Chris Dickinson appears at NJPW Strong Fighting Spirit Unleashed tapings

Chris Dickinson is back in New Japan.

At Sunday’s NJPW Strong Fighting Spirit Unleashed tapings in Hollywood, California, Dickinson made a surprise return to the promotion, attacking Fred Rosser after he successfully defended the Strong Openweight title against TJP. Video footage from the event shows Dickinson confronting fans after the attack.

Dickinson, who is signed to NJPW, hasn’t wrestled since June. He lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi at the Collision 2022 tapings in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 15.

Christina Von Eerie, who previously had a relationship with Dickinson, accused Dickinson of domestic abuse back in April, saying he had been abusive both physically and emotionally. Another woman, McKaila Coulter, also alleged domestic abuse, though did not mention Dickinson by name. 

Earlier this month, Dickinson filed a defamation lawsuit against Von Eerie and Coulter, saying that the allegations of abuse are false and have had a detrimental impact on his wrestling career as a result, with NJPW no longer booking him. Von Eerie and Coulter responded in a statement that “everything we have spoken out against is true” and that they “will continue to stand our ground in the court of law”.