Unthinkable Wrestling DEPARTURE! Seth Rollins WWE Injury | WrestleTalk - video Dailymotion

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Where do you think this star is heading? Let us know in the comments! 10 Worst Wrestling Entrance Themes | Tables, Lists & Chairs  https://youtu.be/GM49vJchVt8 More wrestling news on https://wrestletalk.com/ 0:00 - Coming up... 0:19 - R-Truth's Big Question 0:48 - Okada Leaves New Japan 10:04 - Seth Rollins Injury Update 10:55 - WrestleTalk Update Unthinkable Wrestling DEPARTURE! Seth Rollins WWE Injury | WrestleTalk #SethRollins #WWE #WrestleTalk  Subscribe to WrestleTalk Podcasts   https://bit.ly/3pEAEIu Subscribe to partsFUNknown for lists, fantasy booking & more  https://bit.ly/32JJsCv Subscribe to NoRollsBarred  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5UQPZe-8v4_UP1uxi4Mv6A Subscribe to WrestleTalk  https://bit.ly/3gKdNK3 SUBSCRIBE TO THEM ALL! Make sure to enable ALL push notifications!  Watch the latest wrestling news: https://shorturl.at/pAIV3 Buy WrestleTalk Merch here! https://wrestleshop.com/   Follow WrestleTalk: Twitter: https://twitter.com/_WrestleTalk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WrestleTalk.Official Patreon: https://goo.gl/2yuJpo WrestleTalk Podcast on iTunes: https://goo.gl/7advjX WrestleTalk Podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3uKx6HD  Written by: Oli Davis Presented by: Oli Davis Thumbnail by: Brandon Syres Image Sourcing by: Brandon Syres  About WrestleTalk: Welcome to the official WrestleTalk YouTube channel! WrestleTalk covers the sport of professional wrestling - including WWE TV shows (both WWE Raw & WWE SmackDown LIVE), PPVs (such as Royal Rumble, WrestleMania & SummerSlam), AEW All Elite Wrestling, Impact Wrestling, ROH, New Japan, and more. Subscribe and enable ALL notifications for the latest wrestling WWE reviews and wrestling news.  Sources used for research: https://wrestletalk.com/news/wwe-potential-signing-update-kazuchika-okada/ https://wrestletalk.com/news/more-details-kazuchika-okada-free-agent-wwe-aew-tna/ https://wrestletalk.com/news/major-star-with-wwe-interest-becomes-free-agent-kazuchika-okada/ https://wrestletalk.com/news/seth-rollins-pwi-wrestler-of-the-year-all-winners/  Youtube Channel Comments Policy We appreciate the comments and opinions our viewers provide. Do note that all comments are subject to YouTube auto-moderation and manual moderation review. We encourage opinions and discussion, but harassment, hate speech, bullying and other abusive posts will not be tolerated. Decisions on comment removal are made by the Community Manager. Please email us at support@wrestletalk.com with any questions or concerns.

Transcript

00:00 The Unthinkable has happened!

00:02 A major wrestling star has left their long-time promotion, and Seth Rollins pulled from WWE

00:08 shows after injury.

00:09 I'm Oli Davis, and this is the WrestleTalk News.

00:19 Get ready for your brain to break with The Unthinkable.

00:22 For your mind to just start asking question after question after question.

00:27 Because once you've heard this, you'll never look at the world the same way again.

00:33 Our Truth is Asked on Busted Open Radio.

00:42 What could Big Butterfly be hiding from us?

00:45 And yeah, Kazuchika Rikard has left New Japan.

00:49 And this isn't a dirt sheet report or a vague tweet from Tony Khan, although I do

00:52 have one of those coming up later.

00:54 It's from an official statement from New Japan Pro Wrestling themselves.

01:00 Thank you for supporting New Japan Pro Wrestling.

01:02 Kazuchika Rikard will be leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling after the conclusion of his

01:06 contract on January 31st, 2024.

