Aussies Abroad: TNA turns green and gold while Aussie talent heads to Japan
Welcome back to another Aussies Abroad, where every week we take a look at the local Aussie talent making it big in the overseas world of pro wrestling.
Let’s start this week’s coverage with the latest news from Adelaide’s own Rhea Ripley, who has been getting into some drama with the NXT women’s division. After narrowly missing a win at Mania that would have seen her take back her championship belt, Ripley found herself in a feud with NXT’s Roxann Perez. Things were going well for Ripley in the match until NXT star Giulia got herself involved, giving Perez just enough time to take control. Things only got worse when Giulia jumped in-ring to further shatter Ripley’s ego. An interesting turn of events saw women’s champion Iyo Sky run into the ring to eliminate the threat. It is clear that Iyo and Ripley only want each other for themselves, and we can’t wait to see the carnage they’ll cause.
Over in TNA, an international star answered Elijah’s open challenge, in the form of Australia’s very own Shane Haste. Haste was able to thankfully put an end to Elijah’s god-awful singing, and bring the TMDK name back to TNA. Things didn’t go too well for Haste during the first minutes of the match, but he was eventually able to pick things up with an impressive-looking cannonball and took advantage of the brief opening. Despite putting to work the skills he’s picked up straight from NJPW, it still wasn’t enough for him to pick up the final win.
Things went a little better for the Aussies over in AEW, with Toni Storm picking up a win in a match against Queen Aminata. The two women brought all of their strength to this match, in what was an impressive display of brutality and quick thinking. It was great fun watching Storm go head-to-head with someone who matched her strength, and it led to an extremely physical match. It was eventually an impressive Storm Zero that was enough to finally have Aminata down and out for the three count.
Over in Japan, Adelaide favourite Kira Summer has been continuing her work with TJPW, this week with an match with Pom Harajuku, Raku, and Ivy Steele. Fellow Aussie Chris Vice has also been in Japan for much of this year, and last week took place in a match at the Lucha Fiesta Especial in Japan. The match saw Vice go head-to-head with some of the country’s very best. Robbie Eagles also competed once again this week with his TMDK teammates with NJPW. Although they weren’t able to pick up the win, it is clear that Eagles is becoming a standout name in the Japanese scene!
Powerhouse Lena Kross also returned to Japan this week to continue her work with Sendai Girls Pro Wrestling. Kross later took to social media to share her thoughts on the promotion and her work so far in Japan and said she is “always grateful for the opportunities” that Senjo provides.
RCW favourite Vincent (Vinny) Di Maria also spent the week in Japan, making his debut with H-Production in a huge match against Naoshi Sano and Thunder Melendez. Vinny, along with his partner Odoru Benjo Taro, were able to pick up the win to become ‘ichiban’!
Back in America, Shazza McKenzie has continued to do her country proud this year, wrestling in a number of rings across the USA. This week saw her compete in a two-on-one handicap match at BLP Squared Circle Expo against Tony Atlas and Frank The Clown. This week also saw the news announced of former WWE superstar and Aussie favourite Indi Hartwell joining the TNA team. Hartwell is the newest signing to the knockouts division, which is fantastic news for the Aussie scene and the TNA locker room. “This is a dream come true for me,” Hartwell said. “I want to say, it’s officially official, Indi Hartwell has crossed the line”.
News Writer + Aussies Abroad. Based in Adelaide and winner of the 2023 CPA Young Journo of the year, has been a news and arts journalist for a number of years working across radio and print, but has decided to take her wrestling addiction to PWDU. You can find her at any local wrestling night across the state with a beer in-hand and a front-row ticket to the action.
