Hello everyone.
While on the train home, here are the results from NJPW Strong event, Battle In The Valley. The show was held on Saturday night, January 11th at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. The action was exciting. The show was one of the best in history. A near sellout crowd was boisterous, loud, appreciative and enthusiastic throughout the night. The show lasted about three hours and 45 minutes. Hopefully, the results are correct since I'm a little sleepy right now doing this.
The highlight of the night was an emotional and memorable match as Japanese women's legend, Sumie Sakai wrestled in her final encounter. Though she was pinned in the tag team match, she showed the fighting spirit that Japanese women wrestlers are taught and have!
Been to three of these now. The one a couple of years ago that had Okada and Ospreay was really good but overall, this show may have been a little better.
Here are the results:
Tomohiro Ishii and Gabe Kidd (c) for the Strong Openweight Championship ended up a 30 minute draw.
Nelson Isaacs & Jarel Nelson (c) d. Rocky Romero and Yoh for the Strong Openweight Tag Team Titles.
Viva Van, Harako, Maika and Nina Shirakawa d. Anna Jay, Trish Adora, AZN and Johnny Robbie in an eight woman elimination match. Maika threw Anna Jay over the top rope to win. Several fans sitting next to me mentioned that Viva Van has signed with AEW!
Jeff Cobb vs. El Phantasmo (c) ended up a double countout for the IWGP TV Title. Cobb did not bring the FPW title with him.
Sumie Sakai was pinned by Hiromu Takahashi in a six person intergender match. Evil and SHO were supposed to be on Sakai's side but turned on her during the match. Takahashi had Mayu Iwatani and Yuka Sakazaki in his corner.
There was about a 10 minute ceremony afterwards with most of the locker room attending. It was to honor her 27 year career with congratulations and a 10 count with the timekeeper bell. This blogger, and most of the fans, did not have dry eyes during the ceremony. She was given a standing ovation by the fans.
Konosuke Takeshita (c) d. Kushida for the Never Openweight Championship.
Zack Sabre Jr. d. Hechecero in a not title match. After the match, at a future date, the two wrestlers will face one another for the title.
El Desperado (c) d. Taiji Ishinori for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