01:10 We apologise to fans for the abrupt nature of this announcement, but join them in wishing

01:15 Rikard the very best in his future.

01:18 As the New Beginning series begins this weekend, Rikard will appear on February dates on February

01:23 11th in Osaka and February 23rd and 24th in Sapporo.

01:27 Changes will be made to forthcoming cards with an announcement to follow.

01:31 We appreciate your understanding and continued support.

01:35 The statement then includes a quote from Rikard himself.

01:38 I have nothing but gratitude for having been a part of New Japan Pro Wrestling since 2007,

01:44 and for NJPW bringing me from a 19 year old kid off the plane in Mexico to the Rainmaker

01:49 I am today.

01:51 Thank you to the best of companies in NJPW, to the best of opponents that I've been

01:55 able to face here, and to the best of fans that have cheered and booed over the years.

02:01 I promise to make it rain in every match I have left, so keep watching.

02:06 Confirmation of Rikard's New Japan departure comes after months of reports and speculation

02:12 that he would be leaving once his contract expired.

02:15 According to one rumour, WWE started explicitly booking Japanese wrestlers better, pushing

02:20 Io Sky, Asuka, Kairi Sane and Shinsuke Nakamura, to show Okada this was a new company that

02:26 would treat him very well if he signed with them.

02:29 Nakamura's World Title programme with Seth Rollins was a key part of that plan, with

02:34 Nakamura being Okada's original mentor in New Japan as part of their Chaos faction.

02:39 But even with months of people saying this could happen, I don't think anyone thought

02:44 it actually would.

02:45 It's like Bono leaving U2, Kevin Feige leaving Marvel, Cody Rhodes leaving AEW.

02:51 Fightful Select is reporting several New Japan sources were surprised as well by the announcement

02:59 when it was made.

03:00 Not because it was happening, but because they expected it to be publicly confirmed

03:04 sometime next week.

03:06 According to the report, New Japan isn't too worried about losing arguably its biggest

03:11 star, as they're confident they'll be able to create new talent in both Japan and

03:15 the United States to replace it.

03:17 Frey, WWE to also likely poach them in five years' time once they're over enough.

03:22 Claiming to not mind losing Okada after they've also just lost Will Ospreay and Jey White

03:26 the previous year, to me, gives off big 'no, I'm fine, this was a mutual decision between

03:32 me and Megan, I've actually been feeling differently two over the last year or so'

03:36 kind of energy.

03:38 Fightful adds that there are no hard feelings between Okada and the promotion he just left

03:43 behind.

03:44 Let's dive into that.

03:46 Okada is arguably not just New Japan's greatest wrestler, he's arguably the greatest

03:51 wrestler of our generation.

03:53 Some go so far as to say he's the greatest in-ring wrestler of all time.

03:58 New Japan's head booker Gedo saw this potential in him from the start, controversially having

04:03 him beat the then-ace of New Japan, Hiroshi Tanahashi, for the IWGP Heavyweight title

04:09 just one month after his main roster call-up.

04:12 From 2016 to 2018, Okada would have the greatest world title run in modern wrestling history,

04:19 which included his famous series of matches against Kenny Omega and set the title's

04:24 longest reign ever at 720 days.

04:28 Being the greatest wrestler of all time, though, is a lofty standard to maintain.

04:32 And despite still putting on the occasional 'best match you've ever seen', Okada

04:37 has more recently received criticism for not reaching those previous highs.

04:42 We all watched his match against Will Ospreay from Saturday 13th's Battle in the Valley

04:45 show in the office the other day, and we all had a similar feeling.

04:49 Okada kind of looked bored, and it felt like Ospreay was the driving force behind the match.

04:54 Hopefully that's more because Okada feels like he's accomplished all there is in

04:58 New Japan, and a move elsewhere would reinvigorate his motivation.

05:05 Of course, we watched that match because we thought it was Ospreay's last New Japan

05:08 date.

