26: NJPW, OVW & Zayda Steel.

Sports desk intro

Ed: “Tonight at the sports desk, we’re tracking two very different rings—New Japan Pro Wrestling on the global stage and Ohio Valley Wrestling holding down the Louisville territory. This past week, both outfits have been busy: tournaments rolling, titles defended, and a few surprises that changed the temperature of the room.”

Gordon: “And when you line up the results, you see patterns—NJPW leaning into the G1 grind and multi‑man chaos, OVW using TV to shuffle its contenders and keep its champions honest. Let’s go promotion by promotion.”

New Japan Pro Wrestling

Overall direction

NJPW is deep in its summer stretch—G1 Climax blocks still in motion, undercards packed with faction tags, and a steady drip of title defenses to keep the belts visible. The past week has been less about shock turns and more about clarifying who’s actually in the hunt.

G1 Climax cards (week of August 4)

RESULTS

(11.08.2026) NJPW G1 Climax 36 – Tag 15 – Online Stream @ Nisho Highway Arena in Tsu, Mie, Japan
United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young) defeat Masatora Yasuda & Oleg Boltin (7:12)
Unbound Co. (Shingo Takagi & Taiji Ishimori) defeat House Of Torture (SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) (6:21)
United Empire (Jake Lee & Zane Jay) defeat Unbound Co. (Daiki Nagai & Yota Tsuji) (5:14)
Goto Revolutionary Army (Hirooki Goto & Tatsuya Matsumoto) defeat Unbound Co. (Gedo & Yuto-Ice) (7:09)
G1 Climax 2026 Block B: OSKAR [6] defeats Shota Umino [0] by forfeit
G1 Climax 2026 Block B: Zack Sabre Jr. [8] defeats HENARE [8] by referee stoppage (15:32)
G1 Climax 2026 Block B: Drilla Moloney [10] defeats Ren Narita [10] (11:54)
G1 Climax 2026 Block B: Aaron Wolf [8] defeats Callum Newman [10] (16:57)
G1 Climax 2026 Block B: Yuya Uemura [10] defeats Gabe Kidd [10] (22:10)

(09.08.2026) NJPW G1 Climax 36 – Tag 14 – Online Stream @ G Messe Gunma in Takasaki, Gunma, Japan
Unbound Co. (Gedo & OSKAR) defeat Taisei Nakahara & Toru Yano (4:31)
United Empire (Callum Newman & Zane Jay) defeat Aaron Wolf & Tatsuya Matsumoto (5:05)
House Of Torture (Dick Togo & Ren Narita) defeat Unbound Co. (Daiki Nagai & Drilla Moloney) (7:46)
TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeat United Empire (HENARE & Jakob Austin Young) (5:57)
G1 Climax 2026 Block A: Ryohei Oiwa [10] defeats Jake Lee [6] (12:47)
G1 Climax 2026 Block A: Konosuke Takeshita [12] defeats SANADA [6] (14:02)
G1 Climax 2026 Block A: Yota Tsuji [10] defeats Great-O-Khan [4] (13:14)
G1 Climax 2026 Block A: Hirooki Goto [6] defeats Oleg Boltin [10] (15:20)
G1 Climax 2026 Block A: Yuto-Ice [8] defeats Shingo Takagi [8] (20:25)

(08.08.2026) NJPW G1 Climax 36 – Tag 13 – Online Stream @ Yokohama Budokan in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Goto Revolutionary Army (Hirooki Goto & Tatsuya Matsumoto) defeat Masatora Yasuda & Oleg Boltin (5:45)
TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Ryohei Oiwa) defeat United Empire (Jake Lee & Zane Jay) (6:50)
Konosuke Takeshita & Toru Yano defeat House Of Torture (SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) (5:45)
United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young) defeat Unbound Co. (Daiki Nagai & Yota Tsuji) (6:47)
Unbound Co. (Shingo Takagi & Taiji Ishimori) defeat Unbound Co. (Gedo & Yuto-Ice) (5:08)
G1 Climax 2026 Block B: Gabe Kidd [10] defeats Shota Umino [0] by forfeit
G1 Climax 2026 Block B: Zack Sabre Jr. [6] defeats Drilla Moloney [6] (18:29)
G1 Climax 2026 Block B: Yuya Uemura [8] defeats HENARE [8] (15:06)
G1 Climax 2026 Block B: Ren Narita [10] (w/Dick Togo) defeats Aaron Wolf [6] (w/Tatsuya Matsumoto) (14:01)
G1 Climax 2026 Block B: Callum Newman [10] (w/Zane Jay) defeats OSKAR [6] (18:18)

