While browsing the socials just now, a post in Japanese by New Japan wrestler EVIL caught my eye, which was quoted by Tama Tonga. It stems from what happened at-and after-Tokyo Dome. Because this may affect an upcoming New Japan event, I am adding a SPOILER WARNING here just in case. Read on at your own risk. (See below, I’ve removes the spoiler warning because it actually is not)
What happened is EVIL posted a screenshot of the roster page from New Japan’s official Japanese website (the mobile version) showing EVIL as the 43rd NEVER Openweight Champion. Tonga is the current 42nd champion having won the title back on 1/4. But then in backstage comments Tonga announced he was leaving New Japan next month for family reasons (although he is from Tonga, he may have family in Hawaii which is where his brother Tanga Loa is from, Tonga wants to work where he can be closer to them). Tonga is to defend the title against EVIL next month and this screenshot suggests the conclusion is foregone. And it seems to be legit. I then went to NJPW’s Japanese website and took the following screenshot (note the time shown is US Pacific Time/GMT-8):
Make of that what you will while we wait for potential comments from New Japan.
More as it becomes available.
UPDATE: New Japan’s new English announcer, Walker Stewart, is claiming the title change happened today in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Nothing official yet from New Japan.
UPDATE 2: It was all fake. New Japan clarified this and posted a video clip of EVIL threatening website staff. See below:
