After competing extensively in mixed martial arts, including for the UFC, Lawlor transitioned to the pro wrestling ranks in 2017, and quickly won the MLW World Heavyweight Championship, building a fight team around himself known as Team Filthy. When he arrived in NJPW in 2020 for Lion’s Break, and then NJPW STRONG, Lawlor followed the same pattern, recruiting hard hitters like JR Kratos and Danny Limelight.

Lawlor also showed his ruthless edge. With no room for anyone that got in the way of his vision, he aggressively cut Rust Taylor and Chris Dickinson from his crew. Staying driven on his own success, Lawlor was victorious in New Japan Cup USA 2021, becoming the first STRONG Openweight Champion by beating Brody King in the final. Retaining against Dickinson, Karl Fredericks and Satoshi Kojima, Lawlor looks invulnerable on Friday nights. Who will take the STRONG title off the filthy one?