The New Beginning USA tour continued on Monday night from Raleigh, North Carolina, in front of a Super No Vacancy crowd of 637 at the Durham Armory. The event also was the New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) return of ‘The Villain’ Marty Scurll since he last wrestled for the company in June of last year during the Best Of The Super Junior tour.
The first match saw Yujiro Takahashi defeat Misterioso, in what looks to have been a competitive showing from the luchador against the NJPW mainstay. The second match saw the NJPW Noge Dojo 3rd Generation team of Yuji Nagata and Satoshi Kojima defeat current NJPW Los Angeles (LA) Dojo Young Lion Alex Coughlin and NJPW LA Dojo 1st Generation graduate TJP.
The third match saw the team of Rocky Romero, Toru Yano, and Colt Cabana defeat Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton/Robert Gibson) and NJPW newcomer Alex Zayne.
NJPW’s official website reported the following regarding what Marty had to say once he entered the ring.
Fans at the New Beginning USA event in Durham, North Carolina tonight were stunned by the unannounced appearance of Marty Scurll. ‘The Villain’, who fans haven’t seen in an NJPW ring since the Best of the Super Juniors tour seven months ago, took to the microphone to issue a challenge to Switchblade Jay White for Ring of Honor’s upcoming Supercard of Honor event on April 4.
That wasn’t all, as Scurll promised that this wasn’t the last we’d see of The Villain in New Japan in 2020! Where might Marty show up next? How will Jay White react back in Japan? You can’t take your eyes off live event action in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, wherever you are!
Marty’s appearance and challenge to Jay White come as rumors swirl surrounding NJPW planning a big event in the summer of 2020 a part of their New Japan of America (NJoA) expansion project in the United States. Having Scurll attached to such an event would generate buzz with the more casual wrestling fans in the US who may not regularly watch the NJPW product. NJPW Toa Henare mentioned receiving his US work Visa in an interview on the Kayfabe Brothers podcast, but did not disclose information as to when he would appear for NJoA.
After Marty Scrull addressed the audience, Jeff Cobb defeated NJPW LA Dojo Young Lion Clark Connors in the fourth match. Lance Archer followed by defeating NJPW Noge Dojo Young Lion Ren Narita, who is on an excursion to the NJPW LA Dojo.
The main event saw Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yoshi-Hashi, and IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions FinJuice (Juice Robinson/David Finlay) defeat Bullet Club members Guerrillas Of Destiny (Tama Tonga/Tanga Loa), Chase Owens, and Jado.
The next New Beginning USA event is on January 30th in Miami, Florida from the Charles F. Dodge City Center.