New Japan Pro-Wrestling General Discussion Thread

[Chris]

STRONG Preview: JONAH Debuts, Coughlin vs Barnett 【NJoA】
Detonation series gets started from Riverside CA

Saturday at 8/7c, STRONG sees action from the Detonation series in Riverside California, with a big debut and a big return highlighting the four match card.

Watch STRONG Saturdays at 8/7c on NJPW World!
Or watch on FITE!

Main event: Alex Zayne & Yuya Uemura vs BULLET CLUB (Jay White & Hikuleo)

Our main event this week sees Switchblade jay White head to the ring for his first match since losing the NEVER Openweight Championship to Tomohiro Ishii at Battle in the Valley. It’s safe to say that the Switchblade will not be in a buoyant mood as he teams with Hikuleo, who will no doubt be looking to make a violent impact as ever in Riverside.

In the opposite corner the ever innovative Alex Zayne pairs with Yuya Uemura. Chris Dickinson was originally set to be the Sauce’s partner for this one, but as the Dirty Daddy recovers from injury, Yuya Uemura will make a very capable replacement. Uemura has impressed with every single outing in STRONG and beyond as his excursion continues, and the BULLET CLUB duo make significant targets.

3rd Match: JONAH vs Lucas Riley

After his shocking first appearance at Battle in the Valley, the Top Dog, JONAH makes his in ring debut on STRONG this week. Opposite him is promising young high flier Lucas Riley. Riley has earned the nickname of the ‘gravity renegade’ for his disregard to the laws of physics, but this is a physics equation that does not suit young Riley at all. Can he survive JONAH?

2nd Match: Lio Rush & Adrian Quest vs Stray Dog Army (Misterioso & Bateman)

Lio Rush and Adrian Quest take on the Stray Dog Army’s Bateman and Misterioso this week. Quest is indirectly responsible for the formation of Stray Dog Army in the first place; after frustration at having the spotlight taken away from him by his partner Quest, Barrett Brown was taken under Bateman’s wing, and Misterioso would follow. As the unit has been looking to make an impact and grow their presence on NJPW STRONG, they go back to their roots as they try to take down Young Fuego Saturday, but Quest has incredible backup in the Man of the Hour Lio Rush.

1st Match: Alex Coughlin Open Challenge Series: Josh Barnett vs Alex Coughlin

Kicking off the night, Alex Coughlin’s challenge match series continues against Josh Barnett. The Warmaster will wrestle his first NJPW match in over 17 years in order to take on a student of his in the LA Dojo member as he attempts to make the next big step in his career. The former UFC Champion has been working with Coughlin for years, but will not go easy on his student in what could be the defining match of Alex’s still young career.​

Just finished this episode, it was good shit but now that the preview for the next one is alresdy posted it feels weaker

 

[Chris]

Clark Connors is still out with COVID so they've replaced him with the debuting Keita Murray for the Nemesis TV tapings. Here's the updated card:

• Jay White vs. Christopher Daniels
• David Finlay vs. Jonah
• Alex Zayne vs. Ariya Daivari
• Brody King vs. Dave Dutra
• Karl Fredericks & Kevin Knight vs. Bateman & Misterioso
• TJP vs. The DKC
• Eddie Kingston vs. Gabriel Kidd
• Alex Coughlin vs. JR Kratos
• Royce Isaacs vs. Lucas Riley
• Juice Robinson vs. Bad Dude Tito
• Keita Murray & Jordan Clearwater vs. Chris Bey & Hikuleo

 

[Hoss]

Bad Dude Tito still sounds like the Bad Luck Fale that you buy at Dollar General

 

[Chris]

NJPW STRONG Preview: Brody King vs Ishii 【NJoA】
Detonation continues this Saturday

This week’s edition of NJPW STRONG will see the Detonation series continue, with an immense singles main event, and United Empire’s war with the LA Dojo continue.

Watch NJPW STRONG Saturdays at 8/7c on NJPW World!
Or watch on FITE!

Main event: Tomohiro Ishii vs Brody King

The main event this week will see a first time ever singles confrontation for Tomohiro Ishii and Brody King. Two kindred spirits, these two will unleash some furious offense in a match that will have hire stakes for Brody especially. With regular tag team partner Chris Dickinson on the injured list, Brody will be looking to strike out on his own more than ever, and the new NEVER Openweight Champion makes a very prominent target. Should ‘Big Bad’ Brody pull off the win, it would be a big step toward the openweight gold, and take King a step closer to his career goal of making the G1 Climax in the future.

2nd Match: LA Dojo (Karl Fredericks, Clark Connors & Ren Narita) vs United Empire (Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb & TJP)

Six man tag team action will see the United Empire continue their battles with the LA Dojo. Will Ospreay’s first appearance in a US NJPW ring on August 14 at Resurgence saw him directly call out the LA Dojo, decrying a lack of ‘killer instinct. Karl Fredericks and Ren Narita have both stepped up to prove to Ospreay their killer instinct is very much intact, but losing efforts have seen the Dojo frustrated. The addition of TJP has bolstered the United Empire in the States, and now the Imperial Unit Jeff Cobb heads to action for the first time since the G1 Climax, bringing a formidable trio indeed.

1st Match: Jonathan Gresham vs Gabriel Kidd

Gabriel Kidd has emerged from the toughest challenges of his young life with courage and conviction as he heads to the ring a changed man this Saturday on STRONG. His technical expertise matches his fortitude, but will be put to the test in our opening match this week with Jonathan Gresham. American Catch as Catch Can will collide with British technical expertise as Kidd battles the former ROH Pure Champion in what could be one of the best technical battles of all 2021.​

Kidd/Gresham fucking ruled, the entire story and focus of the match was literally Gabriel Kidd being back and Gresham gave him a ton (just not the win). Awesome moment. A "beautiful contest" as Alex Kozlov put it afterwards.

United Empire vs LA Dojo was good shit too, just action all throughout. If there's ever a day where the entire United Empire are all on the same continent together for one show it's gonna be absurd btw lol

King/Ishii was a FUCKING WAR, everything I wanted it to be and then some bro. Just fucking hard-hitting shit. At one point a fan yells out BRODY FUCKING KING when it was quiet and I popped so hard lol King also got in a Dickinson shoutout towards the end

 

[Canadian Dragon]

 

[FatBagzJones]

50 years ago today, Antonio Inoki was fired from Japan Pro Wrestling (aka the JWA). Less than 18 months later, it was dead, and NJPW & AJPW had taken its place.

Sent from my ELE-L29 using Tapatalk

 

[Chris]

STRONG Preview: Rosser vs Lawlor II 【NJoA】
Last STRONG title match of the year sees Fred Rosser challenge

Saturday at 8/7c, NJPW STRONG sees the Detonation series finish off 2021 in style. The year’s final title match will see Fred Rosser finally challenge STRONG Openweight Champion Tom Lawlor, driven by revenge and a desire for the gold.
Watch STRONG Saturdays at 8/7c on NJPW World!

Or watch on FITE!
Main event: STRONG Openweight Championship: Tom Lawlor vs Fred Rosser
Singles record: 1-0 Lawlor

Tom Lawlor seeks to make his sixth defence of the STRONG Openweight Championship with his most personal encounter yet. Over one year ago Lawlor did battle with Fred Rosser in a match that defied all expectations to become the top voted match of the year with STRONGT viewers. Rosser has campaigned for a rematch ever since, and would definitively earn his shot against the Filthy One in Philadelphia.

There Rosser, caught in a rear naked choke, shifted his weight backward to trap Lawlor’s shoulders to the mat for a three count. It was the first pinfall loss Lawlor had ever experienced in a NJPW ring; the embarrassment was acute and the revenge was swift. Lawlor would hold Rosser down as his hair was cut and identity shorn. For a man like Rosser who wears his heart proudly on his sleeve, this was unforgivable, and Mr. No Days Off has devoted every day at work since to ending the reign of Filthy Tom. Will he do it Saturday night in Riverside?

2nd Match: Rocky Romero, Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs Team Filthy (JR Kratos, Royce Isaacs & Black Tiger)

Six man action in the second match of the evening will see fallout from Showdown in Philadelphia. There Rocky Romero would join Fred Rosser in ten man warfare with Team Filthy; Romero was closing in on victory when he was attacked by a figure from his past.

