Various: Zachary Wentz on Impact Return, Josh Barnett on WWE’s NXT Underground, Takami Ohbari

Zachary Wentz Comments on His Recent Return to Impact

Denise Salcedo held a recent interview with Zachary Wentz. One of the topics discussed included Wentz’s thoughts on his recent return to Impact Wrestling.

“It feels great. I’m so excited to be back. Especially being back on TV and being with my best friend, ecstatic.

Honestly, just staying busy and hustling, and people seeing that myself and Trey were doing a lot of indie dates, and Myron as well. They were just like, ‘Yeah, we need The Rascalz back.’

It means everything. It means so much to me. There was a point where I didn’t know if I was gonna be able to wrestle again. But just having this again, I don’t take anything for granted. I love every bit of this, and I love IMPACT Wrestling. It’s like going back your family. It definitely feels different, but I don’t know. You gotta stay true to yourself the whole time, while you’re going through stuff, and that’s what I did. I just knew where I wanted to be, and I manifested that, and it happened.”

In a separate interview with the Paltrocast with Darren Paltrowitz podcast, Wentz gave his thoughts on when he knew he would be making his return to Impact.

“Honestly, not that long of a time (did I have to keep my return to IMPACT a secret). Everything was kind of very rushed. Maybe a month? Yeah, a month, yeah.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com, PostWrestling.com

---

Josh Barnett Comments on WWE’s NXT Underground Match

This past Tuesday’s WWE NXT show featured a NXT Underground match between Eddy Thorpe and Damon Kemp, which was won by Thorpe. This match was WWE’s NXT brand’s take on the former RAW Underground match type concept. Both the NXT Underground and RAW Underground match concepts were inspired by Game Changer Wrestling’s Bloodsport series.

Current Bloodsport host and matchmaker Josh Barnett recently reflected on Twitter about WWE reviving their Underground match concept for their NXT brand.

Oh look, fake Bloodsport is back.

Thank you for showing the world that this kind of thing has legs (we knew that already) and that even with 10x the money and production there is still only one Josh Barnett’s: Bloodsport.#NXTUnderground #Bloodsport #NXT https://t.co/Ny0Tbcm2KM

— 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 (@JoshLBarnett) July 5, 2023

---

NJPW President Takami Ohbari Comments on Growth of NJPW Strong Following Japan Debut

New Japan Pro Wrestling held their NJPW Strong Independence Day events this past Tuesday and Wednesday in Japan. These events were notable for being the first time ever that NJPW Strong brand events were held in Japan.

NJPW President Takami Ohbari recently reflected on Twitter about the growth of the company’s NJPW Strong brand following the brand’s first ever events in Japan.

“When we launched this brand, we dreamed of growing it in the US and one day holding a NJPW STRONG at packed Korakuen Hall.

Our dream came true.

This success is not only thanks to the fans who watched the show yesterday and today, but also to the fans in the US and all over the world who have supported NJPW STRONG until today.

We will pursue the next dream.

#njpwSTRONG

When we launched this brand, we dreamed of growing it in the US and one day holding a NJPW STRONG at packed Korakuen Hall.

Our dream came true.

This success is not only thanks to the fans who watched the show yesterday and today, but also to the fans in the US and all over the… https://t.co/YAUojgFTxz

— 大張高己/Takami Ohbari (@TAKAMIOHBARI) July 5, 2023