Multiple Former WWE Champions Win Gold At NJPW New Beginning In Sapporo
February 23, 2024Tonight was the night for new champions.
Tonight New Japan Pro Wrestling resided in Sapporo for the first of two nights in the city with The New Beginning tour. Many big things were on this show including Kazuchika Okada’s second to last match with the company and five title matches. In those five title matches, three new champions were crowned with the final two of the night being former WWE Superstars and champions.
First off we saw former WWE United States and Tag Team Champions Matt Riddle challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi for the NJPW World TV Title. Now this was not Riddle’s debut in NJPW, but it was his first time wrestling for the company in Japan. Back in 2017, he did two shows for the company in the UK, and just a few weeks ago worked for them in the United States. With all of that, tonight did see Riddle defeat Tanahashi in a good back-and-forth match to become the new NJPW World TV Champion in an eight-and-a-half-minute match.
Matt Riddle is not making his New Japan debut tonight, but tonight will be the first time he works for the company in Japan. Has worked for them in the US & the UK previously. He will challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi for the NJPW World TV Title. #njnbg pic.twitter.com/Z1clirFIRm
— Tim Jarrell of PWUnlimited (@TimmyBuddy) February 23, 2024
Oh shit, I did not expect this. Matt Riddle just defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the NJPW World TV Title. #njnbg pic.twitter.com/QsDPsMQlsB
— Tim Jarrell of PWUnlimited (@TimmyBuddy) February 23, 2024
Also, in the main event of the night, we did see Nic Nemeth, the former Dolph Ziggler, make his New Japan Pro Wrestling debut as he took on David Finaly with the IWGP Global Championships on the line. Unlike the Riddle/Tanahashi match that saw an even back-and-forth contest, this match saw Finaly dominate Nemeth for the majority of the match. Yet in the end, it was the former World Heavyweight Champion Nemeth who was able to persevere and defeat Finaly and become the new IWGP Global Champion.
After the match, Nemeth got a mic and thanked New Japan for the opportunity. He stated that winning this title meant a lot to him because it showed him he is as good as he thought he was and that he was’t just all hype from where he came from. He also noted that he is ready to defend this title anywhere anytime. While speaking more backstage, Nemeth said that he needed this win and if he had lost tonight to Finlay he would have retired.
Nick Nemeth is making his New Japan debut tonight in the main event challenging David Finlay for the IWGP Global Championship. #njnbg pic.twitter.com/6UuKT6FWSS
— Tim Jarrell of PWUnlimited (@TimmyBuddy) February 23, 2024
Nic Nemeth is taking a beating right now. #njnbg pic.twitter.com/jXW7gSt0uC
— Tim Jarrell of PWUnlimited (@TimmyBuddy) February 23, 2024
WOW!!!! Nic Nemeth just defeated David Finaly for the IWGP Global Championship. #njnbg pic.twitter.com/DSqFrWPdq2
— Tim Jarrell of PWUnlimited (@TimmyBuddy) February 23, 2024
Also speaking of title changes, we did see Sho tonight defeate El Desperado to become the new NJPW Jr Heavyweight Champion. Tomorrow night will round out the two-night event with Kazuchka Okada working his last match for the company under contract, Tetsuya Naito defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against SANADA, a big hair vs hair match, and more.
