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Three Huge Matches Set For Strong Style: Evolved
NJPW announced three matches for their Strong Style: Evolved event on Monday.
Firstly, “Switchblade” Jay White will defend the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Hangman Page. Page has pinfall victories over Jay White in tag matches. Page has tried to formally challenge White at New Beginning In Saporro, but was interrupted by the reunion of The Golden Lovers.
Speaking of The Golden Lovers, they’re set to take on The Young Bucks. Young Bucks announced themselves as heavyweights at the conclusion of Honor Rising. Jealous of Kenny Omega spending so much time in the lavender haze of his rekindled romance with Kota Ibushi, and enraged by Omega announcing he and his lover “the best tag team in the world,” Matt Jackson made the challenge at Honor Rising, and New Japan officials confirmed that the Lovers and the Bucks will meet in Long Beach.
Also confirmed for Long Beach will be Jushin “Thunder” Liger facing off against Rey Mysterio. Mysterio made a surprise challenge to Liger at New Beginning In Osaka.
Strong Style: Evolved will take place at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, CA on 3/25. It will be broadcast live on AXS TV.
Huge matches made for Strong Style Evolved! White v Page for US Title! Mysterio v Liger! Golden Lovers v Young Bucks!!https://t.co/CIk78TKEtR
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) February 26, 2018
Full Card For Tuesday’s NJPW 46th Anniversary Show
New Japan Pro Wrestling will celebrate their 46th Anniversary with a true spectacle. The card for the NJPW 46th Anniversary Show features Tetsuya Naito facing Taichi in Taichi’s heavyweight division debut, a three way match for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, IWGP Intercontinental Champion Minoru Suzuki finally faces Togi Makabe, and a main event that sees the IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada will face IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay. Ospreay joined Okada’s CHAOS faction two years ago at the 44th Anniversary show.
The show is set to air at 5am EST on NJPWWorld.com.
NJPW 46th Anniversary Event
3/6, 5am EST:
- Ryusuke Taguchi, Jushin “Thunder” Liger, Tiger Mask, KUSHIDA & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Ren Narita, Tetsuhiro Yagi, Shota Umino, Tomoyuki Oka & Yuji Nagata.
- Katsuya Kitamura Best of Seven Series (Final Match): Katsuya Kitamura (0-6) vs. Manabu Nakanishi
- Toa Henare, David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto)
- IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match: Champions Roppongi 3K vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) vs. Suzuki-gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado)
- Yoshi-Hashi vs. SANADA
- IWGP Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship Match: Champion Minoru Suzuki vs. Togi Makabe.
- Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi
- Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay.
Huge Returns Set For New Japan Cup
New Japan Pro Wrestling revealed the brackets to their annual New Japan Cup on Monday. The single elimination tournament will run from 3/9-3/21. The winner of the tournament will earn a shot at the Heavyweight title of their choosing. For the first time, all rounds of the New Japan Cup will be broadcast live on NJPWWorld.com.
This year’s bracket features some notable returns. First and foremost is the return of New Japan Ace Hiroshi Tanahashi. Tanahashi was injured at the hands of Suzuki-gun leader Minoru Suzuki at January’s New Beginning In Sapporo. Tanahashi is set to face Suzuki-gun’s Taichi in the first round of the tournament.
Also returning to NJPW will be Suzuki-gun’s Zack Sabre Jr. The British wrestler last appeared at January’s Wrestle Kingdom 12, taking part in the NEVER 6-Man Tag Gauntlet. Suzuki-gun’s Taichi will also be in the tournament.
Brackets unveiled for the New Japan Cup! Tanahashi is back! Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr make Cup debuts! All 9 shows will be airing LIVE on NJPW WORLD‼︎https://t.co/FQ2f5eE0fI
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) February 27, 2018
Continue onto NEXT PAGE for the full New Japan Cup schedule and Kenny Omega comments on Golden Lovers history…