(06.08.2026) NJPW G1 Climax 36 – Tag 12 – TV-Show @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
United Empire (HENARE & Jakob Austin Young) defeat Masatora Yasuda & Yuya Uemura (6:51)
House Of Torture (Dick Togo & Ren Narita) defeat Aaron Wolf & Tatsuya Matsumoto (6:01)
United Empire (Callum Newman & Zane Jay) defeat Unbound Co. (Gedo & OSKAR) by count out (8:27)
TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeat Unbound Co. (Daiki Nagai & Drilla Moloney) (10:23)
G1 Climax 2026 Block A: SANADA [6] defeats Yuto-Ice [6] by KO (8:10)
G1 Climax 2026 Block A: Jake Lee [6] defeats Great-O-Khan [4] by DQ (1:47)
G1 Climax 2026 Block A: Ryohei Oiwa [8] defeats Hirooki Goto [4] (8:51)
G1 Climax 2026 Block A: Shingo Takagi [8] defeats Konosuke Takeshita [10] (19:44)
G1 Climax 2026 Block A: Oleg Boltin [10] defeats Yota Tsuji [8] (24:35)

Factions

TMDK continues to rack up wins in six‑ and eight‑man tags, with Hartley Jackson and Ryohei Oiwa often closing out matches.
House of Torture picks up quick, messy wins—low blows, ref distractions, and post‑match attacks remain their calling card.
United Empire has mixed fortunes: strong in tags, but Jake Lee’s singles results stay uneven.

NJPW news & rumors

Shota Umino’s status: Talk continues that Umino is being protected through minor injuries, explaining recent forfeits and limited ring time.
Takeshita’s stock rising: His G1 performances are reportedly impressing both NJPW and overseas partners—future cross‑promotional plans are being quietly discussed.
OSKAR’s trajectory: Backstage chatter suggests he may be earmarked for a NEVER Openweight push, given his referee‑stoppage wins and aura.

Ed: “NJPW’s week has been about clarity—who can survive the grind, who can steal a shock win, and who’s quietly building a case for bigger things.”

Gordon: “And the G1 remains what it’s always been: a long test that reveals more than any single title match.”

Ohio Valley Wrestling

Overall direction

OVW is in full TV rhythm—Race for the Crown qualifiers, title defenses, and cross‑promotional cards keeping the roster busy. The past week has focused on solidifying champions and giving mid‑card names meaningful wins.

OVW RESULTS

(04.08.2026) OVW Overdrive #198 – Online Stream @ Davis Arena in Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Only Bros (Boy Toy Troy & Star Player Prime) defeat Draco Bennett II & Jay Three
Kal Herro defeats Canaan Kristopher
Jake Lawless & Meto defeat Ashton Adonis & Ryan Von Rockit

OVW news & rumors (past week)

Race for the Crown buzz: The tournament is reportedly being used to elevate mid‑card talent into new storylines and title pictures.
Heavyweight scene stabilizing: Dustin Jackson’s regained title run is seen internally as a way to steady the main event after months of rapid changes.
Women’s division focus: J‑Rod’s title win and Leela Hall’s tournament progress are part of a broader push to refresh the division with new rivalries.

Ed: “OVW’s week has been about structure—tournaments, title defenses, and clear lanes for who’s chasing what.”

Gordon: “And that’s how a territory keeps itself relevant: steady TV, meaningful stakes, and champions who actually wrestle.”

Spotlight section: Zayda Steel

Credit: Ringside Rampage. Smackdown Hotel. Fandom.

Ed: “Before we wrap up, let’s talk about a name that keeps popping up in women’s wrestling conversations—Zayda Steel.”

