Gabe Kidd, Mina Shirakawa bring star power to New Japan’s return to California

Tonight’s Strong Style Evolved pay-per-view features both Kidd and Shirakawa

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Gabe Kidd is the latest to attempt a miraculous feat in pro wrestling.

Match by match, promo after promo, Kidd is breaking into the next tier of wrestling stardom. And he is doing it by sheer force.

As he prepares for his January 5 showdown against Kenny Omega at the Tokyo Dome, he defends his New Japan Pro-Wrestling STRONG Openweight Championship at tonight’s Strong Style Evolved pay-per-view in Long Beach, California.

The show is headlined by Mercedes Moné, but Kidd believes that he is the one carrying the New Japan banner.

“I don’t care what Mercedes Mone has done, this is my brand,” said Kidd. “My matches are an experience. Nobody else can do what I do. Only I can provide that service, and that’s what you’ll see when I put my belt on the line.”

Available on NJPW World and Triller, Kidd will bring his unrelenting, aggressive pace in the bout against Ryohei Oiwa. It is a matchup pitting two New Japan Dojo alums against each other. Kidd is a product of both NJPW Dojos–he spent five months in the LA Dojo before the pandemic, as well as a year-and-a-half honing his craft at the NJPW Dojo in Japan.

“It’s dojo versus dojo, and I respect that about Oiwa,” said Kidd. “But it’s a 13-year veteran against a three-year prospect. I’m going to pick him apart like a veteran should.”

Tonight’s card also features the headliners of the upcoming Wrestle Kingdom 19 show, which runs January 4 at the Tokyo Dome. That is where Zack Sabre Jr. will put his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Shota Umino, and the two will square off in a six-man tag tonight.

A must-see part of tonight’s card is Mina Shirakawa. One of STARDOM’s most captivating talents, Shirakawa has impressed in AEW since her arrival earlier this year. She has played a critical role in the Mariah May-Toni Storm feud, first in May’s corner before igniting their current feud.

“I love wrestling for New Japan,” said Shirakawa. “New Japan is where I first fell in love with wrestling watching Jushin Liger. Now I get to go in the New Japan ring at Strong Style.”

Shirakawa wrestles Johnnie Robbie, an NJPW Academy prospect who should benefit greatly from her time in the ring with such an incredibly charismatic performer. Energy and emotion are two critical parts of the Shirakawa experience, and it is paramount as to why she has become such a key player in AEW despite only as short time in the promotion.

“When I became a wrestler, I challenged myself against the world,” said Shirakawa. “I didn’t want to just be in one place. I wanted to wrestle around the world, a worldwide star–and that’s what I am doing my best to do.

“That’s what I want to show in Long Beach–that I am a star.”

Shirakawa isn’t the only wrestler from AEW at tonight’s Strong Style Evolved card. Reigning AEW International champion Konosuke Takeshita is also wrestling, teaming with “The Scapegoat” Jack Perry against Shingo Takagi and Yota Tsuji.

Takeshita faces Takagi in a singles bout on the Wrestle Kingdom event, a card where Kidd is not scheduled to wrestle.

“Once again, another AEW guy is fighting at Wrestle Kingdom instead of me,” said Kidd. “That’s foolish, that’s idiotic. I’m going to beat Oiwa, and I’m focused on him. Then maybe I’ll go find Takeshita.”