Tag: strong openweight championship

Gabe Kidd issues challenge for NJPW Battle in the Valley, Sumie Sakai retirement match set

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The card for Battle in the Valley started to shape up on Sunday.

After retaining the NJPW Strong Championship against Ryohei Oiwa at NJPW Strong Style Evolved, he cut a promo running down Kenny Omega before focusing on NJPW Battle in the Valley, which takes place on January 11. He singled out Tomohiro Ishii, calling him out for the San Jose event.

Kidd is set for a busy 2025, already taking on Kenny Omega at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5. Ishii meanwhile is scheduled to face the winner between Shingo Takagi and Konosuke Takeshita the previous night at Wrestle Kingdom 19. If Takeshita remains champion up to January 4, the match would be for both the NEVER and AEW international titles.

Following the show, Sumie Sakai asked Hiromu Takahashi to be in her retirement match that will take place at Battle in the Valley. Takahashi agreed, but suggested a mixed tag match, with himself teaming with two women and Sakai teaming with one man and one woman.

Another title match was seemingly agreed to for Battle in the Valley earlier on Sunday. After Royce Issacs and Jorel Nelson captured the NJPW Strong Tag Team titles, they were met by Rocky Romero. He issued the challenge for next month, saying his former Roppongi 3K partner YOH would be teaming with him. The new champions responded by taking out Romero.

NJPW introducing New Japan Strong Openweight Championship

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new championship was revealed during tonight’s NJPW Strong.

Tonight’s episode of Strong opened with the unveiling of the New Japan Cup USA trophy that the winner will receive. Kevin Kelly on commentary noted that instead of a future championship match, this year’s tournament winner will actually win a new championship being introduced: the Strong Openweight Championship.

The eight-man tournament begins next week on April 9. The opening matches will have Clark Connors taking on Lio Rush, Brody King facing Chris Dickinson, Ren Narita facing Tom Lawlor, and Hikuleo facing Fred Rosser. The semi finals will take place on April 16, and the finals will take place April 23.

KENTA won last year’s inaugural NJPW Cup USA tournament, defeating David Finlay in the finals to win the trophy and a shot at the IWGP United States title. Earlier this year, he faced Jon Moxley for the IWGP United States title in a losing effort.