New Japan is running a quick tour of the Northeastern United States this weekend. These aren’t events where big storyline developments are likely to happen - they’re international house shows. A chance for fans in a handful of wrestling hotbeds to see NJPW’s stars and experience Strong Style puroresu first-hand, as the company continues its expansion into the U.S. market.
Fighting Spirit Unleashed started in Boston without incident on Fri., Sept. 27, and wraps up in Philadelphia tonight, Sun. Sept. 29. In between, they hit New York City, and that’s where things get interesting.
The start of the show at The Manhattan Center’s Hammerstein Ballroom was delayed by 90 minutes. This was due to the lack of a New York State Athletic Commission-mandated ambulance. New Japan had contracted with the company who provides emergency medical services for all of the venue’s events, though.
We’ll let PWInsider take the story from here:
7:57 PM Update - New Japan’s Vice President and Rocky Romero came out and apologized to the crowd for the “technical issues.” They tossed t-shirts to the crowd. Romero asked the fans to bear with them and promised to rock NYC with tonight’s.
Based on numerous sources, here is the problem. The ambulance company that the Hammerstein Ballroom uses for all their events (and used last night for a concert) did not show up as scheduled. The belief originally was that the ambulance was stuck in traffic, but when the venue called the ambulance company to check up on their status, they were told that the ambulance company received a phone call this morning telling them tonight’s show was canceled and therefore they were not needed - and were now not available. Someone involved in the show was able to scramble and get a FDNY ambulance to come to the show and FDNY offered to help and remain until the show could get another ambulance to take their place, so that New Japan could star holding matches. However, we are told that New York State rules would not allow that and everyone is working on getting another ambulance there. The Commission does not allow matches to take place unless there are EMTs with an ambulance present at the venue. As you can imagine, everyone working the show is beyond stressed at the moment.
The ambulance arrived around quarter after 8PM, and the opening bell for a show which was supposed to start at 7PM finally rang at approximately 8:30. Based on Twitter reactions, a good time was had by all - and how could you not when Hiroshi Tanahashi teams with The Rock ‘N’ Roll Express, you get to say thanks to Tiger Hattori, and Amazing Red shows up.
But the buzz those things are getting seems to be drowned out by conspiracy theories speculating about a possible sabotage attempt...
Sounds a little off
— brett lauderdale (@Lauderdale11) September 29, 2019
So whoever sabotaged the NJPW show would have to be someone who knew that the Manhattan Center uses the same ambulance company for all events, regardless of if they're wrestling, concerts, kickboxing, etc...
— Bix I got this (@davidbix) September 29, 2019
The sad reality is that this is only the beginning. Every major wrestling company that does business in the US is fighting a war on multiple fronts, and it's going to get really ugly. https://t.co/iEw1i4s6qJ
— Gran Akuma (@__AKUMA) September 29, 2019
That’s certainly a more exciting idea than the more banal one - that someone at either New Japan or the ambulance company just screwed up. And while Dave Meltzer doesn’t rule out the sabotage theory (and says it’s the story NJPW wants you to believe), on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio he mentions he’s heard three different stories about the delay last night - and one of them is that New Japan just didn’t know some of the NYSAC regulations.
We’ll likely never know the truth. But that just means we can continue to have fun with conspiracy theories.