New Japan Pro Wrestling started a new era of their NJPW Strong brand on Saturday. The North American extension of New Japan not only aired in a new time slot, but also aired the first episode with fans in attendance. NJPW stars Tomohiro Ishii and Hiroshi Tanahashi made their NJPW Strong debuts in an action-packed episode.
The addition of a live crowd’s energy was a much needed boost for the cast of characters that have been working their asses off in the LA Dojo. Tanahashi used the fans’ exuberance to lead Karl Fredericks & Clark Connors to victory against Stray Dog Army. Juice Robinson fought Hikuleo in a brutal tables match, another chapter in a rivalry that has spanned NJPW Strong & IMPACT Wrestling programming.
The new time slot and the live fans make for a much more entertaining hour than the empty arena show that NJPW Strong had been. What once felt like a glimpse in the training of NJPW’s future stars, now feels like a showcase, a coming out party for some of the best independent talent in North America.
Here are the full results from the Sept. 18th edition of New Japan Strong:
9/18
NJPW Strong
Available on NJPWWorld.com
- Tomohiro Ishii def. Alex Coughlin by pinfall via Vertical Drop Brainbuster. (9:13)
- Hiroshi Tanahashi, Karl Fredericks & Clark Connors def. Stray Dog Army (Bateman, Misterioso & Barrett Brown) by pinfall. (13:33)
Karl Fredericks pinned Barrett Brown via MD. - Tables Match: Hikuleo def. Juice Robinson via Tongan Driver through a table. (9:57)
NJPW Strong now airs every Saturday at 8/7c on NJPWWorld.com
