The first three matches for NJPW STRONG High Alert have been announced.
First, Hiromu Takahashi will make his STRONG debut as he goes one-on-one with Clark Connors. The two men faced off during Best of the Super Juniors, and even though Takahashi emerged victorious, Connors' effort was strong enough to earn his opponents' respect.
Additionally, TJP will face off against Mascara Dorada. TJP already has a couple of Dorada's masks in his possession and will be looking to add another to his growing collection. Lastly, Hikuleo and Big Damo are set to face off. Hikuleo is looking to prove himself as The King of the Giants, while Damo is hoping to bounce back from a defeat to Tomohiro Ishii a few weeks ago on STRONG.
The updated lineup for High Alert can be seen below.
From NJPW:
High Alert will see NJPW return to Charlotte North Carolina and the Grady Cole Center for the first time in over three years on July 24. With the first STRONG Openweight Tag Team Champions to be crowned on the card’s headline bout, plenty more action is to come, including these three mammoth matchups.
Clark Connors will go one on one with Hiromu Takahashi. In an explosive clash during Best of the Super Jr. in Ota, the Wild Rhino Connors came close to defeating the Time Bomb, especially with a tackle that almost knocked Hiromu clear out of the tournament. Though it would be Hiromu that just barely ended Clark’s tournament hopes with the D submission, the Shibata trainee had earned the eventual BOSJ winner’s respect.
In Korakuen Hall on June 21, both Connors and Takahashi suffered crushing defeats after classic performances. Connors would push Tomohiro Ishii to his very limit in an AEW All Atlantic qualifier, while Hiromu Takahashi battled Taiji Ishimori in a losing effort after a match of the year candidate. Now they square off one on one in a match that could shape the rest of the year for both men.
Mascara Dorada will be taking on TJP. The Public Enemy returns to the US with some freshly won gold in his suitcase, and still with a pair of Dorada’s masks in his possession. The humiliation that CMLL’s estrella suffered at the hands of TJP in both Florida and Hollywood is not something he’s going to forget easily, and he’ll be bringing a ton of pent up aggression to the ring in Charlotte.
A giant battle will see Hikuleo face Big Damo. Damo is looking to bounce back from a loss to Tomohiro Ishii a few weeks ago on STRONG, but in an emergent field of superheavyweights on Saturday nights, Hikuleo wants to prove that he is worthy of bring called king of the giants.
NJPW STRONG High Alert (7/24)
- Eddie Kingston In Action
- Hiromu Takahashi vs. Clark Connors
- STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals
- TJP vs. Mascara Dorada
- Big Damo vs. Hikuleo
Fightful will have results from High Alert on July 24. You can find results from around the wrestling world in Fightful's results section.
