New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) presents the second night of Detonation 2020 as New Japan Strong wraps up 2020.
The marquee match saw former NEVER Openweight Champion, New Japan Cup USA 2020 winner, and Bullet Club member Kenta take on Ring of Honor (ROH) roster member Brody King for the right to make the V3 challenge of Jon Moxley’s second reign with the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.
King earned the match after pinning Kenta during a 10 person elimination match several weeks ago on New Japan Strong. Early on during the match, King was able to gain the advantage due to his monumental size advantage over Kenta.
King was able to fight through numerous roundhouse kicks from Kenta, who came from a Kickboxing background, prolonging his advantage over his lighter adversary.
Kenta would eventually gain the advantage by going after Brody’s leg after using a stall tactic he and fellow Bullet Club member “Switchblade” Jay White have perfected.
Kenta would remain in control of the match, continuing to focus on King’s leg. However, King would show flashes and nearly won the match on several occasions in the later stages of the match.
It would take Kenta using a low blow and the briefcase holding the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship challenge contract followed by a Go 2 Sleep for Kenta to gain the fall at the 14 minutes 16 seconds mark.
The third match saw “Mr. No Days Off” Fred Rosser and ROH roster member PJ Black take on Team Filthy members “Filthy” Tom Lawlor and JR Kratos.
Rosser continued to impress, having become one of the most looked forward to attractions within New Japan of America (NJoA). “Filthy” Tom Lawlor also showed why he is an interesting piece of New Japan Strong.
Team Filthy held the advantage during the early stages of the match, working over PJ Black for several minutes using traditional tag team tactics.
Rosser was finally able to make the tag, gaining his team the advantage until making the tag back to PJ Black. Soon after Black would gain the fall at the 8 minutes and 9 seconds mark with his Placebo Effect Springboard 450 Splash technique on Kratos.
The second match saw now Empire member Jeff Cobb take on short-term Team Filthy member Rust Taylor. The match began with amateur and chain wrestling exchanges, with Cobb getting better of affairs early.
However, Taylor would eventually gain the advantage with a Catch Wrestling Triangle Hold, allowing him to wear down his larger opponent. Taylor would continue to work on Cobb’s arm with a highly technical style that punished Cobb for several minutes.
Cobb would eventually use his power to gain the advantage, gaining the fall with his Tour of the Islands technique at the 8 minutes and 7 seconds mark.
The opening match saw former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion (as Black Tiger) and CHAOS member Rocky Romero take on Team Filthy member Danny Limelight in a grudge match after Limelight turned on Romero in order to join Team Filthy.
Romero started the festivities prior to the bell, showing the grudge he holds against the young wrestler he wished to mentor. However, Limelight used cheap tactics to quickly change the momentum against Romero.
Limelight would continue to work on Romero’s arm to keep the advantage over the veteran. Yet, Limelight’s ego would eventually cost him, allowing Rocky to retake control of the match.
Romero would eventually gain the submission fall with his Diablo Armbar technique at 9 minutes and 18 seconds mark after being on the defensive for a good portion of the match.
