NJPW Strong Independence Day

Promotional poster featuring various NJPW Strong wrestlers

**NJPW Strong Independence Day** was a two-day professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The shows will take place on July 4 and July 5, 2023, at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. This was the first event under the NJPW Strong name to be held in Japan. The event also marked the celebration of the United States' independence day, which is held on July 4.

Wrestlers from American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and Pro Wrestling Freedoms (FREEDOMS) also appeared in the event, due to a working relationship between them and NJPW. As well as wrestlers from NJPW's sister promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom (Stardom).

## Production

### Background

On May 21, 2023, NJPW revealed that NJPW Strong Independence Day events would be held on Tuesday, July 4, and July 5 at Korakuen Hall. Both shows would air as pay-per-views on NJPW's internet streaming service NJPW World. This marked the first time that *NJPW Strong* was heading to Japan for a pair of pay-per-view events at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

In April 2017, NJPW went public with their plan of an American expansion, which included establishing a subsidiary and running extended tours in the United States with California as the base, while also establishing a dojo for training Americans in Los Angeles, run by Rocky Romero. The full-scale running of the American market was set to launch in 2018. In July 2020, NJPW established a new weekly series *NJPW Strong*, in the United States airing on NJPW's streaming service NJPW World.

Recently in January 2022, Strong was reformated to a new dual model between Strong Live and Strong On Demand, with the NJPW of America pay-per-views events airing live belonging to the Strong Live, with matches from the pay-per-view events being later split on demand between a four-parter back-to-back episodes, known as the Strong On Demand, with NJPW affirming to be a budget friendly option to overseas audience to connect with the US-based events. On June 28, NJPW announced the full card for both nights. Two days later, it was announced that Fred Rosser would be forced to miss the event.

### Storylines

NJPW Strong Independence Day featured professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.

In the Strong Openweight Championship match, KENTA made his first title defense against Eddie Kingston. On May 28, 2023, at Resurgence, KENTA defeated Hikuleo to regain the Strong Openweight Championship. After the match, Eddie Kingston made an appearance in a pre-taped vignette challenging KENTA to a title match. KENTA answered by pretending to not understand Kingston's accent, but accepted his challenge anyway. The title match was announced on June 5.

On June 4 at Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall, Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira and TJP) defeated Jet Setters (KUSHIDA and Kevin Knight to regain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. After the match, they were confronted by Clark Connors, who teased a challenge alongside a mystery partner, before their United Empire stablemate, Dan Moloney, was revealed to be Connors' partner, after Moloney turned on them to join Bullet Club. The title match was announced on June 5.

On July 30, 2022, at Music City Mayhem, El Desperado was defeated by Jon Moxley in a no disqualification match, with Desperado refusing to tap out, leading the match to end in a stoppage. After taking part in a deathmatch at Game Changer Wrestling's Tournament of Survival, Desperado said the experience reminded him of the motivation he got from facing Moxley at Music City Mayhem, leading Desperado to challenge Moxley to face him again, mentioned that he was interested in the projects that *NJPW Strong* was doing. On June 7, Moxley answered Desperado's challenge, accepting his challenge and proposing a tag team match at NJPW Strong Independence Day, with Desperado chosing a partner of his chosing and Moxley would be teaming with Homicide. On June 12, Desperado asked hardcore wrestling legend Jun Kasai to be his partner at Strong Independence Day. On June 17, Moxley appeared in a video, challenging Desperado to "Final Death" a match at the second night of Strong Independence Day, which Desperado accepted. Afterwards, with regards to Kasai, Desperado commented that he still had not received an official confirmation. This led to Kasai coming to the ring and accepting Desperado's invitiation. On June 19, NJPW announced a Doomsday No Disqualification match for the first night and a Final Death match for the second night.

On June 4, at Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall, after Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi won the IWGP Tag Team and Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships, Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd made their return to NJPW, dubbed as the "Bullet Club War Dogs", attacking Goto and Yoshi-Hashi, before challenging them to a title match, returning as a heels in the process. Afterwards, the two continued viciously attacking Goto and Yoshi-Hashi following their matches, before challenging Bishamon to a title match for first the Strong Tag Team Championship on July 4 and then the IWGP Tag Team Championship July 5. On June 19, NJPW made official both titles matches.

On June 25 at Stardom Sunshine 2023, Giulia, challenged Willow Nightingale, to a title match for the Strong Women's Championship in Japan, before berating in a backstage interview, remiding that despite Nightingale challenging Toni Storm for the AEW Women's World Championship at Forbidden Door. Afterwards, Momo Kohgo defended Nightingale, warning that Giulia was underestimating her, before Giulia attacked her and that she would open the forbidden door. The following day, before her title challenge, Nightingale accepted her challenged. NJPW made the title match as well a tag team match between Giulia and Thekla against Kohgo and Nightingale at Strong Independence Day on May 28.