Masato Tanaka vs. Joey Janela announced for The People vs. GCW
A new match is official for GCW’s return to The Hammerstein Ballroom next month.
Joey Janela vs. Masato Tanaka is now scheduled for the show.
Janela defeated Zachary Wentz on Friday at GCW Ransom and called out Tanaka in a post-match promo.
Janela said:
“I want to challenge someone for the Hammerstein Ballroom. I’ve wrested The Great Sasuke, I’ve wrestled Jun Akiyama, I stood in the ring in Korakuen Hall with Kenta Kobashi, I wrestled for 30 minutes Kota Ibushi, but there’s one man I have never stepped in a ring with, and on January 19, I got a challenge for you, someone that has a lot of history in that building, Masato Tanaka. This is new age strong style, something you put on the map. At Hammerstein Ballroom, I’m going to give these fans a show they will never forget when I knock your ass out.”
GCW Has since made the match official for the January 19, 2025, show.
Tanaka noted on X that Hammerstein Ballroom is full of memories regarding his rivalry with the late Mike Awesome. The venue hosted their final match against one another at ECW One Night Stand in 2005. Awesome passed away less than two years later.
I knew that one day I would fight him, but this is a place full of memories with Mike. Let's do it 💪
— 田中将斗 (@masato_dangan01) December 7, 2024
いつか戦う日が来るとは思ってたけど、グラジエーターとの思い出の場所で。#pwzero1#r_zero1 #ＧＣＷ#ECW https://t.co/PNk31EZ1oO
The People vs. GCW takes place Sunday, January 19, 2025, at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, New York. It will air live on Triller TV Plus.
The People vs. GCW announced lineup:
- GCW World Champion Mance Warner defends against Effy or Allie Katch
- Effy vs. Allie Katch (winner challenges Mance Warner later in the night)
- GCW Tag Team Champions Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku defend against Cole Radrick & Alec Price
- Doors, Ladders & Chairs match for the vacant GCW Ultraviolent Championship: Matt Tremont vs. Brandon Kirk vs. Drew Parker vs. John Wayne Murdoch vs. Matthew Justice vs. TBA
- Super Crazy, Tajiri & Little Guido vs. Arez, Gringo Loco & Jack Cartwheel
- El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Sidney Akeem
- Bloodsport match: Josh Barnett vs. TBA
- Masato Tanaka vs. Joey Janela
- Maki Itoh, Homicide, Amazing Red, Ricky Morton, and more set to compete