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NJPW STRONG Independence Day 2023 - Tag 1

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New Japan Pro Wrestling's Korakuen Hall Extravaganza

I'm still trying to process the sheer amount of action that went down at NJPW's latest pay-per-view extravaganza in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall. The crowd was electric, the matches were top-notch, and I'm left with more questions than answers as I try to make sense of it all.

Let's start with the pre-show, where Oskar Leube, Ryusuke Taguchi, and YOH took down Dragon Libre, Kengo, and Takahiro Katori in a fun six-man tag team match. The crowd was already hot by this point, and it only got hotter as we headed into the main card.

Bad Dude Tito's Big Win

In what can only be described as an upset of the evening, Bad Dude Tito knocked off The DKC in a singles match that lasted all of 7:29. I know some folks might be thinking, "Wait, isn't The DKC the guy who just won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship?" Yeah, well, that didn't seem to matter one bit as Tito brought the smackdown to DKC.

Team Filthy and the Chaos

Next up was Team Filthy (Jorel Nelson, JR Kratos, and Royce Isaacs) taking on Alex Zayne, Lance Archer, and Ryohei Oiwa in a six-man tag team match. The chaos was palpable as these eight men went at it, with Team Filthy emerging victorious after 10:26 of mayhem.

Tom Lawlor's Singles Showdown

In what was arguably the best singles match of the evening, Tom Lawlor took down Kosei Fujita in a battle that saw both competitors give it their all. The clock ticked off at 8:59 as Lawlor got the win, but I'm not sure anyone really came away feeling like they'd just witnessed something truly special.

Tag Team Tussles

Eddie Kingston and Rocky Romero teamed up to take down BULLET CLUB's Gedo and KENTA in a tag team match that had the crowd on its feet. Meanwhile, Momo Kohgo and Willow Nightingale got the better of Mafia Bella (Giulia and Thekla) in another tag team affair.

War Dogs and Bishamon Collide

But it was the two title matches that really stole the show. First up, BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd) took on Bishamon for the NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Title. In a match that had the crowd going wild, War Dogs emerged victorious.

Catching 22 in a Trap

Next, we saw BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney) face off against Catch 22 for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title. And let me tell you, these two teams went at it like their lives depended on it. In the end, War Dogs got the win, but I'm still trying to wrap my head around that one.

Doomsday No Disqualification Chaos

And finally, we had El Desperado and Jun Kasai taking on Homicide and Jon Moxley in a Doomsday No Disqualification Tag Team Match. The chaos was absolute, with these four men beating the snot out of each other for 18:34. I mean... what else can you say? This match had it all.

In the end, it was El Desperado and Jun Kasai who emerged victorious, but honestly, that's not really what this report is about. What I'm trying to get at is that NJPW just put on one heck of a show, folks. If you missed it, you're in for a real treat when the replay hits your screens.

That's all for now from Korakuen Hall. Until next time...

Card Details

  • Date: 07 Apr 2023
  • Promotion: New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • Arena: Korakuen Hall
  • Attendance: 1433
  • Type: Pay Per View
  • Broadcast Type: Live
  • Broadcast Date: 07 Apr 2023

Matches

  1. Oskar Leube, Ryusuke Taguchi and YOH defeat Dragon Libre, Kengo and Takahiro Katori in a Pre-Show Six Man Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 10:45

  2. Bad Dude Tito defeat The DKC in a Singles Match
    Match Time: 07:29

  3. Team Filthy (Jorel Nelson, JR Kratos and Royce Isaacs) defeat Alex Zayne, Lance Archer and Ryohei Oiwa in a Six Man Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 10:26

  4. Tom Lawlor defeat Kosei Fujita in a Singles Match
    Match Time: 08:59

  5. Eddie Kingston and Rocky Romero defeat BULLET CLUB (Gedo and KENTA) in a Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 09:29

  6. Momo Kohgo and Willow Nightingale defeat Mafia Bella (Giulia and Thekla) in a Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 09:54

  7. BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd)(C) defeat Bishamon in a NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Title Match

  8. BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney)(C) defeat Catch 22 in a IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match

  9. El Desperado and Jun Kasai defeat Homicide and Jon Moxley in a Doomsday No Disqualification Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 18:34

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