Juice Robinson Stripped Of IWGP US Title, New Champion To Be Crowned At NJPW Dominion
Big change to NJPW Dominion.
NJPW announced that Juice Robinson will be stripped of his IWGP United States Championship. Robinson, who missed NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Finals with appendicitis, was scheduled to defend the title against Will Ospreay and SANADA.
Robinson sent in a video saying he wouldn’t appear at the show and NJPW after, according to NJPW, he initially agreed to do the match. As a result of his actions, he’s being stripped of the title. Ospreay and SANADA will battle for the vacant belt. SANADA was forced to relinquish the title in April due to a fractured orbital bone. Robinson won the title in a four-way bout at NJPW Capital Collision when he defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jon Moxley, and Will Ospreay.
From NJPW:
On Friday June 9, New Japan Pro-Wrestling was in receipt of a video from Juice Robinson, in which he stated that he would not be present for his IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship three way match at Dominion.
In fact, Robinson had initially agreed to the championship match Sunday in Osaka Jo Hall. Having now reneged on this agreement and refusing to attend in Osaka, NJPW is hereby stripping Robinson of his champion status and is demanding the return of the championship belt currently in his possession.
As a result of the championship vacancy, the previously scheduled IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship three way is now a singles match that will determine a new champion.
The card change is as follows:
9th Match- IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship Three Way
Juice Robinson vs SANADA vs Will Ospreay ->
9th Match- IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship
SANADA vs Will Ospreay
New Japan Pro-Wrestling apologises to fans who were looking forward to seeing Juice wrestle, as well as for the confusion and inconvenience caused.
Fightful will have coverage and results from NJPW Dominion on June 12.