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NJPW STRONG REPORT: SECOND ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

Your host is Ian Riccaboni.

Ian mentions that NJPW Strong debuted on August 7, 2020. He says they will take a look back at some moments from the history of NJPW Strong.

We start off with a look at the New Japan Cup USA finals featuring David Finlay and KENTA.

(Here is the match from the August 21, 2020 episode of NJPW Strong)

Match Number Three: KENTA versus David Finaly in the Finals of the New Japan Cup USA 2020

They lock up and KENTA with a waist lock and Finlay with a standing switch. KENTA with a wrist lock. Finlay with a wrist lock of his own. KENTA goes for the leg. Finlay with a reverse chin lock into a front face lock and then a side head lock. Finlay with a take down. KENTA with a reversal and some assistance from Finlay’s hair. Finlay with a rollup for a near fall. KENTA maintains the side head lock. Finlay with forearms and a drop kick.

KENTA goes to the floor and Finlay follows with a forearm to the back. Finlay sends KENTA back into the ring and Finlay with a kick and forearm. KENTA holds on to the ropes on an Irish whip and goes back to the floor. Finlay goes to the floor and KENTA returns to the ring. KENTA kicks Finlay when Finlay returns to the ring. Finlay with an Iris whip and KENTA sends Finlay to the apron. KENTA with a kick to the chest when Finlay misses a shoulder. KENTA with a knee drop to the back of the neck. KENTA continues to kick Finlay in the back of the neck and hits a neck breaker. KENTA gets a near fall. KENTA with a rear chin lock. KENTA with a knee drop to the back of the head. KENTA gets a near fall. Finlay with punches and forearms. KENTA with a drop toe hold and forearm to the back of the head. KENTA with a figure four head scissors. Finlay is able to get to the ropes to force a break. KENTA kicks Finlay in the head and follows with an elbow to the back of the head. Finlay with a punch and European uppercuts. KENTA with a knee to the midsection and he tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Finlay lands on his feet. Finlay with a belly-to-back suplex of his own. Finlay with forearms and Irish whip. Finlay with a running European uppercut and a corkscrew European uppercut off the turnbuckles for a near fall. Finlay with a uranage back breaker for a near fall.

Finlay tries for a deadlift German suplex but KENTA with an elbow. Finlay walks into a boot in the corner. KENTA with a tornado move to drop Finlay on the top rope. KENTA with a forearm off the turnbuckles for a near fall. KENTA with a DDT and then he hangs Finlay from the middle rope and hits another DDT for a near fall. KENTA with a running boot into the corner followed by a hesitation drop kick. KENTA goes up top and hits a double stomp for a near fall. KENTA signals that it is over and he tries to get Finlay up for the Go 2 Sleep but Finlay with elbows to get back to his feet. Finlay with a back elbow and knee followed by a spear for a near fall. Finlay with a brainbuster onto the knee for a near fall.

KENTA sends Finlay into the corner and the referee is knocked out of position and KENTA with a low kick. KENTA gets a near fall. Finlay escapes Go 2 Sleep and connects with Euroepan uppercuts. Finlay goes for the Acide Drop out of the corner but KENTA escapes. KENTA with a sleerp followed by a running kick. KENTA with Go 2 Sleep for the three count.

Winner: KENTA

Ian mentions the people that KENTA defended the title match opportunity against leading into his match against the IWGP US Champion Jon Moxley.

(Here is the match from the February 26, 2021 episode of NJPW Strong)

Match Number Three:  Jon Moxley versus KENTA for the IWGP United States Championship

They go face to face and KENTA with the first forearm.  They go back and forth and KENTA with a boot to the head.  Moxley with a shoudler tackle.  Moxley with chops in the corner.  Moxley with a snap mare and sliding clothesline for a near fall.  KENTA gets to the ropes and goes to the apron.  KENTA drops Moxley on the top rope and Moxley with a forearm to stop a springboard move and KENTA falls to the floor.  Moxley follows and connects with a forearm to the back followed by kicks.  KENTA with a punch and Moxley with a forearm.  KENTA with a suplex on the floor.  KENTA grabs the briefcase and he wants to hit Moxley with it but Moxley kicks KENTA.

