Back to the Yokohama Arena

Last updated • 8 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Back to the Yokohama Arena
Back to the Yokohama Arena.jpg
Promotional poster for the event, featuring Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada and Shinsuke Nakamura
Promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMay 25, 2014 [1]
City Yokohama, Japan [1]
Venue Yokohama Arena [1]
Attendance7,800 [1]
Pay-per-view chronology
 Previous
War of the Worlds
Next 
Best of the Super Jr. XXI
New Japan Pro-Wrestling events chronology
 Previous
War of the Worlds
Next 
Dominion 6.21

Back to the Yokohama Arena was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took take place on May 25, 2014, at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Kanagawa and marked NJPW's first event at the arena in eleven years.

Contents

The event, considered one of NJPW's biggest of the year, following Wrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome and the finals of the G1 Climax, [2] featured four championship matches and was headlined by a match for the promotion's top title, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. The event aired domestically as a regular PPV and internationally as an internet PPV. While the show was praised for its match quality, it was considered a disappointment due to poor attendance numbers. [3]

NJPW did not return to the Yokohama Arena until 8 years later, on the third night of Wrestle Kingdom 16 in 2022.

Production

Background

On November 6, 2013, Bushiroad, the owners of NJPW, announced a special project celebrating their seventh anniversary; a return to Yokohama Arena with the Back to the Yokohama Arena event on May 25, 2014. This would mark NJPW's first event at the arena since November 3, 2003, and the Yokohama Dead Out show. [4] [5] [6] The entire card for the event was released on May 4, the day after Wrestling Dontaku 2014. [7] [8]

Storylines

Yokohama Arena Bonjasky vs Hari.jpg
Yokohama Arena

Back to the Yokohama Arena featured ten professional wrestling matches involving different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains or heroes as they followed a series of events that built tension, and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Four of the matches were contested for championships. [7]

Back to the Yokohama Arena was the final event before the start of the 2014 Best of the Super Juniors tournament and as part of the build-up to it, the opening match of the show featured eight participants in a multi-man tag team match. [7] The first title match would feature Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) defending the NWA World Tag Team Championship against former champions, K.E.S. (Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer), and representatives of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Rob Conway and Wes Brisco in a three-way match. [7] Conway, who is also a former NWA World Tag Team Champion alongside Jax Dane, had made sporadic appearances for NJPW since Invasion Attack in April 2013, while Brisco made his debut for the promotion at Wrestling Dontaku 2014. [9] [10] The villainous NWA side, led by president Bruce Tharpe, had been involved in a storyline rivalry with Tencozy and especially Satoshi Kojima ever since Invasion Attack. [11] During the first half of 2014, both Conway and Brisco had unsuccessfully challenged Kojima for his NWA World Heavyweight Championship. [10] [12] The second title match would see Tomohiro Ishii defend the NEVER Openweight Championship against IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Kota Ibushi as part of a rivalry that dated back to previous August's G1 Climax. [7] Also on the card was a tag team match between the teams of Meiyu Tag (Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata) and Ace to King (Hiroshi Tanahashi and Togi Makabe). On May 5 at Wrestling Dontaku 2014, both teams asserted themselves as the next challengers for Bullet Club's (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) IWGP Tag Team Championship, which led to this match, where the winner will be getting the next title shot. [7] In the build-up to the match it was insinuated that there were problems between Goto and Shibata due to Shibata showing more interest in settling a grudge with Tanahashi than another shot at the IWGP Tag Team Championship. [13]

During the event mixed martial artists Daniel and Rolles Gracie would be working their first singles matches in NJPW. Since starting with the promotion in January 2014, the Gracies had worked only tag team matches and have taken advantage of the "ishu kakutōgi sen" rules of their matches, which had allowed them to use their gis to choke their opponents and secure submission victories. [14] Ever since their debuts for the promotion, the Gracies had feuded with Kazushi Sakuraba, who gained fame in the MMA circles as "The Gracie Hunter" for his victories over members of the Gracie family. [15] However, in NJPW the Gracies had dominated Sakuraba, with Rolles twice submitting him with a gi choke. [10] [14] In the second of the losses, Sakuraba teamed with Shinsuke Nakamura, who also had a history with the Gracies, losing to Daniel in a legitimate MMA fight in December 2002. [16] Following the match at Wrestling Dontaku 2014, Daniel challenged Nakamura to a match for his IWGP Intercontinental Championship, leading to Back to the Yokohama Arena, where the title match, along with a singles grudge match between Sakuraba and Rolles, was set to take place. [7] Both matches were worked under "ishu kakutōgi sen" rules, but were scripted professional wrestling matches and not legitimate MMA fights.

Wrestling Dontaku 2014 marked a rebirth for the villainous Bullet Club stable, when Yujiro Takahashi turned on the Chaos stable and joined Bullet Club by helping A.J. Styles defeat Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. [10] The undercard of Back to the Yokohama Arena would feature Takahashi's first match as a member of Bullet Club, when he teamed with his new stablemates in an eight-man tag team match. [7] The event also featured Bullet Club's Bad Luck Fale taking on Tetsuya Naito in a match, where NJPW suggested the winner could enter a singles title picture. [7] The two previously faced off in the second round of March's New Japan Cup, where Fale was victorious. [17] In the main event of the show, Okada would receive his rematch for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. His opponent would be the winner of a title match between Styles and Michael Elgin at War of the Worlds, a NJPW and Ring of Honor (ROH) co-promoted event in New York City on May 17. [7] [8] Okada was eventually added to the match, making it a three-way. Styles, however, retained his title by pinning Elgin, making the match between him and Okada official for Back to the Yokohama Arena. [18] [19]

Event

In the first title match of the event, Tencozy made their second successful defense of the NWA World Tag Team Championship in a three-way match with Tenzan pinning Brisco for the win. Post-match, K.E.S., having not been involved in the finish, challenged Tencozy to a future title match. [1] [20] [21] The next match featured a major storyline development in the long storyline rivalry between Minoru Suzuki and Toru Yano. Before the match started, Lance Archer blocked referee Tiger Hattori's view of the ring, while Yano's Chaos stablemate and tag team partner Takashi Iizuka, with whom he had held both the IWGP and GHC Tag Team Championships, turned on him, hitting him with his signature iron claws. Archer then released Hattori to start the match and count a quick pinfall win for Suzuki over Yano. Post-match, Iizuka put on a shirt of Suzuki's Suzuki-gun stable. [1] [20] [21] In the second title match of the event, Tomohiro Ishii made his fourth successful defense of the NEVER Openweight Championship against IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Kota Ibushi. After the match, Ishii was attacked by his former Chaos stablemate Yujiro Takahashi, who set himself up as his next challenger. [1] [20] [21]

In the next match, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Togi Makabe defeated Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata to become the number one contenders to the IWGP Tag Team Championship. The win was a result of miscommunication between Goto and Shibata, continuing the storyline dissension between the two. [1] [20] [21] During the match, Makabe suffered a legitimate mandibular fracture, which forced him to miss the next couple of events. [22] The singles match debuts of both Daniel and Rolles Gracie ended in losses for the Brazilians. Rolles was defeated by Kazushi Sakuraba via technical submission, while Daniel was pinned by Shinsuke Nakamura, who in the process made his first successful defense of the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Post-match, Nakamura was challenged by Bad Luck Fale, who earlier in the event had defeated Tetsuya Naito. [1] [20] [21] In the main event of the evening, A.J. Styles made his second successful defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against previous champion Kazuchika Okada. The match featured outside interference from both Bullet Club and Okada's Chaos stablemate Tomohiro Ishii, who entered the ring to avenge Takahashi's earlier attack on him. [1] [20] [21]

Reception

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter wrote that the show had a "very different feel from the company's recent major shows" due to the disappointing attendance number, which he blamed on poor matchmaking and an oversaturated market. Meltzer wrote that while A.J. Styles had the talent, it was too early for him to be a main event draw and that Japanese fans had not accepted him as the "real world champion". Regarding the matches at Back to the Yokohama Arena, Meltzer gave the highest ratings of four and three quarter stars out of five to the NEVER Openweight Championship match and four and a half stars to the main event. Meltzer gave the lowest rating of one and a half stars to the Intercontinental Championship match, while also criticizing the entire Gracie storyline, which culminated at Back to the Yokohama Arena, writing that it "didn't connect with anyone". [23]

Results

No.Results [1] [20] [21] StipulationsTimes [1]
1 Bushi, Ryusuke Taguchi and Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and Kushida) defeated El Desperado, Jyushin Thunder Liger, Máscara Dorada and Tiger Mask Eight-man tag team match 08:25
2 Bullet Club (Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, Tama Tonga and Yujiro Takahashi) defeated Captain New Japan, Manabu Nakanishi, Tomoaki Honma and Yuji Nagata Eight-man tag team match09:03
3 Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) (c) defeated K.E.S. (Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer) and Rob Conway and Wes Brisco (with Bruce Tharpe) Three-way tag team match for the NWA World Tag Team Championship 11:38
4 Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki and Shelton X Benjamin) (with Davey Boy Smith Jr. Lance Archer, Taichi and Taka Michinoku) defeated Crazy Ichizoku (Takashi Iizuka and Toru Yano)Tag team match00:08
5 Bad Luck Fale defeated Tetsuya Naito Singles match 12:05
6 Kazushi Sakuraba defeated Rolles Gracie Ishu kakutōgi sen rules match05:33
7 Tomohiro Ishii (c) defeated Kota Ibushi Singles match for the NEVER Openweight Championship 19:22
8Ace to King (Hiroshi Tanahashi and Togi Makabe) defeated Meiyu Tag (Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata)Tag team match to determine the number one contender to the IWGP Tag Team Championship 17:22
9 Shinsuke Nakamura (c) defeated Daniel Gracie (with Rolles Gracie)Ishu kakutōgi sen rules match for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship 10:24
10 A.J. Styles (c) (with Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson and Tama Tonga) defeated Kazuchika Okada (with Gedo)Singles match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 26:05
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Gracie</span> Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist

