Windy City Riot | |||
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Promotion | New Japan Pro-Wrestling | ||
Brand(s) | NJPW Strong | ||
Date | April 12, 2024 | ||
City | Chicago, Illinois | ||
Venue | Wintrust Arena | ||
Attendance | 5,383 | ||
Event chronology | |||
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Windy City Riot chronology | |||
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Windy City Riot (2024) was a professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on April 12, 2024, at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. [1] [2] It was the second event under the Windy City Riot chronology.
Eleven matches were contested at the event, including two on the pre-show. In the main event, Jon Moxley defeated Tetsuya Naito to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. In other prominent matches, Nic Nemeth defeated Tomohiro Ishii, Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Matt Riddle to win the NJPW World Television Championship, Bullet Club (David Finlay, Kenta, Clark Connors and Gabe Kidd) defeated Eddie Kingston, Homicide and United Empire (Jeff Cobb and TJP) in a Riot Rules match and Stephanie Vaquer defeated AZM to retain the Strong Women's Championship.
In October 2019, NJPW announced their expansion into the United States with their new American division, New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America (NJoA). [3] On July 31, 2020, NJPW announced a new weekly series titled NJPW Strong ; the series would be produced by NJoA. [4] On January 30, 2023, NJPW announced that all of the promotion's future American events would be branded under the "Strong" name. NJoA PPVs have since aired under the NJPW Strong Live banner, and are later shown as part of the NJPW Strong on Demand series. [5]
On January 5, 2024, during New Year Dash!!, [1] NJPW announced that Windy City Riot will take place on April 12, at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. [2] This is the second Windy City Riot event, with the first taking part in April 2022. [6] It was later confirmed that NJPW would provide English commentary for the event. [7]
The event will feature several professional wrestling matches, which involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines are produced on NJPW's events. [8]
On January 13, during Battle in the Valley, Mustafa Ali issued a challenge to Hiromu Takahashi at Windy City Riot, [9] which would mark Ali's NJPW debut. [10]
At Battle in the Valley, after Jon Moxley defeated Shingo Takagi in a No Disqualification match, Moxley challenged the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito for a match at Windy City Riot. [11] On February 22, Naito stated that he would put the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on the line at Windy City Riot; if he successfully defends the title at Sakura Genesis against Yota Tsuji, which he did. [12]
Also at Battle in the Valley, Eddie Kingston and Gabe Kidd competed in a match that ended in a double countout, where Kingston defended his Strong Openweight, ROH World, and the AEW Continental Championships. [13] As a result, NJPW later announced that Kidd and Kingston would serve as captains in an eight-man Riot Rules tag team match. [14]
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The championship was created on March 1, 2021, by the unification of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. The current champion is Jon Moxley, who is in his first reign.
Riley Vigier, better known by his ring name El Phantasmo, is a Canadian professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is a member of the Guerillas of Destiny stable, and is currently one-half of the Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions in his second reign.
William Peter Charles Ospreay is an English professional wrestler. As of November 2023, he is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He is also known for his eight year tenure with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he held various championships, including the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. He is the leader of the United Empire and a member of the Don Callis Family stable. Ospreay is regarded by fans, peers, and industry journalists as one of the best in-ring performers of all-time.
The IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" are the initials of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The final champion was Will Ospreay, who was in his second reign at the time of the title's deactivation. On December 11, 2023, the title was replaced by the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.
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Windy City Riot was a professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It took place on April 16, 2022, at the Odeum Expo Center in Villa Park, Illinois.
Connor Deutsch, better known by his ring name Clark Connors, is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the Bullet Club stable and is one-half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions alongside Drilla Moloney, in their second reign. Also in NJPW, Connors was the winner of the 2020 Lion's Break Crown.
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The Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. The title is exclusively featured on NJPW's United States based television program NJPW Strong Live. The current champions are Guerrillas of Destiny, who are in their second reign as a team and individually. They defeated TMDK at Resurgence on May 11, 2024 in Ontario, California.
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Wrestle Kingdom 18 was a professional wrestling event promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on January 4, 2024, at the Tokyo Dome, in Tokyo, Japan. It was the 33rd January 4 Tokyo Dome Show and the 18th promoted under the Wrestle Kingdom name. Wrestlers from NJPW partner promotions All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah) were featured at the event. This was the first Wrestle Kingdom event to feature Hiroshi Tanahashi as the new president of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. This was the first Wrestle Kingdom since Wrestle Kingdom 13 to have a one-night format, as the previous Wrestle Kingdoms had been held across multiple nights in a row.
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