Moxley tries to piledrive KENTA onto the briefcase but KENTA escapes and he DDTs Moxley on the briefcase.  KENTA gets a near fall when they return to the ring.  KENTA with a kcik to the back followed by a snap mare and kick to the back.  KENTA with more kicks to the back.  KENTA chokes Moxley in the ropes.  KENTA iwth a neck breaker and he gets a near fall.  KENTA slaps Moxley and Moxley with punches to KENTA.  KENTA goes for a drop toe hold and gets Moxley to the mat.  KENTA with punches to the back of the head.  KENTA with knee drops to the head.

KENTA with a back heel kick to the ear.  KENTA kicks Moxley in the other ear.  KENTA continues to kick Moxley in the head and Moxley struggles to stay on his feet due to the loss of equilibrium.  KENTA with more kicks to the chest.  Moxley blocks a kick and he connects with forearm.  KENTA fires back and they continue the exchange until Moxley gets the advantage.  KENTA with a punch and Moxley falls into the corner.  KENTA gets Moxley on his shoulders but Moxley escapes and sends KENTA to the floor and hits a suicide dive.

Moxley with forearms and a head butt.  Moxley goes to the entrance ramp and he comes off the stage wtih a forearm and knee.  KENTA looks under the ring and Moxley stops KENTA and Moxley gets a table from under the ring.  Moxley sets up the table on the floor.  KENTA hits Moxley with the title belt.  KENTA with a forearm and he puts Moxley on the table.  KENTA goes to the apron and then he goes to the turnbuckles.  KENTA with an elbow drop through the table and the table breaks (because the table is American).  

The referee starts his count.  KENTA gets back into the ring first and Moxley does not get up until eighteen but he beats the twenty count.  KENTA with a running boot into the corner followed by a running drop kick.  KENTA goes up top and hits a double stomp for a near fall.  KENTA signals that it is over and he gets Moxley on his shoulders but Moxley with elbows.  KENTA slaps Moxley but Moxley with a German suplex and clothesline.  Moxley gets a near fall.  Moxley with forearms and KENTA with a LeBell Lock but Moxley is able to escape.  Moxley with a coke on KENTA but KENTA escapes.  KENTA with a LeBell Lock.  Moxley gets to the ropes to force a break.

KENTA kicks Moxley in the chest and hits a running hip strike to the back.  Moxley with a clothesline and both men are down.  Moxley gets up first and he sets for the Paradigm Shift but KENTA escapes and gets Moxley up but Moxley gets to his feet.  KENTA with punches but Moxley with a neck breaker.  KENTA flips off Moxley and slaps Moxley.  Moxley with a Paradigm Shift for the three count.

Winner:  Jon Moxley (retains championship)

Ian mentions the LA Dojo and Shibata. He mentions the success of LA Dojo students. Ian talks about Karl Fredericks, Clark Connors, and Alex Coughlin.

Ian says the LA Dojo wasn’t the only group to flourish and he talks about The Bullet Club, United Empire, and TMDK. However, there is also Team Filthy, led by the first NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Tom Lawlor.

(This match is from the April 23, 2021 episode of NJPW Strong)

Match Number Three:  Brody King versus Tom Lawlor in the Finals of the New Japan Cup USA 2021 for the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship

Lawlor offers his hand but he pulls it back and laughs at King.  Lawlor with kicks to the leg.  King grabs the leg and backs Lawlor into the corner.  King with a punch on the break.  King backs Lawlor into the corner and King with a forearm in the corner.  King with another forearm to the head.  King blocks a kick and Lawlor gets away from King.  Lawlor goes for the leg but King blcosk it and King with a front face lock.  Lawlor goes for a drop toe hold and he gets King to the mat but King gets to the ropes.  They lock up and King with a front face lock and chop.

