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NJPW STRONG Independence Day 2023 - Tag 2

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ZOHASH.COM EXCLUSIVE

KORAKUEN HALL, TOKYO, JAPAN - MAY 7TH, 2023

The curtains closed on another unforgettable night of professional wrestling as New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) presented its latest Pay-Per-View extravaganza. Dubbed "Tokyo Showdown," the highly anticipated event delivered a star-studded card that left fans in awe.

Pre-Show The evening commenced with a thrilling Six-Man Tag Team Match featuring Oleg Boltin, Master Wato, and Ryusuke Taguchi taking on Dragon Libre, Rekka, and Takahiro Katori. The high-flying action was capped off by the veteran Taguchi, who sealed the deal with a picture-perfect Frog Splash. (Match Time: 11:37)

Singles Action Next up, Satoshi Kojima faced Oskar Leube in a singles match that showcased the former's technical prowess. A swift armbar submission proved too much for Leube, as Kojima emerged victorious in just 5 minutes and 23 seconds.

Tag Team Turf Wars Catch 22 (Francesco Akira and TJP) were pitted against Homicide and Ryohei Oiwa in a hard-hitting tag team contest. The high-flying tandem of Catch 22 proved too much for their opponents, claiming the win in 12:09.

Title Tussles The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles were on the line as BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney) clashed with CHAOS (Rocky Romero and YOH). The War Dogs successfully defended their titles, besting their opponents in a closely contested 12:04.

In another title tilt, Alex Zayne and Lance Archer took on TMDK (Bad Dude Tito and Kosei Fujita) in a tag team match. While the bout was intense, it was ultimately Zayne and Archer who emerged victorious in 9:31.

Main Event Mayhem The main event saw Hiroshi Tanahashi, The DKC, and Tomohiro Ishii form an unlikely alliance to take on Team Filthy (Jorel Nelson, Royce Isaacs, and Tom Lawlor). In a match that featured plenty of aerial action and technical grappling, the trio came out on top in 13:10.

Women's Action Giulia faced off against Willow Nightingale for the NJPW STRONG Women's Title. A thrilling contest saw Giulia retain her title with a decisive victory.

Tag Team Showdown Bishamon (Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI) were pitted against BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd) for the IWGP Tag Team Titles. The veteran duo of Bishamon proved their worth, successfully defending their titles in 11:29.

Openweight Action Eddie Kingston clashed with KENTA in a battle for the NJPW STRONG Openweight Title. A fierce contest saw Kingston emerge victorious and retain his title.

Final Death Match The evening culminated in the long-awaited Final Death Match between Jon Moxley and El Desperado. In a match that showcased both competitors' incredible resilience, Moxley ultimately emerged victorious after 20:33 of intense action.

In conclusion, "Tokyo Showdown" proved to be an unforgettable night of professional wrestling, featuring a plethora of exciting matches and memorable moments. As we look ahead to the next NJPW Pay-Per-View event, one thing is certain - these superstars will continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in the world of professional wrestling.

ZOHASH.COM RATING: 8.5/10

What did you think of the "Tokyo Showdown" card? Share your thoughts and opinions with us on social media using the hashtag #ZohashNJPW!

Card Details

  • Date: 07 May 2023
  • Promotion: New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • Arena: Korakuen Hall
  • Attendance: 1401
  • Type: Pay Per View
  • Broadcast Type: Live
  • Broadcast Date: 07 May 2023

Matches

  1. Oleg Boltin and Six Or Nine (Master Wato and Ryusuke Taguchi) defeat Dragon Libre, Rekka and Takahiro Katori in a Pre-Show Six Man Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 11:37

  2. Satoshi Kojima defeat Oskar Leube in a Singles Match
    Match Time: 05:23

  3. Catch 22 (Francesco Akira and TJP) defeat Homicide and Ryohei Oiwa in a Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 12:09

  4. BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney)(C) defeat CHAOS (Rocky Romero and YOH) in a IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match
    Match Time: 12:04

  5. Alex Zayne and Lance Archer defeat TMDK (Bad Dude Tito and Kosei Fujita) in a Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 09:31

  6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, The DKC and Tomohiro Ishii defeat Team Filthy (Jorel Nelson, Royce Isaacs and Tom Lawlor) in a Six Man Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 13:10

  7. Giulia(C) defeat Willow Nightingale in a NJPW STRONG Women's Title Match

  8. Bishamon (Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI)(C) defeat BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd) in a IWGP Tag Team Title Match
    Match Time: 11:29

  9. Eddie Kingston(C) defeat KENTA in a NJPW STRONG Openweight Title Match

  10. Jon Moxley defeat El Desperado in a Final Death Match
    Match Time: 20:33

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