Despite Kota Ibushi having to pull out from the New Beginning USA tour due to a case of influenza, New Japan Pro Wrestling of America (NJoA), the United States-based affiliate of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) was able to put on a well-received event in front of a Super No Vacancy crowd in Tampa, Florida on January 24th.
The first match of the evening saw NJPW Los Angeles (LA) Dojo Young Lion Clark Connors lose to the luchador Misterioso, who competed on the December 7th and 8th Lion’s Break events in Anaheim, California. Satoshi Kojima and Yuji Nagata defeated LA Dojo Young Lions Alex Coughlin and Ren Narita (On excursion from the NJPW Noge [Yokohama]Dojo).
The third match saw NJPW LA Dojo Young Lion Karl Fredericks and original LA Dojo graduate TJP lose to the effective team of Colt Cabana and Toru Yano. Jeff Cobb was able to defeat Alex Zayne in the fourth contest; Zayne, like Misterioso, also competed on the first two Lion’s Break events in 2019.
In what was said to have been a competitive match, the former IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion defeated Yoshi-Hashi with the Every Body Dies (EBD) Claw in the headline match of the event. Rumors state Archer is speaking with All Elite Wrestling regarding some sort of deal, but there hasn’t been any comment from he, NJPW, or AEW on the situation. Archer is likely one of the individuals NJPW plans on promoting heavily during their NJoA shows during 2020.
The marquee match saw Hiroshi Tanahashi, Rocky Romero, and the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion FinJuice (Juice Robinson/David Finlay) defeat Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, and G.O.D. (Tama Tonga/Tanga Loa) in an elimination match. Tanahashi defeated Takashi with the High Fly Flow when they were the last two members of their teams remaining in the contest.
Later today, Tanahashi faces Takahashi in Nashville, Tennesse as the New Beginning USA tour continues. Yuji Nagata/Lance Archer and Satoshi Kojima/Jeff Cobb will also meet in singles action.
Fans who attended the event in Tampa shared images on social media.
https://twitter.com/kingTforever/status/1220956157717643264?s=20
GO ACE! Thank you @tanahashi1_100! 🥰🥰🥰 #NJPW #njoa #njnbgusa pic.twitter.com/oUDvmFZMRj
— Tarra (@Tarratastic) January 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/BeardedWildmann/status/1220913727815475200?s=20
