Pro Wrestling Illustrated has named AJ Styles the “Wrestler of the Year” for the second time in a row. Styles joins Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, Steve Austin, John Cena and CM Punk as the only wrestlers to do that in consecutive years.

Styles earned 38% of the vote, ahead of Kazuchika Okada (21%), Kenny Omega (11%), and Cody Rhodes (9%), among others.

The rest of the awards are as followed:

Rookie: Otis Drozovic

Inspirational: Christopher Daniels

Most Improved: Jinder Mahal

Comeback: The Hardys

Woman: Asuka

Feud: Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada

Hated: Jinder Mahal

Popular: AJ Styles

Match: Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada (1/4)

Tag Team: Young Bucks

The post AJ Styles Named 2017 PWI Wrestler of the Year appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

Photo: ROH

Jimmy Jacobs & WWE Part Ways

It’s being reported that Jimmy Jacobs is no longer with WWE. Jacobs joined WWE back in 2015 as a writer, but it looks like he’s no longer part of WWE’s creative team.

Apparently, his photo op with the Bullet Club when they did their invasion at RAW a few weeks ago didn’t go over too well with management, and Jacobs either quit or was fired last week.

Pleasant surprise to see old friends in lovely California. #BCInvasion #RAW #youngbucks #bulletclub #villian #hangmanpage #WWE

A post shared by Jimmy Jacobs (@jimmyjacobsx) on Sep 25, 2017 at 5:44pm PDT

And, it didn’t take long for Jacobs to capitalize on this story; the shirt is just great.

But then I saw the news. If the news is true, you should buy the new t-shirt available at https://t.co/Fr7vNEVDTw pic.twitter.com/hnBu7rNYah

— jimmyjacobs.net (@JimmyJacobsX) October 12, 2017

And, of course, The Young Bucks had to get in on the action, too.

pic.twitter.com/HooVRUvONN

— The Young Bucks (@MattJackson13) October 11, 2017

I’m going to throw my two cents in here and say how petty this is by WWE, especially if Jacobs lost his job over this one thing. Remember DX “invading” WCW back in the day? WWE is just garnering a hell of a lot of bad publicity for themselves with fans with the things like this and the cease & desist on The Bucks. For an entity that touts “entertainment”, WWE can’t take a little fun in stride.

Kazuchika Okada On LIJ & The Younger Generation

As we saw at King Of Pro Wrestling earlier this week, Kazuchika Okada had a successful IWGP Heavyweight Championship defense against EVIL, and the main event for WrestleKingdom 12 has been set. After Tetsuya Naito’s successful defense of his G1 Climax title shot against Tomohiro Ishii, the leaders of CHAOAS and Los Ingobernables de Japon will meet for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in the main event at The Tokyo Dome on January 4th.

Okada gave his thoughts on LIJ in a recent interview.

“Well, they’re certainly popular, there’s no doubt about that. You see LIJ shirts at all the venues, and even outside of wrestling on the street there are LIJ shirts and caps. They’re super popular. But as an actual team … I think they’re still a little too soft. Well, generally speaking, they’re a young team. They should be really representing what the present and future of wrestling is, but I’m not sure that’s something they’re getting across to the fans. CHAOS aren’t as young as them, maybe we don’t beat them in terms of speed, but we have a lot more up our sleeves. That’s what makes us a great team.”

He also spoke on the younger generation in NJPW stepping up to challenge him.

“I think whatever field you’re in, you always need something new, always need change. That’s how something everyone loves and that’s what’s inspirational. I don’t want fans in the future to say ‘Okada was cool, but after that…’”

The post Kazuchika Okada Talks LIJ & Future Challenges; Jimmy Jacobs No Longer With WWE appeared first on TopRopePress.com – Wrestling News, WWE News, TNA News, Wrestling Results.

Photo: NJPW

According to Kazuchika Okada, the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is “far superior” compared to WWE. During an interview with Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) to commemorate his top ranking in their PWI 500, Okada, speaking through an interpreter, was asked if he’s considering following former NJPW wrestlers who have eventually entered the WWE such as AJ Styles, Finn Bálor, and Shinsuke Nakamura, among others. Okada said the idea is something he doesn’t want to think about.

“It’s not something I think about. New Japan is far superior to WWE when it comes to the quality of the roster and the quality of the matches. One thing I will say is that I do pay attention to what Finn Balor, AJ, and Nakamura are doing, and they look like they’re having fun. I might want to wrestle them again someday, but I might want to do that in New Japan. Hell, I might want to be like some other people and become a movie star or join the UFC. You never know.”

