NJPW Lion’s Break Collision
Episode 4
#njcollision
Original Air Date: July 24, 2020 (22:00 EDT)
Event Date: June 13, 2020
(uploaded to NJPW World)
City: Port Hueneme, CA
Venue: Oceanview Pavilion (empty arena)
Commentary (English): Kevin Kelly, Chris Charlton, Gino Gambino
Ring Announcer: Adnan Kureishy
Video
Last week, Tom Lawlor defeated Rocky Romero, and Karl Fredericks got attacked by Jeff Cobb. Tonight, Karl Fredericks and Jeff Cobb will go one on one.
Intro Video
Match 1
Alex Coughlin vs “Filthy” Tom Lawlor
(referee: Nick Bonanno)
Result: Tom Lawlor wins via pinfall with a ground octopus hold
Time: 8:05
Match Thoughts
Good match. I think I liked Lawlor better in this match than in his match with Rocky Romero. A lot of that had to do with seeing him get overpowered and on the defensive because of Alex Coughlin’s power. Coughlin was determined in this match, and he was able to throw Lawlor around the ring a few times. That caused Lawlor to have to change his game plan, and that helped make the match really interesting for me.
Backstage
Tom Lawlor calls Alex Coughlin a piece of trash, and he says Coughlin got the spanking he deserved.
Match 2
Danny Limelight vs Misterioso
(referee: Nick Bonanno)
Result: Misterioso wins via pinfall after The MSO (lung blower/back cracker)
Time: 4:43
Match Thoughts
Very good match. I wish it had been longer, but ths was a lot of fun. Danny Limelight was very impressive in his losing effort against TJP a couple of weeks ago, and he continued to show his speed and agility in this match. Misterioso got a better platform this week than in his tag match last week. This was fast-paced, agile match that felt like it could end suddenly at any moment. It did end earlier than I’d hoped, but that just left me wanting to see these two fight again.
Video
Commercials air during a brief intermission.
Match 3
Clark Connors & TJP vs Rust Taylor & Rocky Romero
(referee: Jeremy Marcus)
Result: TJP pins Rust Taylor after the Detonation Kick
Time: 9:47
Match Thoughts
Very good match. All four of these men looked good, and the veterans Rocky and TJP helped make Taylor and Connors looks even better than usual. Connors and TJP were definitely the better team tonight though. Rust Taylor doesn’t seem like he works well with others, or maybe he just doesn’t like Rocky. Taylor had a huge attitude the entire match, and he and Rocky each kind of did their own thing. Tayor tried to be vicious in his attacks, but for the most part TJP out-maneuvered him with relative ease. Connors was also very aggressive and willing to take a beating to give a beating back. This was a nice mix of personalities and styles.
Backstage
Rocky Romero is frustrated and disappointed with is own performance over the last few weeks. As he wonders about what happened, Rust Taylor walks up and gets in Rocky’s face. Taylor says Rocky left him alone in the ring tonight, and he wonders why he was doing all the work while Rocky was outside the ring. Rocky tells Taylor that he needs to do more work in the ring. Rocky also calls Taylor a “chump.” Taylor has no response.
Backstage
TJP is happy about his recent successes, and he shares his joy with Clark Connors.
Match 4
Karl Fredericks vs Jeff Cobb
(referee: Jeremy Marcus)
Result: Jeff Cobb wins via pinfall after Tour of the Islands
Time: 11:48
Match Thoughts
Great match. This was a satisfying culmination to the brief feud they’ve been building up for four episodes now. Both men came into this match just wanting to beat up their opponent, so there were lots and lots of strikes. Cobb eventually threw Fredericks around the ring a bit, and Fredericks attempted a submission or two, but this match was mostly a striking contest. I liked it quite a lot, and regardless of the outcome, I think this match (including the buildup to it) was great for Fredericks as a recently-graduated young lion.
Ring Area
After the match, Jeff Cobb bows to the camera, then he bows to Karl Fredericks.
Backstage
Jeff Cobb is impressed with the products of Katsuyori Shibata’s L.A. Dojo. Even so, Cobb is still out to make a name for himself in NJPW. Tonight was step one.
Show Impressions
This was the final match of Lion’s Break Collision, and it was a good one. Almost everyone we’ve seen so far on the series participated tonight, and the matches were all good. I really did enjoy the main feud of the series between Fredericks and Cobb. It was definitely good for Fredericks. His personality as a full member of the NJPW roster came through strong, and his matches during the series were all entertaining. Other standouts for me during the series were Alex Coughlin and Danny Limelight. I think I’m most interested to see what’s next for both of them, though I’d welcome a return from anyone that competed during Lion’s Break Collision.
Match of the Night
Karl Fredericks vs Jeff Cobb
A good feud and a good match. It was all very straightforward, and it worked well for both guys.
Official Results: https://www.njpw1972.com/tornament/76033?showResult=1