Various: Clark Connors NJPW Contract Expired, Alex Hammerstone vs. Josh Alexander & Knockouts Ultimate X Update for TNA Hard To Kill 2024, Indies

Indie / Misc
Jan 4, 2024

Clark Connors NJPW Contract Reportedly Recently Expired

Clark Connors contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling reportdly recently expired, according to Fightful Select.

Sean Ross Sapp reported that his sources stated that Connors contract with NJPW had expired while he was still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion and was working without one this past week in the lead-up to Thursday’s Wrestle Kingdom 18 event.

Sapp reported that Connors and NJPW officials have been in active talks for a potential new contract but its currently not known if they have reached a new deal or not this week.

Alex Hammerstone vs. Josh Alexander Match & Jody Threat and Tasha Steelz for Knockouts Ultimate X Match Announced for TNA Hard To Kill 2024

Impact/TNA Wrestling recently annoucned one new match for the card of their TNA Hard To Kill 2024 event on January 13th in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This new match announced is a singles match of Alex Hammerstone vs. Josh Alexander.

Impact/TNA also announced that Jody Threat and Tasha Steelz are the next two official competitors for the Knockouts Ultimate X match at their TNA Hard To Kill 2024 event.

Updated card for TNA Hard To Kill 2024:

  • TNA World Championship – Moose vs. Alex Shelley (c)
  • TNA Knockouts World Championship – Jordynne Grace vs. Trinity (c)
  • TNA X-Division Championship – KUSHIDA vs. El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Chris Sabin (c)
  • TNA World Tag Team Championship Four-way match – The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel) vs. Speedball Mountain (“Speedball” Mike Bailey & Trent Seven) vs. Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) vs. ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) (c)
  • Knockouts Ultimate X match – Gisele Shaw vs. Xia Brookside vs. Jody Threat vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Jody Threat vs. Tasha Steelz
  • PCO vs. Dirty Dango
  • Alex Hammerstone vs. Josh Alexander
  • Pre-show: Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin
  • Pre-show: TNA Digital Media Championship – Crazzy Steve vs. Tommy Dreamer (c)
  • Pre-show: Eric Young & Frankie Kazarian vs. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards.

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Thursday’s Wrestle Kingdom 18 event for New Japan Pro Wrestling at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan featured seven championships changing hands. These were Catch 2/2 defeating Bullet Club War Dogs to become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, Hiroshi Tanahashi defeating Zack Sabre Jr. to become the new NJPW World Television Champion, Tama Tonga defeating Shingo Takagi to become the new NEVER Openweight Champion, Guerillas of Destiny defeating Bishamon to become the new IWGP Tag Team Champions, El Desperado defeating Hiromu Takahashi to become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, David Finlay defeating Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley to become the inaugural IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion, and Tetsuya Naito defeating SANADA to become the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

Thursday’s NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 event in Tokyo also featured former NJPW wrestler Takashi Iizuka and Michinoku Pro Wrestling talent Fujita Hayato making surprise appearances. Both Iizuka and Hayato competed in the pre-show New Japan Rambo match at the event.

Thursday’s Ittenyeon Stardom Gate 2024 for Stardom in Tokyo, Japan featured Giulia announcing that she has officially disbanding her Donna del Mondo faction.

Stardom reportedly will be holding an event in the United States called Stardom American Dream on April 4th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to sports reporter William Gardner.

As noted before, indie wrestler and former Major League Wrestling talent Teddy Hart was arrested this past July over a speeding incident resulting in him being charged for with possession of MDMA and possession of a controlled substance without prescription. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that Hart is currently scheduled to attend a mandatory court hearing on January 11th Titusville, Florida based on recent court records. Johnson reported that this scheduled court hearing is listed as an “Early Resolution” type hearing which under Florida law involves defendants being offered a plea deal to prevent them from going on felony trial.

As noted before, former WWE NXT and Impact Wrestling talent Kimber Lee was arrested this past May following a DUI incident involving the assault of a police officer in Serbing, Florida. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that Lee is currently scheduled to attend a court hearing on February 6th before the Highlands County Court based on recent court records.

House of Glory recently announced that Mustafa Ali will be making his official debut for the company at their Reckoning 2024 event on March 2nd in Jamaica, New York.

A recent episode of FOX’s The Floor reality competition series featured Major League Wrestling talent Salina De La Renta as one of the official competitors.

In a recent interview with Fightful’s In The Weeds podcast, Richard Holliday gave his thoughts about his return to MLW this past December. Holliday stated “It was well documented that when it was announced that I was done with MLW, that leaving was completely amicable; the door was 100% wide open, so if a door is open, why not walk through it? The timing was right. Everything seemed to make sense. The World Titan Federation needed somebody who could takedown Alex Kane, and I was the perfect person to do it. So, on the 6th of January at Kings of Colosseum, you guys are interviewing the future MLW World Heavyweight Champion. In just a few days, I’ll have that gold around my waist and carry the banner of the WTF along with it.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

Andrade El Idolo recently reflected on Instagram about his recent return to Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. Andrade stated “How great it feels to go back to the places where you started in the business and face past rivals and peers and realize and face new talent. Always grateful to the fans and to all the fans for shouting the name of LA SOMBRA, ANDRADE, & EL ÍDOLO. Thank you Mexico. VIVA MEXICO CABRONES.“

DDT Pro Wrestling recently announced one new match for the card of their March 17th event in Tokyo, Japan:

  • Konosuke Takeshita vs. Yuma Aoyagi
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