Team Filthy was a professional wrestling stable, performing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in their sub-brand New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America (NJoA).
The group was formed originally on October 5, 2017 by Tom Lawlor at MLW's One Shot pay-per-view, with the stable named being based on Lawlor's nickname "Filthy", resulting in the stable being named "Team Filthy". The stable was based around Lawlor and his background on mixed martial arts with various members having a background on the latter. In 2020, Team Filthy made his debut in NJPW's sub-brand New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America (NJoA), expanding into four members, with Rust Taylor, later being expelled and replaced by Chris Dickinson, who was also expelled after feuding with Lawlor over the Strong Openweight Championship.
Follwing their lack of results in the year 2023, the West Coast Wrecking Crew, disgusted by Lawlor's partnership with his former nemesis Fred Rosser, betrayed Lawlor, effectively disbanding the group.
History[]
Background[]
Prior to their debut in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Team Filthy had been formed on October 5, 2017 at Major League Wrestling's One Shot event, during which, Tom Lawlor was accompained by two unknown wrestlers, helping him to defeat Jeff Cobb. Lawlor began several members with a background on mixed martial arts, naming the stable Team Filthy. Afterwards, the stable began feuding with other heel stables in MLW, and eventually became a fan favorite culminating on Lawalor winning the MLW World Championship. However, following his title victory, the stable began quietly disbanding. Team Filthy returned in 2019, following Lawlor's heel turn and his subsquent fued with the Von Erich family.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2020–2024)[]
Tom Lawlor made his debut in NJPW's sub-brand New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America at NJoA's television program Lion's Break Collision on July 3, 2020, being spotted by NJPW's color commentator Kevin Kelly watching the match between Jeff Cobb and Rocky Romero and JR Kratos and Rust Taylor. Before Lawlor's match with Fred Rosser, it was confirmed that he had aligned himself with Kratos and Taylor to form NJoA's version of Team Filthy, stating that he was looking for the strongest ever seen. On the following week, Danny Limelight turned on Rocky Romero to join the stable. Together, Team Filthy was victorious against Cobb, Romero, Rosser, and PJ Black in an eight-man tag team match. Afterwards, Team Filthy was defeated by their four opponents in three separate matches on NJPW Srong. Taylor's "white belt performance" against Cobb, led to Lawlor to kicking him out the stable, before being replaced by Chris Dickinson.
Afterwards, signs of disension began being shown within the stable, after on March 26 at Strong Style Evolved, Limelight mocked Kratos for losing his qualifying match of the 2021 New Japan Cup USA against Fred Rosser. Meanwhile, Lawlor implied that Limelight missed his opportunity to qualify for the tournament, while he was working for the promotions, while reminding Dickinson's loss to Ren Narita on February 26 at The New Beginning in USA. During this time, at Ring of Honor's 19th Anniversary Show, Kratos and Lawlor were unaware that Dickinson had aligned himself with Brody King. During the Road to New Japan Cup USA 2021, Lawlor order Dickinson to break Sterling Riegel's arm, which he refuse, leading Kratos to breat it instead. On April 23, Lawlor defeated Brody King in the finals to win the 2021 New Japan Cup USA, to become the inaugural Strong Openweight Champion. Following the match, Lawlor demand a challenger for his title, but when nobody emerged, Dickinson surprisingly challenged Lawlor to a title match, which he accepted. On May 14, Team Filthy turned on Dickinson, kicking him out of the stable. At the title match on May 28, Lawlor defeated Dickinson to retain the Strong Openweight Championship. On the August 6 episode of NJPW Strong, Kratos and Limelight faced West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson and Royce Isaacs) in a winning effort. Afterwards, Lawlor, who was impressed by the West Coast Wrecking Crew performance in the match, invited them to join the stable, which they accepted, leading Nelson and Isaacs to become the newest members of Team Filthy.
After Lawlor retained the Strong Openweight Championship against Satoshi Kojima, Fred Rosser began challeging Lawlor for his title, with Rosser affirming that he nedded to defeat Minoru Suzuki in order to challenge Lawlor. However, Suzuki defeated Rosser. Rosser, along with Karl Fredericks, Ren Narita, Rocky Romero and The DKC faced Lawlor and the rest of Team Filthy. After the match, both teams brawled, with Lawlor then berating the other team and Rosser. In a backstage promo, Lawlor then called Rosser by his former WWE name, "Darren" and threatned him, with Lawlor stating that he was not "man enough" from him. On November 14, Rosser along with Rocky Romero faced Lawlor and Danny Limelight in a winning effort after Rosser directly pinned Lawlor. After the match, Lawlor who was not satisfied with the result, attacked Rosser along with the rest of Team Filthy, Lawlor then grabbed a pair of scissors that was in a toolbox under the ring and began cutting Rosser's hair to humiliate him. To further humiliate him, Lawlor picked and chewed some of the hair that was cut from Rosser. On December 18, Lawlor defeated Rosser to retain the Strong Openweight Championship.