Gordon: “She’s become one of the more intriguing figures in ROH’s women’s division.”

Who is Zayda Steel?

Zayda Steel is a Moroccan-American professional wrestler who began her career in 2022 and has competed across major independent promotions and AEW.

Early Life and Training

Zayda Steel, born Fatima Zahra on October 13, 2003, in Arlington County, Virginia, is of Moroccan descent and dropped out of high school at 18 to pursue professional wrestling full-time. She was trained by Brian Johnson and Drolix, gaining foundational skills that prepared her for the independent wrestling circuit.

Professional Debut

Steel made her in-ring debut on August 7, 2022, at Combat Zone Wrestling Limelight 8, where she faced Trish Adora in a losing effort. Her early matches established a pattern of learning through experience, often competing against a variety of opponents and styles.

Independent Circuit

In her debut year, Steel wrestled for promotions such as MCW Pro Wrestling and various independent shows in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. She later expanded her presence to notable independent promotions including Beyond Wrestling, DEFY Wrestling, Progress Wrestling, Game Changer Wrestling (GCW), and Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling. Her time on the indie circuit allowed her to face diverse opponents and gain exposure across multiple regions and wrestling styles.

WWE EVOLVE

Steel appeared on WWE’s EVOLVE brand, making her debut on April 2, 2025, against Brinley Reece. She also competed in qualifying matches for the WWE EVOLVE Women’s Championship, facing competitors like Kylie Rae, Aria Bennett, and Chantel Monroe, though she did not secure a championship victory.

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Ring of Honor (ROH)

On January 17, 2026, Steel debuted for AEW on AEW Collision against Marina Shafir, and the following day it was announced that she had officially signed with AEW. She is currently a member of the stable SkyFlight, alongside Scorpio Sky, Christopher Daniels, Dante Martin, Darius Martin, and Leila Grey. Steel also makes appearances for AEW’s sister promotion, Ring of Honor, further expanding her professional exposure.

Notable Achievements

Steel qualified for the triple threat match final at the GCW ID Showcase on August 1, 2025, competing for the inaugural WWE Women’s ID Championship against Kylie Rae and Zara Zakher, though Kylie Rae ultimately won the title. Despite early losses, Steel has built a reputation for versatility, competing internationally and across multiple wrestling styles, earning recognition as a rising talent in the professional wrestling world.

Summary

Zayda Steel’s wrestling background reflects a rapid ascent from independent circuits to major promotions, marked by diverse match experience, international exposure, and membership in prominent stables. Her career demonstrates a combination of dedication, adaptability, and early professional success, positioning her as a notable young talent in modern professional wrestling.

Ed: “She’s the kind of wrestler who can change a division’s direction with one upset win.”

Gordon: “And if ROH leans into that, the sports desk wouldn’t be surprised to see her in a title match before the year is out.”

Sports desk closing

Ed: “So from the G1 grind in New Japan to the tournament and title shuffle in Ohio Valley, the past week has been packed with movement—some of it loud, some of it subtle, all of it worth tracking.”

Gordon: “And with names like Takeshita, OSKAR, Dustin Jackson, and Zayda Steel all pushing forward, the question remains the same: who made you mark out?”

Around the World of Pro Wrestling 5/19/26: NJPW & OVW

🎙️ Rundown — NJPW & OVW

Presented by Ed & Gordon.

🟦 DESK INTRO

Ed: “Ladies and gentlemen, the wrestling world has been moving at a breakneck pace! New Japan’s road to Dominion is tightening like a drum, and OVW’s summer push is turning Davis Arena into a pressure cooker!”

Gordon: “Quite so. Both promotions have delivered consequential developments — championships threatened, rivalries sharpened, and momentum shifting in notable fashion.”

🟥 NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING (NJPW)

⭐ Current Direction

The fallout from Wrestling Dontaku continues to ripple, and the march toward Dominion is shaping the entire roster.

