It may not be the biggest dream title vs. title match between New Japan and WWE fans could imagine, but it’s a pretty darn cool one nonetheless.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion Will Ospreay isn’t correct that his upcoming match with WWE United Kingdom champ Pete Dunne is a first (Hulk Hogan held the WWF’s top prize when he defeated IWGP Heavyweight titleholder The Great Muta in a non-title match at Wrestling Dontaku in May of 1993), but even in 2018, it’s pretty momentous.
Have no idea if this has ever happened.
— ウィル・オスプレイ (@WillOspreay) January 8, 2018
But for my knowledge, this will be the the first time a WWE champion & a IWGP Champion will be in the same ring at the same time. pic.twitter.com/A6KVSaLySg
It’s also a reminder that a year after it was introduced, the whole WWE UK division is a brand without a home. NXT houses the scene just enough to keep it on the Network, but otherwise, Dunne and names like Tyler Bate and Trent Seven are working non-televised independent dates and appearing online for promotions friendly with The ‘E like Progress and IPW: UK.
IPW has a recently announced streaming service, but Magnficent 7even looks to be just for the live crowd in Milton Keynes. Anybody going on Jan. 17?