7 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (July 28)

5. Stardom Scabbing Scandal

Kenny Omega Toru Yano II
Wikimedia Commons

On July 22, as reported by Dave Meltzer, young Ice Ribbon standout Tsukushi was arrested for attempting to stab Stardom regular Kagetsu at some sort of private function in Tokyo.

Little is known about the motivation behind the attack, which Kagetsu managed to fend off prior to the arrival of police. Tsukushi was arrested and remains in prison at time of writing. Kagetsu, meanwhile, worked a show in Osaka the next evening. The incident garnered mainstream news coverage and will likely spell the end of Tsukushi's in-ring career. Japan is strict. Matt Sydal's puro career went up in smoke when he was caught with liquid cannabis on his person at Kensai International Airport late last year. This, obviously, is far worse. Tsukushi is surely set for excommunication from the joshi world.

This incident is being perceived as more serious than the grisly Stardom shoot incident of 2015, in which Yoshiko darkened the promotion's name and ended the popular Act Yasukawa's career by turning her head into that of a hammerhead shark in a despicable, gory, practically unwatchable shoot.

This is altogether more strange, in that Tsukushi, unlike the stout, dead-eyed Yoshiko, is the short, slim, smiling epitome of kawaii culture. This is roughly analogous to Apollo Crews slicing up Arn Anderson with a pair of scissors.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!