NJPW Strong Episode 22 1/8/2021

NJPW Strong Episode 22 1/8/2021

NOTE - Last week's show was a repeat due to the holidays, so I didn't cover it. Why this is the case on a taped show, I don't know.

Tom Lawlor cuts a promo to start. He said they are only as strong as their weakest link and says Tyler Rust is the weak link. Lawlor fired Tyler Rust and told him to "take a vacation to Florida" (hinting at his NXT signing). Lawlor said they would keep recruiting and leave a mark.

They said the main event tonight would have a substitute but didn't know who would be Limelight's and Kratos' partner.

Clark Connors vs Kevin Knight

They wrestle around early which was good stuff. Clark does a nice takedown into a leglock. Clark does a nice fireman's carry takedown and does shoulder spears in the corner. Knight's eye is bandaged shut. Clark takes a hard hiptoss and then goes to town with some forearms on the back of the neck.

Knight put on a nice headlock and they shoulder battle briefly. Clark goes up top and Knight does a great dropkick while he's up there, knocking him down, then hits another good one. Knight runs the ropes and gets a hard spear then is tapped out to a boston crab. This was a good young lions match with some solid amateur wrestling and some stiffness. They kind of slap hands after and Knight pushes Clark aside.

The DKC vs Rocky Romero

DKC is only 5'6. DKC does a takedown from behind and after some wrestling, rolls Rocky into a pin attempt. Rocky surfboards him and he gets out and puts on a leg hold. DCK does a nice belly to belly slam on Rocky.

They trade some forearms and Rocky gets the advantage with a kick. He gets on the second rope and double knee's DKC's arm. They trade more kicks and forearms and DKC hits some knees and a running slice chop. Rocky gets DKC's arm and he tries to kick out of it, but he can't. then he hits a northern lights suplex for 2. DKC hits a bunch of slams for 2 and this is starting to go too long.

Rocky falcon arrows him into an armbar and wins it. I'm not sure if they made the best use of their time that they could of here. It felt like we missed an entire second half.

DKC gets on the mic after. He said he was sorry and needed to get stronger and focus. He asks Shibata to teach him and let him join the NJPW Dojo. Shibata came in and told him to come with me.

Kevin Kelly then interviewed Bateman. He said he didn't regret his violent past in ROH. He said he's not going to tell everyone that this is a dream, but he will show us that he is a cruel but fair man and special. He said he has very capable hands and said he wants his opponents to suffer. He said the New Japan Dojo is going to produce lambs to slaughter for him and they will come out messy. Kelly said Bateman was thrown out of the Dojo and he said "violent delights have violent ends".

I didn't love the promo, but his way of talking fits his character and his look sticks out.

Brody King, Sterling Riegel and Logan Riegel vs JR Kratos, Danny Limelight and Chris Dickinson

DL = Danny Limelight

We have about 13 minutes left for this. Dickinson goes to start but DL tags himself in and gets immediately knocked down by King. Logan picks up DL and gets armdragged, then Logan runs the ropes and stops himself with DL stopping himself on a dropkick. DL counters the wristlock with a headspring and slaps Logan. Logan charges in and DL hops over him then gets a John Woo dropkick in the corner. DL gets rolled into a facekick and a standing moonsault. The twins hit a double suplex.

DL hits a lariat and tags in Dickinson. Dickinson hits some chops and a nice arm takedown. JR gets in and throws Logan into the buckles hard chest first. DL showboats and hits Logan hard in the chest with a kick. Dickinson knocks his opponents off the apron and pisses off King. Dickinson hits a nice takedown throw and punishes Logan in the corner. Logan goes off the top and Dickinson bearhugs him.

King finally gets in and makes DL fly with a backdrop. He and Dickinson trade some hard chops. King swats away a knee then hits a doctor bomb that DL breaks up. One of the twins comes in with a springboard forearm on DL. DL hits a spinning dive onto the Twins outside and we get a King/Kratos battle.

The big men trade forearms and JR clotheslines King over hard. Dickinson hits a great lariat and a stiff running death valley driver in a good match. Dickinson is really good and I was happy we got a little bit of the monsters going at it.

King and Kratos then fight after and 5 of the 6 brawl after. 

The winning team did a promo after. Dickinson was in a rage and said this has been his goal his whole life. Kratos told King to grow eyes in the back of his head.

Overall thoughts: Pretty good show with 2 fun matches and some storyline work in-between.