More on Tetsuya Naito Leaving NJPW & Wrestling Career Future
As noted before, Tetsuya Naito will be leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling after their Wrestling Dontaku 2025 Night 2 event on May 4th due to the two sides not being able to come to terms for a new contract.
Fightful Select reported that their sources within NJPW stated that they believe Naito could still make occasional appearances for the company in the future. Those spoken to reportedly also stated that these potential appearances will come down to money agreements.
Those spoken to familiar with Naito reportedly stated that they believe Naito might go to Pro Wrestling NOAH for the next destination for his career.
In regards to AEW, those spoken to reportedly stated that it would be a “surprise” if AEW officials offered any type of deal for Naito beyond some occasional appearances and when they would fit it in for potential plans for him.
Dark Side of the Rings Ratings – April 8th – Slightly Up
The April 8th episode of Dark Side of the Ring drew 106,000 viewers on VICE TV, up from the prior week’s 104,000 viewers.
It drew a 0.02 rating in the 18-49 key demographic.
That week’s episode episode focused on Big Van Vader (Leon White).
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Misc. Wrestling News & Notes
Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that Tyler Bate, Scarlett, Shotzi, Candice LeRae, Roxanne Perez, Tyson Kidd, Nia Jax, Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan, Braun Strowman, Bayley, Cora Jade, Gunther, Willow Nightingale, and Lexis King were among those in attendance backstage at Thursday’s Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIII event for Game Changer Wrestling in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was reported that several key WWE officials were also in attendance keeping an eye on how the company’s talent performed in the unique Bloodsport setting.
Thursday’s Unbreakable 2025 event for TNA Wrestling in Las Vegas, Nevada featured Matt Hardy issuing an invitation to The Nemeths (Ryan & Nic Nemeth) to The Hardy Compound for a future match.
Thursday’s Nothing To Lose event for Prestige Wrestling in Las Vegas, Nevada featured The IInspration’s Jessica McKay and Cassie Lee teaming up together in a match for the first time since April of 2022. The IInspiration defeated Kylie Rae and Nicole Matthews in a tag team match at the event.
New Japan Pro Wrestling and DDT Pro Wrestling held a joint press conference on Thursday in Japan. It was announced that they will be holding a special co-promoted event on June 9th. It was also announced that this upcoming event will only feature one match between Toru Yano and Super Sasadango Machine and will air live on both New Japan World and Wrestle Universe.
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling announced that they have recently signed an expanded partnership deal with TrillerTV for the airing of their upcoming events on the service.
Maple Leaf Pro also recently announced that El Reverso, Brent Banks, Sheldon Jean, and Rohan Raja are the next official competitors for the 20-Man Gauntlet match at their Northern Rising event on May 10th in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
In a recent interview with the Bill Simmons Podcast, WWE President Nick Khan stated that TKO Group is currently planning to make an announcement regarding the card for their new boxing promotion’s inaugural event within the next four to six weeks. Khan stated “If we’re mid-April now, I’d look for a big announcement on that for the next 4 to 6 weeks as to what our first card is gonna be and who’s gonna be on that card.” (Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com)
In a recent interview with Fightful, David Finlay gave his thoughts about his working relationship with Gabe Kidd in NJPW and if Kidd is as crazy of a person in real life as his character in wrestling. Finlay stated “Oh my goodness. It is fun watching just like average random people just experience him. He is always on. He’s actually a crazy person, like a for real crazy person. Gabe is authentically Gabe, which it makes him a huge reason of why he is the star that he is. But it’s also just funny seeing him in real life settings just being Gabe. I love him to death. He’s my brother. He actually wants to fight everybody though. Like he actually wants to like, he’s got a long list of people that probably just shouldn’t run into Gabe.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)
In a recent interview with PWInsider, Joey Janela gave his thoughts about Sabu’s upcoming retirement match against him at this Friday’s GCW Joey Janela’s Spring Break 9 event in Las Vegas. Janela stated “I think anybody who cared about professional wrestling in the mid-1990s was enamored in some way by Sabu. He doesn’t get his flowers. He never made the money he deserved. I don’t think the current generation really understands how much of what happens in wrestling today is built on what he created.“
AEW All In Texas Media Scrum: Lawsuit Against Jon Moxley & AEW, Tony Khan Says Only He Has Real Creative Control in AEW, AEW Unified Title to Carry Lineage of International & Continental Titles, Britt Baker AEW Status Update, Live Gate Nearing $3 Million- Backstage Update on AEW’s Current Plans for Match Card Size for All In Texas
Various: WWE NXT’s Fatal Influence & DarkState Make Surprise Appearances on 7/3 TNA Impact! Show, Tony Khan Provides Update on Potential Rebranding of ROH Into AEW: ROH, Indies/Misc.
