William Regal announces his son Charlie Dempsey as NXT’s challenger for AJPW Triple Crown Championship

December 24, 2023 Neal Flanagan NEWS
Photo Courtesy: WWE

William Regal has announced that his son, Charlie Dempsey, will challenge for the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.

On December 23rd, AJPW revealed that an NXT talent would challenge for the title. It will first be defended by current champion Katsuhiko Nakajima against Kento Miyahara on December 31st.

The winner of that match will face Dempsey on January 3rd.

Regal has been kept off camera by a year-long agreement with AEW. In the video posted to X, he talks about his time wrestling in Japan and says that he is acknowledging Dempsey as his son publicly for the first time.

In full, Regal said:

Hello to all the fans of All Japan Pro Wrestling. I’m Lord Steven Regal, sometimes known as William Regal who works for the WWE and NXT. I had a wonderful time in the 90s, wrestling in Japan.

I wrestled some of the greatest wrestlers of all time, including Mr Tatsumi Fujinami and Mr Antonio Inoki. Well, now there’s a new generation of European wrestlers that will continue the great European style that was a huge part of Japanese wrestling.

My trainer, Marty Jones, was trained by the legendary Billy Robinson. My mentor, Johnny Saint, also trained by Billy Robinson. My other mentor, Pete Roberts, a regular for All Japan Pro Wrestling.

And now I’m sending to you what I consider the best up-and-coming wrestler of the old traditional European and Lancashire style to All Japan Pro Wrestling. And that is Charlie Dempsey.

And this is the first time that I’m telling people in public, Charlie Dempsey is my son. Charlie has been traveling the world for the last seven years, honing his craft to continue the great legacy of Lancashire-style wrestling.

I know that he’s going to come to All Japan Pro Wrestling and show everybody exactly how good he is and how the great traditions of European wrestling will continue in Japan. Thank you very much indeed.

About Neal Flanagan 804 Articles
Based in Northern Ireland, Neal Flanagan is a former newspaper journalist and copy editor. In addition to reporting for POST Wrestling, he co-hosts The Wellness Policy podcast with Wai Ting and Jordan Goodman.
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