NJPW Resurgence 2023 Results (5/21): NJPW Strong Women's Title Tournament Featuring Mercedes Mone, More

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New Japan Pro-Wrestling presents Resurgence 2023 from the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. Eight matches are scheduled for the main card, including three tournament bouts to crown the inaugural NJPW Strong Women's Champion. In the semi-finals of that series, former IWGP Women's Champion Mercedes Moné takes on Stephanie Vaquer, while Momo Kohgo battles Willow Nightingale — the winners of those two matches will meet in the main event for the NJPW Strong Women's Championship. Elsewhere, Hiroshi Tanahashi goes up against Will Ospreay, with the winner taking on Lance Archer at Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall to determine the #1 contender for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. 

Announced main card

* TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr. and Bad Dude Tito) vs. Bárbaro Cavernario and Virus

* Mercedes Moné vs. Stephanie Vaquer in a tournament match for the inaugural NJPW Strong Women's Championship

* Momo Kohgo vs. Willow Nightingale in a tournament match for the inaugural NJPW Strong Women's Championship

* Fred Rosser vs. Juice Robinson in a Street Fight

* Hikuleo (c) vs. KENTA for the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship

* Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta) and Shota Umino vs. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Rocky Romero, and Tomohiro Ishii)

* Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Will Ospreay in a tournament match to determine the #1 contender for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship

* Mercedes Moné or Stephanie Vaquer vs. Momo Kohgo or Willow Nightingale for the inaugural NJPW Strong Women's Championship

TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr. and Bad Dude Tito) vs. Bárbaro Cavernario and Virus

Sabre Jr. and Virus began the match as the legal wrestlers. Sabre Jr. and Virus traded submission holds in the early moments of the bout. Tito and Cavernario tagged in. Tito knocked Cavernario down with a shoulder tackle. Cavernario responded and sent Tito down with a dropkick. Virus became the legal man again. Virus and Cavernario briefly worked together. 

Tito slammed Virus into the canvas and followed up with an elbow. Sabre Jr. took Cavernario out at ringside. Tito and Sabre Jr. tagged in and out of the match. Virus connected with an explosive dropkick and tagged in Cavernario. Virus and Cavernario worked together again. Tito replied with a combination of moves. Tito tagged Sabre Jr. back in. Cavernario delivered a hammerlock suplex. Virus tagged in. Virus and Sabre Jr. exchanged holds and pin attempts. 

Sabre Jr. and Virus continued to go back and forth. Virus knocked Sabre Jr. down with a lariat. Tito and Cavernario tagged in. Tito and Cavernario exchanged blows. Tito connected with a Blue Thunder Bomb and attempted a pin. Cavernario picked up the win for his team after forcing Tito to tap out. 

Winners: Bárbaro Cavernario and Virus via submission

Mercedes Moné vs. Stephanie Vaquer in a tournament match for the inaugural NJPW Strong Women's Championship

Moné and Vaquer immediately locked up. Moné and Vaquer went back and forth. Both wrestlers attempted a dropkick at the same time. Vaquer managed to grab the bottom rope after Moné locked in a crossface. Moné and Vaquer traded blows in each corner. Vaquer caught Moné in a hanging armbar on the ropes. Vaquer attempted a pin after connecting with a springboard crossbody. 

Vaquer took control of the match and drilled Moné's face into the canvas. Vaquer continued to punish Moné and attempted numerous pinfall attempts. Moné responded and took out Vaquer with her knees after leaping from the apron. Moné landed a DDT on the floor. 

Moné landed double knees inside the ring and attempted a pin. Vaquer replied with several headbutts in the corner of the ring. Moné drove her knees into Vaquer. Vaquer locked in a crossface after countering Moné's crossbody. Moné escaped and locked in a crossface of her own. Moné and Vaquer went back and forth again. Vaguer attempted to finish off Moné. Moné delivered a backstabber in the corner and picked up the win after landing a Moné Maker. 

Winner and advancing to the final: Mercedes Moné via pinfall

Momo Kohgo vs. Willow Nightingale in a tournament match for the inaugural NJPW Strong Women's Championship 

Nightingale showcased her strength after locking up with Kohgo. Nightingale slammed Kohgo into the canvas. Nightingale connected with a low crossbody and attempted a pin. Nightingale continued to dominate. Kohgo eventually fought back and landed a crossbody from the top. Kohgo connected with a headscissors and 619. Kohgo landed a dropkick from the top and went for a cover. 

