NJPW Announces Final Card for Strong Style Evolved, Rey Mysterio Pulled Due to Injury

New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced that due to his recent biceps injury, former three-time WWE World Champion Rey Mysterio will be unable to compete against Jushin "Thunder" Liger at this Sunday's Strong Style Evolved. He will be replaced by Will Ospreay.

They have also confirmed the finalized card for the show.

The following comes from NJPW1972.com:

With the New Japan Cup finishing on March 21, The pieces have fallen into place, and the final card for Strong Style Evolved in LA’s Walter Pyramid on March 25 has been announced.

First, we regret to announce that due to a left bicep tear, Rey Mysterio will not be able to participate at Strong Style Evolved. Rey was eager to have his first match in NJPW, and did all he could to try and rehab the injury in time for the show. Unfortunately, he is not medically cleared to compete in LA. In his place, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay will be taking on Jushin Thunder Liger at SSE.

As previously announced, the main event in the Walter Pyramid will see the Golden☆Lovers, Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega, face the Young Bucks. This is a dream match the whole world has been waiting for, and an ideal way to close out the biggest New Japan show in America to date.

In the semi main, Jay White will defend the IWGP United States Championship against Hangman Page. The Switchblade shocked the world when he beat Kenny Omega for the US title back in January, and seemed to topple the Bullet Club’s house of cards in the process. Now Hangman Page seeks to step up in the biggest match of his career.

On March 21, Zack Sabre Junior submitted Hiroshi Tanahashi to win his debut New Japan Cup. Choosing to challenge Kazuchika Okada, Zack heads into the biggest match of his own career in Ryogoku April 1st. At SSE, he’ll team up with Suzuki Gun boss and fellow RPW British Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Minoru Suzuki to take on Okada and Tomohiro Ishii. Both IWGP Champion and challenger will look to make an important statement a week before their title match, and this looks to be a brutal affair.

As mentioned above, Will Ospreay will take Rey Mysterio’s place opposite Jushin Thunder Liger at SSE. These two have faced each other twice before in group Best of the Super Junior matchups. Ospreay won both of those bouts. At SSE, Liger looks to get some revenge against the Junior Heavyweight Champion, and claim the right to challenge for Ospreay’s belt in the process. It’s the junior champion versus the junior legend in LA!

Taguchi Japan will head to America on March 25, as Ryusuke Taguchi leads a squad of KUSHIDA, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Dragon Lee. They face Los Ingobernables De Japon in the form of Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA and BUSHI. Taguchi and his team didn’t participate in last year’s Long Beach shows, but with the dynamic Dragon Lee, and a Tanahashi who made it all the way to the New Japan Cup final, they look to make a strong advance into America. On the other side of the ring, though, is the ever popular Naito and LIJ, picking up long held issues with Taguchi’s squad.

The Bullet Club continues to look anything but fine at SSE as Cody and Marty Scurll face the Guerillas of Destruction, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa. Cody seems intent on seizing full control of the Bullet Club and asserting himself as leader. It seems Hangman Page, Scurll, and arguably the Bucks are on Team Cody, but this in-fighting isn’t something GOD signed up for. Could Cody establish himself as the leader of the pack here? And if so, would GOD fall in line?

More tag action sees Chuckie T and Toru Yano of CHAOS face Killer Elite Squad: Lance Archer and Davey Boy Smith Junior.

On March 21, Archer and Smith declared their intention to go after the IWGP Tag Team Championships currently held by EVIL and SANADA. A KES win would cement them as contenders, but Chuckie T has proven himself as a competitor of late, and Yano has a plan for every situation.

In the second match of the evening, Juice Robinson and David Finlay team up to face Hirooki Goto and Gedo. Juice had an impressive showing in the New Japan Cup, and ended the tour with a big scalp on March 21 when he pinned NEVER Champion Goto with the Pulp Friction. Juice seems to have his foot in the NEVER title door, and will look to prove himself further as a contender against the prideful champion.

Finally, in the opening match, the Roppongi 3K trio of SHO, YOH and Rocky Romero face ROH’s Addiction: Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian as well as Scorpio Sky. RPG3K will look to bring a slice of Roppongi to LA, and gain momentum on their road to challenging for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships at Sakura Genesis on April 1st.

Walter Pyramid is sold out for Strong Style Evolved, but you can watch all the action live wherever you are! In the US, check out AXS TV for their live coverage, or watch NJPW World on demand after the show ends. In all other regions, the show will air live and in English on NJPW World! https://njpwworld.com/