NJPW New Japan Strong (Detonation Episode 4) Review – 12/24/2022
Location: Hollywood California
Venue: Vermont Hollywood
Tag Team Match
C4 vs. Mascara Dorada & Lince Dorado
Guillermo Rosa & Mascara Dorada go back & forth with some lucha moves before Cody Chhun & Lince Dorado tag in, with Chhun cutting corners as his team looked to pull ahead. Dorado was able to hit a rana before he just flopped on top of him for an early one count. Dorada keeps on top of Chhun with chops, before Guillermo Rosas pulled Dorada off the ropes as the match turned on its head.
C4 keep Dorada then a double team back suplex for a two count before a dropkick aided suplex got Rosas a similar result. Dorada fought out of a superplex as a top rope facebuster put the technicos back in control with Dorado cleaning house before he connects with a brainbuster on Chhun for a near fall.
Dorado cross armbar’s broken up by Rosas’ back senton, which allowed C4 back in it before Dorado handspring double cutter cleared the way. Dorada dives onto Rosas on the outside, allowing Lince to hit a lariat and a flying rana to take Chhun into his own man on the floor. Back inside, a Dorada elbow drop and a Dorado shooting star press onto each member on C4 gets the win.
Winners: Mascara Dorada & Lince Dorado (10:35)
Kevin Blackwood vs. Bobby Fish
Match starts off with Bobby Fish & Kevin Blackwood go back & forth with some mat wrestling before some chops take Fish around the corners but Fish found himself able to strike his way into the match leathering Blackwood with elbows in the corner. Blackwood avoids a leg sweep and followed in with a stomp to the back of Fish on the outside, adding some kicks as well.
Back inside Fish took control once more landing a senton atomico before he stopped to do a hip wiggle. Fish keeps control as a sliding lariat nearly wins it as Blackwood mounted a brief comeback complete with a wacky whip to send Fish into the corner. An Exploder’s good for barely a two count for Blackwood then we some exchange of kicks before an arm whip takes down Fish.
Fish looked to snap back though, only to get caught with a Fujiwara armbar which ended with Fish getting to the ropes then an overhead kick to Fish’s arm keeps Blackwood ahead but he’s caught up top as an avalanche Falcon Arrow puts Blackwood away.
Winner: Bobby Fish (12:00)
After the match Homicide ran in and attacked Fish prompting a brawl between them until David Finlay just about chased away Fish with his shillelagh then there’s an uneasy stand off between Homicide & Finlay afterwards but they shake hands.
Strong Openweight Title Match
Fred Rosser (c) vs. JR Kratos
Match starts off with Fred Rosser & JR Kratos trading shoulder tackles before Kratos lost his footing after a leapfrog and found himself on the receiving end of a leaping sit out splash from Rosser. A back suplex sees Rosser easily dump Kratos for a two count while an armbar kept the big man down only for Kratos to apply one of his own which Rosser rolled out of as a running kick.
Chops and clotheslines trapped Kratos in the corner, but he shrugged off some running knees and monstered up only to get knocked right back down with a superkick. Rosser drags Kratos onto the apron for an attempted back suplex but it’s blocked as Kratos looked to hit a powerbomb off the apron only for Rosser to hit a sit down splash to stop it.
A leaping body press of the apron’s caught though as Rosser’s charged into the ring post, then thrown across the floor with an overhead belly 2 belly. Kratos takes his time as he pulls up some padding, then disconnected part of the guard rails and went to throw it at Rosser but Rosser blocks it as they continue to scrap before Kratos grabbed a ringside attendant and threw him into the railing as he went to fix the padding.
Finally returning to the ring, Kratos continues to wear down Rosser trapping him in the corner for some body blows. Fighting back Rosser brings it back onto the apron but again Kratos regains the upper hand with a leaping knee, then a clothesline back to the ring & that prompts Rosser to go for the knee as Kratos was trying to make it back inside allowing him to finally hit a neckbreaker onto the edge of the ring.
Rosser one ups things as he hauled Kratos off the apron into a Tombstone Piledriver on the exposed part of the floor. Refusing to take the count out Rosser stops the referee from counting so Kratos could make it back into the ring if only so Rosser could box Kratos as he got back to his feet. A sucker punch from Kratos downs Rosser, before an overhead kick caught Rosser on the ropes ahead of a superplex as Kratos looked to be back in control.
A clothesline takes things outside again with Kratos this time leaving his feet for a wild pescado into the crowd. Back inside again, Kratos hits another lariat before a Falcon Arrow gets a 2 count. Rosser fights out of an electric chair drop then tripped Kratos into a STF but Kratos tries to power out the hold’s turned into a side chinlock then a chokehold as the referee waved it off.
Winner By Submission & Still Strong Openweight Champion: Fred Rosser (18:44) (STILL CHAMPION!!!)
After the match Peter Avalon gets in the ring & challenges Fred Rosser for the Strong Openweight Title Rosser accepts it before he gets attack by Avalon then we get a locker room brawl to close out this week’s Strong.
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