How’s everyone feel about KENTA bringing the strong belt to Japan so far? Personally, I’m a huge KENTA fan girl, so I’m happy with any excuse to get more singles matches and fueds out of him.

4 comments

1. I just wonder what their plans are overall with these Strong titles. I thought they were going to unify them – Tama/KENTA and Catch 22/MCMG were perfect opportunities for both – but it seems like that’s not the case. The titles on MCMG make sense, they just signed new contracts with IMPACT and maybe NJPW sees them as “ok let’s just use these belts to constantly have our branding on IMPACT” titles. But KENTA is taking it to Japan where it really carries no value or US shows which I don’t think he needs to be champion for because he’s KENTA and his name alone sells tickets.

   VERY curious to see who is going to win the Aussie Open/MCMG/Dream Team match, it is anybody’s game IMO.

2. Considering how long that belt has been around, and it only recently made it across the ocean, that should be a sign of how much NJPW views the overseas brand. Lawlor should have carried it with him during the G1 last year.

   It’s cool to see KENTA with it because he regularly wrestles on Impact and in Japan. At the same time, it’s pointless. I doubt the Strong Openweight title would ever be defended in Japan.

3. It’s fine. It’s a lower card title but whatevs. It’s not like NJPW hasn’t shown a willingness to have titles leave the country and not be defended for a while. Figure it just takes the NEVER spot (in hiarchy not purpose) and everything moves up a spot til the US title is back.

4. KENTA has a pretty strong fan base in America and other English speaking countries. I think him having
   the strong belt adds the prestige the belt really needs to its brand.