Various: KAIRI Contracted COVID, Will Ospreay on Nearly Dying from Kidney Infection, Sylvester Stallone

KAIRI Contracted COVID-19, Pulled from Stardom’s PPV Event This Sunday

Stardom announced that KAIRI, former Kairi Sane in WWE, recently tested positive for COVID-19 and has been pulled from the card of their Stardom x Stardom pay-per-view event this Sunday as a result. It was also announced that Himeka will be replacing KAIRI for her scheduled match against Saya Kamitani for the Wonder of Stardom Championship at the event.

Following the announcement, KAIRI provided a health update on Twitter stating that she recently fell ill with a high fever and took a COVID-19 test, which revealed that she had contracted the coronavirus.

“This time, when I had a high fever of 39 degrees, I was tested and was diagnosed as positive for the new coronavirus.

So far, the chase for the title match on August 21st. Intensive training, condition adjustment, meal management, etc. I have prepared meticulously. Infected vs I was very careful about the measures as much as possible. I am shocked and full of regret. We apologize for the great concern and inconvenience for all concerned. I apologize from the bottom of my heart. And [for the fans], who were looking forward to the match, dear fans, I’m so sorry. Now, as soon as possible, I will deliver a healthy figure to everyone while keeping in touch with the public health center so that I would concentrate on recuperating at home. Please take care of yourself.”

English translation via Fightful.com

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Will Ospreay Comments on Nearly Dying Earlier This Year From a Kidney Infection

As noted before, Will Ospreay suffered a kidney infection this May and was out of action for New Japan Pro Wrestling and several other promotions until early June.

Prior to this past Thursday’s NJPW G1 Climax 2022 Finals event, Ospreay revealed on Twitter that he had nearly died from his kidney infection earlier this year.

So it’s not really spoken about enough but May I nearly died.
My infection was that serious

Came back in 2 weeks.

3 months from that point, tomorrow I’m in the G1 Final on NJPW 50th Anniversary.

I wish I could hear your voices.
But I’ll fight with everything I’ve got.

— ᵂⁱˡˡ ᴼˢᵖʳᵉᵃʸ • ウィル・オスプレイ (@WillOspreay) August 17, 2022

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Sylvester Stallone Comments on His Love of Professional Wrestling & Comparisons with Action Films

Sports Illustrated held a recent interview with famous actor Sylvester Stallone. One of the topics discussed included Stallone revealing that he is a big fan of wrestling and the comparisons between wrestling and action films in regards to suspending disbelief as a viewer.

“I love wrestling. It’s all about getting swept up in the drama. There’s a passion for that world, big time. People like Bruno Sammartino, those are people that helped forge my personality and my outlook on life. Bruno, Gorgeous George, [bodybuilder/actor] Steve Reeves, [boxer] Rocky Marciano—especially Rocky Marciano. I love wrestling’s mythic qualities. I made my daughters watch wrestling—I wanted them to watch for the story.

I understand what goes into it. I hear people say it’s not real. Really? Gravity is real. Jumping off the top rope or having 300 pounds landing on you, that’s real. I feel the same way about action films. They’ve been submerged in sort of a dismissive sort of genre. Like, ‘Oh, it’s an action film.’ All I know is I’ve had maybe 31 operations due to action films, so I consider it very real. Wrestling, it has nothing to do with who’s scoring a touchdown. It’s entertainment. It’s not meant to be ‘The score is now 14–3.’ It’s a morality play, all about the drama. That’s what it’s all about.”