NJPW Strong Style Evolved: Results, Grades, and Analysis

CHAOS (Toru Yano & Chuck Taylor) vs. Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer) (Suzuki-gun)

The opening portions of this match featured KES getting the heat on Taylor for several minutes. Yano was terrified of Archer, which I can’t really blame him, to be honest. Yano was very over with the audience, which was fun to see. He did all his comedy spots once tagged in, including being in the ropes screaming “Break” to the roar of the crowd. Yano can do essentially nothing and get a huge reaction.

Yano managed to get both KES men on the outside and Taylor hit a tope con hilo on both men. Yano indicated that he was going to go for his own, and he hit the ropes. Toru Yano then ran towards the corner and untied the turnbuckle padding. A tope con Turnbuckle Pad. I admit that I laughed harder than I should have, but it was great.

Taylor was left in the ring with KES, and that didn’t end well for him. He fought back for a bit but ended up eventually succumbing to the numbers. KES hit the Killer Bomb and got the pinfall. Poor Chuck Taylor.

Result: KES

Rating: 2.75 stars out of 5

The rating higher than 2.75 is totally because of how hot the crowd was for this one. That was fun.

The Bullet Club (Cody & Marty Scurll) w/ Brandi Rhodes vs. Guerilla’s of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) (Bullet Club)

This is a very interesting match up, as it pits the Bullet Club vs. the Bullet Club. Cody was booed without mercy, and GoD was very over. Especially Tama Tonga. Marty Scurll got a big reaction too. Before the match, Cody grabbed a mic. It didn’t quite work, and it made him quite upset. He eventually insisted that “Bullet Club is fine.” He then said there won’t be a match because he’s friends with GoD. Cody was wearing a weight belt, which looked absolutely ridiculous, but I’m sure that is the point.

The crowd then had a very rude chant for Cody, which he thought was “Team Cody.” Cody wanted Tama Tonga to say that he was Team Cody. Tanga grabbed the mic instead, and insisted that the fans wouldn’t be denied a match. Loa said that they weren’t on Team Cody (they’re totally Team Tama, if there is one), and Cody didn’t take kindly to that.

GoD sent Cody to the outside of the ring, and Marty Scurll seemed to side with GoD to the roar of the crowd. GoD scared him, so he went to the outside and hugged Cody, which was quite funny. Cody and Brandi got incredible heat here, and it was fantastic. Cody and Tama eventually end up in the ring and Cody is completely overwhelmed by him. It seemed that at every turn in this match that GoD was one step ahead of Cody and Marty.

However, Cody did manage to hit the Cross Rhodes on Tanga Loa eventually and got the pinfall to boos from the crowd. GoD was very over, but Cody winning was the right call as they head towards ROH Supercard of Honor.

Result: Cody & Marty Scurll

Rating: 3 stars out of 5