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AEW Star Shocks NJPW Champion With Title Challenge

By Lyle Kilbane • Published 4th November 2024
AEW logo over blurred Ricochet Will Ospreay

Things have gone from bad to worse for IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. as an AEW star attacked and issued a challenge for the gold.

NJPW Power Struggle saw AEW’s Kenny Omega involved in a backstage fight after he teased his return to the ring following a year out of action battling serious illness. However, Omega was not the only AEW star involved in physicality on the show.

The night’s main event saw Zack Sabre Jr. successfully defend his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Shingo Takagi but the English star has no shortage of challengers in his future. Shota Umino approached the champion and issued a challenge but worse was to come.

Ricochet Swaps AEW For NJPW

AEW star Ricochet’s music hit to cut the celebrations short but the star shocked Sabre as he clocked him with a springboard clothesline in a three-piece suit and dress shoes.

Ricochet noted that it had been six years since he had been in NJPW as he issued a challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5th.

Shota Umino returned to the ring to chase Ricochet off before helping Sabre to his feet. However, the IWGP World Champion attacked Umino as he stared down Ricochet which led to Umino laying out Sabre before posing with the IWGP World Heavyweight Title belt as the Wrestle Kingdom theme played indicating that will be when Umino and Sabre Jr. face off for the gold.

Ricochet took to social media after his shock appearance noting that he wanted to remind everyone just who he is:

Had to remind the world that I’m still the f*cking man around here.

Ricochet will be in action on the 6th of November edition of AEW Dynamite as he teams with a mystery partner to take on The Don Callis Family pair of Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher.