July 17, 2020 / By mobanmarket
UFC star Josh Barnett will be appearing at tonight’s TNA television tapings in Orlando and making his debut for a national U.S. promotion.
Barnett, currently on a USADA temporary suspension regarding an out of competition drug test taken on December 9th, has a pro wrestling background and was a disciple of Billy Robinson, one of the biggest stars of the 60s and 70s.
Barnett is expected to work some kind of an angle with TNA champion Bobby Lashley, which would be notable for a pro wrestling feud between a UFC star and a Bellator star.
Tonight is the final night of the TNA tapings and will also include a mock wedding with Laurel Van Ness and Braxton Sutter.
Barnett, who announces for New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS, left California after doing the voice overs for six weeks worth of shows, including Tokyo Dome shows that begin airing tomorrow night.
He has done pro wrestling on-and-off in Japan, including being one of the few Americans to headline a show at the Tokyo Dome, when he faced Yuji Nagata for the IWGP heavyweight title on January 4th, 2003. He later worked for the IGF in Japan, a promotion that Lashley worked for at the same time.
In 2011, as part of a tournament to crown an IGF pro wrestling world heavyweight champion, Barnett beat Lashley at the Tokyo Dome City Hall. Barnett ended up losing to Jerome LeBanner, a famous kickboxer, in the finals.
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