JPWN Beta: Kenny Omega Will Wrestle in Impact Wrestling. Eric Bischoff on AEW/Impact. Ethan Page on The North. EC3 on COVID. WWE NXT, AEW Dynamite and MLW Fusion Previews

About this Episode

    <p>I’m Matt Carlins and this is JUST Pro Wrestling News for Wednesday, December 16, 2020.</p>

This update is sponsored by the Wrestling Mayhem Show. Check out the new episode with special guest Honey Badger right now wherever you get your podcasts.

Results from Tuesday night’s Impact Wrestling are straight ahead in this update but first a big showdown tonight on NXT.

Pete Dunne will face Kyle O’Reilly. The winner gets a shot Finn Balor’s NXT Championship on the New Year’s Evil special on January 6th. Also tonight, Rhea Ripley vs Toni Storm. Karrion Kross returns to action. And Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory vs. Leon Ruff and KUSHIDA. It’ll be the first in-ring meeting ever between Gargano and KUSHIDA.

Kenny Omega is in action on U.S. soil tonight for the first time since winning the AEW Championship. He’ll face Joey Janela in a No Disqualification match on tonight’s Dynamite. If Janela wins, he gets a shot at the title.

Also on Dynamite: Sting will make an appearance, Hangman Page teams with the Dark Order’s John Silver and Alex Reynolds against Matt Hardy and Private Party. PLUS, All SEVEN members of the Inner Circle vs. Best Friends, Top Flight, Varsity Blondes and Brandon Cutler.

(STINGER: Impact Wrestling Result)

Kenny Omega will step into the ring for Impact Wrestling on pay per view.

(Omega Hard To Kill Challenge)

That clip from last night’s Impact.

It’ll be Omega, teaming with Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows to face Impact Champ Rich Swann and the Motor City Machine Guns at Hard to Kill on January 16th.

Gallows returned during a backstage brawl at the end of last night’s show.

Moments earlier, Anderson beat Chris Sabin in the show’s main event.

Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz advanced to the finals of the Knockouts Tag Title Tournament at Hard To Kill with a win over Taya Valkyrie and Rosemary.

More future matches made last night. Sami Callihan and Eddie Edwards will try to end their lengthy feud on the first Impact of the new year on January 5th. And at Genesis, it will be Moose vs Willie Mack in an I Quit Match. That’s an Impact Plus exclusive show on January 9th.

There was also another appearance by Tony Kahn and Tony Shiavone, presented as a paid ad from AEW. The two Tonys had a snarkier tone as they took some verbal shots at Impact.

Eric Bischoff was recently asked what AEW can get out of this relationship..

(Bischoff On AEW & Impact)

That’s part of a new interview with Bischoff done by Stephanie Chase for Digital Spy.

Sticking with Impact.. speculation is swirling around the future of one half of The North. Ethan Page is set to become a free agent on January 1st. But he says no matter where he lands, his tag team - and friendship - with Josh Alexander will survive.

(Ethan Page on The North)

Ethan Page on Bodyslam.net’s “The Push” podcast.

Also Tuesday, former X-Division and tag team champ Jake Crist announcing he’s leaving Impact Wrestling. Crist was last seen on Impact TV back in June.

EC3 confirms he did test positive for COVID-19.

(EC3 on COVID)

EC3 speaking with Chris Van Vliet. Ring Of Honor announced last week that EC3 was pulled from Friday’s Final Battle PPV. Flamita, Bandido and Kenny King also forced to stay home due to COVID-19 protocols.

Tonight’s MLW Fusion has ACH vs. Tom Lawlor in the semifinals of the Opera Cup tournament.

Meanwhile, MLW is looking to get fans back in attendance at its events next year. CEO Court Bauer tweeted that some key markets are being discussed, including two in Florida that he said are at the top of their list.

That’s JUST Pro Wrestling News for Wednesday, December 16. Our next update comes your way tomorrow morning, so be sure to subscribe to this feed. We also thank you in advance for leaving a glowing rating or review..

I’m Matt Carlins. Thank YOU for listening.