“Filthy” Tom Lawlor won the New Japan Cup 2021 USA on Friday night, and in doing so, became the first NJPW Strong Openweight Championship. Lawlor choked out Ring of Honor’s Brody King in the main event of Friday’s episode of NJPW Strong.
With Lawlor’s home promotion MLW set for its ViceTV debut, and Rocky Romero’s recent appearance on MLW, Lawlor’s coronation as the first champion, it leaves the door wide open for defenses in other promotions. In the aftermath of the bout, King’s Violence Unlimited compatriot, Chris Dickinson severed his relationship with Team Filthy by stepping up to challenge the new champion, adding fuel to the Ring of Honor vs. MLW undercurrent in the tournament final.
Elsewhere on the show Wheeler Yuta made his NJPW debut in a loss to Rocky Romero. NJPW Strong is available on NJPWWorld.com and airs every Friday at 10pm ET.
Here are the full results from last night’s episode:
4/23
NJPW Strong: New Japan Cup USA 2021 Finals
Available on NJPWWorld.com
- Team Filthy (JR Kratos & Chris Dickinson) def. TJP & Clark Connors by pinfall. (11:06)
JR Kratos pinned Clark Connors via Game Changer. - Rocky Romero def. Wheeler Yuta by submission via Diablo Armbar. (12:41)
- New Japan Cup USA 2021 Final Match For The Strong Openweight Championship: Tom Lawlor def. Brody King by submission via Rear Naked Choke. (20:05)
Filthy first champ, Dirty first challenger
Tom Lawlor is crowned first STRONG Openweight Champion as Chris Dickinson steps up to challenge. https://t.co/LG3EQj9cT4#njpwSTRONG #njcupUSA pic.twitter.com/1Sa0emjK3b
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) April 24, 2021
