Originally Posted by Mr. Nerfect (Post 5279552)

Any word on who Liger is likely to face? Who is the guy holding together the junior heavyweight side of things? Think they give it to someone emerging?

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5280562)

This Royal Quest show is a bit of a mess right now in terms of production.

First the commentary audio got busted early on, then stream keeps lagging and losing connection, and now part of the entrance tron broke.

Originally Posted by Slik (Post 5281241)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kenta looked badly concussed at NJPW Royal Quest. �� <a href="https://t.co/QVpc6M81mT">pic.twitter.com/QVpc6M81mT</a></p>&mdash; Meltzer Said What? (@MeltzerSaidWhat) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeltzerSaidWhat/status/1168367294323527680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Originally Posted by mike adamle (Post 5281771)

Ive gotta say it; Kota Ibushi is way better without Kenny Omega

Originally Posted by Mr. Nerfect (Post 5282459)

Kota Ibushi is weird to me. I think of him as good, and I get excited about match concepts with him, but whenever I see him against anyone that isn't Tanahashi or Nakamura, he bothers the fuck out of me. That being said, I am looking forward to Okada vs. Ibushi at WK.

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5286519)

Seems NJPW is doing a bit of a shakeup with their current batch of Young Lions.

They released a video revealing Ren Narita is heading over to the LA Dojo and Jon Moxley's adopted son Shota Umino teased in a recent promo that he wants to start his excursion phase.

Originally Posted by Vastardikai (Post 5286454)

The only thing more shocking than Kane being bald is Liger being bald.

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5286790)

NJPW doesn't really use ROH for excursions and tend to favor CMLL more for that stuff.

They must be very pleased with Shibata's work at the LA Dojo to consider it as excursion worthy.

Originally Posted by Observer

The short version of the story as to why the New Japan show last night at the Hammerstein Ballroom started 90 minutes late, the ambulance story is pretty much legit, but it's far more than that. The company that usually provides ambulances for the building was called the morning of the show to say it was canceled. Those backstage found out at about 5:30 p.m. and ended up getting an FDNY ambulance to the building in time for the show to start. The Athletic Commission rep said that if there was a shooting nearby the ambulance would have to leave and wouldn't accept it or allow the show to go on. A second FDNY ambulance came but it was the same story. Two other ambulances ended up being brought in so at one point there were four ambulances there. At this point the two FDNY ones left since the commission wouldn't accept them. Then somebody tried to tell one of the ambulances (a commission person) that two weren't needed and one of the others could go, but those associated with the show asked, what if somebody needed an ambulance and thus, with only one, there wouldn't be one there, and the commission said they would have to stop the show at that point until the ambulance got back. So they kept two. They also had four doctors, three more than necessary, on their own including one that spoke Japanese. At the time the video played, the two ambulances were there but the commission would not allow the show to start until they were in the back of the building and a stretcher was in the building, as they were in the front of the building when they wanted to start the show and were told they couldn't. NJPW was also told the barricade couldn't be used to throw wrestlers in, no fighting outside the ring, no tables and no blading. For union reasons, the show was supposed to end by 11 p.m. but we're told even with rushing the show, NJPW decided to run overtime even with the added cost.

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5289978)

According to Voices of Wrestling, Suzuki is rumored to be leaving NJPW soon. Hasn't been happy with his spot in the company and likely would have left earlier if it wasn't for the Liger feud. Current rumor is him going back to Pro Wrestling NOAH.

Also rumored to be leaving soon is NJPW's president Harold Meij.

Originally Posted by Vastardikai (Post 5290013)

I can't say I blame him. He's been an afterthought since Meij took over. Which is a travesty. Meij wants an American following, but doesn't push the most over guy with American audiences. Fucking idiot.

Originally Posted by Mr. Nerfect (Post 5290046)

Suzuki leaving is sad. Can see WWE making him a huge offer.

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5291821)

LIJ not having any reps makes sense since Shingo moved up to heavyweight and no Himoru around to tag with BUSHI.

Wouldn't be surprised if NJPW kills off their partnership with CMLL by the end of the year or at least is watching very closely to see if CMLL actually splits any time soon. If it does split, they probably will side with Sofia Alonso's version and not the one being run by her uncle since it likely gets them Dragon Lee back.

Originally Posted by Jordan X (Post 5293782)

Who do you guys think Liger will have his final match with?

Originally Posted by PWI

Yahoo Japan reported this evening that Bushiroad, the parent company of New Japan Pro Wrestling is acquiring STARDOM, the preeminent women's promotion in Japan.

Serious negotiations to take over STARDOM has been ongoing since early September. There had been interest on Bushiroad's end since this past Spring.

The official announcement will come tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Observer

World Wonder Ring Stardom, the Japanese women's pro wrestling company best known as Stardom, has been sold to Kix Road, a subsidiary of Bushiroad, in a deal announced Thursday afternoon in Japan.

The story is likely to be misinterpreted as either New Japan buying Stardom, a merger between the two groups, or that New Japan will start using women wrestlers on their shows. None of this would be accurate.

But what is accurate is New Japan and Stardom would both be owned by the same parent company, but they are being run and kept completely separate. Stardom will be under the umbrella of Kix Road, which is the parent company of Knock Out, the Bushiroad kickboxing company.

As part of the deal, Kix Road, on 12/1, Kix Road Co,. Ltd will have its name changed to Bushiroad Fight Co, Ltd. There are no plans for any interaction between Knock out and Stardom.

Hiroshi "Rossy" Ogawa will remain CEO of the women's wrestling promotion, which will main using the name Stardom, but World Wonder Ring Stardom will no longer exist as a company.

There will be people at Bushiroad joining Stardom to work in the front office but the Stardom staff will stay in place.

Bushiroad's role will be attempting through advertising and television to build the popularity of the brand, similar to how the resurgence of New Japan Pro Wrestling was built.

As part of the deal, a TV show will air on BS NTV and Tokyo MX starting in January, with the BS NTV show being a 30 minute show on Thursdays.

The streaming service Stardom World will remain the exclusive for Stardom events. New Japan World will not be streaming Stardom, and with New Japan World part-owned by TV-Asahi and the Stardom TV deal with rival NTV, politically that would be almost impossible to work out.

There are no plans at present for Stardom talent to appear on New Japan shows, or vice versa. However, if New Japan does see a demand for women's matches on foreign shows, where there is no sign of any at this point, this will give them easier access to broker a deal for such talent.