New Japan Pro-Wrestling have announced that Lio Rush will be making his debut on NJPW Strong, the company’s US-based web series, in the main event of Night Two of their Lion’s Break Contender event on January 29th.
The former NXT Cruiserweight Champion made his debut for the promotion in last year’s Super J-Cup tournament as a favourite to win. However, he was defeated in the first round by eventual winner El Phantasmo. In his first match on Strong, Rush will team up with Fred Rosser and TJP to face off with the man who ended his Super J-Cup dream, ELP, and his Bullet Club teammates KENTA and Hikuleo.
Starting January 29, the Man of the Hour becomes the Man on Friday nights!
Lio Rush hits Lion's break Contender next week! But how will he cope with the striking power of El Phantasmo?https://t.co/63LgmFxLy7#njpwSTRONG#njcontenderpic.twitter.com/KWMu3Et9Q2
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) January 19, 2021
Since being released from WWE last year, Lio Rush has appeared in several independent promotions. Recently, he signed with Major League Wrestling where he is the current World Middleweight Champion.
NJPW Strong’s Lion’s Break Contender event will also see the Strong debuts of NJPW Young Lion Ren Narita, who moved from NJPW’s Tokyo Dojo to train under Katsuyori Shibata in their LA Dojo in 2019, and Ring of Honor’s Bateman. The two will headline Night One of the event on January 22nd.
Keep checking back at Inside the Ropes for more NJPW news and results.