World Tour. April 4, 2015.
Welcome to the premier edition of Alliance Wrestling’s “World Tour”! We will be covering all of the NWA’s action in and out of the ring going on overseas, in Japan, Australia, England and wherever else the NWA can be found! We will start this edition in Japan, and our friends at 411mania covered The New Japan Cup Finals on March 15, 2015 featuring Tiger Mask, Liger, Kojima, Katsuyori Shibata, NJPW Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion, Shinsuke’s Nakamura, and NEVER Openweight Champion, Tomohiro Ishii. Click the link for their review of the show.
The Land of the Rising Sun is where the NWA World Heavyweight, Tag Team and Junior Heavyweight Titles are currently being defended. On March 21st NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Tenzan, defended the title against his Tencozy tag team partner and former world champ, Kojima, in Nagoya, at “Road to Invasion Attack 2015”, at the Nagoya International Conference Hall, Event Hall in Aichi. It was his first title defense and after retaining, despite some tension leading into the contest, the two ring warriors showed respect for each other with a handshake. Other matches relevant to the NWA on that card included NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, Jushin Thunder Liger teaming with Jay White in a loss to Tiger Mask IV & Ryusuke Taguchi in 12:18 when Taguchi hit the Dodon on White. Then, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo ended at 13:47 when Shibata hit the PK on Gedo. Shibata has been a target of NWA President, Bruce Tharpe lately on Twitter. Chaos versus The Bullet Club was next, when Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI faced IWGP Heavyweight Champion, AJ Styles & Bad Luck Fale. Styles got the win for his team at 13:18 with the Styles Clash on HASHI. Styles will be appearing at NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling’s “Collision Course” on May 9th, facing “The Crown Jewel” Chase Owens. The next night, March 22nd, New Japan Pro Wrestling presented “Road to Invasion Attack 2015”, at the Baycom General Gymnasium in Hyogo in the Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium. NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima reunited as Tencozy and teamed with Tomoaki Honma to face The Bullet Club represented by IWGP Tag Team Champions (at the time), Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows along with Cody Hall in 6 man tag action. Honma got his team the win at 9:14 following the Kokeshi on White. In an NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship Match, the champion, Jushin Thunder Liger successfully defended against Tiger Mask IV, getting the win at the 15:22 mark, following a Shotei. This was his 3rd successful title defense. We also saw Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata go up against the team of Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Kazushi Sakuraba. Nakamura got the win for his team at 17:26, when he hit the BomaYe on Goto. Shibata, Ishii and Nakamura all have heat with Tenzan and/Tharpe. In the main event, Kota Ibushi & Tetsuya Naito fought AJ Styles & Yujiro Takahash. Ibushi got the win at 14:12 nailing a Phoenix Splash on Yujiro. Check out NOW’s cards for April 2015 at https://puroresuspirit.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/njpw-event-cards-for-march-april-2015/
NWA President, Bruce Tharpe and NJPW IC Champ, Nakamura continued their Twitter war, which is the best thing going in wrestling social media. It all started over some pictures Nakamura took of himself in Tharpe’s jacket and glasses. Here is the latest!
Tharpe:”In 3 short days New Japan! http://t.co/cnoYBfgLHs”
Nakamura: “@rbtharpe whats wrong with you?”
Tharpe: “@ShinsukeN / NWA is the best – number one in Japan – admit it Shinsuke!”
Nakamura: “@rbtharpe don’t forget to bring your new jacket on NWA school trip.”
Tharpe: “@ShinsukeN / I will have some things to discuss with Shibata-san when I get to Japan!” (Katsuyori Shibata challenged Nakamura on November 8th, last year at “Power Struggle” in an unsuccessful bid for the NJPW IC Title.)
Nakamura: “@rbtharpe you never invite me to NWA…Why? you hate me? too expensive?
Anyway, (make new) jacket for me.”