Okada also commented on NJPW’s rising popularity within the United States, which recently hosted the G1 Climax Special last July to determine the inaugural IWGP United States Champion. He believes there is still a long way to go but the goal is to continue growing and make the entire world know about NJPW.

As Top Rope Press reported, Okada became the first Japanese wrestler in the 27-year history of the PWI 500 to earn the top spot. He’s also the first overall wrestler in the No. 1 position who doesn’t work for an American-based wrestling promotion.

The post Kazuchika Okada: New Japan Pro-Wrestling ‘Far Superior’ Than WWE appeared first on TopRopePress.com – Wrestling News, WWE News, TNA News, Wrestling Results.

While speaking to Pro Wrestling Illustrated, Kazuchika Okada was asked about possibility joining the WWE and mentioned that it’s not something he thinks about. He would go on to say that he believes New Japan is far more superior to WWE when it comes to match quality.

“It’s not something I think about,” Okada said. “New Japan is far superior to WWE when it comes to the quality of the roster and the quality of the matches. One thing I will say is that I do pay attention to what Finn Balor, AJ, and Nakamura are doing, and they look like they’re having fun. I might want to wrestle them again someday, but I might want to do that in New Japan. Hell, I might want to be like some other people and become a movie star or join the UFC. You never know.”

You can check out the full interview here.

The post Kazuchika Okada: “New Japan Is Far Superior to WWE!” appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

Photo: NJPW

Kazuchika Okada Tops 2017 PWI 500

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada is at the top of the 2017 PWI 500. In past years, the list has normally run along kayfabe lines (with Roman Reigns being last year’s number one), but this year, they seem to have actually gone with the best wrestler in the world.

Okada held the championship throughout the entire evaluation period, July 31, 2016 to June 30, 2017, defending it against the likes of Naomichi Marufuji and Kenny Omega. The trilogy of matches between Omega and Okada are arguably the best matches of the modern era.

PWI Senior Writer Dan Murphy had the following to say about Okada’s topping this year’s list:

“What this award signifies is that wrestling fans and media worldwide are thinking about what promotion and what wrestler deserves their attention, and the answer is Okada. It’s an indication that finally the world at large is realizing just how great Japanese wrestlers and Japanese wrestling is, and that’s special.”

Okada is the first Japanese wrestler to ever top the PWI 500. He’s been in the top 10 for four of the past five years, including a second-place finish last year. In past years, Kenta Kobashi made it to number four on the list on three occasions and Keji Muto ranked number three once, but no other Japanese professional wrestler has ever made it to the top spot.

The post Kazuchika Okada Tops The 2017 PWI 500 appeared first on TopRopePress.com – Wrestling News, WWE News, TNA News, Wrestling Results.

Photo: NJPW

For many New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) fans, there was a surprise guest backstage in the WWE. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada attended the July 3rd episode of RAW. Since both RAW and SmackDown Live occurred in Phoenix, Arizona, this week, it was likely an easy commute for Okada, who competed for NJPW’s G1 Special in USA broadcasts last weekend.

Okada met with several WWE superstars including former NJPW wrestlers Shinsuke Nakamura and Finn Bálor, who at the time competed as Prince Devitt.

Welcome to the Club @rainmakerXokada pic.twitter.com/hRtKm1oBpV

— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) July 4, 2017

I had a good time with @ShinsukeN
中邑さんと！楽しかった！ pic.twitter.com/kF8qqqVz9n

— オカダ・カズチカ (@rainmakerXokada) July 4, 2017

Great talk amigo @rainmakerXokada ! Gusto en saludarte! Gracias #WWEPhoenix ! @WWE @wweespanol @WWEUniverse @njpw1972 #TodosSomosSinCara pic.twitter.com/nlZHjQv8rI

— Sin Cara (@SinCaraWWE) July 5, 2017

Based on a tweet from Goldust, he also met with Okada. The IWGP Heavyweight Champion had defended his title against Goldust’s brother, Cody, during Night 1 of the G1 Special in USA from Long Beach, California.

Okada came to see my feature film….. #TheShatteredTruth tonight and I told him @CodyRhodes was better than him.

— Dustin Rhodes (@Goldust) July 4, 2017

Cody, the current Ring Of Honor World Champion, lost against Okada on July 1, but Goldust noted his younger brother is still better than The Rainmaker.

