NJPW New Japan Strong (New Japan Showdown Episode 2) Results – November 12, 2022
Location: Hollywood California
Venue: Vermont Hollywood
Kenny King vs. Che Cabrera
Match starts off with Kenny King attacking Che Cabrera as he was playing to the crowd but Cabrera was able to hit a clothesline and a hiptoss before he caught a crossbody before he clotheslined King to the outside.
Back inside, King uses the referee to shield a cheap shot on Cabrera as King pulled ahead sweeping the leg as a kick drew just a one count. Cabrera reverses a whip into the corner, but King vaults over and rolled through in for a spinebuster for a two count. A camel clutch keeps Cabrera down only for King to miss a springboard leg drop off the bottom rope.
Cabrera’s able to capitalize with a scoop slam out of the corner, then with a tilt a whirl backbreaker and a belly 2 belly. King rolls outside but wandered into the path of a plancha, only for King to score a dragon suplex back inside.
A Tiger Driver’s next for a near fall for King who got caught with an Anarchy Suplex for a near fall from Cabrera in return. King’s able to force his way back in though, but misses a Blockbuster attempt as Cabrera shot back with an Alabama Slam but King’s up at two, then caught Cabrera with an enzuigiri on the top rope as he nails him to the match with Royal Flush for the win.
Winner: Kenny King (8:06)
Tag Team Match
Team Filthy vs. Adrian Quest & Jordan Cruz
Match starts off with Danny Limelight & Adrian Quest then a shoulder tackle from Limelight earned him an armdrag and a flying ‘rana from Quest. A roll up gets Quest a two count, before Jordan Cruz came in to gutwrench suplex Limelight for a two count. Chops and forearms leave Limelight in the ropes, but Limelight’s able to get the tag out as JR Kratos looked to turn the tables.
Cruz gets launched into the turnbuckle by Kratos, then suplex thrown out of it as Kratos was in control. Limelight kicks Cruz in the back as he was thrown into the corner then got propelled into Quest as a pop up stomp from Limelight squished Cruz for a near fall.
Limelight’s back to kick Cruz in the back, then jump on him with a side chinlock, but Cruz broke free and ran into a dropkick then a clothesline into the corner from Limelight leads to a senton atomico back into the ring before Kratos tagged back in to charge a knee into Cruz. Kratos runs for a clothesline but Cruz kicks it away, only to unwisely go for a suplex.
Kratos did get picked up for a Fireman’s carry, but he escaped only to miss a splash as a clothesline to the back of the head left the big man laying. Limelight & Quest tag back in, with Quest’s head kicks knocking Limelight loopy leading to a spinning Code Red for a near fall. Kratos has had enough of this as he tagged in to pounce Quest away, before a leaping knee and superplex out of the corner bounced Cruz for a near fall.
Limelight tags back in as Cruz is almost frozen, allowing Limelight to hit a springboard Boricuas Destroyer to get the win for Team Filthy.
Winners: Team Filthy (8:20)
We’ve got a backstage black & white Bullet Club promo with Chris Bey, Juice Robinson & El Phantasmo we’ve got ELP & Bey vs. Blake Christian & Mascara Dorada plus Juice Robinson vs. Jake Something in the coming weeks.
Minoru Suzuki vs. Fred Yehi
Match gets going with some early scrambles end with Fred Yehi rolling up Minoru Suzuki for a two count, prompting Suzuki to try and get into things with a hammerlock and a side headlock. The ropes break it up as Suzuki then went for Yehi’s ears, before things broke into strikes. An overhand chop from Suzuki stings, but Yehi fakes a chop and instead shot for a takedown as he refused to be baited into forearms so early.
Suzuki pulls it back into his playbook with a hanging armbar in the ropes, before Yehi nibbled him outside and went to throw Suzuki into the rails. It’s kicked away though, as Suzuki then grabbed a chair and threw it into the ring. Yehi grabs the chair as a 3 way tug of war with the referee ended with the chair getting neutralised while Suzuki went outside and grabbed a 2nd chair so he could use it as the referee took an inordinately long amount of time to get rid of the 1st one.
Suzuki then pulled an Eddie Guerrero just as the referee turned back around and now it’s back outside with Suzuki taking Yehi into the unlit railings. Yehi dragged onto it before he was thrown back into the rails. Eventually returning to the ring, Suzuki stays on Yehi with a chinlock, then a hammerlock armbar with some extra torque as Yehi got a foot to the ropes for a break.
Yehi’s peppered with elbows after that, but he fires back, taking Suzuki into the corner for some stomps before a neckbreaker drew a two count. A Koji Clutch quickly ends in the ropes as Yehi looked for a finish instead, Suzuki’s back with a PK for a two count, before Yehi’s attempts at chops ended with a Fujiwara armbar by the ropes. They trade elbows, leading to the Suzuki elbows a 2nd one’s countered with a drop toe hold as Yehi tried another Koji Clutch, which Suzuki had to bite his way out of before getting to the ropes.
An elbow from Yehi stuns Suzuki, but a quick switcheroo allowed Suzuki in with a rear naked choke, before the Gotch Style Piledriver gets Suzuki the win.
Winner: Minoru Suzuki (16:27)