Tharpe: “@ShinsukeN / Rob Conway would defeat Nakamura with the Ego Trip Neckbreaker!”
Nakamura: “@rbtharpe sorry, if i go nwa ,i wrestle with you on dance battle on your jacket.
Tharpe: “@ShinsukeN / challenge accepted Shinsuke!”
I hope this leads to a Nakamura-Conway battle! Tharpe continued later on by stating, on Twitter, “@ShinsukeN @TheRobConway Conway will win IC Title from Shinsuke! If not Shinsuke can fight me. Okay? コンウェイは、紳助からICタイトルを獲得します!”
NWA World Tag Team Champions, The Killer Elite Squad tweeted, “Global Tag League Tournament. April 19 to May 4. @kelitesquad will show they are Number 1. http://t.co/zNZ5VX1KkJ”
Pro Wrestling NOAH announced the twelve teams that have been invited and the dates for the annual Global Tag League, which will run from April 19 to May 4. The teams are: 1.Dangan Yankees (Masato Tanaka & Takashi Sugiura)
Combined Weight: 384lbs
The current NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champions, former GHC Tag Team champs, 2014 GHC Global Tag League winners, 2014 ZERO1 Furinkazan Tag Tournament winners. Zero 1 was a member of the NWA in 2001, but ceased being a member in 2004, yet still call their tag champions the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champions. These guys have been one of the best tag teams in the world the past couple years.
2. Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Hoyt)
Combined Weight: 528 lbs
2x and current NWA World Tag Team champions, current GHC Tag Team champions, 2x IWGP Tag Team champions,
3. Suzukigun (Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka), Combined Weight: 455 lbs. Suzuki is GHC Heavyweight Champion and the founder of Pancrase, a Japanese MMA company. Iizuka is a 3 time IWGP Tag Team champion and former GHC Tag Team champion.
4. Brian Breaker & Shelton X Benjamin. Combined Weight: 497 lbs.
Breaker was Brandon Traven in NXT and was trained by Harley Race. Benjamin is a 3 time WWE Intercontinental champion, 2 time WWE World Tag Team champion, 2 time ROH World Tag Team champion, former WWE US champion, and former WWC Universal champion.
5. The Mighty Don’t Kneel (Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste). Combined Weight: 447 lbs. 2x GHC Tag Team champions and ROH Rise And Prove Tag Tournament winners.
6. BRAVE (Katsuhiko Nakajima & Naomichi Marufuji). Combined Weight: 411 lbs. Nakajima is a 5 time junior heavyweight champ in All Japan, Zero 1 and NOAH. Marufuji is a 2 time GHC Heavyweight champion.
7. Chokibogun (Mitsuhiro Kitamiya & Takeshi Morishima). Combined Weight: 495 lbs. Kitamiya is in his second year of wrestling for NOAH. Morishima is a 3 time GHC Heavyweight champ and former ROH World Heavyweight champion.
8. Chokibogun (Maybach Taniguchi & Maybach #2). Combined Weight: ? Taniguchi is a 2 time GHC Tag Team champion.
We do not know the identity of Maybach #2
9. Mohammed Bombers (Daisuke Ikeda & Mohammed Yone). Combined weight: 462 lbs. Ikeda is a 2 time FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team champion. Yone won the Global Tag League in 2012 with Naomichi Marufuji.
10. Akitoshi Saito & Quiet Storm. Combined Weight: 491 lbs. Saito is a 2 time Global Tag League winner. Storm was trained by Mikey Shipwreck and Taka Michinoku.
11. Chris Hero & Colt Cabana. Combined Weight: 456 lbs. Hero was NWA West Virginia Junior Heavyweight champ, 2 time ROH World Tag Team champ, and held the heavyweight title in CZW, PWG and xWx. Cabana is a former NWA World Heavyweight champion, NWA Mid American champ, NWA Wisconsin champ, NWA Illinois champ, and ROH World Tag Team champ. Hero and Cabana have also participated as a team in Global Tag League in the past.