Daniel Simões, known professionally as Daniel Gracie, is a Brazilian former mixed martial artist, professional wrestler and practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is cousin to Renzo Gracie, Ralph Gracie, Charles Gracie and Ryan Gracie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katsuyori Shibata</span> Japanese professional wrestler and trainer

Katsuyori Shibata is a Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and professional wrestling trainer currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He also makes appearances for AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is a former ROH Pure Champion. In professional wrestling, he is known for his hard hitting offense. He spent most of his career with NJPW as both a wrestler and trainer. In NJPW, he is a former three-time NEVER Openweight Champion, a one-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, and the winner of the 2017 New Japan Cup. He is also a former holder of Revolution Pro Wrestling's RPW British Heavyweight Championship. From March 2018 to July 2023, Shibata served as the head coach of NJPW's dojo in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kazuchika Okada</span> Japanese professional wrestler

Kazuchika Okada is a Japanese professional wrestler. As of March 2024, he is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of The Elite stable and is the current AEW Continental Champion in his first reign. He is best known for his 18-year tenure in New Japan Pro-Wrestling where he was a five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, with his fourth reign being the longest in the company's history at 720 days. He also holds the record for most successful title defenses with 12. After the title was unified into the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, Okada went on to hold the new championship a record two times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaos (professional wrestling)</span> Professional wrestling stable

Chaos is a professional wrestling stable, primarily performing in the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion and All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The group was formed in 2009, when nearly all the members of the Great Bash Heel (G.B.H) stable turned on leader Togi Makabe and reformed under new leader Shinsuke Nakamura. Soon after, the new group was named Chaos, with Nakamura as the leader. As the leader of Chaos, Nakamura was one of NJPW's top wrestlers, winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship as well as the 2011 G1 Climax and the 2014 New Japan Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomohiro Ishii</span> Japanese professional wrestler

Tomohiro Ishii is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He also makes additional appearances for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He is also known for his work with the independent Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, where he worked backstage as the chairman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bullet Club</span> Professional wrestling stable

Bullet Club, stylized as BULLET CLUB and sometimes shortened to BC, is a professional wrestling stable primarily appearing in the Japanese promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). In the United States, the group currently appears on events run by the company's U.S. subsidiary, New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America, as well as U.S. partner promotions Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The group additionally appears on events promoted by Tamashii, NJPW's Australasian affiliate, as well as on events of other Australasian independent promotions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrestling Dontaku 2012</span>

Wrestling Dontaku 2012 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on May 3, 2012, in Fukuoka, Fukuoka, at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center. The event featured nine matches, three of which were contested for championships. It was the ninth event under the Wrestling Dontaku name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invasion Attack (2013)</span>

Invasion Attack was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on April 7, 2013, in Tokyo at Ryōgoku Kokugikan. The event featured nine matches, five of which were contested for championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrestling Dontaku 2014</span>

Wrestling Dontaku 2014 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on May 3, 2014, in Fukuoka, Fukuoka, at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center. The event featured ten matches, five of which were contested for championships. It was the eleventh event under the Wrestling Dontaku name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominion 6.21</span> Professional wrestling event

Dominion 6.21 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on June 21, 2014, in Osaka, Osaka, at the Bodymaker Colosseum. The event featured nine matches, five of which were contested for championships. It was the sixth event under the Dominion name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Wars (2014)</span> Professional wrestling supershow

Global Wars was a professional wrestling supershow co-produced by the American Ring of Honor (ROH) and Japanese New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotions. The event took place on May 10, 2014, at the Ted Reeve Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and aired live on internet pay-per-view (iPPV) through Ustream. The event was originally announced as "Border Wars", a name ROH had used for events in 2012 and 2013, before being re-branded as "Global Wars".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ROH/NJPW War of the Worlds (2014)</span> Professional wrestling event

War of the Worlds was a professional wrestling supershow co-produced by the American Ring of Honor (ROH) and Japanese New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotions. The event took place on May 17, 2014, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, New York, U.S. and aired live on Internet pay-per-view (iPPV) through Ustream.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King of Pro-Wrestling (2014)</span>

