Strong Style Evolved | |||
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Promotion | New Japan Pro-Wrestling | ||
Date | March 25, 2018 | ||
City | Long Beach, California, U.S. | ||
Venue | Walter Pyramid | ||
Attendance | 4,372 [1] | ||
Event chronology | |||
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Strong Style Evolved chronology | |||
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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]
The event was broadcast on AXS TV in the United States [4] and on NJPW World internationally.
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 | |
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]
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]
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]
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