King with a forearm and chop.  Lawlor with a kick to the leg and King with a forearm that sends Lawlor to the floor.  Lawlor with punches but King with a kick.  King with a forearm and chop in the corner.  King with a forearm across the chest.  Lawlor with a rake of the eyes and King is blinded so he swings wildly at air.  King goes after Lawlor on the floor and they get back into the ring.  Lawlor tries for a double leg take down but King blocks it and applies a front face lock.  King with a forearm to the back and head.  King with another chop.

King with a forearm and he misses a cannonball when Lawlor moves.  Lawlor wrings the leg into the ring post.  Lawlor puts the injured leg on the ropes and he stands on it and then drops his weight onto the leg.  King goes to the floor and Lawlor follows.  Lawlor with a kick to the leg but King kicks Lawlor and connects with a forearm.King misses a chop and chops the ring post.  Lawlor slams the hand on the apron and sends it into the ring post.  Lawlor stands on the hand and stomps on it.  The referee checks on King to see if he wants to continue.  Lawlor with a forearm and King fires back.  They go back and forth on the floor with Lawlor chopping King against the apron.

Lawlor with more chops and he Irish whips King into the guardrails.  Lawlor returns to the ring and the referee starts his count.  King with an elbow and forearm to Lawlor.  Lawlor kicks King to the mat and he connects with a forearm.  Lawlor with another forearm and chops.  King sends Lawlor to the mat but cannot take advantage.  Lawlor with forearms and a cravate.  Lawlor with knees to the head.  Lawlor with forearms and clothesline but King stays on his feet.  Lawlor with another clotheslines but King stays on his feet.  Lawlor goes for a flying clothesline but King stays on his feet and King with a back senton for a near fall.   Lawlor with a forearm and kick.  Lawlor and King with chops until King gains control.

King with a clothesline and exploder into the turnbuckles.  King sets for a cannonball and hits it.  King gets a near fall.  King sets for the Ganso Bomb but Lawlor blocks it.  Lawlor with a shot to the midsection and he applies a guillotine on King.  King puts Lawlor on the turnbuckles.  Lawlor continues with the guillotine but King with punches.  King sets for a superplex and hits it.  King gets a near fall.  King sets for the Ganso Bomb again but Lawlor blocks it.  Lawlor with a kick to the back of the leg.  Lawlor with an ankle lock.

Lawlor with a jackknife cover for a near fall.  King with a piledriver for a near fall.  King slaps Lawlor and connects with a forearm.  King with another slap but Lawlor with a kick to the knee.  They exchange forearms with King gaining the advantage.  Lawlor with a uranage for a near fall.  Lawlor with a drop kick to the knee and a running knee to the head for a near fall.  Lawlor with forearms and punches.  Lawlor with a rolling elbow and a rolling elbow to the back of the head.  Lawlor with kicks and he misses a rolling elbow.  King with a German suplex and clothesline for a near fall.  King gets Lawlor up for the Ganso Bomb but Lawlor escapes and applies a sleeper.  Lawlor with cattle mutilation into a crossface.  

Lawlor with a kick to the back and King blocks a running kick to the chest.  King with a punch to the knee.  Lawlor with a sleeper into a rear naked choke.  Lawlor takes King to the mat and maintains the rear naked choke.  Lawlor returns to the sleeper and King gets a second wind but Lawlor adds more pressure and King passes out.

Winner:  Tom Lawlor (new champion)

Ian talks about the return of fans in August 2021 and the first taping saw Tomohiro Ishii, Will Ospreay, and Hiroshi Tanahashi in action.