Kohgo delivered a fisherman's suplex and held the bridge for a pinfall attempt. Nightingale responded by driving Kohgo into the mat. Kohgo and Nightingale traded strikes. Nightingale took Kohgo down with two lariats and a snap suplex. Nightingale landed a cannonball in the corner and attempted a pin. Kohgo fought back again and went for numerous covers. 

Nightingale planted Kohgo into the mat with a spinebuster and went for a cover. Kohgo immediately got back up after being on the receiving end of a big lariat. Nightingale advanced to the finals after landing a powerbomb in the center of the ring. 

Winner and advancing to the final: Willow Nightingale via pinfall

Fred Rosser vs. Juice Robinson in a Street Fight

Rosser and Robinson traded punches on the mat. Rosser sent Robinson to the floor. Rosser sent Robinson into the barricade and followed up with a lariat. Robinson headed for the entrance ramp. Robinson elevated Rosser over his head. Robinson began to punish Rosser with a belt. 

Robinson placed the belt around Rosser's neck and dragged him into the ring. Robinson removed the belt and repeatedly struck Rosser with it. Rosser eventually replied and sent Robinson through a door in the corner with a Death Valley driver. Rosser struck Robinson with the belt. Rosser put the belt around Robinson's neck and sent him over the ropes. 

Rosser picked up a trash can at ringside and tipped it over Robinson. Robinson was busted open after Rosser hit him over the head with the trash can. Rosser used a steel chair, stop sign, and kendo stick as weapons. Rosser placed a ladder next to the ring and flung Robinson into it. 

Back inside the ring, Rosser forced Robinson's head into the exposed turnbuckle. Rosser placed a trash can over Robinson's head and repeatedly struck it with a steel chain and steel chair. Rosser continued to punish Robinson with the steel chain. 

Toni Storm — Robinson's wife — appeared and attempted to deliver a low blow to Rosser. Rosser revealed a protector and then kissed Storm. Storm drove Rosser into the canvas after Robinson delivered a low blow. Rosser pushed Storm into Robinson. Rosser planted Robinson into the mat and locked in a crossface. Storm returned and smashed a bottle over Rosser's head. Robinson sent Rosser through a door in the corner. Storm connected with a hip attack while Robinson placed a stop sign in front of Rosser. Robinson won the match after driving Rosser's face into a steel chair. 

Winner: Juice Robinson via pinfall

- Kyle Fletcher appeared and revealed that Mark Davis was injured and unable to compete. Fletcher said that he and Davis could not defend the IWGP Tag Team Championship at Dominion. Fletcher announced that Aussie Open had relinquished the IWGP Tag Team Championship and NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship. Fletcher said Aussie Open will be back. 

Hikuleo (c) vs. KENTA for the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship

KENTA immediately ate a big boot from Hikuleo. KENTA headed to ringside. Hikuleo began to punish KENTA inside the ring. KENTA sent Hikuleo into the referee. Hikuleo blocked a low blow and sent KENTA to the floor. Hikuleo and KENTA fought near the stage. KENTA and Hikuleo battled behind the curtain without a camera present. Hikuleo reappeared hurt. 

Hikuleo dropped KENTA onto the barricade. KENTA briefly responded. The champion set up a table and took KENTA up into the fans. Hikuleo pushed a referee out of the way. KENTA sent Hikuleo over the railing and through the table below. KENTA managed to return to the ring but Hikuleo was unable to answer the referee's count.

Winner and NEW NJPW Strong Openweight Champion: KENTA via countout

- Eddie Kingston appeared on the screen after the match. Kingston said he was coming for the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship when he returns.

- NJPW Strong: Independence Day announced for July 4 & 5 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta) and Shota Umino vs. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Rocky Romero, and Tomohiro Ishii)

Ishii and Umino began the match. Umino backed Ishii into the ropes after locking up and mocked Okada in the corner. Ishii and Umino traded strikes in the center of the ring. Umino went after Okada on the apron. Okada tagged in. Okada took Umino down with a big boot. Okada sent Umino to the floor and launched him into the barricade. Okada threw a beverage over Umino. 

Okada tagged Romero into the match as the action returned to the ring. Umino managed to tag in Yuta. Romero took Yuta off his feet with a hurricanrana. Yuta and Romero traded blows. Yuta slammed Romero down. Moxley bit Romero's forehead in the corner while the referee was distracted. Moxley drove Romero into the mat after being tagged in. The match briefly broke down. 

