Tag: njpw strong openweight champion

KENTA vs. Fred Rosser Openweight title match set for NJPW Battle in the Valley

Posted on by Ian Carey

With Fred Rosser retaining his title over Peter Avalon on Strong this week, the Strong Openweight title match for NJPW Battle in the Valley is set. 

It will be Bullet Club’s KENTA challenging Rosser for the belt on the February 18, 2023 show from San Jose. KENTA previously earned a title shot after winning the Strong Survivor match on the January 7, 2023, episode of NJPW Strong. 

Rosser called out KENTA after defeating Avalon on Strong this week. The champion and challenger then had a staredown to close the show. 

NJPW Battle in the Valley, Saturday, February 18, 10 p.m. Eastern time on FITE TV PPV —

  • IWGP Women’s Championship: KAIRI (c) vs. Mercedes Mone
  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada or Shingo Takagi will defend the title
  • Strong Openweight Championship: Fred Rosser (c) vs. KENTA
  • Strong Tag Team titles: Motor City Machine Guns (c) vs. World Class Wrecking Crew
  • Eddie Kingston vs. Jay White
  • Filthy Rules: “Filthy” Tom Lawlor vs. Homicide
  • Mascara Dorada, Josh Alexander, Adrian Quest, and Rocky Romero vs. KUSHIDA, Kevin Knight, Volador Jr., and The DKC

NJPW Battle in the Valley pre-show, Saturday, February 18, 9:20 p.m. Eastern time, free on YouTube and FITE TV —

  • David Finlay vs. Bobby Fish
  • JR Kratos vs. Alex Coughlin

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 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.