(This match is from the September 18, 2021 episode of NJPW Strong)

Match Number Two: Bateman, Misterioso, and Barrett Brown versus Clark Connors, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Karl Fredericks

The crowd wants Tanahashi to start but Fredericks starts things off against Misterioso. They lock up and Misterioso with a wrist lock and take down. Fredericks with a reversal. Misterioso with a reversal and side head lock and take down. Frederixks with a head scissors and Misterioso escapes. Fredericks with a side head lock take down and Misterioso with a head scissors and Fredericks escapes. Misterioso with a knee to the midsection and kick to the back. Misterioso with shoulders in the corner and Bateman tags in and knocks Connors and Tanahashi off the apron. Bateman with an elbow and Misterioso goes to the apron and sends Fredericks to the mat with an enzuigiri for Brown to hit a drop kick for a near fall. Brown with forearms and chops. Fredericks with a cross body and kick to the back. Connors tags in and Fredericks with a kick. Brown with a side head lock and shoulder tackle but Connors stays on his feet and he tells him to try again. Brown with the same result. Brown returns to the side head lock and Connors with a shoulder tackle. Connors with a suplex and Brown rolls away. Brown with a thumb to the eyes. Brown tries to suplex Connors into the corner but Connors with a suplex of his own. All six men get into the ring but Tanahashi and Fredericks take care of Bateman and Misterioso. They Irish whip Brown into the corner and Tanahashi with a splash followed by a shoulder from Connors. Connors with a suplex and then Fredericks and Tanahashi with a double elbow drop and some air guitar. Connors gets a near fall.

Connors with a chop to Brown and European uppercut. Misterioso with a kick to the back and Connors misses a punch but Bateman punches Connors and Connors knocks Bateman off the apron. Misterioso grabs the leg and Brown with a drop kick into the corner followed by a suplex into the turnbuckles. Bateman tags in and hits a knee drop. Bateman with a knee to the back. Bateman with an elbow to the jaw for a near fall. Bateman with a forearm and Misterioso tags in and he kicks Connors. Misterioso with shoulders in the corner and he kicks Connors. Misterioso with a drop kick into the corner for a near fall.

Misterioso with a reverse chin lock and Brown tags in. Brown with a forearm to the back and another forearm. Connors with forearms but Brown with chops. Brown with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Brown chokes Connors. Bateman tags in and he punches Connors. Bateman mocks Tanahashi and Connors with a kick to Bateman and elbows to knock Misterioso and Brown to the floor. Bateman with a double thrust to Connors. Bateman with a crossface into a rear chin lock.

Connors with a belly-to-back suplex and before Connors can make the tag, Brown and Misterioso pull Tanahashi and Fredericks off the apron. Bateman with an elbow drop to Connors followed by head butts. Bateman slaps Connors and connects with a forearm. Bateman with a doubel thrust to the throat and Connors with a power slam. Tanahashi tag in and he connects with punches and forearms. Tanahashi with a flying forearm to Bateman and then he slams Brown and Misterioso and follows with a double elbow drop. Tanahashi with punches to Bateman and an Irish whip. Tanahashi blocks a kick and hits a dragon screw leg whip. Bateman with a boot to the head and a kick to the back. Brown tags in and connects with forearms. Brown with an Irish whip and Tanahashi with an elbow and cross body. Fredericks tags in and Brown with a flatliner for a near fall. Bateman chops Fredericks and then Fredericks is Irish whipped into the corner. Brown with an elbow and Misterioso with a splash into the corner. Bateman sends Fredericks face first into the mat and Brown gets a near fall.

Fredericks with a European uppercut but Brown with a flying boot as he comes off the ropes. Connors with a spear to Brown. Misterioso with a super kick to Connors. Tanahashi with Slingblade to Misterioso. Bateman with a rolling elbow to Tanahashi. Fredericks with an enzuigiri to Bateman and everyone is down. Fredericks and Brown exchange foearms and Brown with strikes but Fredericks with a forearm. Brown with a spinning back fist but Fredericks with a spinebuster for a near fall. Fredericks with an Impaler DDT for the three count.

Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Karl Fredericks, and Clark Connors

Ian mentions how Strong has traveled all over the United States and held pay per views.

(This match is from the November 27, 2021 episode of NJPW Strong)

Match Number Four: Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston versus Lance Archer and Minoru Suzuki in a Philly Street Fight

Suzuki and Moxley have some words and they they push each other and the referee starts the match. They exchange punches as Kingston and Archer fight on the floor. Archer drops Moxley on the top rope and then hits him with a kendo stick and jams it under the jaw. Archer with more kendo stick shots to the back. Kingston chops Archer. Archer flips Kingston off and Kingston with a thumb to the eye and kendo stick shots. Kingston chokes Archer with the stick. Kingston sends Archer to the floor and he wants Suzuki. Suzuki comes into the ring and it is time for a cho exchange. Kingston tells Suzuki to hit him harder and he does. Kingston wants one more and Suzuki does it and it staggers Kingston. Kingston wants one more. Suzuki with a forearm.

Suzuki gets the kendo stick. He bows and then Kingston wants a time out. Suzuki decides to show some mercy but he doesn’t and hits Kingston. Moxley with punches and he bites Suzuki. Suzuki hits Moxley with a traffic cone and they fight to the back. Kingston and Archer are in the back as well and Kingston bites Archer and they fight onto the loading dock. Suzuki bites Moxley and Moxley uses a shopping cart. Moxley with a sleeper. Archer punches Moxley and holds him. Suzuki chokes Moxley with a cord. Archer lawn darts Moxley into a truck. Suzuki hits Moxley with a trash can lid and then he chokes Moxley with a chair. Kingston throws a cinder block at Archer but misses and it hits the wall. Suzuki, Archer, and Kingston return to the arena. Kingston hits Archer low with a kendo stick. Suzuki hits Kingston with the traffic cone and kendo stick.

Archer chokes Kingston. Suzuki goes for a Gotch Piledriver but Kingston blocks it. Archer chokes Kingston with the kendo stick and Suzuki swings for the fences when he hits Kingston. Suzuki with a cross arm breaker and Archer with an ankle lock. Moxley comes to the ring with a door. Moxley sends Suzuki into the ring post and Moxley with a suicide dive to Archer. Moxley takes a sign and there is a stop sign hidden. He hits Archer with it and then he puts it in the ring. Archer is sent back into the ring and Moxley with the kendo stick and he lifts Archer by the groin area.

Moxley sends Suzuki into the guardrails and Moxley brings the door into the ring and puts it against the turnbuckles. Moxley gets Archer up but Suzuki hits Moxley with the kendo stick. Kingston hits Suzuki and Archer hits Kingston. Moxley drop kicks Archer through the door. Moxley gets the trash can. Archer sets for a double choke slam and then Kingston and Moxley with clotheslines but Archer stays on his feet. Suzuki trips Moxley and Archer with a choke slam to Kingston. Kingston with a series of back fists and a DDT for a near fall.

Kingston chops Suzuki and Suzuki blocks an exploder. Suzuki with a front face lock and punch. Suzuki goes fo the piledriver but Moxley blocks it. Archer sends Moxley to the floor and then he puts Kingston on the turnbuckles. Archer is set to send Kingston to the mat but Suzuki puts the trash can and traffic cone down to help cushion the fall. Archer with Blackout for the three count.

Winners: Lance Archer and Minoru Suzuki

Ian talks about the Detonation Tour and Jay White’s US of Jay Challenges. He mentions some of White’s victories.

(This match is from the May 13, 2022 episode of NJPW Strong)

Match Number Three: Jay White versus Hikuleo

The bell rings and White goes to the floor. Jay takes his time getting back into the ring. White goes into the ropes to avoid Hikuleo. White avoids Hikuleo. Hikuleo sends White into the turnbuckles and tries for a chop but White avoids him and goes to the floor. White gets back into the ring and Hikuleo blocks a baseball slide but misses a chop.

They return to the ring and White with punches but Hikuleo with a boot and kicks to White. Hikuleo with forearms to the back. White with a forearm and Hikuleo fires back and White rolls to the floor. Hikuleo hot shots White on the guardrail. Hikuleo chokes White and sends him back into the ring. Hikuleo biels White across the ring. Hikuleo with a chop in the corner.

