The Inexorable March Of Progress II: Walter Pyramid & Onward
By Ross Berman
With Zack Sabre Jr.’s victory in the New Japan Cup, New Japan Pro Wrestling has inched their westward expansion further. This coming Sunday, they will hold their second event on North American soil. Strong Style: Evolved will air live from The Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, CA at 8pm on AXS TV, and NJPWWolrd.com to international viewers, and while only three matches have been announced, they are blockbusters. “Switchblade” Jay White will defend the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Hangman Page. Jushin “Thunder” Liger will face Rey Mysterio in a special challenge match. Also set for the supercard is Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi taking on The Young Bucks in The Young Bucks heavyweight tag division debut.
Coming less than a week after crowning the first British-born New Japan Cup winner, this show will mark New Japan doubling down on foreign shows. After a wildly successful tour of Australia, Sunday’s supercard will look to top NJPW’s last North American event, the two day G1 in USA special. So far, the three featured matches will need a solid undercard to keep these projects viable.
While the last Long Beach special featured some fantastic, true-blue New Japan matches in the US Title tournament, matches like Okada vs. Cody or Tanahashi vs. Billy Gunn met luke warm receptions. This show’s featured matches don’t fall into that trap. Mysterio might be unproven in New Japan competition, he has yet to slow down in his lengthy career. Mysterio & Liger are sure to delight.
The only title match of the show is “Switchblade” Jay White vs. Hangman Page, and White is likely to retain here. After a slow start to his run as “Switchblade,” Jay White had his first objectively great match when he dethroned Kenny Omega in Sapporo. While Hangman Page is a great talent, this will be White’s place to shine. Especially with the opening of the New Japan LA Dojo, White’s Horatio Alger story of Dojo Young Boy to Championship Main Eventer will inspire a few to enter the Dojo and test their mettle.
The true headliner is the implosion of The Elite. Enraged by Kenny Omega declaring himself and his Lover Kota Ibushi the “Best Tag Team on the Planet,” The Young Bucks challenged their former friend to this huge headlining tag match. The Young Bucks are debuting as a Heavyweight tag team, having held the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship a record 7 times.
This will be a rare chance to watch New Japan Pro Wrestling, without having to stay up until dawn peaks through the blinds. While the time zone will be different, and the fans will be rowdier, this will be a New Japan event through and through. Hurrah! Another Long Beach Special, Surely This One Shall Be Better Than The Last. The Inexorable March Of Progress Will Lead Us All To Happiness.
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