Impromptu STRONG title match sees Lawlor reach V9

Windy City Riot on April 16 saw a surprise twist to the scheduled non title singles bout between Tom Lawlor and Yuji Nagata. After Lawlor joined a post match attack on Fred Rosser after his ten man tag team match, Nagata hit the ring to make the save and demanded his scheduled non title match be for the title. 

With Lawlor agreeing, the match was on, and taking a surprising form as the two brawled in and out of the ring. As both got back inside, Lawlor had the upper hand with a rear naked choke, but on the floor, the challenger was able to fight off a front chancerie and land a huge exploder. The stunned champion kept up the momentum in ring with kicks and a Justice Boot, before a butterfly suplex for two. 

Nagata was able to lock in the Nagata Lock II, but Lawlor countered and transitioned into the Nagata Lock I of his own. The match passing ten minutes, Nagata made the ropes, and got the hold again, before finding a Justice Knee and setting for a top rope exploder, landing another near fall, but after being worn down by the champion with a rear naked choke, could not get a cover off the back of a Backdrop Suplex. 

As Lawlor capitalised with a PK, his challenger would kick out on a near two, but another choke would be followed with a stranglehold, and then a Kamigoye like knee to record his ninth defence.