10 Live Observations From NJPW’s FIRST EVER UK Tour
From The Far East To The North West
The big question going into Strong Style Evolved UK was if the co-promotion with Revolution Pro Wrestling that helped bring them about in the first place would result in the cards only being British shows peppered with which ever NJPW talent were free to make the trip.
The big question coming out of Strong Style Evolved UK was if Zack Sabre Jr - one of the only major British names on the card - could actually go the distance in NJPW's upcoming G1 Climax tournament.
The Big Question during Strong Style Evolved UK was actually Great-O-Kharn; Tomoyuki Oka beginning his excursion as a Mongolian warlord with a question mark on his face and a double chop in his arsenal. The overly-gimmicked garb was a throwback to the oldest representations of Far East performers on UK soil, but his opening match victory over Dan Duggan was an outlier on an event that otherwise exceeded expectations and helped New Japan expand further into the hearts and minds of the rapidly-increasing Western audience.
It was, admittedly, a bland opener. But like all meaningful NJPW cards, it was supposed to be. The show grew exquisitely in quality and heat, leading to a double main event subjectively offered two of the finest matches ever on this soil...
Note: This article relates exclusively to the July 1, 2018 Strong Style Evolved UK Night 2 show from Altrincham Ice Dome. For further results and notes on Night 1, please visit NJPW's official website. All photographs by Robyn Goding/Beyond Gorilla (@BeyondGorilla_)
10. HEAT!
New Japan Pro Wrestling has reported a 40% increase in subscribers to their 'World' streaming service since January 2018. The increase has been driven by a number of key moments this year that have fed into a slow and steady global expansion, with Wrestle Kingdom and Dominion delivering everything everything required as the mammoth supercards they're designed to be.
Steering away from WWE's brand-first model, the company hasn't been afraid to allow its wrestlers to flourish, and this couldn't have been made clearer by the loyalists that filed in to the second night of New Japan's first ever official sojourn to the United Kingdom.
Before the first bell, the stands were awash with shirts for every single performer on the card and several that weren't. The apparel isn't just merch money to a company like NJPW or the star it promotes. It represents a heartfelt and financial investment from the fans - the most important connective tissue required for the project to succeed longterm.
That the show will soon appear on New Japan World and ultimately fed directly into ongoing storylines will only heighten relations between the group and those that attended. And those that may wish to try it themselves next time.