Various: Nick Aldis on His Free Agency & Interest in AEW or WWE, Kazuchika Okada on Career Future, Indies

Jan 5, 2023

Nick Aldis Comments on His Free Agency Status & Interest in Potential AEW or WWE Careers

As noted before, Nick Aldis’ contract with the National Wrestling Alliance officially expired this past Sunday. Prior to his departure, Aldis had asked for his release from the NWA due to his backstage issues with NWA owner Billy Corgan over the direction of the company.

A recent episode of the Universal Wrestling Podcast had Aldis as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Aldis’ thoughts on him currently being a free agent.

“I’m happy to be a free agent. I’ve got lots of exciting stuff on the books for 2023 independently, you know, several shots in the UK, Australia, and Canada; I’m going back to Calgary next month for the Harts, which is exciting for me, and lots of other stuff on the horizon. What I’m very excited about is just the ability to, instead of thinking, ‘Man, if this was me, this is what I would do.’ To go, ‘No, let’s do it.’ Ideas you might have or concepts you want to flesh out and do. I have enough contacts now and feel willing to take the risk financially to try a couple of things and see what happens.”

Aldis also gave his thoughts about a recent conversation he had with Sting and if he would be satisfied with his career if he ended up never working for AEW or WWE.

“I’ve been overwhelmed at the number of legends, really big names in our business; names, certainly much, much bigger than mine, who have gone out of their way to say on their respective podcasts or in interviews and stuff to say nice things about me. Guys like Mick Foley, Ric Flair, DDP. You know, Stinger privately, but I think, you know, anyone who watched TNA knows that Sting was always kind of in my corner. Dutch Mantell, Teddy Long, the list goes on and on, people who I was just blown away at how they were all saying, like, ‘Yeah, that guy’s gonna be fine.’ Even Ric, going as far as to say, ‘Well, you know, either one of those two companies needs to get him, and whichever one does is lucky to have him.’
I don’t feel I don’t think that way. I want to make that point. I’m not sitting here going, ‘Hey, man, you know, it’s just a matter of time, brother.’ I’m very open to the idea it might not happen, but I’m just that’s not what any of that was about. It was about, like I said, it was about me just moving on and starting a new chapter, but I will say it’s meant a hell of a lot to me; all these huge-name guys have come out and endorsed me like that. That means a hell of a lot.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Kazuchika Okada Comments on His Career Future in NJPW & Interest in Working for Other Promotions

Prior to Wednesday’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 event in Tokyo, Japan, New Japan Pro Wrestling’s official website held a recent interview with Kazuchika Okada. One of the topics discussed included Okada’s thoughts on the future of his career in NJPW and if he is interested in working for other promotions.

“Not really, no [I haven’t been keeping an eye on other NJPW wrestlers in other promotions]. I think that NJPW is the gold standard, so I think what we want is for other wrestlers from outside to come here and see what it’s like to compete against the best. When you look down the line, NJPW wrestlers are being called to these other places, because we are the best, so we have to prove to the world that we are still number one by having the reverse happen. The only thing I will say is that you won’t see me go elsewhere for a long period — I’ll always be representing New Japan.”

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Indie wrestler Manny Lemons became the newest member of an exclusive club of wrestlers who have appeared on two different televised wrestling shows on the same night. Lemons became the sixth person to achieve this following his appearances at this past Monday’s WWE RAW and AEW Dark Elevation shows. Lemons played the role of a security guard on RAW and competed in a tag team match with Atiba against Isiah Kassidy & Matt Hardy on Dark Elevation.

DDT Pro Wrestling’s Hatsuyume 2023 event this past Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan feature a surprise appearance by indie wrestler Samuray Del Sol, former Kalisto in WWE. Prior to his surprise announcement, Del Sol had been previously announced to be making his official debut for the company at their Judgement 2023 event on March 21st in Tokyo.

The National Wrestling Alliance recently announced that their weekly Powerrr series will no longer be airing on FITE TV and instead will be returning to their official YouTube channel starting with this past Tuesday’s show. It was also announced that their NWA All Access subscription service on FITE has been cancelled and refunds will be issued. It was also announced that their pay-per-view events will still be airing live on FITE.

Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling recently announced that they will be holding an event called TJPW Live in Los Angeles on March 31st in Los Angeles, California. WrestleCon recently announced that this upcoming event will be part of their WrestleCon festivities in the city during WrestleMania 39 week.

New Japan Pro Wrestling recently announced that they will be holding this year’s Capital Collision event will be taking place on April 15th in Washington, DC. It was also announced that this year’s Collision in Philadelphia has been upgraded from NJPW Strong tapings to a full pay-per-view event and will be taking place on April 16th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

NJPW also recently announced an official attendance of 26,085 for their Wrestle Kingdom 17 event on Wednesday at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. WrestleTix reported on Twitter that this was the same number of tickets that had been distributed for the event.

NJPW also recently announced a new match for the card of their Battle in the Valley 2023 event on February 18th in San Jose, California:

IWGP Women’s Championship – Mercedes Mone (former Sasha Banks) vs. KAIRI (c)

Impact Wrestling announced that ticket sales for their upcoming Hard To Kill 2023 event on January 13th in Atlanta, Georgia has recently reached sold out status. It was also announced that tickets for their Hard To Kill Fallout Impact television tapings on January 14th are still available for sale.

Impact also recently announced a new match for the card of their Hard To Kill 2023 event on January 13th in Atlanta:

Impact Digital Media Championship – Moose vs. Joe Hendry (c)