Spectacular matchups signed for Friday at 10e/9c/7p

With New Japan Cup USA behind us, NJPW STRONG now shifts focus to Fighting Spirit Unleashed. This two night spectacular will kick off September in a major way on NJPW STRONG, and to get us ready, this Friday sees the Road to Fighting Spirit Unleashed and some fascinating matchups!

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Main event: Chase Owens vs PJ Black

ROH’s Darewolf will meet BULLET CLUB’s Crown Jewel in our main event on STRONG. This should be an evenly matched, classical encounter, that will doubtless see Owens doing all it takes to try and ground PJ Black and prevent his Placebo Effect 450, a move that garnered him victory on his STRONG debut a couple of weeks ago. 

Black is still riding high from that win, but Owens has had tougher form; after David Finlay knocked him out of New Japan Cup USA, last Friday he suffered a devastating Gonso Bomb from Brody King that is sure to leave him with a sore neck lasting through the week. Still, a win over the spectacular Black would get Chase back ‘on the case’ in a major way. 

2nd Match: Clark Connors, Karl Fredericks, ACH & TJP vs Adrian Quest, Blake Christian, Barrett Brown & Misterioso

Second on Friday’s card, an eight man tag team war that is sure to be high paced, chaotic and unmissable. Blake Christian, Barrett Brown and Adrian Quest have all made their STRONG debuts in the last couple of weeks and instantly made an impact with some spectacular performances, while more experienced and technical high fliers TJP and ACH have proven they are not to be outdone. 

One shouldn’t take an eye off Karl Fredericks in this match. Back after a dispiriting first round New Japan Cup loss to KENTA, the Alpha Wolf will want to draw all attention in a crowded match to him and him alone. Then there’s Misterioso, himself hungry for a signature win after impressing on Lion’s Break Collision and NJPW’s US tours.  

1st Match: Danny Limelight vs Jordan Clearwater

Kicking things off on STRONG, Danny Limelight goes one on one with Jordan Clearwater. Two relatively new names to NJPW, after Clearwater debuted just two weeks ago and Limelight got his NJPW start during Lion’s Break Collision, both men have ties to the original NJPW LA Dojo; potentially at least. 

Clearwater was originally trained by a familiar name in ‘Machine Gun’ Karl Anderson, who got his start in Inoki’s original LA Dojo, while another LA alum in Rocky Romero has been making plays toward Danny Limelight of late. Mr. Azucar has offered to mentor Limelight after hand picking him to be part of Lion’s Break Collision last month; will Limelight accept the invitation, or make a mark by himself?