NJPW STRONG Independence Day: New Japan’s Brush in with Death
Over the United States’ Fourth of July holiday, New Japan Pro Wrestling’s STRONG brand hosted both nights of their Independence Day event. Both nights featured a rare sight for the traditional wrestling company: Deathmatches. On Night One, El Desperado teamed with Japanese Deathmatch legend Jun Kasai to take on AEW’s Jon Moxley & “The Notorious 187” Homicide in a Doomsday No Disqualification Match. Jun Kasai received a massive reaction in his New Japan debut as he hit the ring with a Fork Board. The match went as one would expect: blood being shed, skewers entering Jon Moxley’s head, and even Kasai pulling out his famous Razor Cross Board.
In the end, El Desperado would pick up the win for his team by pinning Homicide. With this match in the books, and with Despy and Mox surviving the encounter, the duo would go to Final Death the following night. In this Final Death Match, El Desperado would endure much damage; being sent into tables and wire, and even kicking out of Moxley’s Death Rider at the very last second. In the end, Mox would prevail with one final Death Rider to end the match. While Jon Moxley would show his grace to the Korakuen Hall faithful, one part of his post-match speech caught the attention of many Deathmatch fans. Jon Moxley would invoke the name of the late, great Danny Havoc; claiming that wrestling Kasai, Havoc’s personal hero, made Mox feel closer to his late friend Danny.
FREEDOMS 7/6: El Desperado Debuts, Hirata Retains & New Tag Team Champions
Just one day following NJPW STRONG’s Independence Day festivities, Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS brought their brand of revelry to Korakuen Hall with Volume One of Jun Kasai’s 2023 Tokyo Deathmatch Carnival. Kicking off the post-show news, we have new King of FREEDOM World Tag Team Champions. The team of Daisuke Masaoka & Toru Sugiura defeated Takashi & Mammoth Sasaki for the KFC World Tag Team Championships. In victory, Masaoka & Sugiura ended Takashi & Mammoth’s 184 day reign as Champions in their third defense. In other Championship news, Tomoya Hirata has successfully defended his King of FREEDOM World Championship against the veteran Minoru Fujita in a Double Glass Board, Lighttubes & Alpha Deathmatch. This victory gives Tomoya Hirata his third successful defense in this title reign. Following this defense, new KFC World Tag Team Champion Toru Sugiura came out to stake his claim and challenge his Soul Meat tag team partner for the KFC World Title. It has since been confirmed that this very match will take place at Yokohama Rush 2023 on August 11th, with the match’s stipulation yet to be announced.
Possibly the biggest development from Tokyo Deathmatch Carnival 2023 Volume 1 comes from a surprise debut. Following a gruesome Barefoot Thumbtack Deathmatch between Jun Kasai and Takayuki Ueki, El Desperado would surface in the Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS ring. And from here, another matchup would be booked for Yokahama Rush on August 11th. The team of Jun Kasai & El Desperado will face Masashi Takeda & current GCW Ultraviolent Champion: Rina Yamashita. Whether this will be El Desperado’s only step outside of New Japan into a FREEDOMS ring is yet to be seen, but you can follow Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS on Twitter for updates.
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