Back in late 2019, New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) announced their plans to expand into the United States. Having long been the number one promotion in Japan, they wanted to expand their presence in another major market. However, things got off to a rough start. They weren’t able to use their top star in Jon Moxley due to not having a working relationship with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and their first tour didn’t go that well.
COVID-19 hit these plans hard, but they kept going behind closed doors. Now, they’re moving again after building up their roster through their weekly program NJPW Strong. Now, as COVID-19 restrictions easen up, it’s time for a Resurgence.
Jon Moxley Is Among The Announced Names
This show is set to take place on August 14th, at The Torch. The Torch is a concert hall attached to the L.A Coliseum, which is able to hold around 5000 fans. This venue should give a unique energy and selling 5000 tickets with the announced names might not be hard.
Already announced through NJPW1972.com is IWGP United States Champion Jon Moxley, NEVER Openweight Champion Jay White, STRONG Openweight Champion Tom Lawlor, The Good Brothers, FinJuice, and more. Other names like Shota Umino, Ren Narita, Karl Fredericks, Chris Dickinson, TJP and Brody King are also listed.
This list might not be the most reliable source however, as Lio Rush is listed and has recently retired from professional wrestling. They have marked it as ‘Subject to change’, but major names like Moxley aren’t likely to be pulled out at the last minute.
Potential Championship Matches
We can expect a major set of matches announced, likely with the three singles titles being defended. Jon Moxley has a great option for a defense in Shota Umino, his protégé from his first run in the G1 Climax. Umino & Moxley were a decent tag team, and Umino has had plenty of time to find his own style, and testing himself against his mentor would make for a fun experience that can show everyone how far he’s come.
Jay White is likely to end up in a rematch with the previous NEVER Openweight Champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi. Tanahashi isn’t listed in the announcement article, but was shown in a teaser video. White & Tanahashi have natural chemistry, and would provide a NJPW epic for the event.
Finally there is Tom Lawlor. He’s holding the youngest belt in NJPW, and this would likely be the first time he gets to defend it in front of a crowd. Just about anyone could step up to challenge Lawlor, but one name that would be nice to see get a major match in front of a crowd is Karl Fredericks, the young lion graduate who has already proven himself against Jeff Cobb & KENTA.
What matches do you hope to see at NJPW Resurgence? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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