Around the World of Pro Wrestling

🎙️ Desk intro

Ed: “Fans, from Tokyo to Louisville, the wrestling world has been hotter than a prairie fire! New Japan Pro Wrestling continues to deliver world‑class action on NJPW World, while Ohio Valley Wrestling keeps the engine running with Rise and a hungry roster looking to break through. Championships are being tested, rivalries are heating up, and both promotions are pushing forward in a big way.”

Gordon: “Indeed. A most eventful period, with each promotion emphasizing its own distinct identity—New Japan’s global strong style and OVW’s territory‑flavored grind.”

🟦 New Japan Pro Wrestling

There have been no new NJPW World episodes in the past week.

njpw1972.com reports:

El Desperado ＆Jun Kasai meet and greet next week in Vegas! 【NJoA】

“Next week, Death Vegas Invitacional hits the Vegas strip with a wild, unpredictable night in the Horseshoe on NJPW World PPV.

One day before the carnage, you can join El Desperado and the Crazy Monkey himself, Jun Kasai for a special meet and greet!

The photo and signing session runs from 6- 8PM at the Nerd Bar on Fremont Street, and it’s the best way to get into the mood for the most carnage filled night on the Strip!

Meet and greet session is Over 21s ONLY”

Ed: “I’m sure that we all are looking forward to this week’s NJoA being in Las Vegas, fans—top‑to‑bottom action and plenty of implications for the months ahead.”

United Empire take hold on AEW Dynamite 【NJoA】

njpw1972.com reported:

“Ospreay, Newman and crew take no DQ 8 man tag win

In the wake of Will Ospreay’s request for ‘help with trouble at work’ after he wrestled at Sakura Genesis and cornered Callum Newman en route to his IWGP heavyweight Championship win, United Empire appeared on AEW Dynamite from Edmonton Canada this week with an eight man tag team main event. 

Ospreay has been engaged in a feud with AEW’s Continental Champion Jon Moxley that stretches back to before Forbidden Door last summer, where a neck injury sustained at the hands of Moxley put Ospreay on the shelf for over six months. Dynamite started this week with the two brawling backstage; when the numbers seemed to overwhelm Ospreay Alex Windsor arrived together with Callum Newman, Francesco Akira and HENARE. Turning the tide, Akira dove off a car roof to Claudio Castagnoli, while HENARE delivered a Rampage to Wheeler Yuta on the car hood.

The teams fought into the ring, with Newman landing a plancha on PAC, and HENARE landing a lariat that took Castagnoli to the outside. Moxley wriggled off the hook of a Strombreaker attempt from Ospreay, who didn’t let the Death Riders leave easily; taking the mic he demanded an eight man tag team main event later in the evening. 

The match took place under ‘chaos in Canada’ no DQ rules, and the fight started fittingly with a brawl in the crowd. HENARE and Akira teamed up to use a ladder to take care of the Death Riders on the floor, and then Akira dove from the top of the hardware onto Castagnoli, PAC and Moxley. Back inside, PAC would turn things around with a neckbreaker on Ospreay; Akira came in to quicken the pace, and Newman and Ospreay kept up the pressure with stereo planchas.

The United Empire team set up tables on each side of the ring, and with the ring steps used as a platform, Newman and Ospreay set up for a suplex, but Castagnoli’s immense power led to the save. Now with the numbers to their advantage, the Death Riders took control of the match in the ring. HENARE would power through a corner assault but was suplexed through a table by Castagnoli for his troubles; meanwhile Moxley tried to drive a splintered kendo stick into the eye of Ospreay.

More tables would be set up in and outside the ring, and Moxley landed a sickening stalling piledriver on Ospreay’s surgically repaired neck. The rest of the United Empire hit the ring as the pace became yet more frenetic, and Newman and Moxley traded before Ospreay rejoined the fray for a stereo OsCutter attack on Moxley and Daniel Garcia. With Akira’s assist, HENARE drove Castagnoli through one table, while a diving stomp from Newman put PAC through another, and Garcia was crashed into a third.

That left Ospreay and Moxley center ring; Ospreay set for a springboard dive onto Moxley only to take a series of Paradigm Shifts from the Continental Champion, but Newman made the assist, setting Ospreay up for a Hidden Blade through the table set in the ring for three.”

