NJPW Resurgence notes: Title changes, Fantasticamania USA announced

Two title changes took place at Resurgence.

Saturday’s show saw ELP & Hikuleo defeat TMDK (Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste) to win the Strong Openweight Tag Team titles. The finish saw Hikuleo choke slamming Haste, allowing ELP to hit a splash for the win. TMDK had held the titles for only 29 days.

The Strong Openweight title changed hands, with Gabe Kidd defeating Eddie Kingston in a brutal no ropes last man standing match, finishing when Kidd gave Kingston a suplex through a table and into the barricade, failing to meet the ten count and giving Kidd his first singles title in New Japan.

This ends Kingston’s run with the Strong Openweight title after 311 days, defeating KENTA back at Independence Day Night 2 last July. With the loss, Kingston has now lost the last of three titles he had held recently that formed the Continental Crown.

It was also announced during Resurgence that Fantasticamania will be taking place in San Jose on July 13 at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. It will be a joint event with CMLL, similar to the tour that takes place each year in Japan.

Henare made his return to the company after being out of action since February. He issued a challenge to the winner of the NEVER Openweight title match. Shingo Takagi defeated Yuya Uemura to retain the title, setting up the next title match.

In the main event, Jon Moxley defeated Shota Umino to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight title. After the match, EVIL and Ren Narita attacked Moxley, with EVIL spray painting the championship black and posing over Moxley to end the show.

Openweight title match to headline NJPW Strong

Three matches have been announced for this week’s episode of NJPW Strong. 

In the show’s main event, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor will defend the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship against Fred Rosser. 

In the second match, Juice Robinson, David Finlay and Rocky Romero will tag against Team Filthy’s JR Kratos, Royce Isaacs and Black Tiger. 

In the opener, Kevin Knight and The DKC will face Brogan Finlay, as the younger Finlay brother appears in his second NJPW Strong match. 

The Detonation episodes of Strong were taped on November 15 in Riverside, California. Saturday’s show will also be available on demand immediately following airing. 

Here is the full lineup:

NJPW Strong Detonation night three, Saturday, December 18, 8 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World–

  • NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Tom Lawlor (c) vs. Fred Rosser
  • Juice Robinson, David Finlay & Rocky Romero vs. JR Kratos, Royce Isaacs & Black Tiger
  • Kevin Knight & The DKC vs. Jordan Clearwater & Brogan Finlay