Wikipedia

Strong Style Evolved (2018)

Strong Style Evolved[2] was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The show took place on March 25, 2018, in Long Beach, California, United States at the Walter Pyramid.[3]

Strong Style Evolved
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 25, 2018
CityLong Beach, California, U.S.
VenueWalter Pyramid
Attendance4,372[1]
Event chronology
← Previous
New Japan Cup;
Honor Rising: Japan 2018 		Next →
Sakura Genesis
Strong Style Evolved chronology
← Previous
First 		Next →
Strong Style Evolved UK

The event was broadcast on AXS TV in the United States[4] and on NJPW World internationally.

Production

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Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
Commentators Chris Charlton (English-language announcer)
Don Callis (English-language announcer)
Kevin Kelly (English-language announcer)
Ring announcers Makoto Abe
Referees Kenta Sato
Marty Asami
Red Shoes Unno
Tiger Hattori

Background

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On November 5, 2017, NJPW announced the follow-up event to G1 Special in USA, the event, titled Strong Style Evolved, would take place on March 25, 2018, at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California.[3] Tickets for the event sold out within 20 minutes of being made available for purchase.[5]

To coincide with the event, NJPW held "Strong Style Saturday" on March 24 at the newly opened NJPW LA Dojo.[6][7] The event included a fan festival featuring autograph sessions, a contract signing for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship title defense, and in-ring matches.[7]

Storylines

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On January 28, 2018, at The New Beginning in Sapporo, "Switchblade" Jay White defeated Kenny Omega to become IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion.[8] Following the match, White was challenged by Omega's Bullet Club stablemate Hangman Page. A championship match between the two was announced for Strong Style Evolved on February 26.[9]

On February 10, 2018, at The New Beginning in Osaka, former WWE wrestler Rey Mysterio Jr. made his NJPW debut in a pre-taped video, challenging Jyushin Thunder Liger to a match at Strong Style Evolved. Liger, who was on commentary, accepted the challenge and the match was later announced for the event.[10] On March 3, Mysterio suffered a bicep injury at a Northeast Wrestling event,[11] leading to Mysterio being replaced by Will Ospreay at Strong Style Evolved.

In July 2008, Canadian wrestler Kenny Omega started his first Japanese tour with the DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) promotion, where he quickly became friends with Kota Ibushi,[12] with the two forming a tag team named "Golden☆Lovers" in January 2009.[13] On October 3, 2014, Omega announced he was leaving DDT and signing with NJPW, where Ibushi was already a semi-regular. However, with Ibushi having recently moved to NJPW's heavyweight division, Omega stated that the Golden☆Lovers were done as a tag team due to him wanting to remain in the junior heavyweight division.[14] The Golden☆Lovers wrestled their final match together on October 26, 2014, when they defeated Danshoku Dino and Konosuke Takeshita in Omega's DDT farewell match.[15] On January 28, 2018 at The New Beginning in Sapporo, the Golden☆Lovers were reformed, with Ibushi saving Omega from an attack from Cody.[8] Omega and Ibushi teamed for the first time since 2014 at the Honor Rising: Japan 2018 events. At night two of Honor Rising: Japan, the Golden☆Lovers, after a victory over Cody and Marty Scurll, were interrupted by The Young Bucks who announced they were moving up to NJPW's heavyweight tag team division.[16] A match between Golden☆Lovers and The Young Bucks was announced for Strong Style Evolved on February 26.[9]

Results

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No.ResultsStipulationsTimes[18]
1Roppongi 3K (Rocky Romero, Sho and Yoh) defeated SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky)Six-man tag team match[17]11:02
2Taguchi Japan (Juice Robinson and David Finlay) defeated Chaos (Hirooki Goto and Gedo)Tag team match[17]7:24
3Killer Elite Squad (Lance Archer and Davey Boy Smith Jr.) defeated Chaos (Toru Yano and Chuckie T.)Tag team match[17]10:48
4Bullet Club (Cody and Marty Scurll) defeated Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa)Tag team match[17]10:45
5Los Ingobernables de Japón (Tetsuya Naito, Sanada, Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi) defeated Taguchi Japan (Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kushida and Ryusuke Taguchi) and Dragon LeeEight-man tag team match[17]12:13
6Will Ospreay defeated Jyushin Thunder LigerSingles match[17]10:35
7Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki and Zack Sabre Jr.) defeated Chaos (Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii)Tag team match[17]18:50
8Jay White (c) defeated Hangman PageSingles match for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship[17]25:00
9Golden☆Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) defeated The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson)Tag team match[17]39:21
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

Aftermath

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At the show, NJPW announced there will be another G1 Special event taking place in the San Francisco area on July 7, 2018, at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California.[19] The following day on March 26, NJPW announced the follow up to Strong Style Evolved, Strong Style Evolved UK, occurring on June 30 and July 1.[20][21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "ホーム 大会結果一覧 STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Currier, Joseph (November 5, 2017). "NJPW returning to Long Beach, California in March". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  4. ^ Jim Varsallone (February 9, 2018). "AXS to broadcast NJPW's U.S. event Strong Style Evolved". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  5. ^ Dave Meltzer (January 29, 2018). "NJPW STRONG STYLE EVOLVED TICKETS SELL OUT WITHIN 20 MINUTES". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  6. ^ "STRONG STYLE EVOLVED Pre-Show Event at the NJPW Dojo![la325]". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  7. ^ a b SoCalUncensored Staff. "NJPW Strong Style Saturday in Carson, CA". SoCalUncensored. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Dave Meltzer (January 27, 2018). "NJPW NEW BEGINNING IN SAPPORO NIGHT TWO LIVE RESULTS: OMEGA-WHITE". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Huge matches made for Strong Style Evolved! White v Page for US Title! Mysterio v Liger! Golden Lovers v Young Bucks!! [la325]". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. February 26, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  10. ^ Sean Rueter (February 10, 2018). "Rey Mysterio is headed to New Japan". Cageside Seats. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  11. ^ RaJ Prashad (March 4, 2018). "Rey Mysterio May Have Suffered An Injury At An Indie Show". Uproxx. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  12. ^ ＤＤＴから新日移籍…オメガが日本を愛する理由. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). October 27, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  13. ^ ケニー・オメガ. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 24, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  14. ^ 「新日本に100パーセント集中したい」ケニー・オメガが10月でDDTとの契約終了、"主戦場"を新日本プロレスへ！【会見全文】. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). October 3, 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  15. ^ オメガ有終星「新日本行き応援して」. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. October 27, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  16. ^ Bryan Rose (Feb 24, 2018). "NJPW-ROH HONOR RISING NIGHT TWO RESULTS: OMEGA-IBUSHI VS. CODY-SCURLL". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Strong Style Evolved". NJPW1972.com. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  18. ^ "Strong Style Evolved". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  19. ^ Gagnon, Joshua (March 25, 2018). "NJPW Announces Next US Show At Tonight's Strong Style Evolved". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  20. ^ Jake Jeremy (March 26, 2018). "NJPW/Rev Pro Announce Strong Style Evolved: United Kingdom". SES Scoops. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  21. ^ "Strong Style Evolved UK". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
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