NJPW Resurgence 2023 News – New Champions Crowned, Aussie Open Vacates IWGP & NJPW Strong Tag Titles

Sunday’s Resurgence 2023 event for New Japan Pro Wrestling in Long Beach, California featured two new champions crowned and the announcement of NJPW’s IWGP Tag Team and Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship being vacated.

In regards to the new champions, KENTA defeated Hikuelo by a countout decision to be crowned the new NJPW Strong Openweight Champion. During the match, KENTA fought off Hikuleo’s attempts to chokeslam him off a guard-railing in the stands onto a table on the floor. KENTA low blowed Hikuleo and after a few attacks, tossed him over the railing causing Hikuleo to crash through a table. KENTA then walked back to the ring to beat the 20 count while Hikuleo was unable to do so. This resulted in KENTA being awarded the Strong Openweight Championship due to NJPW’s rules that allow titles to change hands via a countout. Following the match, Eddie Kingston made a surprise video appearance stating that he would be challenging whoever was the Strong Openweight Championship after tonight’s show once he heals up from his hernia surgery, which KENTA accepted for his response.

Later in the show, Willow Nightingale defeated Mercedes Mone in the Finals of the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship tournament to be crowned its inaugural champion. Mone had defeated Stephanie Vaquer while Nightingale had defeated Momo Khogo in First Round matches earlier in the show.

Willow Nightingale has done it. She has defeated Mercedes Mone to become the 1st NJPW Women’s Strong Champion at tonight’s NJPW Resurgence (05.21.2023)pic.twitter.com/NJsyKZmcTa

— Dark Puroresu Flowsion (@PuroresuFlow) May 22, 2023

In regards to the IWGP Tag Team and NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships, Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletcher gave a promo in the ring. During his promo, Fletcher stated that Mark Davis had recently suffered an injury and as a result, Aussie Open would not be able to defend their IWGP Tag Team titles at NJPW’s Dominion 2023 event next month. Fletcher also stated that they were left with no choice but to vacate both of their IWGP Tag Team and NJPW Strong titles due to Davis’ injury situation. Fletcher also stated that the previously scheduled IWGP Tag title Triple Threat match between Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto), House of Torture (Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL), and champions Aussie Open at Dominion 2023 would now be an IWGP Tag Team and Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships match between Bishamon and House of Torture.

BREAKING

Due to an injury for Mark Davis, Aussie Open has vacated both the NJPW STRONG and IWGP Tag Team Championships.

Dominion will see both titles decided on June 4. #njdominion #njpwSTRONG #njresurgence pic.twitter.com/rEWvkZFaeL

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) May 22, 2023