Ariya Daivari To Make NJPW Debut At Showdown

Ariya Daivari will make his New Japan Pro-Wrestling debut at the promotion's upcoming Showdown tapings on October 16 and October 17, NJPW have announced.

Daivari will take on fellow WWE alumni Alex Zayne on October 16 before teaming with Lio Rush against Bullet Club's El Phantasmo and Chris Bey on October 17.

Daivari had spent the last five years in WWE in the cruiserweight division but he was released by the company on June 25, 2021, as part of cutbacks within NXT.

Also added to the Showdown tapings was Will Ospreay & TJP vs. Clark Connors & Ren Narita, and Jay White & Hikuleo vs. Wheeler Yuta & Fred Yehi. TJP became the latest wrestler to join The United Empire on September 25 at NJPW's Autumn Attack tapings in Garland, Texas.

NJPW Showdown will take place on October 16 and October 17 from Philadelphia's 2300 Arena. The updated cards are as follows:

October 16:

• Will Ospreay & TJP vs. Clark Connors & Ren Narita
• Ariya Daivari vs. Alex Zayne
• Juice Robinson vs. El Phantasmo
• Jay White vs. Fred Yehi

October 17:

• Will Ospreay vs. Alex Zayne
• Minoru Suzuki vs. Chris Dickinson
• Jonathan Gresham vs. Alex Coughlin
• Ariya Daivari & Lio Rush vs. El Phantasmo & Chris Bey
• Jay White & Hikuleo vs. Wheeler Yuta & Fred Yehi
• Rocky Romero, Fred Rosser, Karl Fredericks, The DKC & Ren Narita vs. Tom Lawlor, JR Kratos, West Coast Wrecking Crew & Danny Limelight