KENTA defeated Fred Rosser to win the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship at Saturday’s NJPW Battle In The Valley event. Victory seemed within reach for Rosser as KENTA tapped out to the STF. However, since the referee was knocked out, the tap-out was void.
Amidst the chaos, AEW wrestler Juice Robinson appeared with a foreign object and used it on Rosser’s face. The interference allowed KENTA to nail Rosser with the GTS for the pin to win the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship.
Rosser’s title reign ends at 279 days. He won the title from Tom Lawlor at NJPW Strong: Collision in Philadelphia, PA in May 2022. This is KENTA’s inaugural run as NJPW Strong Openweight Champion.
You can check out some highlights from the match below:
KENTA vs Fred Rosser for the STRONG Openweight Championship is NEXT!
BUY: https://t.co/3kcvvccOsm#njpwSTRONG #njbitv pic.twitter.com/iIJBBulxz2
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) February 19, 2023
Will Kenta Become #AndNew? #njbitv pic.twitter.com/6vKPtu80EL
— FITE (@FiteTV) February 19, 2023
No days off for the champ! #njbitv pic.twitter.com/TbZafsOGTM
— FITE (@FiteTV) February 19, 2023
Rosser reverses the Go 2 Sleep! #njbitv pic.twitter.com/2s7UolWVPA
— FITE (@FiteTV) February 19, 2023
What is Juice Robinson doing here?!?! #njBITV pic.twitter.com/Hs8QsHS5pY
— FITE (@FiteTV) February 19, 2023
Controversial circumstances or not, @kentag2s is the new STRONG Openweight Champion!
BUY: https://t.co/3kcvvccOsm#njpwSTRONG #njbitv pic.twitter.com/Fbmm9ZJg5P
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) February 19, 2023