Moxley continued to punish Romero in the ring. Moxley dumped Romero onto the barricade at ringside. Umino attempted a pin after being tagged in. Umino went after Okada once again. Umino went for a cover after delivering a DDT to Romero. Moxley became the legal wrestler. Romero fought back and connected with springboard DDT. Ishii and Yuta were tagged in. 

Ishii planted Yuta with a suplex and attempted a pin. Moxley delivered a cutter to Ishii after being tagged back in. Moxley repeatedly elbowed Ishii and applied a headlock. Umino became the legal wrestler. Ishii caused Moxley and Yuta to collide. Ishii tagged in Okada. 

Okada spiked Umino with a DDT and attempted a pin. Umino delivered a backdrop and briefly took control. Okada caught Umino and slammed him down onto his knee. Okada delivered an elbow from the top. Moxley got in Okada's face. Okada and Moxley went back and forth. 

Romero was tagged in. Romero attempted a pin after delivering a knee to Umino while he was draped on the top rope. Yuta broke up Romero's armbar on Umino. Yuta delivered a German suplex to Romero. Moxley and Ishii collided. Moxley took Ishii down with a lariat. Okada entered and took Moxley off his feet. Umino picked up the win for his team after delivering an Okada-style dropkick and a Death Rider. 

Winners: Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta) and Shota Umino via pinfall

- Mercedes Moné was interviewed backstage ahead of the inaugural NJPW Strong Women's Championship match. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Will Ospreay in a tournament match to determine the #1 contender for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship

Tanahashi and Ospreay immediately locked up. Ospreay reversed Tanahashi's wristlock into a headlock. Tanahashi took Ospreay off his feet with a crossbody from the turnbuckles. Ospreay dropped Tananashi onto the top rope and delivered a big boot. Ospreay took out Tanahashi on the floor. 

Ospreay remained in control as the action returned to the ring. Ospreay delivered chops to the chest in the corner. Ospreay attempted a pin after sending Tanahashi into the corner. Ospreay went for another cover after planting Tanahashi's back onto his knee. 

Tanahashi took Ospreay off his feet after coming off the ropes. Tanahashi slammed Ospreay down onto the mat and leaped from the middle turnbuckle. Ospreay came off the ropes and took out Tanahashi. Ospreay connected with a springboard forearm and attempted a pin. 

Tanahashi delivered a dropkick to Ospreay's knee. Tanahashi continued to target Ospreay's knee and locked in a submission. Ospreay landed a kick after escaping the hold. Ospreay and Tanahashi went back and forth in the middle of the ring. 

Ospreay connected with a forearm to the back of the head from the turnbuckles. Tanahashi reversed a Storm Breaker and landed a Sling Blade moments later. Ospreay reversed Tanahashi's crossbody from the top. Both men traded pinfalls. Ospreay connected with a springboard cutter and attempted a pin. Ospreay delivered a blow to the back of the head and won the match with a Storm Breaker. 

Winner: Will Ospreay via pinfall (Ospreay will now face Lance Archer at Dominion to determine the #1 contender for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship)

- Willow Nightingale was interviewed ahead of the inaugural NJPW Strong Women's Championship match.

Mercedes Moné vs. Willow Nightingale for the inaugural NJPW Strong Women's Championship

The fans chanted "This is awesome" before the match got underway. Moné and Nightingale soaked up the atmosphere. Moné and Nightingale went back and forth. Nightingale pounced Moné to the floor. Nightingale controlled the bout after Moné answered the referee's count. 

Moné briefly fought back and delivered open-hand strikes to Nightingale in the corner. Nightingale took Moné off her feet with an enzuigiri. Nightingale landed a spinebuster and locked Moné in a Boston crab in the center of the ring. Nightingale attempted a pin after delivering a superplex from the top. 

Moné fell to the floor after sending Nightingale into the top turnbuckle. Moné appeared to struggle with her right leg after that move. Moné applied a crossface in the middle of the ring. Nightingale lifted Moné and delivered a powerbomb. The referee stopped counting the pin even though Moné's shoulders were still down. Nightingale landed a second powerbomb and won the title. 

Winner and NEW NJPW Strong Women's Champion: Willow Nightingale via pinfall

- Moné was seen being carried out after the match. Nightingale got emotional on the microphone while addressing the fans.

- That's all for NJPW Resurgence 2023!