Some news regarding the September 30th event.
On September 30th New Japan Pro Wrestling will be presenting a show in the United States just two months removed from their 'Strong Style Evolved' event which was held at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. The company will be running it back at the same venue for the forthcoming 'Fighting Spirit Unleashed' show which already has three matches signed, sealed and waiting to be delivered.
* IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship
Juice Robinson (c) vs. Cody
* IWGP Tag Team Championships
The Young Bucks (c) vs. 'Guerillas Of Destiny' (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa)
* IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament Semi-Final Match
Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurll
More information concerning the event was released today. AXS TV which is the television network that normally plays host to NJPW's U.S. shows has announced that they will be airing 'Fighting Spirit Unleashed' on October 5th which is five days after the event occurs. Also, NJPW commentator Kevin Kelly will make his AXS TV debut when he fills in for former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett on commentary for 'Fighting Spirit Unleashed'. Kelly will join the desk and call the action alongside WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross.
AXS TV PREMIERES NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING’S NEXT U.S. EVENT ‘FIGHTING SPIRIT UNLEASHED’ ON FRIDAY, OCT. 5 AT 8pE/5pP
Wrestling Legend Jim Ross Reunites with Kevin Kelly to Call the Event Ringside from Long Beach, California
AXS TV Premieres The G1 Climax 28 Tournament Finale Friday, Sept. 28
Los Angeles (Aug. 24, 2018) – "AXS TV will premiere NJPW’s return to America—FIGHTING SPIRIT UNLEASHED—on Friday, Oct 5 at 8pE/5pP. NJPW World commentator Kevin Kelly will make his AXS TV debut filling in for Josh Barnett and will team with the Wrestling Hall of Famer Jim Ross.
FIGHTING SPIRIT UNLEASHED takes place on Sunday, Sept. 30 in the Walter Pyramid at California State University, Long Beach, headlined by newly crowned IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Champion Juice Robinson defending his title against Cody.
“I had a conflicting event with one of my fighters in Japan,” said Josh Barnett, “otherwise I’d be there to call this event and have my partner Jim Ross’ back, as always. I’ll be back next time!”
“While I will miss working with my normal broadcast partner Josh Barnett, I am excited for the opportunity to work again with Kevin Kelly, whom I broadcast with for the first time 20 years ago,” said Jim Ross. “Kevin has great knowledge from working on NJPW World, so he’ll bring another perspective to the broadcast and, as we all know, anything can and usually does happen. It should be a heck of a night.”
“I am excited to work with Jim Ross again and am happy to fill in for Josh,” said Kevin Kelly “Fighting Spirit Unleashed, filled with title matches and rivals galore, is a must-see for every NJPW fan.”
AXS TV continues its coverage of the G1 CLIMAX 28 Tournament every Friday night at 8pE/5pP leading up to FIGHTING SPIRIT UNLEASHED, with the tournament finale premiering Sept. 28, featuring the acclaimed championship match between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi. The network will also air the previous five years’ G1 CLIMAX finals in a late-night strip at 5aE/2aP from Sept. 24-28.
AXS TV’s weekly coverage of the G1 CLIMAX 28 tournament is as follows:
Friday, Aug. 24 at 8pE – “G1 CLIMAX 28: Day 6”
Kenny Omega vs. Tama Tonga
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hirooki Goto
SANADA vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Friday, Aug. 24 at 9pE – “G1 CLIMAX 28: Day 13”
Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL
Friday, Aug. 31 at 8pE – “G1 CLIMAX 28: Day 14”
Kenny Omega vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi
Friday, Aug. 31 at 9pE – “G1 CLIMAX 28: Day 15”
Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Michael Elgin
Jay White vs. Togi Makabe
Friday, Sept. 7 at 8pE – “G1 CLIMAX 28: Day 16”
Kota Ibushi vs. Tama Tonga
Kenny Omega vs. Toru Yano
Tetsuya Naito vs. SANADA
Friday, Sept. 14 at 8pE – “G1 CLIMAX 28: Day 17 – A Block Final”
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
Jay White vs. EVIL
Friday, Sept. 21 at 8pE – “G1 CLIMAX 28: Day 18 – B Block Final”
Kenny Omega vs. Kota Ibushi
Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Friday, Sept. 28 at 8pE – “G1 CLIMAX 28: Day 19 – Final”
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi
As mentioned at the conclusion of the press release, the G1 Climax 28 tournament will air on AXS TV over the coming month and to read about who emerged victorious in this year's tournament, click here.