🟧 NJPW RESULTS

(17.05.2026) NJPW Best Of The Super Junior 33 – Tag 3 – Online Stream @ Yoyogi National Gymnasium #2 in Tokyo, Japan
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Titan [6] defeats Daiki Nagai 0
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: Yoshinobu Kanemaru [2] defeats Jakob Austin Young 0
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Ryusuke Taguchi [6] defeats Valiente Jr. [2] by referee’s decision (0:49)
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: SHO [6] defeats KUSHIDA 2
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Francesco Akira [2] defeats Nick Wayne 2
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: Daisuke Sasaki [6] defeats Hyo 2
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Master Wato [2] defeats Robbie X 2
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: YOH [4] defeats Taiji Ishimori 2
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Jun Kasai [2] defeats Kosei Fujita 4
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: Robbie Eagles [2] defeats El Desperado 2

Ed: “That young man is starting to find his footing — you can see the confidence building.”

New Japan Pro WrestlingNJPW New Zealand Dojo
(16.05.2026) NJPW TAMASHII Mayhem – Event @ Mangere Arts Centre in Auckland, New Zealand
Kam Ahhing defeats Kane Harris (6:09)
Graham Hughes & Horus defeat Fiti Levi & Zac Kelly (7:38)
Bronny Bertram & Don Fale defeat Sean Tohi & Thor Keith (11:49)
JL Gold & Matty Short defeat Generation Iron (Jack Max & Peter Prince) (9:24)
Darryl Voll (14:20) vs. Kurt Brown – Double Count Out
Nico Bell defeats Johnny Recon (15:12)
NJPW TAMASHII Tag Team Title: Ungrateful 1s (TJ Illes & Trent Hooper) defeat The Pretty Boys (Magic Mark & Pretty Richie) (c) (19:37) – TITLE CHANGE !!!

Gordon: “Excellent synchronization from the new champions — a reminder of their pedigree.”

New Japan Pro Wrestling
(16.05.2026) NJPW Best Of The Super Junior 33 – Tag 2 – Online Stream @ Esforta Arena Hachioji in Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Valiente Jr. [2] defeats Daiki Nagai 0
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Ryusuke Taguchi [4] defeats Master Wato 0
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: YOH [2] defeats Jakob Austin Young 0
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Robbie X [2] defeats Francesco Akira 0
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: Daisuke Sasaki [4] defeats KUSHIDA 2
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Titan [4] defeats Jun Kasai 0
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: SHO [4] defeats Robbie Eagles 0
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Kosei Fujita [4] defeats Nick Wayne 2
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: El Desperado [2] defeats Taiji Ishimori 2

Ed: “That’s a signature victory — El Desperado is climbing the ladder with purpose.”

(14.05.2026) NJPW Best Of The Super Junior 33 – Tag 1 – Online Stream @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: Taiji Ishimori [2] defeats Jakob Austin Young [0] (w/Zane Jay) (8:10)
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: SHO [2] defeats Yoshinobu Kanemaru [0] by DQ (3:25)
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Ryusuke Taguchi [2] defeats Daiki Nagai 0
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: Hyo [2] defeats YOH 0
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Nick Wayne [2] defeats Robbie X 0
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: KUSHIDA [2] defeats Robbie Eagles [0] (w/Hartley Jackson & Zack Sabre Jr.) (9:11)
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Titan [2] defeats Master Wato 0
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block B: Daisuke Sasaki [2] defeats El Desperado 0
Best Of The Super Junior 33 Block A: Kosei Fujita [2] (w/Hartley Jackson & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeats Francesco Akira [0] (w/Zane Jay) (16:56)

Gordon: “A most intriguing result — Kosei Fujita appears to be regaining momentum at precisely the right moment.”