In October 2021, Black Tiger VII joined the stable at New Japan Showdown, after attacking Rocky Romero causing a DQ finish to ten tag team match against Team Filthy which later revealed to be Romero's former tag team partner, Ricky Reyes with Reyes later defeating Romero at Rivals on February 17, 2022.
Since losing to Lawlor, Rosser began boucing back from his lost, asking for a rematch with Lawlor refusing to give it to Rosser. On May 8, 2022, Lawlor gave an ultimatum to Rosser, where if Rosser could defeat both members of West Coast Wrecking Crew, he would get a chance. On May 14, at Mutiny, Rosser lost to the West Coast Wrecking Crew. After the match, in order to get another chance, Lawlor forced Rosser to shave his head in order to get a chance from Lawlor, with the ultimatum being if Rosser lost, he would have to leave NJPW Strong. On June 25, 2022, Lawlor lost the Strong Openweight Championship to Rosser.
In July, Tom Lawlor and Royce Isaacs participated in G1 Climax 32, making Lawlor tournament debut. In addition feuding with TMDK in tag team matches with Isaacs, Lawlor went 3–3 in the G1 Climax gaining 6 points. These victories were against Toru Yano, Bad Luck Fale, and Jeff Cobb. After the G1, Team Filthy would add Homicide to their list of enemies. After Homicide defeated Limelight at Detonation 2022, he was attacked by Bobby Fish. Established as Lawlor's friend and wrestling trainer, Fish would be official brought into the rank of Team Filthy.
At Battle in the Valley 2023, Lawlor would be victorious in his Filthy Rules Fight against Homicide. However, on the same night, Kratos was defeated by Coughlin, Neson and Isaacs were defeated by The Motor City Machine Guns for the Strong Openweight Tag Titles and Fish was defeated by David Finlay. With his defeat, Fish disappears from Team Filthy and NJPW. The group became constant fixtures on the rebooted, monthly NJPW Strong Live in the United States, as well as appearing for NJPW and Impact Wrestling's Multiverse United pay-per-view, and episodes of All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor. Lawlor, Kratos, Isaacs, and Nelson would also take part in NJPW Independence Day events at Korakuen Hall.
Team Filthy started to feel frustrated with lack of opportunities and touring in New Japan. After Lonestar Shootout, a frustrated West Coast Wrecking Crew, fresh off their Strong Openweight Tag Title loss to El Phantasmo and Hikuleo, confronted Lawlor. They took issue with Lawlor's loss to rival, Fred Rosser, and that he shook his hand afterwards. When Team Filthy lost at the 2024 Battle in the Valley against Rosser, Shota Umino, and Jacob Fatu, Nelson and Isaacs were incensed that Lawlor once again shook Rosser's hand after the match. They left Lawlor to "Figure it out" and decide to be with them or Rosser. On April 12, at Windy City Riot, the WCWC, and Lawlor and Fred Rosser failed to win the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships in a in a four corners tag team after a highly miscommunication between both teams. After the match, a bitter and frustrated Nelson and Isaacs attacked Rosser and Lawlor, cutting part of Lawlor's hair and feeding it to Rosser, thus disbanding Team Filthy.
Members[]
| * | Founding member |
|---|---|
| I | Leader |
| Member | Joined | Left | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Tiger | November 27, 2021 | April 10, 2022 | |
| Bobby Fish | November 20, 2022 | February 18, 2023 | |
| Chris Dickinson | January 8, 2021 | May 14, 2021 | |
| Danny Limelight | November 21, 2020 | October 28, 2023 | |
| JR Kratos | * | November 14, 2020 | July 4, 2023 |
| Jorel Nelson | August 6, 2021 | April 12, 2024 | |
| Rust Taylor | * | November 14, 2020 | December 18, 2020 |
| Royce Isaacs | August 6, 2021 | April 12, 2024 | |
| Tom Lawlor | * I | November 14, 2020 | April 12, 2024 |
Sub-groups[]
| Affiliate | Members | Tenure | Type | Promotion(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limelight and Kratos | Danny Limelight JR Kratos |
2020-2022 | Tag Team | NJPW |
| West Coast Wrecking Crew | Jorel Nelson Royce Isaacs |
2021-2024 |
Timeline[]
Championships and accomplishments[]
- New Japan Pro Wrestling
- Strong Openweight Championship (1 time, inaugural) – Lawlor
- New Japan Cup USA (2021) – Lawlor
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked Lawlor No. 59 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2021
- Ranked Dickinson No. 92 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2021
- Ranked Kratos No. 124 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2021
- Ranked Fish No. 200 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2022
- Ranked Limelight No. 350 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2023
- Ranked Isaacs No. 442 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2021