NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 notes: Jay White, SANADA, Stardom

Jay White said in a backstage promo that he will leave New Japan Pro Wrestling after the New Year Dash event on January 6.

After losing to Kota Ibushi on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 15, a dejected White cut a promo backstage, upset about his loss. He said that he was contractually obligated to appear at New Year Dash if New Japan booked him, but then would leave the promotion after. White said that no one had any respect for what he gave out there and for what he’s done. He said he hadn’t seen his parents in 3 1/2 years because he put everything into becoming a star in NJPW.  He said that it was his destiny that he was about to be god, but ended up being wrong.

“Maybe my time would be better spent someplace else,” he said. “I don’t want to do this anymore. If this is all it’s for, I’m not going to do it anymore.”

Following the main event of night two, SANADA, who beat EVIL earlier in the show, came out and challenged Ibushi for both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles. Ibushi accepted the challenge.

Prior to the start of the second night of Wrestle Kingdom, two dark matches featuring Stardom talent took place. In the first bout, Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani, and AZM defeated Natsupoi, Himeka, and Maika when Kamitani pinned Natsupoi with a phoenix splash. In the second bout, Giulia and Syuri defeated Tam Nakano and Mayu Iwatani when Giulia pinned Nakano with the Glorious driver. According to Dave Meltzer, these matches aren’t expected to air anywhere and were for the live crowd.

New Japan Pro Wrestling announced a crowd of 12,689 for night one of Wrestle Kingdom, and 7,801 for night two.