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OCT.28.2022

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Rumble on 44th Street Preview 【NJoA】

Full lineup for a big night in New York City

 

Friday night, Rumble on 44th Street sees the second, and biggest of two nights in New York City’s Palladium. With four title matches and much more besides, it’s a loaded, unmissable night!

Order the two night bundle on FITE!

Main event: Kazuchika Okada & Eddie Kingston vs BULLET CLUB (Jay White & Juice Robinson)

For the first time ever, Eddie Kingston will team with Kazuchika Okada to take on Jay White and Juice Robinson in our main event. When Kingston was unable to participate in a scheduled six man tag at Las Vegas’ Autumn Attack, White took exception and blasted the Mad King for ‘not having the balls’ to face the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Kingston would be raring to go one on one, but after retaining his title at Ryogoku Sumo Hall at Declaration of Power, Kazuchika Okada stood in the Switchblade’s path. White vs Okada awaits in the Tokyo Dome on January 4 at Wrestle Kingdom 17, and out first official preview of that main event will see a unique team against Jay White and Juice Robinson. On a losing streak at current that includes dropping a decision to Kingston’s running buddy Jon Moxley on AEW Dynamite, Robinson wants to get back on track before the end of the year, but can he?

KOPW 2022- New York City Streetfight: El Phantasmo vs Shingo Takagi

Shingo Takagi and El Phantasmo go head to head in a rematch from Declaration of Power. In Ryogoku Monday, Takagi was victorious in the KOPW 2022 “Who’s Your Daddy” Match, forcing Phantasmo to make a humiliating declaration to the “Dragon Daddy”. Yet just when it seemed as if Shingo and ELP would hug all their issues out, a low blow was followed by Phantasmo breaking the KOPW 2022 trophy into smithereens. 

Infuriated by the actions of his “son”, Shingo will now head into a rematch with Phantasmo on American soil, putting the KOPW on the line for the first time outside of Japan- at least, what remains of it. This issue grew more intense in Korakuen Hall, where first a steel chair induced disqualification, and then a violent attack from Phantasmo led to both suggesting hardcore stipulations to put to the fan vote. Shingo Takagi’s stipulation of Last daddy Standing drew a strong reception, but it was ELP’s New York Streetfight that won out; in a city with a lot of hardcore history, things are sure to get extreme in our semifinal.

SWA World Championship: Mayu Iwatani vs KiLynn King

SWA World Champion Mayu Iwatani defends her title against Kilynn King in NYC. The SWA title sees its holder only accept challenges from countries other than their own, making every title match an international affair. On November 20, Iwatani will face generational rival KAIRI for the first time in five years in the final of the tournament to crown the very first IWGP Women’s Champion at Historic X-Over. Iwatani is determined to be the true face of STARDOM and women’s wrestlign at large on the world stage, but to do that, she first must face a competitor in King with an impressive record in AEW, NWA and beyond. 

 

Clark Connors vs Minoru Suzuki

Clark Connors will take on Minoru Suzuki one on one. A last minute addition to Forbidden Door’s four way to become AEW’s first All Atlantic Champion, Connors stunned in his Chicago performance, and was set to take on Davey Richards weeks later in Nashville. Yet during training, a herniated back flared up badly, to the point where he was close to never walking, yet alone wrestling again. After dedicated rehab, he is now back in action and wants to make an instant impact on his return. Can he survive the King, Minoru Suzuki?

Homicide, Shota Umino & Wheeler Yuta vs Team Filthy (Tom Lawlor, Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson)

Six man action will see Wheeler Yuta, Homicide and Shota Umino take on Tom Lawlor and the West Coast Wrecking Crew. Some weeks ago on STRONG, a tag match for Homicide and Yuta against BULLET CLUB’s Karl Anderson and Jay White saw Lawlor get involved, affronted that Homicide had been run into his colour commentary position. A post match attack by Team Filthy saw Shota Umino try to interject, only to be beaten back by Lawlor and company. Now a six man showdown hits New York, with the Notorious 187 in particular looking to create some NYC violence. 

STRONG Openweight Championship: Fred Rosser vs Jonathan Gresham

STRONG Openweight Champion Fred Rosser has been without a match scheduled for Rumble on 44th Street. The model of a fighting champion, Rosser has demanded to defend the title, and has issued an open challenge to anyone willing to step up. Thursday night at Night Before, it was Jonathan Gresham that did just that, and an incredible match for the STRONG Openweight title is sure to ensue. 

STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championships: Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) vs Motor City Machineguns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs LA Dojo (Kevin Knight & The DKC)

After a challenge issued over social media, Aussie Open will put the STRONG Openweight Tag team Championships on the line for the fourth time against both The DKC and Kevin Knight of LA Dojo and the legendary Motor City Machineguns. Knight and the DKC earned their title shot after a string of impressive performances on STRONG, but Aussie Open are still sore over a non-title defeat against the Guns on IMPACT. Now they seek to take both teams on and make a huge mark before their Japanese debut in Osaka November 5.

CHAOS (Rocky Romero & YOH) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yujiro Takahashi & SHO)

Rocky Romero and YOH will take on Yujiro Takahashi and SHO, as HOUSE OF TORTURE make their United States debuts. SHO’s betrayal of YOH last year tore apart one of the greatest junior heavyweight tag teams, and one Rocky Romero orchestrated in Roppongi 3K. Now Romero finally teams with YOH to give closure to a year long feud between CHAOS and H.O.T.

Kickoff Match: Cosmic Angels (Waka Tsukiyama & Mina Shirakawa) vs Kylie Rae & Tiara James

Before Rumble on 44th Street gets underway, a special kick off match will be available FREE for all to watch on FITE and NJPW World at 7:30PM eastern time. Kylie Rae has been an impressive contender everywhere around the world in the last six years and now arrives in an NJPW ring alongside the promising Tiara James. Opposite them are the Cosmic Angels duo of Waka Tsukiyama and Mina Shirakawa. Born in New York, Tsukiyama wants to make the most of her homecoming with her first win since joining the STARDOM roster in 2021. Can she finally start to right her 0-97 record? Meanwhile, the ever popular Mina Shirakawa is looking to make the most of the global attention on this big free match, just days away from her November 3 meeting with Saya Kamitani over the Wonder of STARDOM Championship. Don’t miss this opening contest Friday night!

 

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