Various: Bloodsport Bushido Event Announced for This June in Japan, Matt Riddle on Talks for Potential TNA Deal, Indies

Feb 14, 2024

Josh Barnett & Minoru Suzuki Announces Bloodsport Bushido Event for This June in Japan

Josh Barnett and Minoru Suzuki announced in a press conference earlier today in Japan that they have partnered together for a new co-promoted Bloodsport event called Bloodsports Bushido.

It was announced that this upcoming event will be taking place on June 22nd at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

Barnett stated of this new co-promoted Bloodsport event:

“At Bloodsport, we want to express the purest part of wrestling. There are various shows in professional wrestling, and flashy performances are held all over the world, but there are so many different things out there. , athletes sometimes get lost. I want to express what I’ve learned from so many legends like Antonio Inoki, Karl Gotch, and Matt Hume. I do both combat sports and professional wrestling, but when I’m wrestling…I once thought, ‘There’s something missing.” I want to bring that spirit and heart back to professional wrestling, and I want to create a place like that.'”

Suzuki responded stating:

“Actually, I’ve been participating in Bloodsport since the first tournament.Well, all I can say is that it’s just a normal match.It doesn’t matter if there are special rules or where it is. “Whether it’s on a moving train, in a field, in a ring with barbed wire, or anywhere else, it’s just one match for me,” he says nonchalantly. I don’t know if I’ll bring it with me? (lol) I use everything that’s there. That’s my style.”

6/22に嵐がやって来ます https://t.co/1mbOnzUder pic.twitter.com/29TaLkCavk
— 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 (@JoshLBarnett) February 14, 2024

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com

Matt Riddle Comments on Holding Talks with TNA for Potential Deal

A recent episode of the Sunday Night’s Main Event podcast featured former WWE talent Matt Riddle as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Riddle’s thoughts about his current plans for the future of his wrestling career and revealed that he has been in recent talks with TNA Wrestling for a potential deal.

“When I got done with WWE, it’s kind of stressful working on TV all the time, especially with the travel. The money is awesome, it’s definitely worth it, and the experience. Now, I want to take a break from TV. After the 90 days and during the 90 days, I’m setting some dates up. I talked to some places. I’ve talked to TNA, I’ve worked with New Japan and MLW. You do film for TV, but it’s not the same as Monday Night Raw, three hours live, anything can happen, people are changing the script. You have ten minutes for your match, now you have five minutes. It’s extremely stressful. I like the pressure, but at the same time, I kind of wanted a little break from all that. I’m choosing places more pay-per-view based where I don’t have to worry about going to commercial so we can get that Fritos advertisement.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

This past Sunday’s Jersey J-Cup 2024 Night 2 event for Game Changer Wrestling & Jersey Championship Wrestling in Jersey City, New Jersey featured Masha Slamovich defeating Jordan Oliver in the Finals of this year’s Jersey J-Cup tournament and also won the JCW World Championship in the process.

House of Glory recently announced that they will be holding a new event on May 25th in Boston, Massachusetts. It was also announced that this will be their debut event in the city.

As noted before, Major League Wrestling talent Davey Boy Smith Jr. underwent emergency surgery this past October for appendicitis and appendix removal, which also led to him being diagnosed with diverticulitis and having part of his colon removed. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that Smith Jr. recently fully recovered and is currently expected to work in MLW on a regular basis going forward.

MLW recently announced two new matches for the card of their Intimidation Games 2024 event on February 29th in New York City, New York:

Alex Kayne vs. Bobby Fish
Star Jr. vs. Magnus

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that Eric Young will be hosting the second season of AXS TV’s Vinyl Obsession series as part of Anthem’s current integration plans for TNA Wrestling talent on AXS TV programming. Johnson reported that Young, Frankie Kazarian, and Josh Alexander will also be making appearances for AXS TV’s Top 10 Revealed and The Very Best of the 80s series as well.

TNA recently announced two new matches for the card of their No Surrender 2024 event on February 23rd in Westwego, Louisiana:

PCO vs. Kon
TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship – MK Ultra (Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelley) vs. Decay (Havok & Rosemary) (c)

New Japan Pro Wrestling recently announced one new match for the card of their Windy City Riot 2024 event on April 12th in Chicago, Illinois:

Eight-Man Tag Team Riot Rules match – Eddie Kingston & three mystery partners vs. Gabe Kidd & three mystery partners

NJPW also recently announced one new match for the card of their 52nd Anniversary Show on March 6th in Tokyo, Japan:

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship & IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, Non-title Champion vs. Champion match – Winner of SANADA/Tetsuya Naito (IWGP World) vs. Winner of SHO/El Desperado (IWGP Jr.)

NJPW also recently announced one new match for the card of their NJPW x CMLL Fantasticamania 2024 event on February 17th in Chiba, Japan:

Las Chicas Indomables (La Jarochita & Lluvia) vs. Oedo Tai (Starlight Kid & Ruaka)

Joey Janela recently announced two new matches for the card of GCW’s Joey Janela Spring Break 8 event on April 5th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

The East West Express (Jordan Oliver & Nick Wayne) & “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Rock ‘N’ Roll Express (Robert Gibson & Ricky Morton) & Kerry Morton
Gringo Loco vs. Volador Jr.