EXCLUSIVE: Josh Alexander ready to make an impact at NJPW Battle In The Valley
In the midst of a truly golden age for professional wrestling around the world, the upcoming New Japan Pro Wrestling pay-per-view cannot be ignored for its importance to the business as a whole.
Saturday night’s Battle In The Valley will mark the much-anticipated return to the ring of Mercedes Mone (fka Sasha Banks), who is paving her own path after exiting WWE nine months ago.
The show sold out solely on the announcement that Mone would be in action, but the card is now stacked with two current world champions and countless other big names from multiple companies.
At the top of the map, IWGP World Champion Kazuchika Okada will defend his title against the legendary Hiroshi Tanahashi in a match that could make any show in the world the main event, while a singles match between Jay White and Eddie Kingston has the potential to steal the title show.
But if you look further down the map, the inclusion of Impact World Champion Josh Alexander in an exciting eight-man tag team match is a massive boost and will further showcase the Canadian’s skills to a wider audience.
Only speak to The sports news Ahead of the San Jose event, the 35-year-old couldn’t hide his excitement as he continues a truly historic run across North America and abroad.
“Personally I’m very excited and I think the vibe around the company is super exciting – this show sold out just because it was announced that Mercedes Mone would be making their debut,” said Alexander.
“If you look at this card from top to bottom, there’s something from everyone and it’s a showcase for professional wrestling…you can really tell that New Japan is trying to include all these different wrestlers.
“It’s a different kind of environment, there are a lot of different things at play – but the same is true whether I’m the main event in a singles match or less on the map in a four-on-four tag match .
“Every time I go out I want to steal the show and make sure every fan that orders on pay-per-view, or every fan that has bought a ticket, gets their money’s worth and the best of Josh Alexander sees.
“It’s wonderful because people like me and Eddie Kingston and all these people from other companies can come in and showcase our talents in New Japan, which has been one of the global superpowers in pro wrestling for decades.
“On the other hand, it’s a cool thing for New Japan – they’ve got a stacked roster, they could lay out cards all day – but they come here to North America and they know I might be more familiar to some North American fans if they’re tune in for the first time in New Japan.
“It’s just a cool way to bring everything together and showcase New Japan in North America and break into that market.”
Alexander has established himself as one of the top technical wrestlers in the world today, surpassing a host of famous names to become the longest-reigning impact world champion in the company’s 20-year history.
Names synonymous with the pro wrestling industry such as Sting, Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe and AJ Styles all carried the same title that Alexander currently holds and it’s something that holds great meaning for the 18-year veteran is.
“I’ve been asked this question so many times, and all I can say is that it seems surreal because it really is,” he said.
“It didn’t really kick in for me and I don’t think it really will until my career is over and over. I’m in these history books and there might be someone climbing it day in and day out and that might be the day I smash my record… people will have adored me more for what I’ve done than for that what I’m doing right now.
“I can never stop and smell the roses… for me it’s just the next challenge? I always want to keep working and always have my eyes in one direction.
“It’s certainly surreal, but there’s no complacency in me whatsoever because I just love what I do every day and I know I’m privileged to be able to do it.”
The upcoming show for NJPW is set to open so many eyes to the product, and that’s no doubt due to the presence of the aforementioned Mercedes Mone, who joins the company’s all-female affiliate promotion Stardom.
With multiple championship wins in WWE, millions of social media followers, a loyal following, and a deserved reputation as one of the greatest female wrestlers in history, this is a huge boost for the Japan-based company in its quest to conquer the global game.
Alexander admits that even from the perspective of another talent, the aura surrounding Mone’s debut with the company and the future of her run is something to behold.
“I’m super excited — I think women’s wrestling as a whole has taken a leap forward in the last 10 years,” he said.
“Mercedes leaving WWE and moving to Stardom and New Japan Pro Wrestling I think is an excellent opportunity to showcase their talent.
“She’s obviously doing it for a reason, because she wanted to be a part of it more than anything. Someone like her, she can make her decision and go and work wherever she wants – but she chose this for a reason.
