The Road to Lion’s Break Crown 2020 episode of New Japan Strong was an example of the New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) style that has grown international acclaim since 2010. The event was stacked with three competitive in-ring matches that dominated the narrative.
The marquee saw former six-time IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Guerrillas of Destiny (G.O.D.) Tama Tonga/Tanga Loa face ACH/Alex Zayne.
Despite being heavy underdogs, the junior heavyweight tag team of ACH/Zayne gave G.O.D. several questions that needed answering throughout the match.
However, Tanga Loa was able to use his Ape S**t technique at the 13 minute and 8-second mark to gain the fall on Zayne. With NJPW openly recruiting new talent, Zayne has made a strong case for a spot within the junior heavyweight division. ACH is likely to return to Japan and add depth to the division.
The headline match saw former eight-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Rocky Romero and PJ Black face “Mr. No Days Off” Fred Rosser and Misterioso.
PJ Black was in the need of a good showing, after taking several falls recently. Misterioso also wanted to quickly shake off his defeat to “Alpha Wolf” Karl Fredericks.
The match was extremely competitive, and Rosser continued to give a good showing of himself inside of an NJPW ring. However, his team would not grab the victory.
PJ Black would gain the fall over Misterioso with his Placebo Effect technique at the 12 minute and 2-second mark.
The opening match featured the competitors taking part in the Lion’s Break Crown tournament, which begins next week on New Japan Strong. Clark Connors, Danny Limelight, Adrian Quest, and Logan Riegel faced Blake Christian, Jordan Clearwater, Barret Brown, and The DKC.
The first round opponents paired off with one another, helping to deliver a high paced match. Individuals looked for a mental advantage going into the upcoming tournament matches, often using their athleticism to send a message.
Logan Riegel would score the fall over Jordan Clearwater with a Leaping DDT technique at the 10 minute and 17-second mark.