12. Team BJW (Daisuke Sekimoto & Kazuki Hashimoto). Combined Weight: 462 lbs. Sekimoto has held the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship, NWA United National Heavyweight Championship, NWA Pan-Pacific Premium Heavyweight Championship, NWA Premium World Heavyweight Championship in Zero 1 and wXw Heavyweight Championship. Hashimoto used to be a soccer player. The NOAH vs. Suzukigun feud most likely will continue during Global Tag League. TMDK and KES are my picks for the finals, but there are a number of quality teams in this tournament so watch out for Chokibogun and Dangan Yankees.
Up in Canada, one of the best in Smoky Mountain Wrestling, the NWA and the world, Chase Owens is showcasing his skills as he has done in the US and Japan. He was talking about an upcoming stop on his world tour, online recently. He returned to Canada and Canadian Wrestling Elite to face Danny Duggan. Mr. Duggan always has something to say and with Mr. Owens it is no different. Here he is with some choice words for Chase Owens and the NWA!
For information on CWE visit www.cwecanada.ca!
Chase Owens wanted everyone to know about this episode of CWE TV, where he faces Mentallo in a No DQ Match for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title. Watch it at:
Down in Australia, we start out with Delhi Dud Singh, All Action Wrestling founder and Lance Storm trainee Andrew “The Shark” Carter and NWA AAW Heavyweight Champion, Chris Target as they are interviewed in this video by West Australian about AAW’s Anniversary IX.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/video/watch/26638254/world-of-wrestling/
Don’t forget about Wrestle Radio! 8pm in Perth, Australia, every Wednesday on 91.3FM. Check them out online at http://www.sportfm.com.au/
Last week they had special guest, The Philippine Dream, Julio!
aawperth.com reported the following results for Anniversary IX, which took place on March 21, 2015. Scotty 2 Hotty, 2 time WWE World Tag Team champion and former WWE World Lightheavyweight champion & Dallas Knight, who has competed in NWA Lone Star, NWA Top of Texas and NWA Southwest as well as being a former AAW Heavyweight champ and now 3 time AAW Tag Team champ def Ricardo Rodriguez, a former NWA Vendetta Pro Tri-Force champion & Delhi Dud Singh, Zac & Kegan Brettle, Julio & Just Jordan, Eric Owens & Felix Young, and Casey Hanson & Joey Angel to become the new AAW Australian Tag Team champions.
NWA/AAW Australian Champion, Killah defeated Gangrel to retain the title. Drew Galloway, DGUSA Open the Freedom Gate and EVOLVE champion, defeated Tyler Throne. TJ Max defeated James Grace. JC Blade def Carlito, WWC Universal Heavyweight champ. The new AAW World Heavyweight Champion, Craven def 2 time TNA World Heavyweight champ, Ken Anderson, former champ, Chris Target, & Danny Andrews to win the title. And in the Main Event, Alberto El Patron defeated The Shark. The Shark reported that he was in the hospital with a concussion after Anniversary IX! I heard he laid on the mat after his match with the AAA Heavyweight champion and was unresponsive. We wish him a speedy recovery and we will keep you updated, as we learn more. Check out the highlights from the biggest night in Australian wrestling history — via All Action Wrestling
On March 27, 2015 NWA Australia/All Action Wrestling announced the winners of their year end awards. “Congratulations to all our award winners at tonight’s Hall Of Fame.
Wrestler of the year : Chris Target
Future Legend Award: TJ Max
Feud of the year: Craven vs James Grace
Match of the year: Shark vs Alberto Del Rio
2nd ever inductee to the Hall of Fame: Danny Andrews.”
The next show for All Action Wrestling following Anniversary is called “Aftermath” and it will be held on Saturday April 18th, 2015 at the Warnbro Y Rec Centre. Tickets are on sale now at www.aawperth.com
Across the Atlantic in The UK, NWA: New Breed Wrestling presented Homecoming 3! Here is their lead up to the event.
