Various: Shinsuke Nakamura on Not Making Any Promises Over Idea of Reuniting with Hiroshi Tanahashi Before He Retires, Joey Janela Working Through WrestleMania 41 Weekend with Ruptured Biceps Injury, Indies/Misc.

Feb 13, 2025

Shinsuke Nakamura Comments on Not Wanting to Make Any Promises Over Idea of Reuniting with Hiroshi Tanahashi Before He Retires

Tokyo Sports held a recent interview with Shinsuke Nakamura. One of the topics discussed included Nakamura’s thoughts about NJPW talent Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retiring from his in-ring wrestling career after next year’s Wrestle Kingdom 20 event.

“In today’s world of professional wrestling, retiring at 48 years old may be a little early, but we cannot measure the damage Tanahashi has endured, and he must also have responsibilities as president.”

Nakamura also gave his thoughts about him not wanting to make any promises over the idea of him potentially reuniting with Tanahashi one last time before Tanahashi retires.

“I don’t know, I don’t know. They say ‘never say never’. I hear people saying that, but when you think about the reality of it… You can say whatever you want about emotions, but you have to clear the reality. There are probably some things I shouldn’t say, and I can’t promise anything. I can’t take responsibility for that.”

Joey Janela Working Through WrestleMania 41 Weekend with Ruptured Biceps Injury

A recent episode of Fightful’s In The Weeds podcast featured Joey Janela as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Janela’s thoughts about his current plans to work through this April’s WrestleMania 41 Weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada despite him dealing with a ruptured biceps innury.

“I’m wrestling right now with a torn bicep, completely ruptured. Usually, surgery is required with a rupture as bad as mine, but with Spring Break coming up and WrestleMania weekend, I opted not to do the surgery. I wrestled Paul Walter Hauser, famous Hollywood actor, Golden Globe and Emmy winner, this past weekend in Seattle. We had a great match. Eight star match. I wrestled with a torn bicep and it was a rough one and a hard one to get through. Every bump I took, I felt it in my bicep. The bicep is halfway up the arm. It’s a shame because I was getting in such good shape. By the summer, I would have been in maybe the best physical condition I’ve ever been in. It’s completely torn. I’m going to fight through it. J-Cup without a torn bicep is a grueling tournament, it’s four rounds. First year, I made it to the third round. Last year, I made it to the second round. This year, I’m going all the way with a torn bicep.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

New Japan Pro Wrestling announced that they have recently signed a new television contract extension with Extreme Channel for the United Kingdom.

NJPW also announced that a recent charity auction held for El Desperado’s overmask he wore at this past November’s Historic X-Over II event raised $3,903.64 and this money has been donated to Chris Bey and El Phantasmo to help assist their medical costs.

Major League Wrestling announced that Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling talent Shoko Nakajima will be making her official debut appearance for the company at their Battle Riot VII event on April 5th in Los Angeles, California.

Game Changer Wrestling recently announced the full bracket for this year’s Jersey J-Cup tournament on February 15-16 in Jersey City, New Jersey.

This past Tuesday’s NWA Powerrr show for the National Wrestling Alliance featured Big Mama & Kenzie Page defeating The It Girls (Ella Envy & Miss Star) to become the new NWA World Women’s Tag Team Champions.

WrestleCon recently announced that Matt Cardona will be making an appearance for the company at their WrestleCon Las Vegas convention on April 18-20 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling recently announced that Rich Swann and current NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Tom Latimer will be making an appearance for the company at their Mayhem event on March 14-15 at the St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Puck’s John Ourand reported that his sources stated that UFC’s exclusivity window with ESPN for talks for a new potential media rights contract is set to expire on April 15th. Ourand reported that UFC is currently expected to allow it to lapse and will hold talks with other interested parties for a new media rights deal.

GLEAT recently announced that they have placed their CEO and President Hayato Tamua on an “indefinite” leave of absence from in-ring competition due to health-related issues.

All Japan Pro Wrestling recently announced that they have pulled current AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Jun Saito from their upcoming events due to him suffering a left leg injury at their February 9th event in Tokyo, Japan.

Pro Wrestling NOAH recently announced one new match for the card of their Star Navigation Premium 2025 event on March 2nd in Yokohama, Japan: