There are now many wrestlers who have competed at Madison Square Garden, Wembley, Arena Mexico & The Tokyo Dome

AEW All In 2024 has passed and it's time to update the list of those wrestlers that have competed at Madison Square Garden, Wembley, Arena Mexico, and The Tokyo Dome!

You can read last years post here: Who Are the Only 3 Wrestlers...

Those 3 were Chris Jericho, Juice Robinson, and John Tenta.  Thanks to AEW's working agreement with CMLL and NJPW we've added 7 more names to the list!  In no particular order:

From Rocky Romero's X account, he and Dragon from their Tokyo Dome debut

"American Dragon" Bryan Danielson

Danielson made his Arena Mexico and Wembley debuts both in 2024.  

Arena Mexico

March 29, 2024 CMLL Homenaje A Dos Leyendas 2024

Blue Panther, Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero & Volador Jr. defeat Blackpool Combat Club: Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley, & Matt Sydal

This was Dragon's CMLL debut as well.  He would return to CMLL a week later on April 5, 2024 to have his dream match facing Blue Panther one on one defeating Panther in 26 minutes by submission.

Tokyo Dome

October 14, 2002 NJPW The Spiral

Six Man Tag Team Match: Jushin Thunder Liger, Masahito Kakihara & Tiger Mask defeat American Dragon, Ricky Reyes & Rocky Romero

Madison Square Garden

December 26, 2010 WWE Raw House Show

WWE United States Champion: Daniel Bryan defeats Zack Ryder

Wembley Stadium

August 25, 2024 AEW ALL In 2024

AEW World Title Vs. Career: "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson submitted AEW World Heavyweight Champion: Swerve Strickland with Prince Nana to win the championship

Zack Sabre Jr. 

One of my all time favorites, I still cannot believe I saw him wrestle Chris Hero in Orono, Maine for Limitless wrestling in 2016 on a stormy January night in with 150 other people.  

Arena Mexico

June 21, 2024 CMLL/NJPW Fantastica Mania Mexico 2024

Best Two Out Of Three Falls: Michael Oku & Zack Sabre Jr. defeat Averno & Volador Jr. [2:0]

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2018 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12

Four Way Gauntlet Match

CHAOS: Beretta, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions: BULLET CLUB: Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa, Suzuki-gun: Taichi, Takashi Iizuka & Zack Sabre Jr., War Machine: Hanson & Raymond Rowe & Michael Elgin and Juice Robinson, Ryusuke Taguchi & Togi Makabe to win the championships

Madison Square Garden

April 6, 2019 ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard

RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr. submitted Hiroshi Tanahashi

I was at this match!  My second ever MSG live event during Mania weekend.  I saw Zack wrestle 3 times over the weekend.

Wembley Stadium

August 25, 2024 AEW ALL In 2024

Casino Gauntlet Match: Christian Cage defeats Adam Page, Jeff Jarrett w/Karen Jarrett, Kazuchika Okada, Kyle O'Reilly, Luchasaurus, Mark Briscoe, Nigel McGuinness, Orange Cassidy, Ricochet, Roderick Strong and Zack Sabre Jr.

Jon Moxley

Arena Mexico

March 29, 2024 CMLL Homenaje A Dos Leyendas 2024

Blue Panther, Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero & Volador Jr. defeat Blackpool Combat Club: Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley, & Matt Sydal

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2020 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 In Tokyo Dome

Texas Death Match: Jon Moxley defeated IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion: Lance Archer to win the championship.

Moxley would make his second Tokyo Dome appearance the next day in a successful title defense against Juice Robinson. 

Madison Square Garden

December 27, 2012 WWE Raw House Show

The Shield: Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins defeated Team Hell No: Daniel Bryan & Kane & The Miz

Wembley Stadium

August 27, 2023, AEW All In London 2023

Stadium Stampede Match: Best Friends: Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta, Eddie Kingston, Orange Cassidy & Penta El Zero Miedo w/Alex Abrahantes defeat Blackpool Combat Club: Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta, Mike Santana & Ortiz

Jay Lethal

Arena Mexico

July 25, 2008 CMLL Super Viernes - Gran Prix: CMLL vs. TNA & Leyenda De Plata 2008

Gran Prix Internacional Torneo Cibernetico: Alex Shelley defeated AJ Styles, Alex Koslov, Averno,  Chris Sabin, Dos Caras Jr., Dr. Wagner Jr., Hector Garza, Jay Lethal, Johnny Devine, Marco Corleone, Rey Bucanero, Shocker, Sonjay Dutt, Ultimo Guerrero, and Volador Jr. 

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2016 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 10 In Tokyo Dome

ROH World Champion: Jay Lethal with Truth Martini defeated Michael Elgin

Madison Square Garden 

April 6, 2019 ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard

Ladder Match: Matt Taven defeated: Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Champion: Jay Lethal and Marty Scurll to win the championship

As stated above, I was at this show.  In my opinion the ROH side of the card was A LOT weaker than the NJPW portions.

Wembley Stadium

August 25, 2024 AEW ALL In 2024

Sixteen Man: Action Andretti, Kip Sabian, Kyle Fletcher with Don Callis, Lio Rush, Rocky Romero, "Dynamite Kid: Tommy Billington & Top Flight: Dante Martin & Darius Martin defeated Anthony Ogogo, Ariya Daivari, Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh with Sonjay Dutt, Private Party: Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen & The Dark Order: Alex Reynolds & John Silver with Evil Uno

Rocky Romero

Arena Mexico

July 4, 2003 CMLL Super Viernes 

CMLL World Trios Title #1 Contendership Tournament First Round: Los Infernales: Averno, El Satanico & Mephisto defeat Bobby Quance, Pinoy Boy & Rocky Romero

Tokyo Dome

October 14, 2002 NJPW The Spiral

Six Man Tag Team Match: Jushin Thunder Liger, Masahito Kakihara & Tiger Mask defeat American Dragon, Ricky Reyes & Rocky Romero

Madison Square Garden 

April 6, 2019 ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard

Honor Rumble: Kenny King defeated Bad Luck Fale, Brian Milonas, BUSH, Chase Owens,  Cheeseburger, Colt Cabana, Delirious, Great Muta, Hirooki Goto, Jonathan Gresham, Jushin Thunder Liger, King Haku, LSG, Minoru Suzuki, PJ Black, Rhett Titus, Rocky Romero, Ryusuke Taguchi,  Shaheem Ali, Shingo Takagi, SHO, The Beer City Bruiser, TK O'Ryan, Tomohiro Ishii, Tracy Williams, Vinny Marseglia, Will Ferrara, YOH and YOSHI-HASHI

This was on the pre-show 

Wembley Stadium

August 25, 2024 AEW ALL In 2024

Sixteen Man: Action Andretti, Kip Sabian, Kyle Fletcher with Don Callis, Lio Rush, Rocky Romero, "Dynamite Kid: Tommy Billington & Top Flight: Dante Martin & Darius Martin defeated Anthony Ogogo, Ariya Daivari, Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh with Sonjay Dutt, Private Party: Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen & The Dark Order: Alex Reynolds & John Silver with Evil Uno

Tomohiro Ishii

Arena Mexico

September 13, 2013 CMLL 80th Aniversario Event

just as Ishii in Mexico

Best Two Out Of Three Falls: La Ola Amarilla: Ishii, Namajague & Okumura defeat Fuego, Rey Cometa & Stuka Jr. [2:1]

Tokyo Dome

October 8, 2005

NJPW Toukon Souzou New Chapter

Osamu Nishimura & Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Riki Choshu & Tomohiro Ishii 

Madison Square Garden 

April 6, 2019 ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard

Honor Rumble: Kenny King defeated Bad Luck Fale, Brian Milonas, BUSH, Chase Owens,  Cheeseburger, Colt Cabana, Delirious, Great Muta, Hirooki Goto, Jonathan Gresham, Jushin Thunder Liger, King Haku, LSG, Minoru Suzuki, PJ Black, Rhett Titus, Rocky Romero, Ryusuke Taguchi,  Shaheem Ali, Shingo Takagi, SHO, The Beer City Bruiser, TK O'Ryan, Tomohiro Ishii, Tracy Williams, Vinny Marseglia, Will Ferrara, YOH and YOSHI-HASHI

This was the pre-show Honor Rumble, the win was wasted on Kenny King.  VERY bad ass portion of this match was the Great Muta making his MSG debut.  He has stated in an Interview that he had always wanted to wrestle at Madison Square Garden.  He was a surprise entrant and the building erupted.  

Wembley Stadium

August 25, 2024 AEW ALL In 2024

Mixed Tag Team Match: Tomohiro Ishii & Willow Nightingale defeated Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway when Ishii pinned Stokely

Kazuchika Okada 

Arena Mexico

May 14, 2005 Toryumon Mexico 8th Aniversario

Sofia Cup Dragon Scramble Elimination: Mistico defeats Banana Senga, Crazy Boy, El Hijo del Fantasma, Extreme Tiger, Hajime Ohara, Hiromi Horiguchi, Joe Lider, Kanjyouro Matsuyama, King Ali Baba, Milanito Collection AT, Shamu and, Kazuchika Okada 

Tokyo Dome

January 4, 2009 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom III

RISE: Milano Collection AT and Minoru & Taichi Ishikari defeat Kazuchika Okada, Mitsuhide Hirasawa & Nobuo Yoshihashi

Madison Square Garden

April 6, 2019 ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard

Kazuchika Okada defeats IWGP Heavyweight Champion: "Switchblade" Jay White with Gedo to win the championship

I was at 5 of these wrestlers MSG debuts!  Okada closing the night out defeating Jay White for the championship was a perfect cap to the evening. 

Wembley Stadium

August 25, 2024 AEW ALL In 2024

Casino Gauntlet Match: Christian Cage defeats Adam Page, Jeff Jarrett w/Karen Jarrett, Kazuchika Okada, Kyle O'Reilly, Luchasaurus, Mark Briscoe, Nigel McGuinness, Orange Cassidy, Ricochet, Roderick Strong and Zack Sabre Jr.

People that I thought compete at all 4 but haven't

Will Ospreay - Arena Mexico

Jeff Jarrett - Arena Mexico

Christian Cage - Arena Mexico

Claudio Catagnoli - Tokyo Dome

Matt Taven - Tokyo Dome

Kamala - Tokyo Dome

PAC - Tokyo Dome

Lio Rush - Madison Square Garden

Mercedes Mone - made appearances at Tokyo Dome and Arena Mexico in angles but did not have a match

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed Live Report 9/27/2019

The reason this was late getting posted was because I typed it all out and essentially it got lost so I have to type it out again.

New Japan Pro Wrestling toured the Northeast for the first time making stops in Lowell, Mass, New York City and Philadelphia at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Hammerstein Ballroom, and 2300 Arena.  All very popular wrestling venues each with their own unique histories.  I have been to the Memorial Auditorium three times in the past for ROH shows, two PPV's and a War of the Worlds house show.

The Memorial Auditorium is a beautiful venue with amazing acoustics.  The fans were hot and very loud all night long.  I would have to say that this is the best show that I went to all year from top to bottom and definitely one of the best shows I have ever been too.

Mikey and I recorded an episode of the Wrestling Insomniac podcast on the way to and from the event. Check it out here.  We met Jay and his friend Crip at the venue.  They did the official meet and greet from 4pm to 5pm with only Sanada, Tanahashi, Rock n' Roll Express, and Roppongi 3K with Rocky Romero.  It was odd because they wouldn't sign your item, you got a picture with a nice backdrop taken with your camera and they gave you a presigned 8x10.  Mikey, Jay, & I met Sanada, but I don't care about 8x10's.

After the meet and greet we had an hour until doors opened so we went across the street to Rizzo's and got a couple slices.  We sat with some other fans and we met Joe Briggs and his wife Rebecca.  They are from Virginia and wrestle in that area.  They are friends with The Rock n Rolls and love good wrestling, just like us.  They went to the Lowell and Philly shows, it would have been fun to go to all three shows.

The cards were different for each night with different titles on the line and a mix of singles and tag team matches.  For my money though I think we got the best announced line up.  Doors opened up promptly at 6pm and we got in quickly.  I was surprised that wrestlers were out signing autographs and taking photos because we already had the official meet and greets.  Around the lobby area was Lance Archer, Mikey Nicholls, Hirooki Goto, Ishii, and Sanada.  I grabbed a photo with Goto and really wished I would have brought his card with me.
 

Mikey, Jay, and I all bought the official Boston tour stop shirt, we all agreed it was bad ass.

The first match started right at 7pm and the show flowed so well and didn't drag at all, very efficient.  No intermission but I'm glad there wasn't.  The show was over by 10pm and was a solid three hours, well worth the money and the trip down.

Karl Fredericks submitted Alex Coughlin

I loved that show opened with a Young Lions match and I would have been satisfied if it had gone to a time limit draw.  It was a hard hitting back and forth match and it was everything that a Young Lions match is with a focus on the basics.  In the end Karl Fredericks go the submission with a half Boston Crab.

Lance Archer pinned Ren Narita

Lance Archer came out his usual house fire and destroyed the only young boy at ring side twice.  Archer dominated the match with Narita showing good heart and fire on his comeback.  It wouldn't have surprised me to see Nartia get a quick pin.  He just went on excursion from New Japan to the LA Dojo.  However in the end Archer got the win with the Everybody Dies Claw.

Mikey Nicholls & Juice Robinson defeated TJP & Clark Connors

From the NJPW1972.com

Solid tag team match up, Juice was over big time with the crowd.  Both teams really meshed well together, especially Nicholls and Robinson but they have teamed together in the past.  I haven't been a fan of TJP but he looked great here.  Connors did as well, but he succumbed to the Mikey Bomb.

Bullet Club: Chase Owens & Jado defeated The Rock n' Roll Express: Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson

I've met the Rock n' Roll Express in the past but I've never seen them wrestle live.  I've missed opportunities in the past and I didn't think that it was going to happen.  When Mikey messaged me that they had been announced for this tour I couldn't believe that this show was how I was going to finally see them wrestle.  I was also very excited that we got them in their only two person tag team match of the tour and they there were wrestling Chase Owens, who was trained by Morton.

From NJPW1972.com

 The moment their music hit the crowd didn't stop cheering for the Rock n' Roll Express, many times the crowd chanted "Rock n Rolls" at the tops of their lungs, like it was the mid 80's Jim Crockett Promotions / Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling.

Morton and Gibson were both on top of their games, especially Morton who his a frankensteiner and a suicide dive through the ropes.  It was friggin' Amazing!  Sadly, the Rock n' Rolls lost the watch when Owens pinned Morton after a package piledriver.  It far exceeded everything I had expected.  Mikey has seen them at Beyond Wrestling's Americanrana this past July and he said this was much better and they let it all hang out.

Incidentally, four days later in Atlanta at the NWA TV Tapings they captured the NWA World Tag Team Championships becoming nine times world champions.
 

Tomohiro Ishii & Amazing Red defeated Shingo Takagi & BUSHI

Another great match on a card that just didn't disappoint.  Ishii and Shingo multiple times exchanged stiff shots in the center of the ring, it was fantastic!  The action was in and out of the ring.  This match is the best I've ever seen Red live.  That match with Osprey really did  reinvigorate him.  He and Ishii gelled well as a team.  I wouldn't be surprised to see Red in Japan for New Japan soon.  Ishii pinned Bushi with the vertical drop brainbuster.

Rocky Romero, Hirooki Goto, & YOSHI-HASHI defeated NEVER Openweight Champion: KENTA, IWGP Intercontinental Champion: Jay White, & Gedo

Super excited to see Goto live and I love his entrance music.  I was very surprised that HASHI picked up the win for his team submitting Gedo.  This was a fun match, Jay White has some serious heat and KENTA got a mixed reaction, mostly jeers, but he got a pop when he teased the go to sleep.

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions: GOD: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Roppongi 3K: Sho & Yoh

Going into this match I knew GOD was going to retain, they aren't going to do a title change here in Lowell.  Mid way through the match I was convinced that R3K was going to win the titles.  At the end Yoh had a series of near falls against Tama Tonga and with each false finish I was out of my feet thinking I was seeing a three count.  Especially when Yoh reversed the Gun Stun into a backslide...damn!  This was TAG TEAM WRESTLING!  Tonga pinned Yoh with the Gun Stun.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, IWGP Heavyweight Champion: Kazuchika, & Kota Ibushi defeated LIJ: Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, & Sanada

Everyone got a big pop when they came out with Naito, Tanahashi, & Okada topping the night.  This was a tremendous match and a great way to send the crowd home happy.  Everyone shined, everyone looked good, feuds were continued and I was surprised when Tanahashi pinned Naito with the ground cobra twist.
  

Top to bottom this is the best show as a whole that I have been to not only this year, but in years.  There wasn't a weak match on the card.  The crowd was hot all night long and I blew my voice out.  Tonight was also a very emotional experience of me.  Seeing the Rock n Rolls wrestle, seeing Tanahashi wrestle for the third time this year knowing that he could be done soon.  This is his 20th year in wrestling and it's apparent that he's in rough shape.
 

Post match Tanahashi stayed in the ring alone, he thanked us all for coming, he said that they would be back and when they did he would have the championship.  He also played his patented air guitar for us before leaving.  It was a great capper to the night.

The show had to of sold out by bell time, and with how hot the crowd was I can only imagine that they will be back, hopefully next spring. 

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast The Wrestling Insomniac on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network.

