Lawlor emerges from 20 minute plus war with Dickinson with title as Fredericks calls next

Tom Lawlor emerged from the main event of Collision on NJPW STRONG with the STRONG Openweight Championship still firmly around his waist, as Chris Dickinson fell to a sleeper suplex after a thrilling main event. 

Chris Dickinson headed alone to the ring for his challenge, while Tom Lawlor would be cornered by Team Filthy, the sting of Danny Limelight’s betrayal still no doubt present as Dickinson tried to take Lawlor to the mat. 

While a proficient grappler himself, he was not the better of Lawlor, who had the upper hand in the early going; the Dirty Daddy found a heel hook on Lawlor, but the champion responded in kind, before being able to stand into a Sharpshooter. Dickinson was more effective in the standup though, dropkicking Lawlor and then ducking a spinning heel kick from the champion before the fight went to the outside. 

There the challenger was able to take full advantage of his environment with a Dragon Screw over the framework of the apron that had Lawlor pained. Cikinson’s advantage wasn’t to last however, as Lawlor too showed ingenuity in his use of the ring itself as a weapon. Catching his challenger coming in, Lawlor tied Dickinson in the ropes and landed a stunner that torqued the knee of his opponent. 

Yet when the champion tried to further use the ring to his advantage, ascending the turnbuckles for added leverage on a rear naked choke, Dickinson made him pay, climbing to the top and scoring with a superplex. A barrage of lariats and a Death Valley Driver could well have been enough for Dickinson, but Danny Limelight and JR Kratos each got in the apron. 

The distraction prevented a three count, but carried a high price tag for the Team Filthy members, Dickinson popping Limelight while Brody King emerged from the back to take care of Kratos. Now one on one, the match grew in intensity, Dickinson coming close to victory with a vertical drop brainbuster. 

After an STF didn’t get the job done for Dickinson either, the challenger unleashed a violent German suplex, and wanted a second, but was stopped by a Lawlor double wrist lock and then a TTD like driver for two from the champ. As both unleashed heavy moves and heavier strikes, Lawlor was able to pop Dickinson up into a rear naked choke, and though Dickinson suplexed out of the hold once, he couldn’t a second time. That second hold would end with a sleeper suplex that secured victory for Tom Lawlor. 

Post match, Karl Fredericks stepped to the champion backstage. After the Alpha Wolf eliminated Lawlor from competition a fortnight ago on STRONG, he was full of confidence as he stepped to the leader of Team Filthy. Could Fredericks be the second STRONG Champion?

Also this week on STRONG, Wheeler Yuta returned to action against El Phantasmo. Yuta frustrated ELP and came close to victory with his technical mastery and an impressive German Suplex, but Sudden Death ended his night. 

In the Friday night opener, Clark Connors picked up a W against AJZ. Andreas John Ziegler continued to impress with his ability, as well as offend with his conduct, but in the end Connors’ new Trophy Kill finish ended his night.