📰 NJPW NEWS & RUMORS (Past Week)

Credit: njpw1972.com

Dominion card expected to finalize soon. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Callum Newman defends against Yota Tsuji
Three-way match: IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Andrade El Idolo defends against Shota Umino and Drilla Moloney
IWGP Tag Team Champions Yuto-Ice & OSKAR defend against Great-O-Khan & Henare
NEVER Openweight Champion Ren Narita defends against Aaron Wolf
NJPW World Television Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against SANADA
Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa vs. Yuya Uemura & Taichi
DOUKI rumored for a major junior title defense at Dominion.
Bloodiest of the Super Juniors: Jun Kasai Interviewed. “Kasai: And one thing I want to point out- the catchphrase for BOSJ this year is “over the top excellence” and no one is more over the top than me. I’ve got to take this one.
–You definitely sound motivated.
Kasai: It’s all to gain for me being in this. Honestly I think it would be fun if every single one of my league matches ended in a DQ loss. But the biggest gain for me would be to win the whole thing, so. This is a pretty cool place to be. I’m feeling inspired.
–It must be cool for someone of your experience to be doing something completely new like this.
Kasai: I mean, if you eat your favourite food every day of the week and eventually you get sick of it. So for a misfit toy like myself to be in a top flight tournament for BOSJ it’s different for the tournament, and it’s different for me. So it’s win win.
–Any final thoughts?
Kasai: Well, Jun Kasai is in Best of the Super Jr. Junior heavyweight wrestling isn’t all flying and flips. You’re going to see a whole different dimension of junior heavyweight wrestling in this tournament with me!”
Correspondents dinner. “As the Japan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCCJ) marks the 50th anniversary of their hosting the famed press conference for Antonio Inoki and Muhammad Ali’s legendary fight in 1976 this June, President Hiroshi Tanahashi and Aaron Wolf will give a special talk session to the club on June 17.
G1 Climax 36 Opening Day in the NOW Arena in Chicago is fast approaching along with Hirooki Goto’s impending appearance in ‘Street Fighter’ and NJPW events becoming a bucket list item for a growing number of overseas visitors. In a broader cultural landscape of Japanese sporting figures and entertainment IP resounding around the world, ‘Japanese Pro-Wrestling’s Global Vision’ will discuss the ongoing potential for Japanese professional wrestling to further grow its international footprint.
The event is open to Correspondents Club members and will also be available to watch on YouTube.”
Most Charismatic of the Super Jr: Daisuke Sasaki Interviewed
“–And yours is?
Sasaki: The right one. The Strong Style DDT!
–I see! So any final thoughts?
Sasaki: Well, this is going to make the ultimate memory of my 20 years in the business. It’s the tournament that’s going to get me to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title, and I plan on beating DOUKI and getting my hands on that belt. There’s a reason why NJPW called me back here after 14 years. They want somebody to shake up a stale division. That’s gonna happen when I take it all! Hahaha!”

🟪 OHIO VALLEY WRESTLING (OVW)

⭐ Current Direction

OVW continues its spring‑into‑summer escalation with rising prospects, title contenders emerging, and long‑term feuds heating up.

🟩 OVW RISE — FULL MATCH‑BY‑MATCH REVIEW

(14.05.2026) OVW TV #1396 – TV-Show @ Davis Arena in Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Jota Peso DEFEATED Brian Hitt by DQ
Feisty Boy Lawson DEFEATED Jay Three
Jay DeNiro vs. Tony Gunn NO CONTEST
Kal Herro DEFEATED Donovan Cecil
Dayami DEFEATED Rae Larson
Mario Pardua, Jake Lawless, Jake Painter and Colby Carter DEFEATED Ashton Adonis, Erik Surge, Kid Colossus and Super Z

Gordon: “A most forceful performance — Herro is positioning himself as a legitimate threat.”

🟧 OVW OVERDRIVE — FULL MATCH‑BY‑MATCH REVIEW

OVW Overdrive #186 (May 12, 2026):

Colby Carter defeated Justice Davis

Juwan Thomas defeated Showtime Shanklin

Lovely Miss Larkan (w/Tommy Boy) defeated Janie Hartman

Adam Revolver defeated Brandon Davis.

Ed: “Revolver is eyeing that OVW championship — other challengers keep lining up, and he keeps knocking them down.”

🎙️ DESK OUTRO

Ed: “Fans, both NJPW and OVW delivered a week packed with grit, fire, and momentum swings. From New Japan’s march toward Dominion to OVW’s rising contenders, the landscape is shifting fast!”

Gordon: “Indeed. A most compelling stretch for both promotions — and the weeks ahead promise even greater developments.”