By Richard Trionfo on 2021-05-15 08:34:00
We are in Los Angeles, California and your announcers are Shigeki Kiyono and Togi Makabe (in Japanese) or Kevin Kelly and Alex Koslov (in English).
Match Number One: AJZ versus Rocky Romero
They lock up and Romero with waist lock and AJZ with w standing switch and take down. AJZ with another take down and Romero gets to the ropes to force a break. AJZ does some gesticulating to Romero. They go to a Greco Roman Knuckle Lock and Romero with a wrist lock but AJZ picks up Romero and puts him in the corner. Romero with a side head lock.
Quick Results
Lio Rush & Fred Rosser pinned El Phantasmo & Hikuleo in 9:53 ( )
Chris Dickinson won an elimination match in 18:36 ( ½)
We’re back at over an hour in run time for this week’s edition of Strong, as we’re greeted by the voices of Alex Koslov and Kevin Kelly over a clip reel to build up today’s card.
AJZ vs. Rocky Romero
It’s a debut for AJZ, who has worked a lot for OVW in the past 18 months… and has also recently debuted for AAW. He’s getting the Rocky tryout here, and looks to be in phenomenal shape.
NJPW Strong
Streamed May 14, 2021 on New Japan World
The broadcast team of Kevin Kelly and Alex Koslov checked in, for the second week in a row, without actually showing their faces…
McGuire’s Musings: Call me crazy, but I preferred at least the illusion of the two being in the same building as the wrestling they saw in front of them. But hell. What do I know. The two ran down the card. We are on the Collision 2021 tour.
1. Rocky Romero vs. AJZ. AJZ made his entrance looking like whatever the next generation of Dolph Ziggler is. The two locked up in the middle of the ring to start things and AJZ took down Romero before working a waist-lock. Romero then go to the ropes for a break. AJZ danced a little and went from Ziggler to a lost Gunn brother.
Tonight s episode of NJPW Strong was described as an LA Dojo showcase, with a focus on each of the trainees. Karl Fredericks and Alex Coughlin were pushed as the show centerpieces. Trainer Katsuyori Shibata spoke in English about his trainees, basically hyping his guys up for tonight s card.
TJP defeated the DKC via submission
The opener saw TJP take most of the first part of this match on offense, and it was mostly on the mat. The DKC came across as a competent grappler, though. He never felt like he was too far behind TJP. DKC caught TJP with a dropkick late, kicking off a short series of fiery comeback action. He has great babyface energy. TJP eventually tapped him with a modified STF/abdominal stretch submission. They shook hands afterward.
How the NHL deal affects both WWE and AEW is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
We look at the deal, have Tony Khan s comments on it, update on AEW and TNT, AEW vs. NHL ratings, declining ratings equals larger right fees, notes on the next WWE and AEW deals, and key contract years for AEW and WWE.
Also in this issue:
A complete rundown of UFC 261, background of the show, match-by-match coverage, poll results, business notes, as well as what categories UFC won in television ratings this past week.
Peacock subscribers, Supreme Court ruling on a WWE case, WWE going back on the road, Mickie James talks her issues with her final run, why no second Evolution PPV show, front office changes in WWE, Daniel Bryan talks his future goals, Paul Levesque talks physical Hall of Fame, new WWE announcer, new WWE signings, how wrestling fared as compared with other sports on television, former headliner says he s returning to WWE, upcoming major TV matches a