Ishii and Lawlor went to war in Vegas
The main event on NJPW STRONG this week saw Tomohiro Ishii do battle with Filthy Tom Lawlor in singles competition. After both men tested one another as they worked for takedowns, it didn’t take long for the match to become a strike exchange, and it would be Lawlor with the upper hand, dropping the Stone Pitbull with a Russian Legsweep and pressing the advantage.
A backdrop suplex would get Ishii much needed time and space before the Stone Pitbull clattered into Lawlor with a mighty collision. Trying to capitalize, the CHAOS member wanted a superplex, only to be stopped by Lawlor, who found an ankle lock in the corner before spiking Ishii with a huge throw. Yet Ishii was determined to land the superples, and with a battering ram headbutt in the corner, was able to do just that.
Lawlor reacted with an enzuigiri that was swatted away by Ishii, but a momentary lapse in judgement saw Lawlor catch his foe with a stretch muffler before transitioning into a TTD for two. After connecting with the enzuigiri on the second attempt, lawlor would set for the NKOTB, but was thrown with a German suplex and dropped with a powerbomb for two. Lawlor landed an exploder suplex, but Ishii was able to recover and connected with a wild lariat on the rebound for three.
A spectacular tag team attraction saw Mistico team with Alex Zayne in his STRONG debut against Blake Christian and Mascara Dorada. After classic rivals Mistico and Dorada, and Zayne and Christian showed some phenomenal offence, it was Christian on the back foot and in his opponents’ corner.
Christian would work his way free to tag in Dorada, who electrified the Las Vegas crowd with incredible offence culminating in a tope con giro and rope walk splash to Mistico. The CMLL icon landed a cross body to bring Zayne in for double team offence on Dorada, but the numbers advantage didn’t work on Christian, who was able to use both his opponents’ momentum to his advantage.
As the match broke down, Christian had Zayne primed for the finish, but Mistico was able to make a blind tag. As All Heart headed to the top, he was met by Mistico, who picked his spot perfectly for the Spanish Fly that scooped victory.
Kevin Knight vs Ariya Daivari at Autumn Action
The night’s action started with Ari Daivari taking on Kevin Knight one on one. Knight’s athleticism worked to his advantage early, but when he got too eager on a big dropkick attempt, the Trustbuster seized the advantage and ruthlessly targeted the shoulder. The tenacious Knight would repeatedly find ways to counter Daivari, and lock in a punishing Boston Crab. Daivari almost lost his cool and cost himself the match as he went for the ring bell, but as Knight tried to recover, a referee distraction and low blow led to the schoolboy finish.