King of Pro-Wrestling (2014) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on October 13, 2014, in Tokyo at Ryōgoku Kokugikan and featured ten matches, six of which were contested for championships. It was the third event under the King of Pro-Wrestling name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power Struggle (2014)</span> 2014 New Japan Pro-Wrestling event

Power Struggle (2014) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on November 8, 2014, in Osaka, Osaka, at the Bodymaker Colosseum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrestle Kingdom 9</span> 2015 professional wrestling pay-per-view event

Wrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion, which took place at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on January 4, 2015. It was the 24th January 4 Tokyo Dome Show and the first event on the 2015 NJPW schedule. The event featured ten professional wrestling matches and one pre-show match, six of which were for championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrestle Kingdom 8</span> 2014 New Japan Pro-Wrestling event

Wrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion, which took place at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on January 4, 2014. It was the 23rd January 4 Tokyo Dome Show and the eighth held under the "Wrestle Kingdom" name. Like the previous year, the event aired worldwide on internet pay-per-view (iPPV).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrestling Dontaku 2015</span>

Wrestling Dontaku 2015 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on May 3, 2015, in Fukuoka, Fukuoka at Fukuoka Kokusai Center and featured nine matches, three of which were contested for championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invasion Attack 2015</span>

Invasion Attack 2015 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on April 5, 2015, in Tokyo at Ryōgoku Kokugikan and featured nine matches, four of which were contested for championships. In addition to airing worldwide through NJPW's internet streaming site, NJPW World, the event also aired in Japan as a regular PPV through SKY PerfecTV!'s Sukachan service. It was the third event under the Invasion Attack name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall</span>

Dominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on July 5, 2015, in Osaka, Osaka, at the Osaka-jō Hall. The event featured ten matches with all six of NJPW's championships on the line, main evented by an IWGP Heavyweight Championship match between champion A.J. Styles and challenger Kazuchika Okada.

Wrestling Hinokuni is a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Back to the Yokohama Arena". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  2. Meltzer, Dave (May 5, 2014). "May 5, 2013 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Kenta update, his future, TNA's issues with creative, TV situation, UFC 172, tons more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Campbell, California. p. 26. ISSN   1083-9593.
  3. Meltzer, Dave (July 13, 2015). "July 13, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Dusty Rhodes bio part 2, back to back major shows in Japan, & more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Campbell, California. p. 17. ISSN   1083-9593.
  4. "【写真追加!!】来年5月25日(日)、新日本プロレスの横浜アリーナ大会が11年ぶり復活!! 『Back to the Yokohama Arena』!!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). November 7, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  5. 新日が来年5月25日に横浜アリーナ大会. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). November 7, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  6. 新日、来年5・25に11年ぶり横アリ. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 7, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "5.25(日)横浜アリーナ全カードが決定! NY大会勝者にオカダが挑戦! 中邑vsダニエル! 棚橋&真壁vs後藤&柴田! 石井vs飯伏!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  8. 1 2 Caldwell, James (May 4, 2014). "NJPW news: Big line-up announced for May 25 with ROH implications, plus full Super Jrs. tournament field". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  9. ロブ・コンウェイ. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 4 レスリングどんたく 2014. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  11. Caldwell, James (January 4, 2014). "Caldwell's NJPW Tokyo Dome results 1/4: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of New Japan's biggest show of the year - four title changes, former WWE/TNA stars featured, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  12. Caldwell, James (April 13, 2014). "NWA news: New Japan star to defend NWA Title in the U.S." Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  13. 同級生タッグに亀裂!? 柴田が洋央紀に不信感. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  14. 1 2 "The New Beginning in Osaka". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  15. Meltzer, Dave (May 8, 2007). "Gracie vs. Sakuraba official". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  16. "Shinsuke Nakamura". Sherdog . Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  17. Namako, Jadon (March 22, 2014). "3/22 NJPW iPPV Results: Nagoya, Japan (Cup 2nd Round)". Wrestleview. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  18. Caldwell, James (May 17, 2014). "Caldwell's ROH iPPV results 5/17: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of War of the Worlds - ROH Title & IWGP Title main events, new ROH tag champs, Steen vs. Nakamura, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  19. "ROH&新日本プロレス「War of the Worlds」". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Caldwell, James (May 25, 2014). "Caldwell's NJPW iPPV results 5/25: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live show featuring Styles vs. Okada for IWGP World Title, MOTY Contender, NWA Tag Titles, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "新日本プロレス「Back to the Yokohama Arena」". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. May 25, 2014. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  22. 骨折の真壁6月大阪大会は支障なし. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). May 27, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  23. Meltzer, Dave (June 2, 2014). "June 2, 2014 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Latest on Daniel Bryan and the title, Silva vs. Sonnen off, Dillashaw ends another streak, Chikara, New Japan and more!". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Campbell, California. pp. 4–6. ISSN   1083-9593.