And, while many will read something into Okada’s visiting old friends during a WWE show, this isn’t the first time it’s happened. Okada is locked into a contract with NJPW, and he’s made clear that the promotion is his first priority. So, despite whatever rumors may surface from this week’s happenings, don’t expect Okada to leave NJPW any time soon.

The post Kazuchika Okada Visits Finn Bálor & Shinsuke Nakamura At WWE Events appeared first on TopRopePress.com – Wrestling News, WWE News, TNA News, Wrestling Results.

”The Cleaner” Kenny Omega appeared on the Taz Show yesterday and revealed that he’s a free-agent. He said that his New Japan contract runs out at the end of January and he is now evaluating his future. The former IWGP Intercontinental Champion further added that although he wasn’t actively talking to promotions, he was accepting feelers from other wrestling promotions/companies before taking the next step. Omega said that it wasn’t necessarily the money that would sway his mind because what he really wants to do is change the business of professional wrestling (aka sports-entertainment) in his own way.

According to Omega’s own words, it seemed like WWE have been among the promotions who have contacted him for a deal.

The Elite and Bullet Club member Kenny Omega was/is on WWE’s radar for quite awhile as per various reports from the past couple of years. It’s a well known fact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5pfdz0ECag

In the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 11, Kenny Omega went toe-to-toe against ”The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada in an attempt to dethrone Okada and capture the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in a match that got appreciated by wrestling fans and critics across the globe and was rated 6 stars out of 5 by Dave Meltzer. Omega after ending up on the losing end, he tweeted out a few days later that he was leaving ‘The Land of the Rising Sun’ Japan and is considering his future options, which sent WWE and Wrestling fans alike in a frenzy and immediately rumors surfaced across social media platforms and beyond of a possible Royal Rumble appearance.

During the interview, Kenny Omega added that WWE would be more accepting of a talent like himself and they would now use him to his full potential, while in the past this may not have been the notion. Omega further said that he doesn’t want to sign with WWE for a payday but, he wanted to do things that made wrestling fans happy and bring new fans into the world of pro wrestling. Finally, he signed off saying that if WWE felt the same way about him and his vision, he would seriously consider an offer from WWE.

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On this account, Cena only sends out photos without any explanation. In the past, he’s been known to post other wrestlers (A.J. Styles, The Undertaker, CM Punk) to get set the pro wrestling universe abuzz.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPAs06sjWsx/

Kenny Omega recently tweeted his first comments after losing to ‘The Rainmaker’ Kazuchika Okada in the main event of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s (NJPW) Wrestle Kingdom 11 which was for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. The bout lasted forty-six minutes and was widely considered the show’s “Match of the Night”.

Thank you everyone for your support and for watching #wk11 . It was the greatest stage for me to show my vision for pro-wrestling.

— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) January 5, 2017

Meanwhile, Omega also tweeted out on January 6th, that he’ll be stepping away from Japan, and he followed that up saying his schedule is clear, & will be weighing all options.

I will be stepping away from Japan to reassess my future. The path of my journey may change, but my goals will not. pic.twitter.com/E4vDiGgAwe

— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) January 6, 2017

@KennyOmegamanX there is no plan. My schedule is cleared and I’m weighing all options. I’ve a lot to consider. Thx for the patience/support

— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) January 6, 2017

Editor’s note:

What this gesture means is unclear. But, it seems to me that Kenny Omega will appear on WWE TV in some capacity or another very soon.
There are two possibilities.

One, He has signed with WWE and will report to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando soon. Kenny was on WWE’s radar anyway.

Two, NJPW and WWE have struck a deal for Kenny Omega’s appearance in WWE. This might be a first for a long lasting WWE/NJPW relationship.

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This might be the Final IWGP Title Defend of the Year according to the NJPW. Aj Style vs Tanahashi Hiroshi was called the best bout of the G1 25 Tournament. This also could be a final match in the big show if there were to be a switch. But for that Tanahshi has to hold on to his Challenging Right.

New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) Star Okada Kazuchika was Backstage on Summerslam, also Shinsuke Nakamura and KUSHIDA were also at there. Jushin ‘Thunder’ liger, who participated in the NXT Takeover Brooklyn was also present.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbFsl43oLp0

Fake Tickets of Summerslam sold

There were some fake tickets sold in the year Summerslam event, Some fans were reportedly turned away because there tickets were fake some were even escorted out of the building.