“I don’t know what else the fans are familiar with because there’s so much pro wrestling to consume on a weekly basis. If they’re just taking a risk because they were exclusively WWE fans and want to see Mercedes Mone, the entire map will seem like something new to them.
“I think everyone will see something special and I’m looking forward to getting a front row seat at the back monitor to see it happen.”
The event could also mark the end of one of the big runs in NJPW history, with former World Champion “Switchblade” Jay White increasingly likely heading for a major US promotion.
The Kiwi sensation cemented his legacy and while Alexander will be disappointed to see him continue, he paid tribute to his influence and work ethic in Japan and abroad.
“For the last 50 years, everything has been the Switchblade era,” he said.
“I wrestled Jay for the first time in Ring Of Honor, and that was a completely different Jay than what we’ve seen over the past three or five years as he’s risen to the top of New Japan.
“It’s just a testament to the talent and ability of the guy – similar to what I just said about Mercedes, Jay can give it his all and work wherever he wants.
“He’s a valuable asset in this business, whatever the company, and I’d be sad if he left.”
As for the aptly named Walking Weapon and his future at NJPW, there are certainly some goals.
Former World Champion Shingo Takagi tops his list of dream matches in Japan, but Alexander’s desire to run in the country for the first time and potentially compete in the G1 Climax is at the forefront of his ambitions.
“I don’t think I’ve made it a secret that the only thing that’s alluded me to pro wrestling is wrestling in Japan,” he said.
“It’s the only thing on my bucket list – the biggest goal I set for myself 10 years ago was that I just have to go to Japan and it played me left and right.
“For whatever reason it hasn’t happened yet, but four years ago I was never signed to a big company in pro wrestling and look what happened.
“I’ve never been someone to say it’s never going to happen — I’m just that person who, if it has to happen, will do it at the perfect time, just like I signed that contract with Impact Wrestling.
“Maybe this year’s G1, maybe next year – but I’d welcome anything to come to Japan and show what I can do in front of this fanbase.”
When is NJPW Battle in the Valley?
- Date: Saturday February 18 | Sunday February 19th
- Start time: 10:00 p.m. ET | 12 p.m. JST | 3am GMT | 2 p.m. AEDT
NJPW’s Battle in the Valley takes place on February 18th. The main card starts at 10pm ET | 12 p.m. JST | 3am GMT | 2 p.m. AEDT.
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How to watch NJPW Battle in the Valley
| country | Date | Channel + live stream (main card) |
| United States | Sat 18 February | NJPWWorld.com, FITE |
| Japan | Sunday, February 19th | NJPWWorld.com |
| Great Britain | Sunday, February 19th | NJPWWorld.com, FITE |
| Australia | Sunday, February 19th | NJPWWorld.com, FITE |
Fans can watch Battle in the Valley at NJPWWorld.com. Apart from that, fans can follow the event on FITE.tv.
NJPW Battle in the Valley Prize: How much is the event?
- The event will be available on FITE.tv for $19.99.
- On NJPW World, the event costs 2,990 yen, approximately US$22.70 and AU$33.
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NJPW Battle in the Valley location
Battle in the Valley takes place at the San Jose Civic in California. The arena can hold up to 3,000 people. When Mercedes Mone was announced for the show, the event sold out immediately.
NJPW Battle in the Valley Match Map
- Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title
- Kairi (c) vs Mercedes Mone for the IWGP Women’s Title
- Zack Saber Jr. (c) vs. Clark Connors for the NJPW World Television Title
- Tom Lawlor vs. Homicide in a dirty rules match
- Jay White vs Eddie Kingston
- The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) (c) vs. the West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson and Royce Issacs) for the Strong Openweight Tag Team Titles
- Fred Rosser (c) vs. KENTA for the Strong Openweight Title
- Mascara Dorada, Josh Alexander, Adrian Quest and Rocky Romero vs. Kushida, Volador Jr., Kevin Knight and The DKC
- David Finlay vs. Bobby Fish
- Alex Coughlin vs. JR Kratos