Rosser challenges Tom Lawlor backstage after main event win

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Celebrating the Independence Day weekend, Fireworks Frenzy hit the NJPW STRONG week this Friday night on NJPW World and FITE, with Fred Rosser and Bateman colliding in the main event of the evening. 

After Rosser was vocally critical of Bateman’s ‘bullying tactics’ corrupting Barrett Brown, Rosser would fight to give Bateman a taste of his own medicine. Both men fought for an advantage on the mat to begin, and when Rosser scored the first takedown, he headed out the ring to make his foe reflect on the situation before getting back in and bringing the aggression with strikes. 

Bateman responded in kind, but Mr. No Days Off had the upper hand before the always dangerous Bateman picked an ankle. Now with a weakness to target, the twisted ROH representative set to work in his wheelhouse, even taking off the boot of Rosser to try and inflict more damage, and forcing his foe to resort to biting and the admonishment of the referee. 

Bateman wanted major offense on the apron, but Rosser responded with his signature apron suplex, turning the tide and getting a two count from the referee. More bites, headbutts and a DDT got two for Rosser, but his ankle gave out on a Gutcheck attempt, which led to a Fisherman Buster. Bateman tried to follow up with This Is A Kill, but the tombstone like maneuver was blocked, and turned into a modified Flowsion to grant victory to the Suntan Superman. 

Post match, Rosser called out Tom Lawlor, and stated he wanted to be next in line for the STRONG Openweight Championship. Could he be facing the winner of Lawlor’s future clash with Satoshi Kojima?

Also this week on STRONG, Jordan Clearwater took on the huge challenge that is Hikuleo. After a difficult start, Clearwater was able to get some offense on the BULLET CLUB Young Gun, but the Midas Touch did not come for the Golden Boy, and Hikuleo scooped the win with the Tongan Driver. 

The Fireworks Frenzy action kicked off with Lio Rush picking up a victory over Adrian Quest. With a lot of aggression out of the blocks, Quest took to the skies with a suicide dive onto Rush, and impressed through the match, but Rush Hour would grant a victory to the Man of the Hour, who starts his own road to Resurgence on August 16.