What appeared to be a simple event built around the New Japan Strong show and brand became a spotlight for NJPW as a whole as there were plenty of surprises along with some fantastic matches at Resurgence.
The Commonwealth Kingpin himself, Will Ospreay, reappeared after being injured in May and having to surrender the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Ospreay is back. Sort of. Courtesy: NJPW.
Ospreay announced he’s cleared to wrestle but won’t be wrestling in the upcoming G1 tournament and won’t even be returning to Japan…right now.
“I am not going back because I worked my ass off to make New Japan good, to make it watchable. I broke my neck for that company and I got four months off? That’s it. They stripped me of my world heavyweight championship,” said a disgruntled Ospreay challenging current champion Shingo Takagi.
Ospreay explained he’s willing to negotiate with NJPW but for now he is remaining in the USA and on New Japan Strong.
“Oh, shut up! Nobody gives a crap about those little dweebs in AEW!” said Ospreay as the crowd starting cheering for the promotion after he explained he’s open to facing anyone, anywhere.
Karl Fredericks, Alex Coughlin and TJP came to the ring after Ospreay ripped into the NJPW Dojo.
Ospreay mocked them all before escaping into the crowd.
In what could be a battle of the OG Bullet Club members, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows’ victory was upstaged by The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) who appeared out of nowhere. After some ugly words inside the ring, The Good Brothers just up and bailed. Tonga has been very vocal on social media that he doesn’t consider what is happening in the America to be the real deal Bullet Club faction.
A battle of the Old School Bullet Club could be on the horizon. Courtesy: NJPW.
In the first half of the night’s double main event saw Jay White defend his NJPW Never Openweight Championship against David Finlay. White upended Finlay’s Acid Drop into a Blade Runner for the pin and to retain the title.
Lance Archer bashed, battered and brutalized Hiroshi Tanahashi as he put his IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship on the line in the second main event. The beating was so bad that Archer chokeslammed The Ace on the ring apron and he remained completely motionless on the floor for minutes on end. Crushed by Archer’s Blackout, Tanahashi survived by putting his foot over the bottom rope. The Ace struggled his way out of second Blackout turning it into a slingblade. Archer took off a turnbuckle pad beating Tanahashi with it.
Archer invites The Ace to visit AEW. Courtesy: NJPW.
The Ace refused to quit using three High Fly Flows to finally pin Archer for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. Archer praised Tanahashi inviting him to take a trip to AEW.
NJPW announced that a new American Event, Battle in the Valley, will take place on November 13th at the San Jose Civic Center. Tickets go on sale August 17th.
NJPW Resurgence – Results
Alex Coughlin versus Karl Fredericks
In a great back and forth bout, Fredericks puts Coughlin away with his Manifest Destiny DDT…but not without a fight. Both men have come such a long way. It shouldn’t be long now before they are on the main roster.
Winner: Karl Fredericks
Rocky Romero, Fred Rosser and Wheeler Yuta versus Ren Narita, Clark Connors and TJP
Fantastic to see TJP in NJPW. Here’s hoping he gets to go to Japan and wrestle such stars as Robbie Eagles, Hiromu Takahashi and others. A TJP chant rings out before the bell even rings. Man, can Rosser go. He hasn’t missed a beat since leaving the WWE. In fact, he is better in every way possible. It is good that he has left his Darren Young days behind. He rattles Narita’s spine when he hoists him up and drops him right on the apron. Narita and Rosser almost knock each other out with simultaneous haymakers. Just after he completed his Forever Clotheslines, Rocky is slammed by Connors and splashed by TJP for the win.
Winners: Ren Narita, Clark Connors and TJP
Lio Rush, Yuya Uemura, Adrian Quest, Fred Yehi and Chris Dickinson versus Tom Lawlor, JR Kratos, Danny Limelight, Jorel Nelson and Royce Isaacs
Rush won’t back down. Courtesy: NJPW.
The fans show Lio Rush lots of support as he dodges and weaves all of Lawlor’s strikes. The fans aren’t happy about a brawl that erupts in the middle of the ring. “Do your job! Do your job!” they shout. Kratos and Rush stand toe-to-toe. Kratos presses Rush above his head throwing him over the top ropes onto a bunch of bodies below. Lio Rush gives Uemura a helping hand in pinning Limelight. This is another reason why Rush will be missed if he decides to hang up his boots. He could have such an amazing career ahead of him. After the match, Uemura greets the crowd. Katsuyori Shibata, the head coach of NJPW’s dojo in Los Angeles, comes to the ring asking Uemura to join the dojo.
Winners: Lio Rush, Yuya Uemura, Adrian Quest, Fred Yehi and Chris Dickinson
Juice Robinson versus Hikuleo
Hikuleo lowers the boom on Juice. Courtesy: NJPW.
Juice get a big welcome from the crowd. “I’ve got a hell of a side headlock!” yells Robinson as he traps the gigantic Hikuleo. “Come on, Juice! You little bitch!” growls Hikuleo as he shrugs off Robinson’s shoulder tackle. Juice pulls the ropes down on Hikuleo who goes for a tumble on the floor. Juice splashes him and labels him with some punches. Hikuleo whips Juice into a steel post. Back in the ring, Hikuleo just heaves Juice head-first into a corner. Juice hits hard. Juice splatters Hikuleo with a Last Ride out of a corner. A Left Hand of God, a clothesline downs Hikuleo but he pops back up clotheslining Juice. Hikuleo lifts Juice onto his shoulders. Juice escapes to roll up Hikuleo. An angry Hikuleo chokeslams Juice after the match. “This ain’t over!” shouts Hikuleo in Juice’s face.
Winner: Juice Robinson
Moose versus Tomohiro Ishii
Ishii gets the big man up. Courtesy: NJPW.
A punishing match that had the crowd on their feet. Moose proves to be the immovable object that Ishii just cannot knock off his feet. “Moose, you are terrible!” yells a fan. Moose chops Ishii’s chest so often and so hard it is glowing bright red. Ishii asks for more punishment and gets it. Ishii though cannot maintain any momentum especially after two huge drop kicks from Moose in the corner. Moose runs at Ishii on the floor. Ishii side-steps sending Moose into the ringside barricade. Moose and Ishii get into a chopping war of attrition in a corner. Ishii tries for his brainbuster but suplexes Moose instead but it is still an impressive feat. Ishii eventually pins Moose with his brainbuster lifting Moose up with ease.
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii
Jon Moxley and Yuji Nagata versus Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows
The Good Brothers leave Moxley and Nagata laying. Courtesy: NJPW.
Yup. Blue Justice was Moxley’s surprise partner for this match. The crowd makes their voices heard. They want Moxley to mess Anderson up. Moxley has his hands full with Gallows so he tags Nagata in. Gallows beats on Nagata as the Good Brothers cut him off from Moxley. Nagata finally reaches Moxley who goes completely haywire on Anderson. He throws him into a ringside barrier and hauls off, throwing a chair at Anderson and then Gallows. The Good Brothers reverse things by giving Moxley a Magic Killer on a steel chair on the floor. The Good Brothers pin Nagata with a Magic Killer in the ring.
Winners: Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows
Jay White (champion) versus David Finlay (challenger) – NJPW Never Openweight Championship Match
Winner: …and still NJPW Never Openweight Champion, Jay White.
Lance Archer (champion) versus Hiroshi Tanahashi (challenger) – IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship Match
Winner: …and new IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi.