Impact opened the Forbidden Door for an NJPW legend to make his debut on Impact Wrestling (May 27, 2021). Satoshi Kojima stepped through to challenge a familiar foe on the Impact roster.
Eric Young was in the ring with his Violent by Design cohorts, Joe Doering, Deaner, and Rhino. That’s when Kojima called his shot. The two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion entered the ring. He stared down Doering and spoke three words, “Against All Odds.”
.@njpwglobal ICON @cozy_lariat has ARRIVED in IMPACT and he wants @bigjoedoering at #AgainstAllOdds! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/0mog0YTKwT
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) May 28, 2021
Against All Odds is Impact’s next Impact Plus app special event on June 12. Later backstage, Doering officially accepted the challenge.
BREAKING: @njpwglobal's @cozy_lariat will face @bigjoedoering on June 12th at #AgainstAllOdds on @IMPACTPlusApp!
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) May 28, 2021
WATCH: https://t.co/G70KvYMxLH pic.twitter.com/wD230RFYzO
Kojima and Doering have shared the ring several times as part of opposing tag teams, but they only have one singles match on record. Kojima successfully defended the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship against Doering on January 11, 2010.
Against All Odds now has three matches made official:
- Impact World Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Moose
- Knockouts Championship: Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Rosemary
- Satoshi Kojima vs. Joe Doering
As for the belt collector, Omega was not on the the show tonight. There was a scene with Don Callis alluding to Omega’s presence in the locker room. Callis put together the Good Brothers versus Moose & Sami Callihan for the main event. The combustible team combusted with Moose and Callihan turning on each other. The Good Brothers won via Magic Killer to Callihan.
In the Knockouts division, Rosemary pinned the champ during a ten-woman tag match. That earned the title shot against Deonna Purrazzo at Against All Odds.
.@WeAreRosemary just PINNED the Knockouts Champion @DeonnaPurrazzo. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/Kk8EoJPXJj
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) May 28, 2021
In other big match news, Josh Alexander will be defending the X-Division Championship against TJP in a 60-minute Iron Man next week. That bout was booked after TJP pinned Alexander in tag team action. The Iron Man contest will begin on the BTI pre-show and carry over on the Impact Wrestling broadcast. BTI airs at 7 pm ET on AXS with Impact Wrestling following at 8 pm ET.
BREAKING: @Walking_Weapon will defend the X-Division Championship against @MegaTJP in the FIRST EVER 60 Minute Iron Man match in IMPACT history NEXT WEEK!
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) May 28, 2021
The majority of the match will take place on BTI with the match concluding at the start of IMPACT! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/WNv7oTAIVy
Did Satoshi Kojima’s debut in Impact excite you? Which of the upcoming matches are you eager to see?