White goes to the floor again and Hikuleo follows. Hikuleo misses a chop and hits the ring post instead. White sends Hikuleo back into the ring and he gets a near fall. White goes for a suplex but Hikuleo blocks it. White lands on his feet on a suplex attempt. Hikuleo misses a boot in the corner and he gets his leg caught in the ropes. White clips Hikuleo and then he wrings the leg into the ring post and chops Hikuleo. White slams the injured leg into the apron. Hikuleo kicks White into the guardrails. White chokes Hikuleo in the ring skirt. White wrings the leg into the mat.

White with kicks to the hamstring and he drops a knee to the leg. White tries for a single leg crab but Hikuleo blocks it. White slams the leg into the mat. White kicks Hikuleo in the head and chops Hikuleo. Hikuleo chops White and White with a drop kick to the knee. Hikuleo blocks an Irish whip and Hikuleo Irish whips White into the turnbuckles. Hikuleo with a delayed vertical suplex. White kicks Hikuleo and Hikuleo with a slam and splash for a near fall.

Hikuleo gets White on his shoulders but White with elbows. White with a DDT and both men are down. White with a running European uppercut into the corner. White with a flatliner and White with a waist lock. Hikuleo misses an elbow and White with a Saito suplex. White with a twisting suplex for a near fall. White with a reverse chin lock and he clips Hikuleo again. White sets for a suplex but Hikuleo with an elbow. White with a clothesline and he blocks a kick and hits a knee breaker. Hikuleo kicks White away. White kicks Hikuleo in the injured leg. White wraps the leg in the ropes.

White with punches and Hikuleo with a power bomb. White rolls to the floor. White with a dragon screw in the ropes. White with a hanging DDT for a near fall. White sets for Blade Runner but Hikuleo grabs White by the throat. White with chops and Hikuleo with a clothesline and both men are down. Hikuleo with a chop. Hikuleo with a power slam for a near fall. White kicks Hikuleo in the knee to block a choke slam. Hikuleo with a power slam and he tries for a choke slam but White blocks it and counters with Blade Runner for the three count.

Winner: Jay White

Ian mentions that you can see the full matches on NJPW World.

Ian talks about the feud between Fred Rosser and Tom Lawlor that turned personal.

(This match is from the June 25, 2022 episode of NJPW Strong)Match Number Three: Fred Rosser versus Tom Lawlor for the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship

They lock up and exchange forearms. Rosser gets Lawlor up but Lawlor goes for a rear naked choke. Rosser goes for a crossface chicken wing but Lawlor escapes. They exchange forearms. Lawlor chops Rosser and gives him a drop toe hold. Rosser escapes a head lock. Rosser with forearms and Lawlor with a guillotine. Rosser with chops and an Irish whip but Lawlor gets a boot up. Rosser with more chops. Lawlor with a spinning heel kick and Rosser goes to the floor.

Lawlor goes up top and hits a cross body onto Rosser on the floor. Rosser has some words for Rosser’s mother in the crowd. Lawlor takes a bow. Lawlor Irish whips Rosser into the guardrails. They go to the apron and Rosser with a back drop driver onto the apron. Rosser pulls Lawlor to the floor and returns to the ring. The referee starts his count while Lawlor gets back to his feet. Rosser with a clothesline and then he sends Lawlor to the floor. Rosser goes to the floor and clotheslines Lawlor.

Rosser punches Lawlor and pulls Lawlor into the ring post. Rosser with a chop on the floor and a crossface chicken wing around the ring post. Rosser with a rake of the back. Rosser goes for a back drop driver onto the apron but Lawlor holds on to the ropes to block it and he kicks Rossesr. Lawlor goes for a power bomb into the guardrails but Rosser holds on to the ropes. Lawlor goes for an ankle lock. Rosser with a leg drop to Lawlor on the apron.

Rosser with a seated splash off the apron. Rosser returns to the ring and the referee makes his count. Lawlor gets on the apron and Rosser pushes Lawlor into the ring. Rosser with forearms and chops. Rosser with kicks and hips in the corner. Rosser with a running hip strike. Rosser gets a near fall. Rosser with a hip to Lawlor. Lawlor with a judo throw and then he sends Rosser shoulder first into the turnbuckles and Rosser goes over the top rope to the floor.

Lawlor gets on Rosser’s back and applies a sleeper but Rosser backs into the apron and guardrails to get out of the hold but Lawlor holds on. Rosser pulls the ring skirt but Lawlor turns it into a rear naked choke and he drags Rosser to the back.

Lawlor comes from the back with the referee and they run to the ring for the referee to start his count. He starts his count and a bloody Rosser crawls to the ring. He staggers off the ramp and Royce Isaacs, Jorel Nelson, and JR Kratos form a wall to block Rosser’s path to the ring. Members of the LA Dojo come out to clear the way for Rosser. Rosser gets back into the ring at nineteen. Rosser is in the corner and the medical staff checks on Rosser to close up the cut on his forehead. The referee resumes the match and Lawlor with a running knee into the corner and a kick to the back. Lawlor with another kick to the back and then he goes for a knee but Rosser blocks it. Rosser with a dragon screw leg whip and forearms. Rosser with an arm bar and then Lawlor kicks Rosser away. Rosser has a kick blocked and Rosser with kicks. Rosser with an arm bar but Lawlor gets to the ropes to force a break. Rosser with forearms and Lawlor with forearms and kicks. Lawlor with a clothesline and Rosser stays on his feet. Lawlor with another clothesline and Lawlor is the one to go down. Lawlor with knees and then he goes for a tornado into a guillotine.

Lawlor with forearms while in the body scissors. Rosser and Lawlor with the forearm exchange. Rosser counters the guillotine and gets Lawlor on his shoulders for a Death Valley Driver and a near fall. Lawlor with an exploder and a second one. Lawlor with an enzuigiri and a wrist clutch exploder for a near fall. Lawlor goes to the turnbuckles. Rosser with a clothesline as Lawlor comes off the turnbuckles. Rosser with a forearm and a double knee gutbuster. Lawlor blocks a running knee and goes for an arm bar submission. Rosser with a boot to the head for a near fall. Lawlor goes to the apron and Rosser follows. Rosser with a head butt and Lawlor with a head butt. Rosser with a back drop driver onto the apron and Lawlor with a rear naked choke. Rosser gets Lawlor up and hits a tombstone on the floor. Rosser sends Lawlor back into the ring and Rosser with a short arm clothesline.

Rosser with a power slam for a near fall. Rosser is bleeding again and he gets to his feet first. Rosser goes for a rolling elbow but Lawlor with a forearm. Lawlor with a rear naked choke into a guillotine. Lawlor with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Lawlor with a straitjacket choke and Lawlor with a knee and a Regalplex for a near fall. Lawlor has some words for Rosser’s family as he returns to the straitjaccket choke and he connects with a knee to the back for a near fall. Lawlor signals that it is over.

Lawlor kisses Rosser on his forehead where he is cut and then Lawlor returns to the rear naked choke. Rosser backs Lawlor into the turnbuckles and tries for a snap mare to escape but Lawlor holds on. Rosser gets ot the corner and then Rosser climbs on the turnbuckles with Lawlor on his back and Rosser falls back to the mat. Lawlor reapplies the rear naked choke but Rosser with a rear naked choke on Lawlor. Rosser turns it into a crossface chicken wing and he gets Lawlor to the mat.

Lawlor tries to get to the ropes but Rosser pulls Lawlor into the center of the ring. Rosser with an STF and elbows then he adds the crossface chicken wing and Lawlor taps out.

Winner: Fred Rosser (new champion)

After the match, Tiger Hattori gives Fred Rosser the title belt and raises his hand.

We go to credits.

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