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FIRST MAIN EVENT SET FOR WRESTLE GRAND SLAM IN SEPTEMBER, COVID-19-NJPW FALLOUT AND MORE FROM JAPAN

New Japan Pro Wrestling

New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced BUSHI and Shingo Takagi tested positive for COVID-19.

BUSHI and Takagi recorded a fever upon arrival to New Japan’s fourteenth Summer Struggle tour show three days ago in Shizuoka and were held off the show.

Both wrestlers were also held off New Japan’s fifteenth and sixteenth Summer Struggle tour shows two days ago and yesterday in Korakuen Hall, as well as the six others who were deemed to be in close contact with them: Dick Togo, EVIL, Gedo, SANADA, Tetsuya Naito and Yujiro Takahashi.

It is worth remembering Takagi is scheduled to attempt his second defense of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against EVIL at the third night of Wrestle Grand Slam on September 5 – 18 days from now – in the MetLife Dome.

Elsewhere, new IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship holder Hiroshi Tanahashi will attempt his first defense of the title against the returning Kota Ibushi at the second night of Wrestle Grand Slam on September 4 in the MetLife Dome.

Tanahashi issued a challenge to Ibushi via video message, which Ibushi quickly accepted. It will be the first singles match between the on-again, off-again partners in over two years.

It will also be Ibushi’s first match in over two months due to aspiration pneumonia. Ibushi was previously scheduled to challenge Takagi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at the first night of Wrestle Grand Slam on July 25 in the Tokyo Dome, but Tanahashi took his place.

All Japan Pro Wrestling

All Japan Pro Wrestling held the second night of its Royal Road tournament today in Yokohama.

The full results were:

• Black Menso~re, Dan Tamura, Devil Murasaki, Izanagi and Takao Omori vs. Jun Saito, Rei Saito, Ryoma Tsukamoto, Ryuki Honda and Yuma Aoyagi
• Royal Road: Atuski Aoyagi def. TAJIRI
• Royal Road: Shuji Ishikawa def. Francesco Akira
• Royal Road: Shigehiro Irie def. Yoshitatsu
• Royal Road: Ayato Yoshida def. Hokuto Omori
• Royal Road: Shotaro Ashino def. Zeus
• Royal Road: SUWAMA def. Abdullah Kobayashi
• Royal Road: Kento Miyahara def. T-Hawk
• Royal Road: Jake Lee def. Koji Iwamoto

The semifinals will take place on August 24 in Shin-Kiba 1st Ring. The updated bracket is:

Left bracket
• Atsuki Aoyagi vs. Shotaro Ashino
• Ayato Yoshida vs. Jake Lee

Right bracket
• Kento Miyahara vs. Shuji Ishikawa
• Shigehiro Irie vs. SUWAMA

DDT Pro-Wrestling

DDT Pro-Wrestling has announced new matches for its shows on September 4 in Nagoya and September 12 in Fukuoka.

The announced matches are:

September 4 in Nagoya
• Antonio Honda and Sanshiro Takagi vs. Danshoku Dieno and Yuki Iino
• Chris Brookes vs. Yukio Sakaguchi

September 12 in Fukuoka
• Antonio Honda, Sanshiro Takagi and Toru Owashi vs. Mecha Mummy, Pokotan and Yoshihiko

GLEAT

GLEAT has announced T-Hawk will face Eisa8 at its show on September 11 in Osaka.

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