NJPW STRONG Synopsis for 7/16/22 – First Round Closes

This week on an all-new NJPW STRONG Synopsis for 7/16/22, we’ll see the conclusion of the first round in the Openweight Tag Team Championship tournament. Last week, The Mighty Don’t Kneel and the team of Christopher Daniels and Yuya Uemura defeated The Factory and the West Coast Wrecking Crew, respectively, to advance to the semifinal.

Along with that, we’ll see former NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor in action. The last time the leader of Team Filthy was on NJPW STRONG, he lost the championship to “Mr. No Days Off” Fred Rosser. This time, he’s out to prove he’s still got it as he heads into the G1 Climax tournament. Here’s your NJPW STRONG Synopsis of everything you can expect from the LA Dojo tomorrow night.

NJPW STRONG Synopsis for 7/16/22
Stray Dog Army (Barrett Brown & Mysterioso) vs Midnight Heat (Ricky Gibson & Eddie Pearl)

Since their debut almost a year ago, Stray Dog Army have shown plenty of growth and potential. What they haven’t shown much of is results, with only five wins over their 12 tag matches in NJPW STRONG. This tournament provides them the opportunity to finally prove themselves, earning the respect they deserve even if they don’t pick up the championships.

They have quite the challenge ahead in this first round match against Ricky Gibson and Eddie Pearl. Midnight Heat have been tearing it up on the west coast indie scene, where they racked up a record-setting 743 days as DEFY Tag Team Champions. Could the NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team titles be next in their collection?

NJPW STRONG Synopsis for 7/16/22
Bad Dude Tito vs. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor

In a world first,  TMDK’s Bad Dude Tito will face off against the leader of Team Filthy, Tom Lawlor. Last time we saw “Filthy” Tom Lawlor in an NJPW STRONG ring was just a few short weeks ago when he lost the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship. This leaves Lawlor somewhat vulnerable, as he’s likely still caught between the disappointment of losing his title and the excitement of the G1 Climax.

Bad Dude Tito, on the other hand, has everything to gain. Before he was discovered by TMDK, Tito felt overlooked by the wrestling world. A win over the former champion would raise Tito’s stock exponentially, and also put a dent in Team Filthy’s odds at the G1 Climax. However, this could also add kindling to the growing feud between Team Filthy and TMDK.

This world-first match has quite the volatile components and it could all explode this Saturday night on NJPW STRONG: Ignition.

NJPW STRONG Synopsis for 7/16/22
The Dark Order (Alan Angels & Evil Uno) vs. Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis)

Since their debut in NJPW STRONG just a few short weeks ago at Mutiny, Aussie Open have proven their worth to the LA Dojo. Moreover, they’ve proven themselves strong enough to hang with IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay and his United Empire faction. Their battles in the LA Dojo, All Elite Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Guerilla, and RevPro have shown that they are more than ready to become NJPW STRONG Openweight Champions.

Before they can claim that crown, however, Fletcher and Davis have to face an evil challenge in this week’s main event. AEW’s Dark Order make their debut in NJPW STRONG this Saturday night. While The Dark Order have had little success on AEW television, things may just shift in the new environment. A win in NJPW STRONG could be the spark that ignites their winning ways in both AEW and NJPW.

Will Fletcher and Davis push through to the second round? Or will Alan Angels and Evil Uno win, bringing their darkness to the right-hand side of the bracket? Find out on an all-new NJPW STRONG!

*********

Stay tuned to Pro Wrestling Post for this and additional stories from the wrestling world. Readers can rely on Pro Wrestling Post to be their daily source for all things inside the squared circle. As a result, readers can expect daily news, history, and so much more. Please visit New Japan Pro Wrestling’s site here for news and information on the promotion and upcoming events pertaining to the NJPW Strong program and FITE TV’s official website to watch AEW Dynamite and Rampage for International viewers.