Promotion: New Japan Pro Wrestling
Date: April 12, 2024
Venue: Wintrust Arena
TV station/network: NJPWWorld.com
Commentary by: Chris Charlton, Walker Stewart & Veda Scott
Overall Show Score: 8/10
Pros: Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste surprised everyone getting the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship around their waists. West Coast Wrecking Crew left a big impression beating up Tom Lawlor. The Chicago crowd showing there hate for Jack Perry. Zack Sabre Jr. was universally loved in Chicago. And Jon Moxley won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship making history.
Cons: I’m wasn’t surprised to see who Gabe Kidd chose as his partners. I didn’t like that Riot Rules Match that much. Most of the booking on this event was solely like a Hiroshi Tanahashi’s booked show.
Buy-in:
Matches:
Matt Vandagriff
vs.
Zane Jay. Winner: Matt Vandagriff Rating: solid
Tag Team Match:
vs.
Alex Windsor and Trish Adora. Winners: Alex Windsor and Trish Adora Rating: Good
Main-Show:
Matches:
Singles Match: Minoru Suzuki vs. Ren Narita. Winner: Ren Narita by pinfall Rating: Not that good.
Singles match for the Strong Women’s Championship:
Stephanie Vaquer (c)
vs.
AZM. Winner: Stephanie Vaquer keep her Strong Women’s Championship by pinfall. Rating: Pretty Good
Four corners tag team match for the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship:
Guerrillas of Destiny (El Phantasmo and Hikuleo) (c)
vs.
TMDK (Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste)
vs.
vs.
West Coast Wrecking Crew (Royce Isaacs and Jorel Nelson). Winners: Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste won the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship by pinfall. Rating: Good
vs.
Jack Perry. Winner: Shota Umino BY Pinfall Rating: Really Good
vs.
Mustafa Ali. Winner: Mustafa Ali by pinfall Rating: Very Good
Eight-man Riot Rules tag team match:
Bullet Club (David Finlay, Kenta, Clark Connors and Gabe Kidd)
vs.
Eddie Kingston, Homicide, and United Empire (Jeff Cobb and TJP) . Winners: Bullet Club Rating: Not that good.
Singles match for the NJPW World Television Championship:
Matt Riddle (c)
vs.
Zack Sabre Jr. Winner: Zack Sabre Jr. became the first 2-time NJPW World Television Champion by pinfall. Rating: Really Good
Non-title Match:
vs.
Tomohiro Ishii. Winner: Nic Nemeth Rating: Fine
Main Event:
Singles match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship:
Tetsuya Naito (c)
vs.
Jon Moxley. Winner: Jon Moxley won the NJPW World Heavyweight Championship by pinfall Rating: Really Good
