Battle in the Valley (2021)

## Battle in the Valley

Promotional poster featuring several NJPW wrestlers

**Battle in the Valley** was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling's New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America (NJoA). The event was held on November 13, 2021, at San Jose Civic in San Jose, California, United Sates. The show was headlined by Jay White defending the NEVER Openweight Championship against Tomohiro Ishii.

Wrestlers from American promotions Impact Wrestling and the United Wrestling Network's Championship Wrestling from Hollywood (CWFH) also appeared in the event, due to a working relationship between them and NJPW.

## Production

### Background

In October 2019, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) announced their expansion into the United States with their new American division, New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America (NJoA). Since February 2020, due to restrictions COVID-19 pandemic imposed in the United States, NJPW began promting events under closed doors, as part of the *NJPW Strong*. The event was announced on August 14, 2021 at Resurgence, taking place on November 13 at San Jose Civic in San Jose, California. Jon Moxley was originally scheduled to take part of the event, but he would removed and replaced by Will Ospreay. Tickets went on sale on August 19, costing from $39 to $299.

### Storylines

Battle in the Valley featured professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

On January 5, 2021, on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 15 in Tokyo Dome, Jay White who was frustrated about his loss against Kota Ibushi, stated that "his time should be spent some place else", adding that he was leaving the promotion on January 6 at *New Year Dash*. At the *New Year Dash*, in his supposed last match for the promotion, White lost an eight-man tag team match where he was defeated by Tomohiro Ishii. Despite the rumors of his potencial departure, on February 1, White made his return to the promotion attacking Ishii, after he had derailed White's plans to win the 2020 G1 Climax due to Ishii defeating him in their block match. This led to a match between the two on February 27 at Castle Attack, which White won. Meanwhile, White won the NEVER Openweight Championship, a title Ishii had become synonymous and had significant history with the him. On August 14, at Resurgence, after defeating Moose, Ishii challenged White to a title match. White initially refused, but ended up accepting citing that he would his feud with Ishii, under the condition that Ishii lost, he could never challenged for the NEVER Openweight Championship.

On October 16, 2021, during an episode of *NJPW Strong*, Buddy Matthews made his debut in NJPW, annoucing in a pre-taped vignette, his debut for the promotion at Battle in the Valley on November 13. On November 6 at Power Struggle, in a post-match interview, Okada challenged Matthews to a match. The match marked Matthews' debut for the promotion and Okada's first appearance in the United States in nearly three years.

On August 14 at Resurgence, Will Ospreay made his return from injury, announcing that he was medically cleared to return in-ring competition, before as the "real IWGP World Heavyweight Championship" belt, before stating that he would be appearing on *NJPW Strong* defending his title. Afterwards, Ospreay began feuding with the members of the LA Dojo, being confronted by Clark Connors, Karl Fredericks and TJP. During his feud with the LA Dojo, TJP who had previously align with Fredericks, turned on him, and joined the United Empire. The L.A. Dojo and United Empire return angle resulted in Battle in the Valley also featuring other prominent matches, with Opsreay facing Ren Narita and Clark Connors and Karl Fredericks facing United Empire's Jeff Cobb and TJP.

The event also included a singles match between Juice Robinson and Impact Wrestling's Moose. Also on October 16, after defeating El Phantasmo in a match, Robinson challenged Moose to a match. Since February, Robinson began working in Impact Wrestling, most notably held the Impact World Tag Team Championship.