Various: Mustafa Ali on TNA X-Division Title Victory, Hiroshi Tanahashi Suffered Ankle Injury, Season 5 Premiere Episode Revealed for Dark Side of the Ring

Mustafa Ali Comments on Winning TNA X-Division Title at TNA No Surrender 2024

Friday’s No Surrender 2024 event for TNA Wrestling in Westwego, Louisiana featured Mustafa Ali defeating Chris Sabin to be crowned the new TNA X-Division Champion. This victory was notable for being Ali’s official in-ring debut match for TNA and his first championship victory since 2016.

Following the show, Ali gave a speech to the live crowd reflecting on his title victory.

“This is my first major championship in 20 years. I mean this, whether you love me or hate me, whether you support the campaign or wish for my demise, it has been a pleasure and an honor to compete inside a TNA ring. I have been all over the world. I have wrestled the very best, the very best wrestlers in the world, and by far, that locker room right there, that show tonight in front of all of you, is by far the best locker room I have ever seen. Thank you, good night, and remember, that in Ali, we trust.”

EXCLUSIVE: "This is my first major championship in 20 years." @MustafaAli_X addresses the crowd after capturing the X-Division Title at #NoSurrender. pic.twitter.com/UWt0eYpY90

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) February 24, 2024

Transcript h/t: Fightfiul.com

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Hiroshi Tanahashi Pulled from Sat’s
NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo 2024 Night 2 Event Over Ankle Injury

Prior to the start of Saturday’s The New Beginning in Sapporo 2024 Night 2 event in Sapporo, Japan, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced that they had pulled Hiroshi Tananashi from the event due to him suffering an ankle injury during his match against Matt Riddle at Friday’s Night 1 event.

Official press release:

Hiroshi Tanahashi injured; to miss New Beginning in Sapporo day 2

Thank you for supporting New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, who was scheduled to wrestle on today’s card in Sapporo, has sustained an injury to his right ankle and will be unable to compete.

We apologise to fans who were looking forward to seeing Tanahashi wrestle, and appreciate your understanding.

The following change has been made to tonight’s card:

Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii vs Callum Newman, Jeff Cobb, Matt Riddle, Great-O-Khan & Francesco Akira–>

Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii vs Callum Newman, Jeff Cobb, Matt Riddle, Great-O-Khan & Francesco Akira

Despite not being medically cleared to compete, Tanahashi was still involved in an angle at the event over Nic Nemeth issuing a challenge to Tanahashi for a future match between the two for Nemeth’s IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. Tanahashi, who was sitting at the Japanese commentary table at ringside, accepted Nemeth’s challenge.

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Season Five Premiere Episode Revealed for Dark Side of the Ring

VICE recently announced that the premiere episode for Season Five of their Dark Side of the Ring series on March 5th will be focusing on the life and wrestling career of John Tenta, also known as Earthquake in WWE and The Shark in WCW.

Season 5 will kick-off with John “Earthquake” Tenta’s story.

A larger-than-life heel in the ring and a die hard family man at home, Tenta’s passing at just 42 years old was an especially cruel ending for a man so universally beloved.

Tuesday, March 5 at 10pm ET on @vicetv. pic.twitter.com/WqBAqYtORZ

— Dark Side of the Ring (@DarkSideOfRing) February 23, 2024