Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport brand will have a unique lineup when they head to the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on June 22.
Wrestlers, fighters, and even a professional bodybuilder are among the names set to compete in the lineup, which has 10 matchups confirmed for it currently.
In a high-profile pairing, Barnett is expected to rematch IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley in the main event of the evening. They previously faced off on a Bloodsport card in 2021, with Barnett winning in that appearance.
Another pair of Bloodsport veterans, Minoru Suzuki and Timothy Thatcher, will face off as well. Suzuki and Thatcher have only met once before, performing together on an OTT card in 2018. They have both been on numerous Bloodsport cards, including the inaugural lineup in 2018.
Heavyweight fighter Rampage Jackson, a former UFC talent and massive name from the Pride FC days of MMA in Japan, will return against fellow MMA talent Hideki Sekine. Former UFC talent Todd Duffee will also compete lower on the card against Takuya Nomura.
Mike O’Hearn, a public figure known for his fitness career, will square off against IGF and Bloodsport vet Erik Hammer. Also, fresh off the announcement that she will become a full-time talent in STARDOM once again, Konami is booked to face Maya Fukuda.
Bloodsport events compete under different rules compared to the usual wrestling matchup. The shows see matches take place in a ring with no ropes or turnbuckles. Similar to MMA bouts, finishes emerge via submission or knockout.
The Bloodsport brand is usually promoted by GCW, with many editions of the show taking place during Wrestlemania weekend.
☆速報☆
6.22両国大会「Bloodsport Bushido」対戦カード発表【オープニングマッチ】
飯塚優 vs 阿部史典
Yu Iizuka vs. Fuminori Abe【トーナメント 一回戦・第1試合】
佐藤光留vs. 鈴木秀樹
Hikaru Sato vs. Hideki Suzuki【トーナメント 一回戦・第2試合】
野村卓矢 vs. トッド・ダフィー… pic.twitter.com/JIDRmQ0lh5— Bloodsport Bushido【公式】 (@JBBloodsport_JP) April 18, 2024
Here are all of the fights that have been announced for the card:
- Josh Barnett vs. Jon Moxley
- Minoru Suzuki vs. Timothy Thatcher
- Masakatsu Funaki vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
- Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Santino Marella
- Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Hideki “Shrek” Sekine
- Konami vs. Maya Fukuda
- Hikaru Sato vs. Hideki Suzuki
- Takuya Nomura vs. Todd Duffee
- Erik Hammer vs. Mike O’Hearn
- Yu Iizuka vs. Fuminori Abe