Until next time!

History Has Been Made 2: More Title Changes That I Have Seen Live

Way back in March 2017 I posted History Has Been Made!: The Titles Changes I've Seen which looked at all the titles changes I saw in the WWE, WCW, & Ring of Honor from 1998 to 2016. Even though it's only been a couple years and I'm only talking about two wrestling events, I thought it was time to post an update.

June 23, 2017 Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA
Ring of Honor: Best in the World 2017

Dalton Castle and The Boys defeated World Six-Man Tag Team Champions: Bully Ray and The Brisco Brothers: Mark & Jay to win the championships

Dalton Castle's entrance is just amazing!  It's just a fantastic visual when the opens up his cape and it is enhanced by the fans throwing streamers at just the right time!
This match was set up when Castle was teaming with Bully and the Brisco's and the Boys pushed Castle out of the way so Bushi ended up spitting mist in Jay's face causing him to be pinned.  He out to kill The Boys.

The match was great, Bully busted out some comedy that I wasn't expecting.  Dalton had his usual hilarious theatrics.  Once Jay got his hands on the Boys he beat the absolute tar out of them!  I mean he lit them up with chops and you could see the bruises on their chests.

Ultimately it was Jay's anger towards the Boys that cost them the match and the titles.  While he was out chasing them, Bully Ray was trying to talk him down, Dalton rolled up Mark in a small package for the three count crowning new Six Man Tag Team Champions.

The crowd popped big time on this finish with a you deserve it chant breaking out.  It was pretty awesome.

"American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes pinned World Heavyweight Champion: "The Almighty" Christopher Daniels to win the championship

Another great match to close out a night of pretty damn fantastic wrestling.  Cody had his lip busted open early on in the match up but it didn't slow him down.  At one point Marty ran down to help out Cody after referee Todd Sinclair was knocked down, but Frankie Kazarian came out to make the save battling Marty to the back.

Rhodes dodged the Best Moonsault Ever and survived Angels Wings hitting two Cross Rhodes to get the pin and capture the Championship.

I feel very honored, no pun intended, to have been present to see Cody Rhodes win his first World Heavyweight Championship.  His emotional reaction when he won, which I was able to capture on camera, was what I hoped it would be.  He truly appreciates it and it means something to him to be World Champion.

April 6, 2019 Madison Square Garden
New Japan Pro Wrestling & Ring of Honor
G1 Supercard

ROH: World Television Champion: Jeff Cobb defeated NEVER Openweight Champion: Will Ospreay

This was a double titles match that kicked off the main card of the show.  It was an excellent match and it capped off the weekend for seeing Will Ospreay live in three stand out matches.  He wasn't able to pick up the win in this match, which surprised me.

Kelly Klein defeated Women of Honor World Champion: Mayu Iwatani

This match and the aftermatch of it was just okay for me.

Dragon Lee defeated Bandido, and  IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion: Taiji Ishimori

This triple threat match was amazing!  All these guys are so good and the meshed together well.  It's a shame that it only went 9 minutes because I could have watched this all night.  Dragon Lee is ridiculously fast in the ring.

IWGP Tag Team Champions: Guerrillas of Destiny: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated The Briscoe Brothers: Mark & Jay and Los Ingobernables de Japon: EVIL & Sanada and ROH World Tag Team Champions: Villain Enterprises: PCO & Brody King

This was a fatal four-way for all the tag gold making GOD double champs.  This was another great match that was just two short based on the talent that was in the ring.  I was quite surprised that GOD won the ROH belts as I don't see them working ROH shows ever.

Kota Ibushi defeated IWGP Intercontinental Champion: Tetsuya Naito

This match was beyond amazing!  There was been some tremendous rivalries in wrestling where you don't get tired of watching two guys wrestle each other and Ibushi vs. Naito is one of them.  The fact that I got to see them wrestle each other live and on such a large stage as Madison Square Garden I feel truly lucky.

Ladder Match: Matt Taven defeated Marty Scurll & ROH World Champion: Jay Lethal

This match was awesome, the best pure ROH match on the card this night.  I still can't believe that Matt Taven won the title.  As far as ladder matches goes it in the top ten no doubt.

Kazuchika Okada defeated IWGP Champion: Jay White with Gedo

Tremendous match and a great match to closeout not only the show but my indymania weekend as well.  This was the first time the IWGP Championship changed hands outside of Japan, this also marked the beginning of Okada's 5th title reign.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast The Wrestling Insomniac on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Until next time!