{"id":8863,"date":"2020-09-04T21:00:08","date_gmt":"2020-09-05T03:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?p=8863"},"modified":"2020-09-06T17:07:10","modified_gmt":"2020-09-06T23:07:10","slug":"njpw-strong-episode-5-fighting-spirit-unleashed-recap-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/njpw-strong-episode-5-fighting-spirit-unleashed-recap-review\/","title":{"rendered":"NJPW Strong (Episode 5: Fighting Spirit Unleashed) Recap &#038; Review"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-8868 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/StrongFIghtingSpirit2020-300x171.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/StrongFIghtingSpirit2020-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/StrongFIghtingSpirit2020.jpg 570w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>NJPW Strong<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Episode 5<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2020<\/strong><br \/>\n#njpwstrong<\/p>\n<p><strong>Original Air Date: September 4, 2020<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Event Date: September 4, 2020<\/strong> (unconfirmed)<br \/>\n(uploaded to NJPW World)<\/p>\n<p><strong>City: <a href=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?tag=port-hueneme-ca\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Port Hueneme<\/span><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?tag=california\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">CA<\/span><\/a><\/strong> (unconfirmed)<br \/>\n<strong>Venue: <a href=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?tag=oceanview-pavilion\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Oceanview Pavilion<\/span><\/a><\/strong> (empty arena) (unconfirmed)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Commentary<\/strong> (English)<strong>: Kevin Kelly, Alex Koslov<br \/>\nCommentary<\/strong> (Japanese)<strong>: Katsuyori Shibata, Shigeki Kiyono<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Ring Announcer: Kimihiko Ozaki<\/strong> (remotely?)<strong>, Adnan Kureishy<\/strong> (ringside)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Intro Video<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nKevin Kelly and Alex Koslov welcome us to the Fighting Spirit Unleashed tour.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Video<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nA look at some of the wrestlers and matches coming up in the Fighting Spirit Unleashed tour, including Jeff Cobb challenging KENTA for the right to challenge for the IWGP US Heavyweight Title.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 1<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>The DKC &amp; Clark Connors vs Alex Zayne &amp; Fred Rosser<\/strong><br \/>\n(referee: Sparky Ballard)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e75240d51a3','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e75240d51a3\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e75240d51a3\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: Fred Rosser pins The DKC after the Gutcheck <\/strong>(pop-up double-knee gut buster)<br \/>\n<strong>Time: 7:37<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nGood match. It was great to see Fred Rosser in NJPW. Rosser did well, and by the end of the match he was looking comfortable and strong. Clark Connors looked quite aggressive tonight, and that helped add a lot of energy to the match. I also think Alex Koslov missed lunch today, because he kept talking about how much Alex Zayne looked like a walking advertisement for Taco Bell. I liked it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nKevin Kelly is joined by Karl Fredericks via video. Fredericks says he&#8217;s not in a good mood, and he&#8217;s going to take some of his frustrations out on Misterioso.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 2<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Misterioso vs Karl Fredericks<\/strong><br \/>\n(referee: Justin Borden)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e75240d52bf','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e75240d52bf\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e75240d52bf\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: Karl Fredericks wins via pinfall after MD <\/strong>(implant DDT)<br \/>\n<strong>Time: 6:47<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nVery good match. It felt like it took Fredericks a little while to figure out how to attack Misterioso, and that gave the early part of the match a bit of a back-and-forth feeling with Misterioso being mostly in control. Fredericks started to put things together later in the match, and his attitude started to show as he stood up to Misterioso and began to deliver some strong moves. This was a good performance from both guys, and it was a nice step for Karl Fredericks.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 3<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Hikuleo vs Brody King<\/strong><br \/>\n(referee: Justin Borden)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e75240d52fb','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e75240d52fb\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e75240d52fb\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: Hikuleo wins via pinfall with Gunslinger <\/strong>(twisting flatliner)<br \/>\n<strong>Time: 7:35<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nGood match. This was a fight between two really big guys slamming each other with some hard shots. It felt like it was just a matter of each man trying to hit bigger and more impactful moves until their opponent just wouldn&#8217;t get back up. Hikuleo has come a long way since I first saw him in NJPW a few years ago. Brody King definitely looked more experienced tonight, but Hikuleo looked really good in there with him.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nHikuleo is confident after his match, and he says he&#8217;s coming to pay back all the current and former young lions for never treating him like one of them.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 4<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Flip Gordon vs Jay White<\/strong><br \/>\n(referee: Jeremy Marcus)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e75240d5343','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e75240d5343\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e75240d5343\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: Jay White wins via pinfall after Bladerunner<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Time: 10:22<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nVery good match. Jay White had talked about looking past Flip Gordon and treating him as a tune-up match after months away from the ring. White, of course, had his usual attitude of downplaying the abilities of his opponent, and he did his usual shtick of slowing down the pace of the match immediately, but it also felt like he was taking Gordon seriously when they came together in the ring. This was a fun, well-fought match from both guys. The moves and excitement built up towards the end of the match, and I thought it was a very nice main event. I hate to say it, but it&#8217;s good to see Jay White back in the ring, even if it does feel odd not to have Gedo by his side.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nAfter the match, Jay White says he&#8217;s warmed up now. He says there are a lot of questions surrounding Bullet Club with what&#8217;s happened with EVIL in Japan, but White and Bullet Club owe the fans no answers. White is still King Switch, and this is still his new era.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Show Impressions<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nAs the official first episode in the Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2020 tour, I thought this was a really good show. It was good to see Fred Rosser in an NJPW ring, Karl Fredericks and Hikuleo got some very solid buildup with a couple of strong performances, an the main event felt like the start of something now that Jay White is back in action.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match of the Night<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Flip Gordon vs Jay White<\/strong><br \/>\nAs much as I like to see him lose, Jay White is real good. I feel very similarly about Flip Gordon, so that made this match an interesting clash for me. Plus, the action between the bells was consistently the most fun out of any match tonight.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Official Results: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.njpw1972.com\/tornament\/79781?showResult=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">https:\/\/www.njpw1972.com\/tornament\/79781?showResult=1<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jay White returns to an NJPW ring in a very good main event match against Jay White during the first night of the Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2020 tour on NJPW Strong!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8584,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[620,297,6635],"tags":[6565,235,6654,2532,723,1555,2681,6583,6697,6698,1246,6699,2793,597,6564,6641,2680,611,637,1319,6592,577,576,6567,6568,1652,6640,6636],"class_list":["post-8863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-njpw","category-show-results","category-strong","tag-adnan-kureishy","tag-alex-koslov","tag-alex-zayne","tag-brody-king","tag-bullet-club","tag-california","tag-clark-connors","tag-dkc","tag-fighting-spirit-unleashed","tag-fighting-spirit-unleashed-2020","tag-flip-gordon","tag-fred-rosser","tag-hikuleo","tag-jay-white","tag-jeremy-marcus","tag-justin-borden","tag-karl-fredericks","tag-katsuyori-shibata","tag-kevin-kelly","tag-kimihiko-ozaki","tag-misterioso","tag-new-japan-pro-wrestling","tag-njpw","tag-oceanview-pavilion","tag-port-hueneme-ca","tag-shigeki-kiyono","tag-sparky-ballard","tag-strong"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8863"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8869,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8863\/revisions\/8869"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}