Various: Kazuchika Okada Vacates Never Openweight 6-Man Tag Title, Ice Train Passes Away, AAA Triplemania XXXII Dates Set

Kazuchika Okada Vacates Never Openweight 6-Man Tag Title at Wednesday’s NJPW Show

Wednesday’s Road to The New Beginning 2024 event in Tokyo, Japan featured Kazuchika Okada’s final match of his current career in New Japan Pro Wrestling at the Korakuen Hall.

During the main event, Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, and Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated TMDK (Kosei Fujita, Mikey Nicholls, & Shane Haste) to retain their NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship.

Following the match, Okada gave a speech to the crowd stating that he is vacating his belt and thanked NJPW’s wrestlers, staff, and fans for his time in the company.

“I don’t want to cry. I’ve cried enough already. But thank you for all your support for 17 years.

Ishii put this belt on me, but today I vacate it. But this is the only team belt I’ve ever held in my career and I’m so thankful to Tanahashi and Ishii. This is the last match of my contract but I have three matches to go in Osaka and Sapporo. This isn’t the end, this isn’t goodbye and you still have the main event. Enjoy it.

Thank you to NJPW wrestlers, staff and fans. I promise we will meet again, and I hope you’ll support the Rainmaker.”

Okada: Ishii put this belt on me, but today I vacate it. But this is the only team belt I've ever held in my career and I'm so thankful to Tanahashi and Ishii.

This is the last match of my contract but I have three matches to go in Osaka and Sapporo. This isn't the end, this…

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) January 24, 2024

It is currently not known if Ishii and Tanahashi will also be vacating their NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team titles or if a replacement will be announced for Okada’s spot on the team.

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Ice Train Passes Away at the Age of 56

Former WCW wrestler Ice Train, real name Harold Hogue, passed away at the age of 56 on Tuesday.

Hogue’s passing was first announced by Diamond Dallas Page on Facebook.

“It was so Sad to hear, that one of my closest brothers is gone. Harold Houge aka H aka Ice Train aka Smooth was a warrior and one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. Our 30 year relationship was filled with laughter & brotherhood. We were always there for each other. Our families are one family. One of my fondest memories was the Christmas the two of us headed into the inner city to help many of the less fortunate families have a better Christmas. As you can see we got on our favorite Christmas outfits and headed out to spread some cheer. I’ve also included one my favorite pictures of H & my mom Sylvia at Payge’s & my wedding. I will put up a tribute video up later next week. I just don’t have the strength to do it yet.

RIP my brother!

You will be missed but never forgotten!

Much Love & Respect

DDP 

No other details regarding the cause of death was given.

Hogue’s wrestling career spanned from 1990 to 2001 and worked for Catch Wrestling Association and WCW. Hogue was most known for his second stint in WCW under the ring name of Ice Train and as one half of the Fire & Ice tag team with Scott Norton in 1996. Hogue also wrestled under the ring name of M.L. Smooth during his third and final stint in WCW in 2000 as a member of the villainous New Blood stable.

Hogue’s notable career accolades and achievements included being the winner of the 1995 Catch Cup tournament for CWA.

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AAA Announces Dates for Triplemania XXXII

Lucha Libre AAA recently officially announced the dates for this year’s Triplemania event, Triplemania XXXII.

Similar to recent Triplemanias, it was also announced that this year’s event will be three shows in total and taking place in multiple cities in Mexico.

Full schedule for AAA Triplemania XXXII:

• Triplemania XXXII: Monterrey – April 27th at the Estadio Mobil Super in Monterrey
• Triplemania XXXII: Tijuana – June 15th at the Estadio Chevron in Tijuana
• Triplemania XXXII: Mexico City – August 17th at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City

El camino de #TriplemaniaXXXII comienza el 27 DE ABRIL en el Estadio de los @SultanesOficial.

Continuará el 15 DE JUNIO en el Estadio de los @TorosDeTijuana.

Y el cierre del capitulo será el 17 DE AGOSTO en @ArenaCdMexico.

🎟️ Boletos YA A LA VENTA. 😎 pic.twitter.com/WzwcOZgZhZ

— Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (@luchalibreaaa) January 23, 2024