05:09 We didn't think we were watching Okada kind of finishing up too, because, on screen, New

05:14 Japan never gave us any reason to think he would be.

05:17 Okada's final year in New Japan, the promotion that made his name, had no real storyline

05:23 substance.

05:24 He spent most of the year either defending his never-openweight six man championships

05:28 with Ishii and Tanahashi, or feuding with a wrestler from another promotion - AEW's

05:33 Bryan Danielson.

05:34 There was no big climaxing story, nor did he go out putting over and making a new star

05:39 to replace him.

05:40 The most he did in that regard was losing his first ever G1 final to Naito in August.

05:46 Perhaps New Japan were complacent.

05:48 Deciding Okada leaving them was unthinkable too.

05:50 Their official announcement has hints that Okada's departure did catch them by surprise,

05:55 even referencing the statement's "abrupt nature" and how they had even booked him

05:59 for dates in February.

06:00 New Japan is usually meticulous in how they announce their cards in advance, making sure

06:05 they don't spoil any potential storylines or title changes.

06:08 That this has happened with Okada suggests they assumed they'd have him around long

06:13 term.

06:14 So with the Rainmaker definitively finished in New Japan, where does he go now?

06:19 Okada to TNA confirmed.

06:20 That's not even a joke, he's going to appear there next week.

06:24 But where does he go after that?

06:26 I'll tell you right after this clip from Three Count of Luke and I reviewing every

06:29 Royal Rumble ever in three words or less/fewer.

06:33 Which is out this Sunday.

06:34 "The got I hate.

06:39 The pop.

06:40 The Cena pop.

06:42 And I would say that applies to everyone who's over the age of 15 in that audience.

06:48 Because Cena comes back, everyone's like "OH MY GOD CENA CAME BACK HOW?

06:52 4 MONTHS OUT FROM A TORN PEC?

06:54 THAT'S A YEAR RECOVERY TIME!"

06:57 And then it takes about a minute for everyone to go "wait a second, we don't like this

07:02 guy, hate Super Cena."

07:05 Cena return pop.

07:06 Like that is what this show is about.

07:08 It's that Cena return pop.

07:09 And he's standing there with his hands and he goes "he looks so insufferably smug."

07:14 "Oh yeah, it's a punchable face."

07:16 "I've recovered really well.

07:19 And I'm going to win lol."

07:22 Subscribe and enable notifications to know when that goes live first.

07:25 Okada's next move is a two horse race, with AEW and WWE as the only companies that can

07:31 offer the kind of money he's reportedly looking for, which he mostly uses for his entrances.

07:35 Fightful is reporting that sources in WWE haven't heard of much talk between the two

07:40 parties, and they're starting to suspect Okada isn't interested in signing with them.

07:45 Although that's also exactly what reports about CM Punk said.

07:48 But AEW isn't a done deal either, because that move wouldn't explain why Ospreay and

07:52 Danielson wanted to wrestle him so much this month.

07:55 In a couple of weeks, they'll be able to do that whenever they want it.

07:58 AEW, however, seems a tad more optimistic, with its President Tony Khan posting on X

08:04 just hours before New Japan announced Okada would be leaving "it's gonna be an amazing

08:08 2024.

08:09 Wait and not rub it in with your valued business partner there, Tone" before following that

08:14 up with a picture of Marlo Stamfield from the acclaimed TV show The Wire saying "My

08:18 name is my name."

08:25 Okada would be a huge signing for AEW, potentially the right kind of fuel for both man and company

08:31 to drive to new heights in 2024.

08:33 There's definitely no flaws or consequences in this move at all.

08:48 Just one more thing.

08:49 I've said this before, but it bears repeating.

08:51 How long can you sustain a business relationship with another wrestling promotion when you

08:55 keep outbidding them for all their top stars?

08:58 Yeah, I understand these wrestlers all have individual agency.

09:01 Okada has done all there is in New Japan.

09:03 A move probably is the right thing for him.

09:06 But from a more emotional New Japan perspective, I don't know how much longer I'd put up

09:11 with this happening.

