as of last week, was reportedly “done” with the company. Instead she will be heading to New Japan Pro Wrestling beginning in January, and now we know some more interesting details about the entire situation. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WATCH: Major Update To Bobby Lashley’s Monday Night Raw Status According to Voices Of Wrestling, Banks will be appearing for New Japan on a per appearance basis, “at the highest price” that the company has ever paid anyone. This includes even more than Chris Jericho, who according to Wrestling Observer Radio, was making $100,000 per appearance, starting in 2018. Banks is set for multiple dates with New Japan, but she will be able to work on other projects, including AEW if she likes. There is no word on Banks working in any American promotions at the moment. New Japan is getting a major star. Check ..

NEWS

No More: Sasha Banks Reportedly “Done” With WWE, What Caused The Split

December 11, 2022

That’s a game changer. There have been all kinds of wrestling stories this year and one of the most intriguing has been that of Sasha Banks and Naomi walking out on WWE. The two have not appeared on WWE TV since May and there is no word on when the two might be returning. Now though, we have an update on one of them that suggests that she will not be back at all. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Pair Em Up: 74 Year Old WWE Legend Offers To Mentor SmackDown Star Earlier this week, a report emerged that Banks would be appearing at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 next month. According to Wrestling Observer Radio, outside of a last minute change, Banks is considered “done” with WWE. The two sides are said to be very far apart on money and Banks’ current contract is expected to expire at the end of the year. Banks is not expected to wrestle at Wrestle Kingdom but she does have more dates set with the company for after the show. Banks is a star when she is in the ring. Check out what s..

NEWS

Sasha Banks Appearing At Wrestle Kingdom 17

December 9, 2022

The Boss is heading overseas. According to a report from PWInsider, Sasha Banks is expected to appear at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 event next month. It is unknown in what capacity she will be used, if at all, during the show. Banks has not wrestled since she and Naomi walked out on WWE before the May 16 episode of Raw. Both women were upset about the creative direction of their characters, and were subsequently stripped of the Women’s Tag Team Championships. From the report: Back in October, Varnado teased the idea of wrestling former WWE star KAIRI in STARDOM, which shares the same corporate owner as NJPW and recently did a crossover event with NJPW. Banks has been training at a number of places in recent months in the United States and Mexico. Banks recently made a number of trademark filings related to her given name as well as the terms Mercedes Mone’, Mone’ Talks, Bank Mone’, and Statement Maker under company name Soulnado, obviously preparing for her next m..