Konosuke Takeshita, Gabe Kidd issues challenges for NJPW Windy City Riot

Takeshita wants Tanahashi and Kidd wants Ishii, again.

After successfully defending the NEVER Openweight title against KUSHIDA at Saturday’s NJPW Battle in the Valley, Konosuke Takeshita issued the challenge to Hiroshi Tanahashi for Windy City Riot on April 11 in Chicago.

The event will be Tanahashi’s final match in the United States prior to his retirement next January at Wrestle Kingdom 20. Takeshita told Tanahashi that it would be the end of “Ace” as he will show him the “Alpha.”

At Wrestle Kingdom 19, the AEW International Champion defeated Shingo Takagi to win the NEVER Openweight title, becoming a double champion. After that match, it was announced that he was now affiliated with NJPW, representing them as well as AEW and DDT.

Another challenge was issued earlier in the show as NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd and Tomohiro Ishii went to a 30-minute time limit draw.

After the match, Kidd challenged Ishii to a 30 minute Iron Man match for Windy City Riot. Ishii responded by getting into a slap exchange with Kidd that eventually had to be broken up by officials.