Lance Archer Advances In NJPW Tournament, Knocks WWE, Sends Message To Kenny Omega And Tony Khan

By
PWMania.com Staff
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(Photo Credit: NJPW)

Lance Archer of AEW has reached the finals of the NJPW tournament to determine a new #1 contender to IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega.

Sunday night’s NJPW clash Archer defeated Fred Rosser in the Philadelphia pay-per-view to advance to the tournament finals, which will be held at the NJPW Dominion pay-per-view.

Archer was supposed to face Juice Robinson on Saturday’s Capital Collision pay-per-view, but he was given a storyline suspension for his attack on Rosser. Rosser replaced Robinson in Sunday night’s match, but Robinson ended up helping Archer win. Because Archer vs. Rosser had a Street Fight stipulation, Robinson’s interference did not disqualify Archer.

Following the match, Archer cut a promo to send a message to Omega and AEW President Tony Khan, promising to take the title from the AEW Executive Vice President at Forbidden Door II. Archer also knocked out Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, claiming Omega needed The Good Brothers to defeat him and that they are now “in jail up north,” a WWE jab. Omega was referring to the AEW Dynamite event on February 10, 2021, in which Omega and current NJPW Strong Openweight Champion KENTA defeated Archer and then-IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley in a No DQ Falls Count Anywhere Mach. After multiple attacks by Gallows and Anderson to assist Omega, Omega pinned Ache to win.

Archer will now compete in the tournament finals on Sunday, June 4 at NJPW Dominion in Osaka. On Sunday, May 21 in Long Beach, he will face the winner of Will Ospreay vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi at NJPW Resurgence. The match between Ospreay and Tanahashi is in doubt after Tanahashi was forced to withdraw from Sunday night’s show due to a broken rib suffered on Saturday at Capital Collision. Ospreay has been out with a shoulder injury, but he was cleared to compete today by his doctor.

Several highlights of Archer vs. Rosser from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Sunday night are included below:

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