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KENTA Wins NJPW STRONG Openweight Title, Gets Challenged By Eddie Kingston At NJPW Resurgence

Wrestling
Colin Tessier May 21, 2023 10:03PM

KENTA has regained the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship.

At NJPW Resurgence on May 21, KENTA challenged Hikuleo for the title. They fought all over the arena, and Hikuleo overpowered the challenger at different points in the match. The momentum flipped when they briefly brawled backstage, as Hikuleo could barely walk when they returned to the main arena. They continued to fight, and the match spilled into the crowd. KENTA ultimately sent Hikuleo crashing through a table after he dumped him over the barricade in the crowd, causing the champion to fall roughly ten feet.

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KENTA returned to the ring on time, but the champion could not answer the referee's 20 count. As a result, KENTA won the title.

KENTA did not have long to celebrate, as Eddie Kingston appeared on the video screen after the bell. He cut a brief promo and made it clear that he was coming for the champion once he heals. Kingston is currently out of action, as he is recovering from hernia surgery. When he announced he'd be getting surgery, he noted that he expected to be out for about six weeks.

The win kicked off KENTA's second title reign, and he became the first two-time NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion. He previously won the championship by defeating Fred Rosser at NJPW Battle in the Valley on February 18, 2023. Hikuleo dethroned KENTA at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku on May 3. He did not have any successful title defenses.

Fightful will provide more information as it becomes available.

Catch up on our coverage of NJPW Resurgence here.

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