“Frankie Fellasarno cashes in his Golden Contract to go one on one with NBWA Heavyweight Champion Kay Jutler. The annual Golden Contract Rumble returns – who will win and shake up the championship division? Dan “The Man” Tucker one of the break out athletes from our academy takes on veteran and fan favourite James Mason. JD Knight returns to NWA: New Breed wrestling in a match yet to be revealed. Born 2 Fly debut ready to cement their place in the NBWA tag division going up against Prime Time Crew. Stu Odyssey returns and he wants answers! A UK first appearance for former NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion Rob Stardom. Plus much much more… Make sure you are there.”
The event was held on April 3, 2015 at Spiceball Leisure Centre, Banbury, Oxford, UK. NWA: New Breed Wrestling Association reported the results from the event as follows. “Homecoming Results. It was a night filled with the unexpected, not just for the crowd but it seems also the event staff. Firstly we would like to thank our ever loyal fans for their patience and understanding after the show suffered what has been reported as a “Complete sound failure” during the second half. The cause of this is still being looked into so to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Kirk Langley & Stu Odyssey def. Chris Drew & Charles Kelsey in an impromptu Tag match
Sancho Cortez def. Tukay to become the new NBWA Cruiserweight champion In what has to be considered an upset after an attempted belt shot from Tukay backfired hitting his own manager Lady Lucy Becksworth. Congratulations go to Sancho for winning his first career Championship. Jayson Maverick def. Rob Stardom. After Maverick was without a match due to J D Knight being taken ill, he stepped in when former NWA: Canadian heavyweight champion Stardom interrupted the show to start a fight.Stu Odyssey won the Golden contract rumble after an impressive performance eliminating HALF of the other entrants. Dan ‘The Man’ Tucker def. James Mason. No question this was as a direct result of a distraction caused by Lady Becksworth but the record will show this as Mason’s first loss in NWA: New Breed. Born 2 Fly def. Prime Time Crew making good use of the new Lucha Tag Team rules. Frankie Fellasarno def. Kay Jutler to become the new NBWA Heavyweight Champion winning his first career title.
The joy was short lived however as Stu Odyssey jumped a celebrating Frankie from behind with a chair and cashed in his Golden contract, only a couple of lariats later we had another new champion.”
New Breed got a new admin for their Facebook page and is trying to strengthen the bonds between members of the NWA. This is what he had to say, “I would like to take the time to introduce myself as a new admin to the NWA: New Breed Wrestling official Facebook page. My role is to help build the audience of the NWA affiliation by bringing you news, reviews and possible interviews from the NWA regional territories. Following the journies and build ups to the big confrontations involving NWA-South Eastern Champion: “The Gift” Jason Kincaid, NWA-Mid South Unified Heavyweight Champion: Jason Peter Rose and NWA- Southern Champion: Arrick Andrews plus many more. Keep an eye out on the NWA: New Breed Wrestling official page as we continue to bridge the gap between NWA and British Wrestling. Remember to like, share and comment with anything NWA Regional related. #SupportBritishWrestling #nbwa #NWA #NWASmokyMountain #NWAMidSouth #nwasaw
~Wetherall~”
nwaringside.com reported on Easter Sunday that the NWA is in negotiations with a second promotion in the UK to join the NWA. We will update you on this developing story as we find out more.
That’s it for this edition of “World Tour”, but before I go I wanted to bring your attention to the Sports Legacy Institute, at http://www.sportslegacy.org. The website states, “The mission of the Sports Legacy Institute is to advance the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups.” I have suffered a number of concussions, including one that almost killed me last year. This can be serious business affecting athletes for the rest of their lives. Take a look at the site and if you can help make a difference, please do. I appreciate it. I also appreciate you reading “World Tour”. Keep checking alliance-wrestling.com for the latest news on the National Wrestling Alliance. Thanks and see you next time!