Hiroshi Tanahashi will defend the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship in a star-studded four-way bout at NJPW Capital Collision on May 14.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling has announced that Tanahashi will put the title on the line against Juice Robinson, Will Ospreay, and Jon Moxley.
? IWGP US TITLE MATCH!!
At Capital Collision 5/14 in Washington DC the IWGP Title will be on the line in a 4-way bout you won't want to miss!
?️ @JonMoxley ? @tanahashi1_100 ? #JuiceRobinson ? @WillOspreay
Get your tickets now! https://t.co/QA87mRdUxM#njpw #njCapital pic.twitter.com/IfKVI6c0ko
— NJPW of America (@NJPWofAmerica) May 4, 2022
The preview, courtesy of NJPW’s official website, is as follows:
There is no doubt that the IWGP united States Heavyweight Championship scene has been a complicated one in recent weeks. Champion SANADA was forced to vacate his title due to injury at Hyper Battle, suggesting that former champion Hiroshi Tanahashi reassume the title. When Will Ospreay- at whose hands Cold Skull was put on the shelf in the first place during New Japan Cup- protested, a match was signed for the vacant title at Dontaku.
Before that bout could take place, Ospreay wrestled Jon Moxley at Windy City Riot in Chicago, a match Moxley won after a heavily disputed three count. Post match, claims (backed up by slow motion replay) that Ospreay had kicked out of the match-ending Death Rider notwithstanding, the victorious Moxley would issue a challenge to Hiroshi Tanahashi for Washington.
With no match between Moxley and Tanahashi yet official, the Ace was keeping his focus on Ospreay for Dontaku, but had to shift that attention to Tomohiro Ishii when COVID travel protocols and a positive test means that the Commonwealth Kingpin could not travel. Tanahashi won the IWGP US Championship over Ishii at Dontaku, but his post match celebration was quickly cut short by Juice Robinson, making a shocking defection to BULLET CLUB and jumping the line when it came to the US title.
This week, Ospreay floated an way to settle the complication. ‘Moxley challenged Tanahashi,’ he remarked, ‘And Juice jumped the line. But what you have to remember is that the only one with a signed US Championship match against Tanahashi is me’. Ospreay suggested a four way and that is now official, as Hiroshi Tanahashi will defend against Moxley, Juice and Ospreay at Capital Collision!
Ospreay made the challenge for the bout on May 2. He was scheduled to face Tanahashi in a match for the vacant title at NJPW Wrestling Tontaku, but he was pulled from the card due to COVID-19. Moxley defeated Ospreay at NJPW Windy City Riot and called out Tanahashi. As for Robinson, he attacked Tanahashi after the latter won the gold by beating Tomohiro Ishii at NJPW Wrestligng Dontaku.
Challenge set.
May 13, Washington DC.@njpwglobal @NJPWofAmerica pic.twitter.com/VMGKO3M4qz
— Will Ospreay • ウィル・オスプレイ (@WillOspreay) May 2, 2022
NJPW previously announced that Kazuchika Okada and Trent Beretta will team up to face Jay White and Hikuleo at NJPW Capital Collision.
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