09:12 In the last year alone, AEW have signed Jey White and Will Ospreay from New Japan.

09:17 Those are two main eventers that New Japan spent numerous years and substantial resources

09:23 in building up.

09:24 Gone.

09:25 AEW's original sin was also taking New Japan's main event gaijin scene of Kenny

09:29 Omega, the Young Bucks and more to launch their promotion.

09:33 Again, I'm not criticising the wrestlers for choosing that path.

09:36 I just want to point out that New Japan took that so badly, they didn't work with AEW

09:41 for years because of the backstage heat.

09:44 How long can you keep that forbidden door open when your best talent keeps walking out

09:48 of it to get cigarettes and they never come home?

09:51 Where do you think Okada will end up, and how do you think it could affect New Japan's

09:55 relationships with AEW or WWE?

09:58 Let me know in the comments because I'll be replying to people RAIN OR MAKE UP FROM

10:03 OUTTA NOWHERE.

10:04 Seth Rollins might need to find comfort in being voted PWI's 2023 Wrestler of the Year

10:09 yesterday, as uncertainty remains over his recent injury.

10:13 WWE's World Heavyweight Champion injured his leg during a title defence against Jinder

10:18 Mahal on the 15th January Raw.

10:20 He was helped to the back, and reportedly later had an MRI to determine the severity.

10:25 PWInsider Elite is now reporting Rollins has been removed from this weekend's WWE live

10:30 events in Alabama and Mississippi, and has been replaced by Randy Orton from out of scheduling.

10:36 Hopefully this is just a precautionary measure, letting Rollins recover ahead of the most

10:40 important few months of the year, the road to WrestleMania.

10:43 Both Wrestling Observers Dave Meltzer and PWTorch's Wade Keller have mentioned their

10:47 sources have been silent on how serious Seth's injury is.

10:52 Although they disagree on whether this is a good or a bad sign.

10:56 Time for a new year, new me update.

10:58 Yes, I'm still on that kick.

11:00 You might've noticed I've been doing a lot more WrestleTalk News episodes recently.

11:03 I wasn't in the best place last year, but I'm feeling much better now.

11:07 So long may me doing loads of news continue.

11:09 I'm really enjoying it.

11:10 It's been really fun doing three count and tables, lists and chairs too.

11:13 I've got so many ideas again.

11:15 And to focus on making those the best they can possibly be, we're going to experiment

11:19 with a few things like pausing the Saturday WrestleTalk News and SmackDown podcast.

11:24 It's mostly because those videos don't get quite the number of views they need to

11:28 make them sustainable.

11:29 And also so Tempest and Sack can, I don't know, spend time with their family and friends.

11:34 Instead we'll have a different video on WrestleTalk on Saturdays, and we're going

11:37 to try a combined SmackDown and Collision Super Review podcast on Mondays.

11:42 We're going to start that experiment in two weeks time, from the 3rd February.

11:46 Of course, though, next Saturday is the Royal Rumble, so we won't have our usual WrestleTalk

11:50 News and Podcast videos then anyway.

11:52 We'll all be busy sleeping in to prepare to countdown from 10, 50… 8 times.

12:03 For our awesome Royal Rumble Watch Party, which will be streaming right here on the

12:07 WrestleTalk YouTube channel, that means tomorrow's show with Tempest and Sack will be the last

12:13 Saturday News and Podcast for a while.

12:15 So please go give them some love in tomorrow's comments for several years of working Saturdays.

12:20 We're going to work around Sack's schedule so we can get him on as many other shows like

12:24 TLC as we can.

12:25 Thanks for taking the time to stick around for this ad mini bit.

12:28 Much love, O-D Kiss.

12:29 Speaking of tables, lists and chairs, go watch us countdown the 10 worst wrestling entrance

12:34 themes of all time now!

Unthinkable Wrestling DEPARTURE! Seth Rollins WWE Injury | WrestleTalk

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