Various: Will Ospreay on His Final NJPW Match, Zack Sabre Jr. on Bryan Danielson Rematch, Arrest Warrant Issued for Teddy Hart, Indies

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Feb 10, 2024

Will Ospreay Comments on His Upcoming Final Match of His NJPW Career

As noted before, Will Ospreay’s contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling is currently set to expire this month and had signed an official contract with AEW this past November after getting NJPW’s blessing to have talks with other promotions for a new contract. Ospreay’s contract with AEW was set to officially start following Ospreay finishing up his remaining commitments with NJPW, which ends at this Sunday’s The New Beginning in Osaka 2024 event in Osaka, Japan.

NJPW held a press conference event earlier today in Japan to promote Sunday’s The New Beginning in Osaka 2024 event featuring Ospreay as one of the guests. One of the topics discussed included Ospreay’s thoughts about his upcoming final match of his current career with NJPW.

“This has been the greatest eight years of my life. I cannot express to you all how thankful I am that I got to grow up in Japan. I am so thankful that I’ve got to become a man in front of all of you guys. I never thought that this day was ever going to come I could have sworn that I was going to be here for the rest of my life and I would have had no problem with that. As tradition would normally go, I would normally be in a single match or do something traditional, but I mean, let’s be real. Look at the five of us, there’s nothing traditional about us.
We were never meant to get to this position. We broke every single barrier that we physically could. Everyone said at first, ‘These guys don’t fit well together. What’s the look? What’s the image?’ Allow me to tell you what the image was. In 2020, when COVID hit and all of us, every single one of us, not just at this table but backstage, all we wanted was to hear your voices. I can’t tell you how many years that COVID era took off my life, man. All I wanted to hear were your voices. It’s funny, we’ve only heard your voices officially now since May 2023. We got your voices back but throughout [that time], we were your voice. When you needed the best professional wrestlers that New Japan has to offer, we stepped up and those posers back there benefited off of our backbreaking work. I refuse to let some five slobs that are trying to live up to the name Bullet Club try and take this night away from me.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Zack Sabre Jr. Comments on His Upcoming Rematch with Bryan Danielson

Tokyo Sports held a recent interview with Zack Sabre Jr. One of the topics discussed included Zack Sabre Jr.’s thoughts about his upcoming rematch against Bryan Danielson at this Sunday’s New Japan Pro Wrestling’s The New Beginning in Osaka 2024 event.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that it’s the most important match of my career to date. It’s the culmination of my life’s work since I was 14 years old. Losing this match means that my philosophy and life’s work have failed. This match is so important to me.
That’s why there’s only one outcome. I have to defeat Brian by submission. I have to listen to him give up and make him admit that I’m a better technical wrestler.”

English translation via Fightful.com

Teddy Hart’s Arrest for MDMA & Steroids in Florida Update – Warrant Issued for Hart’s Arrest

As noted before, 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 a bench warrant was recently issued for Hart’s arrest after he had failed to appear in court in Titusville, Florida this past Thursday. Johnson reported that this court date was listed as a mandatory appearance for “Early Resolution” which involves the offering of a plea deal to those arrested to prevent them from going to a felony trial.

Johnson reported that the court had also revolved Hart’s $2,000 bond as a result of his failure to appear at the hearing.

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Former WWF, WCW, and NWA wrestler Billy Jack Hayes, real name William Albert Haynes III, reportedly was arrested this past Thursday in Portland, Oregon, according to PWInsider and KOIN Channel 6. It was reported that Hayes was arrested at his home following a two hour standoff with police after gunshots were heard coming from his home. It was also reported that police found Hayes’ wife Janette Becraft dead at the home leading to Hayes being arrested for homicide. Mike Johnson reported that the official cause of death for Becraft was stated to be homicide by gunshot wound by the medical examiner based on their official report.

Friday’s From Freelance With Love event for Freelance Wrestling in Chicago, Illinois featured Danhausen making a surprise appearance for the company. During the event, Danhausen issued a challenge to Trevor Outlaw and Frank The Clown to a match at Freelance Wrestling’s event on March 7th in Chicago.

Friday’s Freelance Wrestling’s From Freelance With Love event in Chicago also featured Kylie Rae making her surprise return to the ring. During the event indie wrestler Isaias Velazquez issued an open challenge for a match which was answered by Rae, who is Velazquez’s wife. This was Rae’s first match since February of 2023.

As noted before, TNA Wrestling recently announced that this year’s Rebellion event will be taking place on April 20th at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported in Friday’s Daily Update that prior to his firing, Scott D’Amore had pushed for this upcoming event to take place at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, New York. D’Amore reportedly felt that it was too soon for the company to return to Las Vegas for another event following their Hard To Kill 2024 event this past January.

Wrestling toys manufacturer PowerTown Wrestling recently announced that the first series of their upcoming Ultra TNA Wrestling action figures will feature Moose, Jordynne Grace, Josh Alexander, and Eddie Edwards.

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 was not in attendance for her pre-trial hearing on February 7th due to her waiving her right to appear based on recent court records. Johnson reported that Lee is no longer being represented by a public defender and instead has hired an attorney to handle her case going forward. Lee reportedly has a new pre-trial hearing scheduled to take place on April 17th before the Highlands County Court in Florida.

Action Wrestling recently announced that Mustafa Ali will be making his official debut for the company at their April 26th event in Tyrone, Georgia.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that one indie promoter spoken to stated that the reason why many talents who were released from WWE this past September have seemingly disappeared from wrestling is due to similar issues with other ex-WWE talents who either were not interested in continuing their careers or were asking for too much money for indies appearances. Meltzer reported that of WWE’s recent wave of talent cuts, only Nic Nemeth, Matt Riddle, Dana Brooke (now known as Ash by Excellence), Mustafa Ali, Mansoor, Mace, and Riddick Moss have been announced for upcoming indie events or are currently working for other promotions. Meltzer reported that those who got into pro wrestling to be in WWE and later are released usually will disappear from wrestling or take indie bookings at a super high price hurting their chances for future work. Meltzer also reported that many ex-WWE talents would rather just wait for a phone call from WWE for a potential return than bother continue with their careers elsewhere.

Major League Wrestling announced one new match for the card of their Intimidation Games 2024 event on February 29th in New York City, New York: