NJPW STRONG was headlined by a singles clash between Shingo Takagi and Rocky Romero, the two meeting for the first time one on one in Las Vegas. The underdog Romero would set a high early pace, and took the former world champion down before diving with a pair of topes suicida. Yet back inside, Takagi would shrug off kicks to the back, before landing the Ryu-kon Lariat.
Shingo would stay in the driver’s seat until Romero was able to fire back in the face of the KOPW holder’s strikes. Sticking and moving, Romero continues to press the bigger Shingo, and was able to hit a Falcon Arrow before transitioning into the Diablo Armbar, forcing Takagi quickly to the ropes. Rattled, Shingo landed a RyuKon DDT and then Noshigami for two. Rocky responded with Sliced Rocky, and continued to look for counters, threatening with a hurriacanrana and a second armbar submission attempt, but Last of the Dragon ended a game performance.
After Christopher Daniels turned his back on Yuya Uemura and their mentor/protege relationship some weeks ago, Uemura was hungry for grudge match revenge on STRONG. Uemura tore into the Fallen Angel from the outset. using the ring gear that Daniels had gifted him to choke at his former mentor, and then dove at the veteran with a plancha. The young prospect kept up the pressure with an impactful slam on the floor, but was met with a neckbreaker from Daniels over the top rope, the more experienced moan in the ring then targeting the neck and head of his younger opponent.
Uemura was able to fire back with a dropkick and bulldog off the top, but Daniels stopped a Frankensteiner attempt with a short powerbomb. As Daniels went for Angel’s Wings though, he would be stopped and dropped by Uemura, who found a short roll-up for the win.
The night started with Jakob Austin Young and Greg Sharpe facing the West Coast Wrecking Crew, Jorel Nelson and Royce Isaacs. After Isasacs showed his strength early, both Young and Sharpe were able to combine well in taking him to task with some double teams. Yet Isaacs and Nelson had too much of a power edge. As a charging Shapre was met with an Isaacs uranage slam, the Who Do You Love? double team ended the match in Team Filthy’s favour.
