Today, NJPW held its Wrestle Kingdom 19 press conference which turned out to be both a war of words as well as a meeting of the mutual recognition society.
NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi issued a statement regarding the backstage incident at Power Struggle in which Gabe Kidd attacked a returning Kenny Omega.
“On November 4 in Osaka after he delivered an address to the crowd Kenny Omega was involved in a physical altercation with Gabe Kidd. We take this incident seriously and after investigation have determined that Kidd’s actions in physically assaulting a non active wrestler were unbecoming of a professional. Gabe has been issued with a formal warning and a fine as a result. I would like to formally apologize to Kenny Omega and AEW for the distress caused,” Tanahashi said.
Challenger to Zach Sabre Jr.’s IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, Shota Umino, began his confrontation with Sabre with a surprising apology.
Umino said he was sorry from attacking Sabre at Power Struggle but the appearance of Ricochet angered him.
“Somebody who left this lion mark (this company) behind and went on, didn’t leave his mark as a heavyweight and just came back of his own accord and decided he would be next? I couldn’t allow that,” said an angry Umino of Ricochet’s appearance at Power Struggle.
Umino did say he had respect for Sabre.
“I know he loves NJPW and I want to face him as a mark of that respect,” he added about Sabre.
Umino also addressed some fans and some media who believed he didn’t deserve a shot at the championship just yet or such a spot at Wrestle Kingdom.
He said he was “outright mad at any suggestion this match isn’t worthy of this spot” and “if anybody is qualified to face the champion on January 4 it’s a man who beat him during the G1.”
“Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay and Tama (Tonga) aren’t here. It’s on me and the young generation to bring NJPW forward. No matter how much booing I may get I will keep moving forward at the head of New Japan,” he said defiantly.
ZSJ said he was proud that he did in four months what most people only dream of their entire career.
“This Tokyo Dome isn’t just about becoming the best wrestler in the world but reminding the world that NJPW is the best wrestling on the planet,” said the champion maintaining that if he wins at Wrestle Kingdom he will put the title on the line against Ricochet at Wrestle Dynasty.
The sit-down between Yota Tsuji and David Finlay wasn’t as harmonious. Tsuji will face Finlay for his IWGP Global Championship at Wrestle Kingdom.
“I certainly acknowledge him as one of the top figures in NJPW and he dresses like it too,” mocked Tsuji. “So on the biggest stage, January 4 in the Tokyo Dome, I want us to collide with speed, power and will, fair and square.” Tsuji reminded Finlay that he has beaten him before.
“I’ve soared where many have sank and killed where many have died. This championship means the world to me. The reason I am so hell bent on revenge on those that have beaten me is that animals lick their lips when they see weakness. My War Dogs have never seen weakness in me and they never will. In Bullet Club, the guns don’t just point out, they point in. I don’t just want to destroy you but I need to to show the fans and the sharp knifed savages I lead that I am who I say I am,” roared Finlay.
Finlay directly warned Tsuji that just as his father (Fit Finlay) advised him he will do whatever it takes to retain the championship at Wrestle Kingdom.
In contrast, El Desperado only had praise for his former Suzuki-gun stablemate and current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Douki, who he will face at the big show.
“I’m not going to sit here and say that I’ve tapped into a version of myself while I’ve been away that you’ve never seen before, or you’ll see a new move you’ve never seen before,’ but that ‘I’ve been feeling frustrated seeing him do well as champion, while I’ve been stuck at home, and you’ll see me let all that frustration out.’
“I anticipate El Desperado will come back from his injury even stronger than before and that’s who I expect. It’s still two more months away but I couldn’t be more excited. I don’t plan on losing this or any of my matches. I plan to show the world once again that NJPW junior heavyweight wrestling is the best in the world,” said Douki.
Wrestle Kingdom takes place on January 4th, 2025. Wrestle Dynasty will be held on January 5th, 2025.
Here is more on today’s confirmed Wrestle Kingdom matches from NJPW. There will be more to come:
“Yota Tsuji will challenge IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion David Finlay at Wrestle Kingdom. A dominant pair of reigns for Finlay has seen the Rebel King’s prominence grow exponentially with his arrogance, culminating in SANADA betraying Taichi at Power Struggle to help Finlay to V4 with the gold. Yet unfinished business remains for Finlay in the form of Yota Tsuji. The LIJ member defeated Finlay not once but twice over the course of G1 Climax 34, and will be looking to make it three to take his first singles NJPW championship. Finlay may be many things; cowardly is not one of them but calculating is, and if he was willing to go to the lengths he did to retain against Taichi, what might he try to do to Tsuji on the biggest stage in professional wrestling?”.
“Zack Sabre Jr. will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Shota Umino. After a dramatic main event at Power Struggle, Sabre was confronted by the Roughneck, who had defeated SANADA earlier in the night- and had beaten Sabre this summer in the G1. Umino left the timing and location out of his control, and the champion would say that Shota would have some work to do to show that he was worthy of the Tokyo Dome main event. With that match now made, Umino will doubtless be looking to show ZSJ, and dissenting fans that not only is he worthy of the shot, he’s worthy of becoming the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.”
“The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship will be ont he line when DOUKI defends against El Desperado. Earlier this June it was a huge upset that saw DOUKI score his first ever career win against Desperado to lift the IWGP junior gold. Since then, a six month reign to date has seen DOUKI attain four separate high calibre defences with Master Wato the most recent, all affirming DOUKI as no paper champion, but one with grit and substance among the greats. Now, it’s the returning former champion back from knee surgery that wants to show the very best in junior wrestling with his one time hermano.”
“A four way match will see the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships defended, as Intergalactic Jet Setters Kevin Knight and KUSHIDA will face the challenges of Super Jr Tag League winners Ichiban Sweet Boys, finalists Catch 2/2 and former champions BULLET CLUB War Dogs. After Robbie Eagles and Francesco Akira beat TJP and Francesco Akira in a thriller in Osaka Monday, they issued their rightful challenge for the tag gold. KUSHIDA and Kevin Knight accepted, but said their loss to Catch 2/2 earlier in the tournament needed to be rectified as well. A three way scenario was then interruprted by Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney, who laid out all the other six men with chairs before issuing their own claim. Who will leave Tokyo Dome with the gold?”
“The NJPW World TV Championship will be defended in a three way as Ryohei Oiwa and Jeff Cobb both challenge Ren Narita. When Narita joined HOUSE OF TORTURE in a beatdown of Hiroshi Tanahashi at Power Struggle, Oiwa confronted the TV Champion, saying that he couldn’t let Narita’s dirty tactics slide. Just as Oiwa challenged for the title though, former champion Jeff Cobb would issue his own challenge, and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Now both men are in the mix for a three way bout on the biggest stage.”
