Multiple title changes at NJPW Strong Independence Day night two

New champions were crowned on night two of NJPW Strong Independence Day from Korakuen Hall. 

Eddie Kingston is the new Strong Openweight Champion. He defeated KENTA in the semi-main event of Wednesday’s show to win the title. The finish of the match saw Kingston block a GTS, deliver multiple spinning back fists and then hit a Northern Lights Bomb for the win. 

Kingston becomes the fifth wrestler to win the title since its inception in April 2021. KENTA’s second title reign concludes just 45 days after defeating HIKULEO for the belt at Resurgence. 

Giulia is the new Strong Women’s Openweight Champion. She defeated Willow Nightingale on Sunday’s show to win the title. The finish of the match saw Giulia duck a lariat attempt and deliver a knee strike followed by a Northern Lights Bomb for the win, the same move Kingston would use to win his match later in the show. 

Giulia becomes just the second wrestler to win the belt after Nightingale became the inaugural champion after defeating Mercedes Mone in the finals of a tournament at NJPW Resurgence. 

The main event of the show saw Jon Moxley defeat El Desperado in a Final Death match. Moxley cut a promo after about getting to share the ring with Jun Kasai the night before and called Korakuen Hall the heart of professional wrestling. 

In other news from the show, NJPW officially announced that Wrestle Kingdom 18 will take place July 4, 2024 from the Tokyo Dome. They announced the official logo for the event as well. 

Rocky Romero convinced the Bullet Club War Dogs team of Drilla Moloney and Clark Connors to put their newly won IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag titles on the line in their match against him and YOH. However, the champions ended up retaining when Connors pinned Romero. 

After heaving his head wound opened up on night one of the two-night event, JR Kratos was pulled from night two. He was replaced by Satoshi Kojima, who defeated Oskar Leube.

NJPW Strong Independence Day night 2 7/5 results:

  • Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato & Boltin Oleg defeated Dragon Libre, Takahiro Katori & Rekka (Kickoff show)
  • Satoshi Kojima defeated Oskar Leube
  • TJP & Francesco Akira defeated Homicide & Ryohei Oiwa
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Champions Drilla Moloney & Clark Connors defeated YOH & Rocky Romero to retain their titles
  • Lance Archer & Alex Zayne defeated Bad Dude Tito & Kosei Fujita
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & The DKC defeated Team Filthy’s Tom Lawlor, Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs
  • Giulia defeated NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Willow Nightingale to win the title
  • IWGP Tag Team Champions Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) defeated Bullet Club War Dogs (Alex Coughlin & Gabriel Kidd)
  • Eddie Kingston defeated Strong Openweight Champion KENTA to win the title
  • Jon Moxley defeated El Desperado in a Final Death match