NJPW Strong Style Evolved: Results, Grades, and Analysis

CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki)

Okada and ZSJ start the match with a brief exchange of holds where neither man could get the advantage. Suzuki and Ishii also had some stiff exchanges that resulted in many “OW’S!” being yelled by me. Then, the action spilled to the outside with Suzuki beating on Ishii and ZSJ following his mentor’s example and beating on Okada.

Back in the ring, ZSJ & Suzuki tied Ishii up with a ton of submissions, including double armbars. That was so cool. As ZSJ works over Ishii, Ishii just gets mad. Ishi then determines he is going to suplex ZSJ no matter what and can’t stop a German Suplex. Ishii made the tag to Okada, who ran wild for a little bit, but Sabre managed to lock in a crazy submission on Okada and almost got a submission. If Sabre can do this on April 1st, Okada might not be champion anymore.

Suzuki and Ishii then exchange a series of incredible strikes to the delight of the fans. Every one of them looked brutal. Great stuff here. Suzuki eventually isolates Okada and ZSJ locks in Orienteering with Napalm Death on Ishii and the ref stops the match!

Result: Suzuki-gun

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

ZSJ locks on “Hurrah! Another Year, Surely This One Will Be Better Than The Last; The Inexorable March of Progress Will Lead Us All to Happiness” or the “Hypernormalisation” on Okada (one of his various Octopus Stretch variations) and leaves Okada in pain. Will ZSJ be able to defeat Okada? Furthermore, will Okada be able to counter the submission game of Jay White?

NJPW announced they would be returning to the US at the Cow Palace (seats over 10,000) for the G1 Special in USA this year. NJPW will be looking to continue building their presence in he United States, and this will be a very good test to see how they do.