NJPW Windy City Riot

NJPW STRONG: A Night of Thrills and Upsets

Villa Park, Illinois - The Odeum Expo Center played host to New Japan Pro Wrestling's latest Pay Per View event, NJPW STRONG, and what a night it was. The sold-out crowd of 2277 witnessed some incredible matches, with upsets galore and thrilling moments that will be remembered for a long time.

The Opening Salvo

The Factory, comprising Aaron Solow, Nick Comoroto, and QT Marshall, kicked things off by defeating Clark Connors, Karl Fredericks, and Yuya Uemura in a fast-paced Six Man Tag Team Match. The veteran trio of The Factory showcased their cohesion and power to secure the win.

Team Filthy Falls Short

In what was shaping up to be an absolute barnburner, Alex Coughlin, Chris Dickinson, Fred Rosser, Josh Alexander, and Ren Narita put on a showstopping Ten Man Tag Team Match against Team Filthy. Despite their best efforts, Team Filthy came up just short, losing in 13:50.

Tom Lawlor Secures Championship Defense

In the first title match of the night, Tom Lawlor successfully defended his NJPW STRONG Openweight Title against Yuji Nagata, dominating the encounter to retain the gold in 13:57. This victory further solidifies Lawlor's status as one of the top stars in NJPW.

United Empire Unites for Victory

The United Empire (Aaron Henare, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis, and TJP) proved too strong for BULLET CLUB and Scott Norton, emerging victorious in a thrilling Twelve Man Tag Team Match. The team's unity and power were on full display as they captured the win in 11:40.

FinJuice and Brody King Get Their Hands Dirty

In the main event of the evening, FinJuice (David Finlay and Juice Robinson) and Brody King took on TMDK (Tanga Loa and Bad Dude Tito) in a wild Chicago Street Fight. The match was absolute chaos, with bodies flying everywhere as these four competitors gave it their all. In the end, FinJuice and Brody King emerged victorious, their teamwork and determination paying off in 24:11.

Jay White's U-SoF of Jay Open Challenge Series Continues

The enigmatic Jay White continued his U-SoF of Jay Open Challenge Series by defeating Shota Umino. This victory marked the fifth consecutive win for White, solidifying his position as one of NJPW's top talents.

Tomohiro Ishii Proves Too Much for Minoru Suzuki

In a highly anticipated Singles Match, Tomohiro Ishii got the better of Minoru Suzuki, exploiting the veteran's aggression to secure the win in 18:46. This victory not only showcased Ishii's technical prowess but also hinted at a potential title run in the future.

Jon Moxley Ends Will Ospreay's Streak

The night's main event saw Jon Moxley put an end to Will Ospreay's impressive winning streak, defeating him via pinfall in 21:24. This match was an absolute war, with both competitors leaving everything they had on the mat. The result is sure to have significant implications for the future of NJPW.

As we close out this report, it's clear that NJPW STRONG has left an indelible mark on the wrestling world. With so many incredible matches and moments, fans will be talking about this event for weeks to come. Until next time, stay strong!

Card Details

Date: 16 Apr 2022
Promotion: New Japan Pro Wrestling
Arena: Odeum Expo Center
Attendance: 2277
Type: Pay Per View
Broadcast Type: Live
Broadcast Date: 16 Apr 2022

Matches

The Factory (Aaron Solow, Nick Comoroto and QT Marshall) defeat Clark Connors, Karl Fredericks and Yuya Uemura in a Six Man Tag Team Match
Match Time: 11:56
Alex Coughlin, Chris Dickinson, Fred Rosser, Josh Alexander and Ren Narita defeat Team Filthy (Black Tiger, Danny Limelight, Jorel Nelson, JR Kratos and Royce Isaacs) in a Ten Man Tag Team Match
Match Time: 13:50
Tom Lawlor(C) defeat Yuji Nagata in a NJPW STRONG Openweight Title Match
Match Time: 13:57
United Empire (Aaron Henare, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis and TJP) defeat BULLET CLUB and Scott Norton in a Twelve Man Tag Team Match
Match Time: 11:40
FinJuice and Brody King defeat TMDK and Bad Dude Tito in a Six Man Tag Team Chicago Street Fight
Match Time: 24:11
Jay White defeat Shota Umino in a U-S-of-Jay Open Challenge Series Match
Match Time: 15:45
Tomohiro Ishii defeat Minoru Suzuki in a Singles Match
Match Time: 18:46
Jon Moxley defeat Will Ospreay in a Singles Match
Match Time: 21:24