Various: New Matches Set for NJPW Battle in the Valley 2025, Cody Rhodes & “Timeless” Toni Storm Tops Sports Illustrated’s Pro Wrestling 2024 Awards, Indies

Dec 25, 2024

Three New Matches & One Updated Match Announced for NJPW Battle in the Valley 2025 Event

New Japan Pro Wrestling recently announced three new matches and one updated match for the card of their Battle in the Valley 2025 event, which takes place on January 11, 2025 at the San Jose Civic in San Jose, California.

In regards to the new matches, the first new match announced was a singles match of Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hechicero.

The second new match announced was a NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship match of Roppongi ReVice (YOH & Rocky Romero) vs. West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs) (c).

The third new match announced was a tag team match of Matt Vandagriff & Fred Rosser vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito).

In regards to the new updated match, this was announced to be a Sumie Sakai Retirement Six-Person Tag Team match of Sumie Sakai & House of Torture (EVIL & SHO) vs. Hiromu Takahashi, Mayu Iwanatni, & Yuka Sakazaki.

Official for Battle in the Valley!

🦈The international rubber match!
Hechicero vs Zack Sabre Jr!

🦈HOUSE OF TORTURE crash Sumie Sakai's retirement match!

🦈#njpwSTRONG Tag titles!
Roppongi ReVice vs WCWC!https://t.co/LQ0ZnrIkxB

TIX; https://t.co/y4PeEAzsfr #njpw #njbitv pic.twitter.com/Yvmmj01O5a
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) December 25, 2024

Current card for NJPW Battle in the Valley 2025:

NJPW Strong Openweight Championship – Tomohiro Ishii vs. Gabe Kidd (c)
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship match – Roppongi ReVice (YOH & Rocky Romero) vs. West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs) (c)
Sumie Sakai Retirement Six-Person Tag Team match – Sumie Sakai & House of Torture (EVIL & SHO) vs. Hiromu Takahashi, Mayu Iwanatni, & Yuka Sakazaki
Matt Vandagriff & Fred Rosser vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito)
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hechicero

Cody Rhodes & “Timeless” Toni Storm Tops Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Pro Wrestling Awards

Sports Illustrated recently announced the full list of winner for their Pro Wrestling Awards for this year.

It was announced that Cody Rhodes took their top award for Male Wrestler of the Year and “Timeless” Toni Storm took their top award for Female Wrestler of the Year.

WWE took the most awards at eight, followed by AEW at two awards.

Full list of Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Pro Wrestling Awards winners:

Men’s Wrestler of the Year – Cody Rhodes
Women’s Wrestler of the Year – Toni Storm
Breakout Star of the Year – Jacob Fatu
Match of the Year – Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay (AEW Dynasty)
Show of the Year – WrestleMania XL
Story of the Year – The Bloodline saga
Rivalry of the Year – Drew McIntyre v CM Punk
Heel Turn of the Year – Xavier and Kofi turn on Big E
Best on Mic – Drew McIntyre
Tag Team of the Year – FRAXIOM (Nathan Frazer & Axiom)

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

As noted before, TNA Wrestling recently confirmed they had signed a new television deal with Sportsnet for their Sportsnet 360 network in Canada. The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported that WWE’s upcoming departure from Sportsnet and TNA’s new deal means that TNA will now have the strongest television exposure in Canada starting this January. Meltzer reported that the reason is due to Sportsnet is currently in more homes than TSN, home network of AEW’s Dynamite series, in the country.

TNA talent and “Director of Authority” Santino Marella recently reflected on Twitter about TNA’s new television deal with Sportsnet. Marella stated “Boom! This is huger than huge! And more importantly, I hope it serves as a precedent for what may come in the United States as well!“

Zachary Wentz recently asked actor and comedian Adam Sandler on Twitter about his interest in performing a couple of songs from his classic Wedding Singer film for his and WWE NXT talent Gigi Dolin’s upcoming wedding ceremony.

Brian Myers recently announced on Twitter that him and Eddie Edwards are currently accepting bookings for a limited number of indie events in 2025.

The Thesz Tragos Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Iowa recently announced that former WWE and AEW talent Jake Hager will be inducted into their Hall of Fame for their 2025 class.

The National Wrestling Alliance recently announced two new matches for the card of their NWA Shockwave event on January 11, 2025 in Forney, Texas: