Tag: new japan cup usa

NJPW crowns first-ever Strong Openweight Champion

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Tom Lawlor defeated Brody King to win the New Japan Cup USA and become the NJPW Strong Openweight Champion on tonight’s NJPW Strong. 

Lawlor became the first-ever Strong Openweight Champion after beating King with a rear naked choke. King was unable to respond to the referee, who called for the stoppage finish at 20:05. 

Lawlor already has a surprising first challenger lined up as well. 

After being presented with the New Japan Cup USA trophy and the Strong title belt, Lawlor cut a promo with Team Filthy allies Chris Dickinson and JR Kratos by his side. He declared that no one in NJPW thinks they can beat him or is man enough to. Dickinson took the microphone from Lawlor and said that he is stepping up as Lawlor’s first challenger. 

Lawlor ran through Ren Narita, Hikuleo and King to win the 2021 New Japan Cup USA tournament. Dickinson lost to King in the tournament’s first round. 

Lawlor joins KENTA as New Japan Cup USA winners after the tournament was introduced in 2020. 

NJPW reveals full lineup for New Japan Cup USA 2021 finals

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW has revealed the full card for this Friday’s New Japan Cup USA finals on NJPW Strong. 

In the main event, Brody King will take on Tom Lawlor in the final match of the New Japan Cup USA tournament. The winner will also be crowned the first-ever NJPW Strong Openweight Champion. 

King earned a spot in the finals with wins over Lio Rush and Chris Dickinson, while Lawlor defeated Hikuleo and Ren Narita. 

On Friday’s undercard, Rocky Romero will take on the debuting Wheeler Yuta. Yuta has international experience with ROH, Michinoku Pro, and WXW.

In the opener, TJP and Clark Connors will face JR Kratos and Chris Dickinson in tag team action.

Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing. 

Here is Friday’s full lineup: 

  • New Japan Cup USA finals: Brody King vs. Tom Lawlor
  • Rocky Romero vs. Wheeler Yuta
  • TJP & Clark Connors vs. Chris Dickinson & JR Kratos

NJPW New Japan Cup USA 2021 finals set

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The finals are set for the 2021 New Japan Cup USA. 

Brody King and Tom Lawlor advanced to the finals with wins on tonight’s episode of NJPW Strong. King defeated Lio Rush with a Gonzo Bomb in 7:38, while Lawlor pinned Hikuleo in 8:58 with an inside cradle to punch his ticket to the final round. 

King and Lawlor will meet on the Friday, April 23 episode of Strong to decide the 2021 New Japan Cup USA winner, and also to crown the first NJPW Strong Openweight Champion. 

King carved his path to the finals with wins over Rush and Chris Dickinson, while Lawlor defeated Hikuleo and Ren Narita. 

In 2020, Cup winner KENTA became number one contender to Jon Moxley’s IWGP United States Championship and received a right to challenge briefcase. NJPW has gone in a different direction this year with the introduction of the Strong Openweight title, while Moxley has challenged Yuji Nagata for his next US title defense. 

Semifinals set for NJPW New Japan Cup USA 2021

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The 2021 New Japan Cup USA semifinals are set. 

On tonight’s episode of NJPW Strong, Brody King, Hikuleo, Tom Lawlor and Lio Rush advanced to the semifinals. 

In the main event, King defeated Chris Dickinson in 10:42 after hitting a lariat. In the semi-main, Hikuleo defeated Fred Rosser with a Tongan Driller in 6:22 to advance. Lawlor used a rear naked choke to submit Ren Narita in 13:19 to move on. In the Strong opener, Lio Rush beat Clark Connors with a Rush Hour in 9:57 to stay alive in the tournament. 

The semifinals will take place on the Friday, April 16 episode of Strong. Rush will face King, while Lawlor will take on Hikuleo. 

The 2021 New Japan Cup USA finals will be held on the Friday, April 23 episode of Strong. In addition to winning the New Japan Cup USA, the winner of the tournament will also be crowned the first NJPW Strong Openweight Champion. 

Here is the remaining tournament lineup:

New Japan Cup USA 2021 semifinals, Friday, April 16 on NJPW Strong —

  • Lio Rush vs. Brody King
  • Tom Lawlor vs. Hikuleo

New Japan Cup USA 2021 finals, Friday, April 23 on NJPW Strong —

  • Lio Rush/Brody King vs. Tom Lawlor/Hikuleo

Entire New Japan Cup USA first round set for Friday’s NJPW Strong

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The entire first round of the 2021 New Japan Cup USA will air on this week’s NJPW Strong. 

In the main event of Friday’s show, Brody King will take on Chris Dickinson. 

In the semi-main, Fred Rosser will face Hikuleo. 

Ren Narita will take on “Filthy” Tom Lawlor in the second match of the night. 

In Friday’s opener, Clark Connors will face Lio Rush. 

NJPW announced on last week’s Strong that the winner of the 2021 New Japan Cup USA will also be crowned the first-ever NJPW Strong Openweight Champion. 

In 2020, the Cup winner became number one contender to Jon Moxley’s IWGP United States Championship and received a right to challenge briefcase. KENTA won the 2020 edition of the tournament. 

Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing. 

Here is Friday’s full lineup: 

  • New Japan Cup USA first round match: Brody King vs. Chris Dickinson
  • New Japan Cup USA first round match: Fred Rosser vs. Hikuleo
  • New Japan Cup USA first round match: Ren Narita vs. Tom Lawlor
  • New Japan Cup USA first round match: Clark Connors vs. Lio Rush

NJPW New Japan Cup USA 2021 tournament bracket set

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The field is set for the 2021 New Japan Cup USA tournament. 

