NJPW Fan Favourite Set For IMPACT Wrestling Run?

Is an IMPACT World Title shot in this NJPW star's future?

by Andy H Murray
Tomohiro Ishii IMPACT Wrestling
IMPACT/NJPW

Cult New Japan Pro Wrestling hero Tomohiro Ishii appears to be being built for a shot at Josh Alexander's IMPACT Wrestling World Championship in the near future.

Ishii, who debuted for IMPACT at the Multiverse Of Matches event on 1 April, returned to face JONAH at Rebellion 2022 on Saturday (23 April). Fightful Select reported immediately after Rebellion that Ishii was at least expected to stick around for the following day's television tapings in Poughkeepsie, New York, where a match against the soon-to-be-rocket-strapped Steve Maclin had been planned.

That match ended up happening, with Ishii taking the victory. Per IMPACT Asylum, Ishii then showed up to challenge Josh Alexander to a future IMPACT World Championship bout following Alexander's successful title defence over Moose, whom Josh defeated to claim the strap at Rebellion.

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IMPACT is yet to confirm a date for Alexander vs. Ishii. The next few shows on its calendar are as follows:-

- 7 May: Under Siege (Newport, KY)

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- 8 May: May Day (Newport, KY)

- 13 & 14 May: Citrus Brawl (Kissimmee, FL)

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- 19 June: Slammiversary 2022 (Nashville, TN)

Ishii is currently scheduled to face AEW's Eddie Kingston at NJPW Capital Collision in Washington DC on 14 May. Given that he isn't advertised for any NJPW dates in Japan between now and then, he will presumably be in the United States until that date.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.