WWE NXT star Josh Briggs takes on NJPW’s Ryohei Oiwa in NOAH’s N1 Victory Tournament

One big thing: WWE and NJPW talents will face off in the NOAH tournament

WWE NXT’s Josh Briggs takes on New Japan Pro Wrestling’s (NJPW) Ryohei Oiwa in the opening match of Pro Wrestling NOAH’s N1 Victory Tournament.

Why it matters

• This match is a rare cross-promotional encounter between WWE and NJPW contracted talents.
• It highlights the growing interconnectedness of global wrestling organizations.
• The match could potentially open doors for future collaborations between WWE and Japanese promotions.

Competition details

• The competition will take place on Sunday, August 4 at Yokohama Budokan.
• It is the opening match of the A-block in the N1 Victory Tournament.
• The event will be streamed live on Wrestle Universe and English commentary will be available.

Tournament context

• Josh Briggs is part of the A-block in the N1 Victory Tournament.
• Another WWE NXT star, Tavion Heights, will compete in the B block.
• Heights will face Titus Alexander in its opening match.

Broader implications

• NJPW is currently affiliated with AEW, as evidenced by their annual Forbidden Door event.
• This WWE-NJPW match takes place despite the fact that there is no formal partnership between the two companies.
• It follows WWE star AJ Styles’ recent match against Naomichi Marufuji at NOAH’s Destination 2024 event.

This unexpected cross-promotional match adds an intriguing element to NOAH’s N1 Victory Tournament. It raises questions about potential future collaborations between major wrestling promotions. What do you think this match could mean for the future of inter-promotional relationships in professional wrestling? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.