Every Wednesday WrestleZone.com brings you all the latest news from across the Pacific. This is New Japan Pro Wednesday.
AXS TV Begins Celebration Of Okada’s Historic Reign
AXS TV began it’s 13-day celebration of IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada‘s historic reign with the title. On Wednesday morning, AXS TV aired the Okada’s title win over Tetsuya Naito from June of 2016. AXS will be airing all 12 of Kazuchika Okada’s defenses, one match per morning, culminating in Okada’s record-breaking 12th title defense against Hiroshi Tanahashi from earlier this month. The schedule is below:
- 5/31 5am EDT, Kazuchika Okada vs. Naomichi Marufuji from 10/10/2016
- 6/1 5am EDT, Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega from 1/4/2017
- 6/4 5am EDT, Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki from 2/5/2017
- 6/5 5am EDT, Kazuchika Okada vs. Katsuyori Shibata from 4/9/2017
- 6/6 5am EDT, Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Luck Fale from 5/3/2017
- 6/7 5am EDT, Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega from 6/11/2017
- 6/8 5am EDT, Kazuchika Okada vs. Cody from 7/1/2017
- 6/11 5am EDT, Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL from 10/9/2017
- 6/12 5am EDT, Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito from 1/4/2018
- 6/13 5am EDT, Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA from 2/10/2018
- 6/14 5am EDT, Kazuchika Okada vs. Zack Sabre Jr. from 4/1/2018
- 6/15 8pm EDT, Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi from 5/4/2018
AXS TV celebrates Kazuchika Okada's historic heavyweight title reign with a late-night block showcasing his 12 consecutive championship matches from May 30-June 14 at 5aE/2aP – https://t.co/paCLNNuqBk pic.twitter.com/CM8T3RTCon
— AXS TV PR (@AXSTV_PR) May 29, 2018
Jericho “Failed To Make Any Kind Of Impression” On Naito
New Japan Pro Wrestling just released an interview with Tetsuya Naito. In the interview Naito addresses how little he knows about the career of Chris Jericho.
I know he was in the Best Of Super Juniors. He was in the ring on June 5th, 1997, in Budokan, the day I decided to become a pro-wrestler. But unfortunately, he wasn’t main eventing, he was knocked out of the tournament already. So, he failed to make any kind of impression on me.
The night Naito is referring to is the 4th Best Of Super Juniors Final Match, that saw El Samurai defeat Koji Kanemoto. Naito is set to defend his IWGP Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship against Jericho on June 9th, at Dominion.
Days before facing Jericho at #njdominion @s_d_naito has strong words for the Alpha @IAmJericho in this exclusive▶︎https://t.co/Tj7UBJ4PjP
5.22 クリス・ジェリコからのメッセージを受け、内藤が口を開く…。#njDOMINION 6.9も #NJPWWorld で生配信！登録＆視聴▷https://t.co/Tj7UBJ4PjP pic.twitter.com/aKBiUWDZ78
— njpwworld (@njpwworld) May 30, 2018
Dominion Card
New Japan Pro Wrestling will be presenting their annual Dominon event, live from Osaka on June 9th, 2018. The main event will see Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega have a rematch from last year’s Dominion event. To avoid last year’s time limit draw result, this year’s showdown will be fought under Best Of Three Falls, with no time limit. The event will air LIVE on NJPWWorld.com.
6/9/2018 2am EDT
- Special Challenge: Rey Mysterio vs. ???
- NEVER Openweight Championship Match: Hirooki Goto (c) vs. Taichi vs. Michael Elgin.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL & SANADA) (c) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
- IWGP Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship Match: Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Chris Jericho.
- IWGP Heavyweight Championship No Time Limit Best Of Three Falls Match: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Kenny Omega.
Jericho vs Naito… #June9 LIVE on @njpwworld!! Subscribe NOW! @njpw1972 @s_d_naito pic.twitter.com/KNQqjjYtjV
— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) May 25, 2018
NEXT PAGE: BOSJ Standings
