Various: Cody Rhodes Injury Update, NJPW Announces Full Cards for Castle Attack, Indies

Cody Rhodes Injury Update

As noted before, AEW recently announced that Cody Rhodes suffered a partially torn rotator cuff during his tag team match on this past Wednesday’s episode of AEW Dynamite.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Rhodes’ injury is legit and not a scripted injury for storyline purposes. Meltzer reported that Rhodes suffered the injury following a spot in the match where he landed awkward from a pump handle slam by Cezar Bononi.

Meltzer also reported that following the show, Rhodes stated that his injury is not serious although he will be rehabbing his shoulder starting at next week’s set of television tapings. AEW officials reportedly currently believe that Rhodes will be able to return for his intergender tag team match against Shaquille O’Neal & Jade Cargill on the March 3rd episode of AEW Dynamite.

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NJPW Announces Full Cards for Castle Attack Event

New Japan Pro Wrestling recently announced the full cards for both nights of their upcoming Castle Attack event, which takes place on February 27-28 at the Osaka-jo Hall in Osaka, Japan.

Full card for Night 1 of Castle Attack (February 27th):

• Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jeff Cobb, Will Ospreay, & Great-O-Khan
• YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tanga Loa
• Hirooki Goto vs. Tama Tonga
• Provisional King of Pro Wrestling 2021 Championship – Chase Owens vs. Toru Yano (c)
• Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jay White
• Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL

Full card for Night 2 of Castle Attack (February 28th):

• Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Jeff Cobb & Will Ospreay
• Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii, & Kazuchika Okada vs. Chase Owens, EVIL, & Jay White
• IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship – YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs. Guerillas of Destiny (Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga) (c)
• NEVER Openweight Championship – Great-O-Khan vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (c)
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship – El Phantasmo vs. Hiromu Takahashi (c)
• IWGP Intercontinental Championship – Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi (c)

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Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

AEW CEO Tony Khan recently announced that Lee Johnson has been signed to an official contract with the company.

A recent episode of the A Wrestling Gal podcast had ODB as the guest and one of the topics discussed included ODB revealing that her return to Impact Wrestling was not for the full-time and instead was only for a few matches. ODB stated “I’m not back full-time. It felt good. I went back and did a few matches that will be airing soon. I felt great. I spoke with Gail Kim, who is still there and agenting matches for the girls, and she was like, ‘Wow, you haven’t missed a step.’ That felt good because I hadn’t been in the ring for over a year and I wasn’t going to practice or anything … I wasn’t looking to go back to wrestling. It was always, ‘I’m ready if anyone calls me,’ but I wasn’t knocking on doors, so it was cool for them [to call me]. IMPACT has always been my home.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

New Japan Pro Wrestling reportedly generated a paid attendance of 1,135 for Night 1 of The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021 event on February 10th and 2,007 for Night 2 of The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021 event on February 11th in Hiroshima, Japan, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Pro Wrestling NOAH announced that Masao Inoue recently tested positive for COVID-19.

This past Wednesday’s episode of MLW Fusion featured Lio Rush defeating Laradeo Kid to become the new AAA World Cruiserweight Champion.

Major League Wrestling announced two new matches for the card of their March 3rd episode of MLW Fusion:

• MLW World Heavyweight Championship – Jordan Oliver vs. Jacob Fatu (c)
• MLW World Tag Team Championship – Simon Gotch & Daivari vs. Los Parks (LA Park & El Hijo de LA Park) (c)