Various: Eddie Edwards Signs New Contract with TNA, Tetsuya Naito Wins MVP Award for Tokyo Sports Awards 2023, Indies

Dec 14, 2023

Eddie Edwards Signs New Contract with Impact/TNA

Impact/TNA Wrestling announced that Eddie Edwards recently signed a new contract to remain in the company for the foreseeable future.

Official press release:

Eddie Edwards Re-Signs With TNA Wrestling
Eddie Edwards is here to stay in TNA Wrestling. As revealed today by PWInsider.com, the former IMPACT World Champion, World Tag Team Champion and X-Division Champion has re-signed with the promotion. Edwards has become one of the faces of TNA since his arrival in 2014, reinventing himself on numerous occasions. As Edwards looks to lead the charge into the new era, what is next for the brawler from Boston?

Edwards has been with Impact/TNA since 2014.

Tokyo Sports Announces Winners of Their 2023 Wrestling Awards

Tokyo Sports recently announced their full list of winners for this year’s Tokyo Sports Wrestling Awards.

New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Tetsuya Naito was announced to have taken the top award as their MVP of 2023.

NJPW won the most awards at three, followed by Pro Wrestling NOAH and All Japan Pro Wrestling at two each and Stardom at one.

Full list of Tokyo Sports 2023 Wrestling Awards winners:

MVP: Tetsuya Naito (NJPW)
Best Match: The Great Muta vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – NOAH The New Beginning 2023 (NOAH)
Women’s Grand Prize: Tam Nakano (Stardom)
Outstanding Performer: Hiromu Takahashi (NJPW)
Fighting Spirit Award: Kenoh (NOAH)
Technique Award: Yuma Aoyagi (AJPW)
Best Tag Team: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (NJPW)
Rookie of the Year: The Saito Brothers (Rei & Jun Saito) (AJPW)

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Wrestling legend Kevin Von Erich, AEW’s MJF, and WWE’s John Cena, Liv Morgan, and Baron Corbin were among those who attended the world premiere showing of The Iron Claw film in Los Angeles, California.

VICE TV reportedly will be releasing a new wrestling-based documentary based on WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan as part of their Nine Lives Of series on January 10, 2024, according to PWInsider. Mike Johnson reported that this upcoming episode will be focusing on Hogan’s rise and fall as a celebrity.

As noted before, Nick Bollea, son of WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan (real name Terry Bollea), was arrested this past November in Clearwater, Florida and charged with driving under the influence and refusal to submit to sobriety testing following a traffic stop by police. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that Bollea is currently scheduled to be arranged for the misdemeanor DUI charge against him on December 18th based on recent court records.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that tonight’s episode of Impact! will be featuring an official announcement regarding the return of an international star for their TNA Hard To Kill 2024 event next month in Las Vegas, Nevada.

As noted before, New Japan Pro Wrestling talent KUSHIDA recently signed an official contract with Impact/TNA Wrestling. In a recent interview with the Battleground Podcast, KUSHIDA clarified his status with NJPW following his signing with Impact/TNA. KUSHIDA stated “I’m so happy. I’m so excited. I want to say my contract status…the relationship between me and New Japan Pro-Wrestling can remain, and there is no need [to] change. So I also signed with TNA. I would like to thank Scott D’Amore.” KUSHIDA also gave his thoughts about what influenced him to sign with Impact/TNA. KUSHIDA stated “One of the reasons I chose TNA is because of my good friends, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin. These two people have influenced my life. I always felt that my work was close to these two people. So Sabin, Alex Shelley, KUSHIDA, all signed to [the] same company, I can’t believe it. I’m so excited for next year.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Will Ospreay gave his thoughts about New Japan Pro Wrestling’s upcoming new IWGP Global Heayweight Championship. Ospreay stated “It is going to be defended around the globe, and there is no one better served to do that. I’m performing at the highest level around the world. This is my chance to cross-promote. That’s truly a special thing to have. I want to elevate the promotions I work with and my opponents in the ring. I am going to deliver the best possible matches I can deliver.“

Game Changer Wrestling recently announced that Lio Rush will be making several appearances for the company at their January 12th event in Chicago, Illinois, their January 13th event in Columbus, Ohio, and their January 26th event in Tampa, Florida.

GCW also recently announced that Mike Santana will be making an appearance for the company at their Holiday Special event on December 21st in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.

Major League Wrestling recently announced one new match for the card of their Kings of Colosseum 2024 event on January 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

MLW World Heavyweight Championship – Richard Holliday vs. Alex Kane (c)

National Wrestling Alliance recently announced one new match for the card of their NWA Paranoia event on January 13, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida:

NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship Death Match – Matt Cardona vs. EC3 (c)