Finals Set For NJPW New Japan Cup USA 2021 Tournament
Who's taking it?
The finals are now set for the 2021 New Japan Cup USA, following semifinal matches held on Friday night's broadcast of NJPW Strong.
Brody King and Tom Lawlor have each advanced to the final round, and will square off on the April 23 episode of Strong.
King defeated Lio Rush with a Gonzo Bomb in his part of the semis, while Lawlor got past Hikuleo with an inside cradle.
King had previously defeated Chris Dickinson in the quarterfinals, while Lawlor defeated Ren Narita.
The winner of the Lawlor-King final next week will be crowned the first NJPW Strong Openweight champion.
Last year, Cup winner KENTA became number one contender to Jon Moxley's United States title, and spent months after the fact defending his entitlement (in the form of a briefcase) in several matches. However, for 2021, New Japan is going with a new direction for the tournament winner, in the form of the Openweight belt.
Moxley, meanwhile, prepares to make his next US title defense against Yuji Nagata, after issuing a challenge to the NJPW legend.
Written by Justin Henry
In addition to writing lists and commentaries for Cultaholic, Justin is also a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine, and is co-author of the WWE-related book Titan Screwed: Lost Smiles, Stunners, and Screwjobs.