Chris Dickinson and Clark Connors claimed the final two spots in the field on Friday’s episode of NJPW Strong. Dickinson beat Blake Christian, while Connors defeated TJP. 

On the March 19 Strong, Brody King defeated Bateman to earn a spot in the tournament, while Ren Narita secured his place by defeating Misterioso. Hikuleo and Fred Rosser gained tournament entry with wins on the March 12 episode of Strong. Lio Rush and Tom Lawlor won qualifying matches on the March 5 episode. 

Tournament matches will begin on the Friday, April 2 episode of Strong and will run through the month of April. The Cup winner will again receive a title shot against the IWGP United States Champion. 

The tournament bracket was also revealed. First round matches will be:

  • Clark Connors vs. Lio Rush
  • Brody King vs. Chris Dickinson
  • Ren Narita vs. Tom Lawlor
  • Hikuleo vs. Fred Rosser

The Connors/Rush winner will face King or Dickinson in the semifinals. Hikuleo or Rosser will face the Narita/Lawlor winner in the other semifinal match. 

KENTA won the 2020 New Japan Cup USA tournament, earning a title shot against IWGP United States Champion Jon Moxley. KENTA won the tournament on the August 21, 2020 episode of Strong, but the match with Moxley did not take place until the February 26, 2021 edition of Strong due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

KENTA went on to successfully defend the IWGP US briefcase five times before finally facing Moxley. 

Final two New Japan Cup USA qualifiers to headline NJPW Strong

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Friday’s NJPW Strong will feature qualifying matches to determine the final two spots in the New Japan Cup USA tournament, as the Road to Strong Style Evolved editions of the show continue.

Friday’s opening qualifying match will see Clark Connors take on TJP.

In the second qualifier, Blake Christian will take on Chris Dickinson.

Friday’s main event is a special tag match without tournament implications, as David Finlay and Karl Fredericks will team against Tom Lawlor and Danny Limelight.

The New Japan Cup USA tournament will be held in April on NJPW Strong. On last week’s episode, Brody King defeated Bateman to earn a spot in the tournament, while Ren Narita secured his place by defeating Misterioso. Hikuleo and Fred Rosser gained tournament entry with wins on the March 12 episode of Strong. Lio Rush and Tom Lawlor won qualifying matches on the March 5 episode. 

Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing. 

Here is Friday’s full lineup: 

  • David Finlay & Karl Fredericks vs. Tom Lawlor & Danny Limelight
  • New Japan Cup USA qualifying match: Blake Christian vs. Chris Dickinson
  • New Japan Cup USA qualifying match: Clark Connors vs. TJP

Two New Japan Cup USA qualifiers to headline Friday’s NJPW Strong

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Friday’s NJPW Strong will feature two more qualifying matches for the New Japan Cup USA tournament as the Road to Strong Style Evolved editions of the show continue.

In the show’s main event, Brody King will face Bateman.

In the second match, Ren Narita will take on Misterioso.

Friday’s opener is a special singles match without tournament implications, as Jeff Cobb will face the recently-returned Alex Coughlin. Coughlin had been out of action with a neck injury. 

The New Japan Cup USA tournament will be held in April on NJPW Strong. On last week’s episode, Fred Rosser defeated JR Kratos in the main event to secure his spot in the tournament, while Hikuleo defeated Jordan Clearwater in the show’s other Cup qualifier.

Two weeks ago, Tom Lawlor and Lio Rush won qualifying matches to gain entry into the eight-man field. 

Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing. 

Here is Friday’s full lineup: 

  • New Japan Cup USA qualifying match: Brody King vs. Bateman
  • New Japan Cup USA qualifying match: Ren Narita vs. Misterioso
  • Special singles match: Jeff Cobb vs. Alex Coughlin

Two New Japan Cup USA qualifying matches to headline NJPW Strong

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Friday’s NJPW Strong will feature two more qualifying matches for the New Japan Cup USA tournament as the Road to Strong Style Evolved editions of the show continue.

In the show’s main event, Fred Rosser will face JR Kratos. 

In the second match, Jordan Clearwater will take on Hikuleo. 

Friday’s opener is a tag match without tournament implications, as Adrian Quest and Barrett Brown will take on Logan Riegel and Sterling Riegel. 

The New Japan Cup USA tournament will be held in April on NJPW Strong. On last week’s episode, Tom Lawlor and Lio Rush won qualifying matches to gain entry into the eight-man field. 

Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing. 

Here is Friday’s full lineup: 

New Japan Cup USA qualifying match: Fred Rosser vs. JR Kratos

New Japan Cup USA qualifying match: Jordan Clearwater vs. Hikuleo

Adrian Quest & Barrett Brown vs. Logan Riegel & Sterling Riegel

New Japan Cup USA qualifying matches to headline NJPW Strong

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Two New Japan Cup USA qualifying matches headline this Friday’s episode of NJPW Strong. 

The show, branded as the first in a series of Road to Strong Style Evolved events, will be headlined by Rocky Romero vs. Lio Rush in a qualifying match. 

In another qualifier, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor will take on The DKC. 

In Friday’s opener, Karl Fredericks and Alex Coughlin will team against Clark Connors and Kevin Knight. 

This year’s New Japan Cup USA tournament will have an eight-man field and will begin on the April 2 episode of Strong. 

Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing. 

Here is Friday’s full lineup: 

  • New Japan Cup USA qualifying match: Rocky Romero vs. Lio Rush
  • New Japan Cup USA qualifying match: “Filthy” Tom Lawlor vs. The DKC
  • Karl Fredericks & Alex Coughlin vs. Clark Connors & Kevin Knight