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NJPW News: AXS TV Announces Broadcast Date For Fighting Spirit Unleashed
New Japan Pro Wrestling makes its return to the United States on Sunday, September 30th at Cal State University’s Walter Pyramid featuring Juice Robinson defending the IWGP Unites States Championship against Cody, plus Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurll in an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Tournament match. AXS TV issued the following announcement today, revealing that they will broadcasting the event on Friday, October 5th. Additionally, AXS has announced its upcoming lineup of matches from the G1 Climax 28:
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
ABOUT AXS TV
Launched in July 2012 by visionary entrepreneur CEO Mark Cuban, AXS TV delivers the ultimate in music entertainment programming with an eclectic lineup that includes classic concerts from music’s most iconic bands, as well as exclusive music festival coverage, original hit series, docs that rock, insightful specials, and knock-out live mixed martial arts action. AXS TV is a partnership between Cuban, AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and CBS. The network is available nationally in the United States and can be seen in parts of Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. For a list of providers, visit axs.tv/subscribe. For more information, see www.axs.tv and www.axs.tv/press. Follow AXS TV on Facebook, Twitter @axstv; Instagram; and YouTube
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TNA Impact on AMC Drops to 175,000 Viewers, 0.03 18-49 Rating Amid Heavy Sports Competition
TNA Thursday Night Impact averaged 175,000 viewers on AMC last week, a 17.5% decline from the previous week’s 212,000 and the lowest audience since January 22. The show posted a 0.03 rating in the key 18-49 demo, down 25% and matching its lowest demo figure on AMC since the move.
The drop coincided with stiff competition — Impact ran opposite the NFL Draft (simulcast on ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network) as well as NHL and NBA playoff coverage, leaving the program tied for 70th on the primetime cable charts. Versus the prior 10-week average (0.04 rating and 240,300 viewers), last week’s show fell 25% in the demo and 27.2% in overall viewers.
Originally reported by Wrestling Observer: https://www.f4wonline.com/news/tna-wrestling/tna-impact-viewership-18-49-rating-take-big-hit/.
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Nick Hogan Open to Pursuing In-Ring Career After Viewing Hulk Hogan: Real American
Nick Hogan told the Bonus Edition of the 83 Weeks podcast that after watching the final version of Hulk Hogan: Real American he’s more open than ever to stepping into the ring if the opportunity presents itself. Hogan said he’s been knocking off ring rust, is in good shape and “would absolutely welcome” the chance to pursue an in‑ring career, and noted the docuseries — which premiered on Netflix on April 22, 2026 — helped clarify his father’s legacy.
He also praised the series for pulling back the curtain on the many facets of Hulk Hogan, from character work to charitable efforts, saying it showed how dynamic a person his father is. Nick added that the long-discussed Chris Hemsworth biopic from 2019 remains a possibility despite delays, as the documentary continues to renew interest in Hogan’s story.
Originally reported by Wrestling Observer: https://www.f4wonline.com/news/nick-hogan-would-absolutely-welcome-opportunity-to-pursue-wrestling-career/.
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Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
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