Death Vegas Invitacional (April 16) Preview

njpw1972.com reported:

“Wild night on the Strip hits NJPW World PPV

After violent, unpredictable carnage took over NJPW World PPV from Korakuen hall in 2024 with Despe Invitacional and its sequel in 2025 Death Pain Invitacional, the third running of the El Desperado produced event will hit Las Vegas and the Horsehoe for Death Vegas Invitacional. Already chaotic enough, an international twist now sees Sin City enveloped in what’s sure to be a unique and unforgettable experience.

Horseshoe Las Vegas TICKETS (Standing room only)

Order on NJPW World PPV! (Separate purchase required. No subscription necessary)

(Card listed in chronological order of announcement. Match order TBD during the event)

High Stakes Heartbreak Jackpot: Dragon Kid & Starlight Kid vs El Phantasmo & X

What was set to be a fight of the ‘Kids’ and the ‘Cutest’, a tag team match for Dragon Kid and Starlight Kid against El Phantasmo and Maki Itoh was thrown into further chaos this past weekend as visa issues put paid to Itoh’s appearance tonight. Now, a mystery partner will be taking Maki’s place on the 16th. As Dragon and Starlight Kid present a wealth of experience combined with sensational athleticism in a similar vein to former NJPW World TV Champion Phantasmo, who will ELP have in his corner?

 Love & Pieces 3 Way Deathmatch- Nick gage & Matt Tremont vs El Desperado & Jun Kasai vs Masashi Takeda & Rina Yamashita

A three way tag team deathmatch has much to connect the members within it, and a lot of that connective tissue will be carved up by night’s end. A fundamental motivating factor for Death Vegas Invitacional at large, and a main reason for El Desperado and Jun Kasai to make the trip to the Strip was the chance for the two to battle Nick Gage. Gage has played an instrumental part in Kasai’s career from an early twist of fate; as Big Japan Pro-Wrestling and Combat Zone Wrestling were embroiled in a promotional feud, a visa issue for Gage would prevent a trip to Japan, and Kasai seized the gap and opportunity to turn on BJW and join the CZW side.

Gage and Kasai tangled many time since, but it’s a first for Desperado, who has more familiarity with Tremont having battled him in three way action back in 2023. A memorable violent three way also connects Desperado to FREEDOMS icon Masahi Takeda, with the two being joined by Kasai back last March in a brutal war for referee Barb Sasaki’s Crazy Fest. That match followed a tag team battle from FREEDOMS’ Yokohama event in 2023 when Takeda and Yamashita joined forces against Desperado and Kasai with Kasai and Desperado victorious; will they be as successful with three dangerous teams and six insane individuals involved?

Cute? Sexy? Hardcore 3 Way: Jimmy Lloyd vs ISHIN vs Effy  

Long time GCW staples Jimmy Lloyd and Effy are no strangers to one another, nor to hardcore violence. A third addition from DRAGONGATE will be new to both men however. A powerful participant in this one, 28 year old ISHIN is looking to make his mark on the US, the Strip and his opponents.

Drop Dead Gorgeous 3 Way Tag- Bustah & The Brain (Jordan Oliver & Alec Price vs KUSHIDA & YAMATO vs MxM Collection (Mansoor & Mason Madden)

Almost certainly the most handsome match on the Strip tonight, a three way tag team contest makes the Death Vegas card. Back at New Beginning USA in New Jersey this February, the Bustah and the Brain combination of Jordan Oliver and Alec Price impressed against an impromptu team of KUSHIDA and El Desperado. In Vegas, the young duo get another shot at KUSHIDA, this time in a different combination with DRAGONGATE’s YAMATO. NJPW fans last saw YAMATO in another odd couple pairing during Super Jr. Tag League with Tiger Mask; one wonders whether the DRAGONGATE veteran will team better with KUSHIDA. Meanwhile, always on the same wavelength with one another are Mansoor and Mason Madden, and the MxM collection are looking to make a successful debut on NJPW World PPV.  

House Rules Hardcore: Gedo & Daisuke Sasaki vs Gringo Loco & Joey Janela

More unusual combinations see Daisuke Sasaki and Gedo teaming together opposite Joey Janela and Gringo Loco. The last time Loco and Janela were on the same side was for FREEDOMS in Korakuen Hall back in 2023, while Sasaki and Gedo haven’t teamed before at all. 

