Massive tournament action to come through April on STRONG

The new Japan Cup USA bracket has been revealed, and along with it some huge first round matchups for what will be an incredible tournament through the month of April on NJPW STRONG. Here are the first round matchups, which will all take place next week, April 9 on STRONG, with semi finals on April 16 and the finals on April 23: 

Brody King vs Chris Dickinson

Headlining night one of the cup is one of the hardest matches of the tournament to call, with Brody King facing Chris Dickinson. After being eliminated in the first round of last year’s tournament by Tama Tonga, King is the only member of this year’s lineup with prior tournament experience, and this time seeks to go all the way to the final. 

The Dirty Daddy stands in his way however. Having worked through his career to earn a spot in the cerulean blue, Dickinson has been a revelation on STRONG, and a huge asset to Team Filthy. Yet after King and Dickinson joined forces on ROH’s 19th Anniversary event lately, a conflict of interests may be in the works. Nevertheless, all factional alliances go out of the window in tournament competition, and King and Dickinson will go all out in a bid to claim the 2021 New Japan Cup USA.

Fred Rosser vs Hikuleo

Singles record: 1-0 Rosser

Hikuleo made his first appearance on NJPW STRONG on the final night of last year’s New Japan Cup USA, and BULLET CLUB’s Young Gun has declared himself to be the biggest monster on Friday nights ever since. Yet Fred Rosser has repeatedly stood in Hikuleo’s way, with tag team brawls leading to a singles matchup during New Beginning USA. 

There, Rosser withstood tremendous punishment from Hikuleo before scoring the win with a backslide and a large handful of the Young Gun’s hair. That controversial loss enraged the BULLET CLUB member, who went on a rampage around ringside before vowing revenge. When both men qualified for New Japan Cup USA 2021 then, Hikuleo saw his chance, and viciously attacked Rosser before demanding that the two face off in the first round. Only one can advance; who will it be?

Ren Narita vs Tom Lawlor

Ren Narita has been another revelation on Friday nights in 2021. Through a US excursion that can only be deemed successful to date, he defeated Bateman on his STRONG debut, and scored a win over fellow cup entrant Chris Dickinson at new Beginning USA, before getting past Misterioso to find his way into the US’ elite eight. April 9 however will see his tallest task yet, as he faces Tom Lawlor. 

While Narita has an impressive amateur backbone, and goes back to those roots for the majority of his offense, there is arguably no better submission wrestler on the NJPW roster either side of the Pacific than Tom Lawlor. Could Lawlor be the latest in a growing list of impressive victories for Narita, or will the Team Filthy leader put Narita in his place? 

Lio Rush vs Clark Connors

Rounding up the cup bracket, Clark Connors faces Lio Rush in the first round. Rush’s NJPW debut was met with much fanfare, but he’s faced his share of trials over the intervening months. After a first round loss in Super J-Cup 2020, Rush fell to El Phantasmo in a February rematch, and badly needed to redeem himself in order to make good on his ‘man of the hour’ nickname. Rolling up Rocky Romero to qualify, he has now earned that chance, but can he make it all the way through the cup? 

His first round opponent is Clark Connors. Having won last year’s Lion’s Break Crown tournament, Connors earned his way into the Super J-Cup, but also fell in the first round. Yet he has gone into battle in 2021 determined to show he is a worthy graduate of the LA Dojo system, and scored an impressive win over former mentor TJP to make his way to the cup lineup.