Various: Hiroshi Tanahashi Confirms He’ll Transition Into Full-Time Office Role After Retirement Match, Matt Hardy on Full Metal Mayhem Could Be Last TLC Style Match for The Hardys, Indies

Oct 23, 2024

Hiroshi Tanahashi Confirms He Will Transition Into Full-Time Office Role After His In-Ring Retirement Match in January 2026

As noted before, New Japan Pro Wrestling talent Hiroshi Tanahashi announced earlier this month that he will be retiring from his in-ring wrestling career at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 20 event in January 4, 2026.

NJPW held a press conference on Tuesday in Japan featuring NJPW President and wrestler Tanahashi. One of the topics discussed included Tanahashi confirming that he will be transitioning into a full-time office role after his in-ring retirement match at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 20 event in January 4, 2026.

“This time I have left as a wrestler and executive will give me a lot of valuable experience so I can transition into full-time office life with confidence. The people we have now are definitely more than capable to bring NJPW into its best era ever, and I have no concerns whatsoever.”

Transcript h/t: NJPW Global

Matt Hardy Comments on Upcoming Full Metal Mayhem Match at TNA Bound For Glory 2024 Could be Last TLC Style Match for The Hardys

A recent episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast featured co-host Matt Hardy giving his thoughts about The Hardys upcoming Full Metal Mayhem match for the TNA World Tag Team Championship at TNA’s Bound For Glory 2024 event this weekend.

“This is definitely in mine and Brother Nero’s wheelhouse, so we’re very excited for this matchup.”

Hardy also gave his thoughts about the potential of this upcoming match being the last TLC-style match that The Hardys compete in.

“It very well could be, I don’t know. This might be the last TLC/Full Metal Mayhem match that our old vessels can withstand. You think about that as you get a little bit older and deeper into your career, there’s a lot less ahead of you than there is behind you, you think about that. How many more of these do I have left? This might be our last true Full Metal Mayhem match. We’re gonna go out there and give it all we got. Jeff’s been kicking ass when it comes to training, I’ve been kicking ass when it comes to training. I can’t stress how important it is that this last run in TNA, and especially having a great run as TNA tag team champions and really cementing our legacy as one of the best to ever do this, I can’t stress how paramount it is to both of us.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

As noted before, WWE parent company TKO Group reached a settlement deal for an anti-trust lawsuit against UFC this past March for the amount of $335 million that was later rejected by judge Richard Boulware over him feeling that the settlement amount should be higher for Cung Le and Kajan lawsuits. In response, TKO announced earlier this month that had reached a revised settlement deal of $375 million for Le’s lawsuit. Post Wrestling’s John Pollock reported that the judge issued a preliminary approval ruling on Tuesday for the new revised settlement deal for Le’s case against UFC.

Prestige Wrestling recently announced that their next Roseland event, Roseland X, will be taking place on January 11, 2025 in Portland, Oregon.

Major League Wrestling reportedly recently signed Ikuro Kwon to a new official contract with the company, according to Fightful Select.

New Japan Pro Wrestling held a press conference on Tuesday in Japan featuring EVIL issuing an official challenge to Hiroshi Tanahashi for a match at next year’s Wrestle Kingdom 19 event at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo.

NJPW recently announced three new matches for the card of their Fighting Spirit 2024 event on November 8th in Lowell, Massachusetts:

NJPW Strong Women’s Championship #1 Contender Four-way match – Anna Jay vs. Hazuki vs. Koguma vs. Trish Adora
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship – Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) (c)
Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match – The West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs) vs. Dirty Work (Fred Rosser & “Filthy” Tom Lawlor)

Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling recently announced one new match for the card of their November 22nd event in Tokyo, Japan:

TJPW International Princess Championship – Shazza McKenzie bs. Yuki Arai (c)

Game Changer Wrestling recently announced one new match for the card of their Gateway To Death event on November 15th in St. Louis, Missouri:

Masha Slamovich vs. Gary Jay

Josh Barnett recently announced one new match for the card of GCW’s Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XII event on November 24th in Jersey City, New Jersey:

Josh Barnett vs. MVP

Pro Wrestling Revolver recently announced one new match for the card of their Revolver Season Finale 2024 event on December 7th in Clive, Iowa:

Revolver World Championship match – Matt Cardona vs. Ace Austin (c)

Deadlock Pro Wrestling recently announced one new match for the card of their World’s Strongest 2024 event on November 17th in Jersey City, New Jersey:

DPW National Championship – KUSHIDA vs. Adam Priest (c)