The New Beginning in USA (2021) was a two-day professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling's sub-brand New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America (NJoA). The events took place on February 19, and February 26, 2021 at the Oceanview Pavilion in California, United States, being held behind closed doors due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States. The shows were also part of the NJPW Strong televisions series.[2]
This was the twelveth event under the New Beginning name and the third under the New Beginning in USA name.
Production[]
Background[]
On January 31, 2020, NJPW the event with two nights being held at the Oceanview Pavilion in California, United States. The shows were also part of the NJPW Strong televisions series and were held behind closed doors without a live audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. On February 9, 2021 all matches for the first night were announced.[3] On February 22, the matches for second night were announced.[2]
Storylines[]
The event featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.
KENTA, who faced Jon Moxley for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship
In August, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, KENTA along with several other NJPW wrestlers were unable to work on NJPW events in Japan, leading him to take part in NJPW Strong series, in which he took part in the 2020 New Japan Cup USA, defeating David Finlay on August 21 in the finals to win the tournament.[4] Following the match, KENTA was handed a contract, which gave him the right to challenge for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, in which he would have to defend it, similar to the Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate. Since December, KENTA began prclaiming his intensions of facing Jon Moxley for a title match.[5] Despite being absent from NJPW events due to COVID-19 restrictions, Moxley made an appearance in NJPW in a pre-taped vignette on January 4, 2021 at Wrestle Kingdom 15 in Tokyo Dome, warning the winner of the match for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate, between KENTA and Satoshi Kojima, which KENTA won.[6] After an eleven-month absence, Moxley made his return to NJPW on January 29, during an episode of NJPW Strong, attacking KENTA.[7] Two days later, NJPW oficially announced the title match.[8] On the February 3 during an episode of All Elite Wrestling's Dynamite, KENTA returned the favor to Moxley, attacking him after his match.[9][10] After the match, Kenny Omega tried to conciliate with him, only to say that he's not his friend and only was there to attack Moxley. Omega asked AEW President Tony Khan to sanction a match with him and KENTA to take on Moxley. A day later, the match would be official with KENTA and Omega taking on Moxley and Lance Archer in a Falls Count Anywhere tag team match. The following week, on the February 10 episode of Dynamite, KENTA made his in-ring debut in AEW, teaming with Omega to defeat Moxley and Archer. After the match, KENTA continued to attack Moxley while Omega was celebrating.[11][12]
The event also featured a match between El Phantasmo and Lio Rush. On December 20, 2020, Rush made his debut in NJPW, losing to Phantasmo in the first round of the Super J-Cup, after Phantasmo cheated to win the match.[13] On January 29, 2021, at Lion's Break Contender, Phantasmo and Rush faced each other in a six-man tag team match, which Rush picked up the win for his team, after pinning Phantasmo.[14] Two days later, NJPW oficially announced the match.[15]
Results[]
Night 1[]
| # | Matches | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rocky Romero, Adrian Quest and Misterioso defeated Rey Horus, Barrett Brown and The DKC | Six-man tag team match | 10:13 |
| 2 | Fred Rosser defeated Hikuleo | Tag team match | 10:40 |
| 3 | El Phantasmo defeated Lio Rush | Singles match | 14:05 |
| |||
Night 2[]
| # | Matches | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brody King, ACH, Sterling Riegel and Logan Riegel defeated The DKC, Kevin Knight, Clark Connors and TJP | Eight-man tag team match | 8:36 |
| 2 | Ren Narita defeated Chris Dickinson | Singles match | 7:51 |
| 3 | Jon Moxley (c) defeated KENTA | Singles match for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship | 14:52 |
| |||
Notes[]
- ↑ The event was held without a live audience due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States.
References[]
- ↑ LEC to present #MOXvsKENTA 【NJoA】 . New Japan Pro Wrestling (2021-01-31). Retrieved on 2021-02-23.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 NJPW STRONG preview: MOX vs KENTA 【NJoA】 . New Japan Pro Wrestling (2021-02-23). Retrieved on 2021-02-23.
- ↑ NJPW STRONG preview: Ren Narita in tag main; KENTA speaks 【NJoA】 . New Japan Pro Wrestling (2021-02-09). Retrieved on 2021-02-23.
- ↑ Knipper, Justin 2020-08-21. NJPW STRONG RESULTS: NEW JAPAN CUP USA FINALS . Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved on 2020-08-21.
- ↑ Juice wants KENTA, but KENTA wants Jon Moxley! . New Japan Pro Wrestling (2020-12-22). Retrieved on 2021-02-23.
- ↑ JON MOXLEY PROMO AIRS AT NJPW WRESTLE KINGDOM 15 NIGHT ONE (in English). Wrestling Observer Newsletter (2021-01-04).
- ↑ JON MOXLEY vs KENTA OFFICIAL! . New Japan Pro Wrestling (2021-01-31). Retrieved on 2021-02-23.
- ↑ MOX vs KENTA Official for February 26! 【NJoA】 . New Japan Pro Wrestling (2021-01-31). Retrieved on 2021-02-23.
- ↑ KENTA APPEARS ON AEW DYNAMITE, ATTACKS JON MOXLEY (in English). Wrestling Observer Newsletter (2021-02-03).
- ↑ What Went Through Your Mind When You Watched This? . All Elite Wrestling (2021-02-04). Retrieved on 2021-02-23.
- ↑ AEW DYNAMITE LIVE RESULTS: OMEGA & KENTA VS. MOXLEY & ARCHER (in English). Wrestling Observer Newsletter (2021-02-10).
- ↑ Nothing Could Contain This Falls Count Anywhere No DQ Main Event . All Elite Wrestling (2021-02-11). Retrieved on 2021-02-23.
- ↑ Renner, Ethan 2020-12-12. NNJPW SUPER J-CUP LIVE RESULTS: A WINNER IS CROWNED . Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved on 2021-02-23.
- ↑ ROAD to LION'S BREAK: CONTENDER . New Japan Pro Wrestling (2021-01-29). Retrieved on 2021-02-23.
- ↑ Big matches added to New Beginning USA 2021 【NJoA】 . New Japan Pro Wrestling (2021-01-31). Retrieved on 2021-02-23.