Sasaki will be in his first Best of the Super Jr. tournament for 14 years in the month of May, and should he be able to turn back the memory clock to that time, he will remember tagging against Gedo and Jado in 2012, and defeating Gedo in singles action the year before. Sasaki also has a pinfall victory over Janela from DDT’s D-Ou Grand Prix in 2022. Can DDT’s charisma and the brains of the Unbound Co. operation get another win over Janela and Loco tonight?”

Ed: “Fans, New Japan continues to use these NJPW World shows to set the table—every multi‑man tag, every staredown, it all points toward the next big tour stop.”

Gabe Kidd injured; to miss Dontaku title challenge

njpw1972.com reported:

“On April 12 in Vancouver Canada at AEW’s Dynasty event, Gabe Kidd, who was scheduled to challenge Yota Tsuji for the IWGP Global heavyweight Championship May 3 at Dontaku, sustained an injury to his right arm and will not be able to compete. 

We apologise to fans who were looking forward to seeing Kidd wrestle and appreciate your understanding.

Yota Tsuji will still defend the IWGP Global title May 3 in the main event of Dontaku night one. An announcement will follow when a new challenger has been determined. 

NJPW joins fans in wishing Kidd a speedy, full recovery.”

Gordon: “Indeed. A most fluid environment, with New Japan balancing domestic tours and international ambitions.”

🟫 Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW)

OVW Rise episode April 9, 2026

Ed: “Now let’s head to Louisville, fans—OVW Rise continues to showcase a roster full of hungry competitors looking to climb the ladder.”

From cagematch.net.

(09.04.2026) OVW TV #1390 – TV-Show @ Davis Arena in Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Brendan Balling defeats Colby Carter (5:07) Ed: “A solid opener, giving the crowd a taste of what OVW is building.”
Freya The Slaya defeats Dayami (2:53)
Donovan Cecil defeats Draco Bennett (4:21)
Z Force (Kid Colossus & Super Z) (w/Dayami & Percival Goodington XIII) defeat The Troublemakers (Canaan Kristopher & Glenn Spectre) (17:31) Gordon: “Quite so. A most instructive contest for the middle of the card.”
J-Rod vs. Lovely Miss Larkan (w/Tommy Boy) – No Contest
J-Rod & Stephen Steel defeat Lovely Miss Larkan & Tommy Boy (5:20)
Rae Larson defeats Leela Feist (w/Feist Boy Lawson) (5:11)
Star Rider vs. Tony Gunn – No Contest
Erik Surge & Kal Herro defeat The Trifecta (Jake Lawless & Jake Painter) (w/Ashton Adonis) (12:38) Gordon: “A most decisive main event, with implications for OVW’s championship hierarchy.”

From OVW Wrestling on Facebook

“The party’s over

The Troublemakers just lost the tag titles… and for once, they’re the ones getting kicked out.”

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DVsZgyZEq/

1. [Main event: OVW Heavyweight / National / big grudge match] Result: [Winner + any run‑ins, challenges, or stare‑downs] Gordon: “A most decisive main event, with implications for OVW’s championship hierarchy.”

“Double Crossed is TONIGHT

It’s not too late to get your tickets and witness the chaos live at Ohio Valley Wrestling.”

“Overdrive goes LIVE TONIGHT at 7PM on YouTube

Main event showdown: Big Zo vs Ashton Adonis

Plus an exclusive interview with the Tag Team Champions, The Troublemakers, as they break down what’s next for their reign.

And more you won’t want to miss.”

Gordon: “Quite so. OVW remains a most important stop on the road for wrestlers looking to refine their craft and gain exposure.”

Ed: “Fans, Rise continues to feel like a proving ground—every match is a chance for someone to step up and grab the spotlight.”

Ed: “Fans, Rise continues to feel like a proving ground—every match is a chance for someone to step up and grab the spotlight.”

🎙️ Desk outro

Ed: “Fans, between New Japan’s global strong style on NJPW World and OVW’s territory‑flavored grind on Rise, the wrestling world from Tokyo to Kentucky is humming like a depot stove!”

Gordon: “Indeed. A most compelling time to follow professional wrestling at every level—from international headliners to tomorrow’s stars. And with that… so long from the wrestling world.”