Some 15 years ago, Rocky was battling over the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship under the Black Tiger mask; that night in Philadelphia, it was someone else under the same hood that attacked him with a kendo stick before landing a Tombstone piledriver. Tonight Rocky has solid backup in FinJuice as they take on three of Team Filthy’s best, including ‘Black Tiger’ himself.

1st Match: LA Dojo (Kevin Knight & The DKC) vs Jordan Clearwater & Brogan Finlay

The La Dojo’s Kevin Knight and the DKC will kick off the night’s action as they take on Jordan Clearwater and Brogan Finlay. Finlay returns for his first NJPW match since Autumn Attack in Texas, while clearwater returns after action on NJPW XTRA in recent weeks. Can either score their first NJPW pinfall win over the Young Lions tonight?​

 

[Canadian Dragon]

 

[Canadian Dragon]

 

[Chris]

HOLY SHIT Rosser/Lawlor was fucking amazing. Was a technical brawl and they went over 20 minutes and the crowd was hot the whole way through. Possibly the best Lawlor match I've ever seen and easier Rosser's. They had Strong's MOTY in their short 2020 run last year and now they may have just clinched it for 2021 which is impressive af with the year strong has had. Rosser better have a job for life with NJPW

 

[Chris]

BROOOO that Taylor Rust return was done so well how the fuck did they make him come off so strong lmao did the Diamond Mine do that much for him

 

[Chris]

Strong Style Evolved comes to Tampa March 20! 【NJoA】
NJPW STRONG returns to the Coliseum in Florida

After over two years since NJPW debuted in Florida during the New Beginning USA, NJPW STRONG will bring Strong Style Evolved 2022 to the Coliseum in Tampa Florida on March 20.

After 2021’s Strong Style Evolved series saw STRONG’s best compete for places in New Japan Cup USA, 2022 will see Strong Style Evolved in front of fans for the first time since 2018. Who will bring their fighting spirit unchained, and strong style evolved to Florida?​

 

[Chris]

Four Matches Made for New Beginning USA! 【NJoA】
First matches made for the US in 2022

January 15 sees NJPW STRONG make its debut in Seattle’s Washington Hall. The northwest will see a stacked night of action, with the first four matches of 2022 for STRONG revealed right here!

New Beginning USA 2022 tickets (Standing room $30 only)

Jay White will face a mystery opponent in the ‘US of Jay Open Challenge’. After losing the NEVER Openweight Championship to Tomohiro Ishii at Battle in the Valley, White changed focus, instead calling out competition from any promotion anywhere in the ‘US of Jay’ in a bid to prove that it is indeed ‘still his era’. For Nemesis, White called out Christopher Daniels, the Fallen Angel responding at the Vermont in Hollywood. Who will step up to the plate and face the Switchblade in Seattle?

Matt Rehwoldt will go head to head with El Phantasmo. After wrestling during the Summer Struggle series, the Drama King turned to the broadcast position, where he was a little too honest in his opinion of some of El Phantasmo’s tactics for the Headbanga’s taste. ELP returns to the US after doing battle in the Tokyo Dome potentially as one half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions once more; will Rehwoldt’s return to in-ring action on STRONG see success or a Sudden Death?

Clark Connors goes head to head with TJP in Seattle. As the United Empire’s war with the La Dojo has waged on, Connors and TJP have been at the heart of the conflict. In Texas, the Public Enemy turned his back on his former protege and friend to align himself with the United Empire. In Philadelphia, a tainted victory saw TJP victorious, but with much unsettled. In Riverside a heinous attack on Connors knee saw the Wild Rhino wounded, and even angrier than before. Could Seattle solve everything this January?

Yuya Uemura’s excursion continues at new Beginning USA, as he faces Big Bad Brody King. Uemura has been eager to face the biggest possible competition. Win or lose, he has faced the likes of Josh Alexander and Jay White in recent weeks alone, and pushed both hard enough to confirm that the future of NJPW is in his hands. Should he make his mark on Brody King, the present could be his for the taking as well.​

 

[Chris]

Anniversary and NJ Cup dates announced, click the tweet for translation options lol

 

[TigerDriver91]

I think the addition of Strong Tag Team titles would help the show. They’ve got a number of teams wrestling there and no reward for them. Also the IWGP Tag titles seems to not be leaving Japan any time soon.