00:00Unveil a young man that we know very well Steve, but this is a new chapter and a new sense of purpose ready to claim championship glory here in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
00:14Absolutely. We watched him go from young lion and transform into Kamatachi, but look at what he's become now.
00:30The time bomb has arrived at the Tokyo Dome.
00:44Major in the blue corner, from Levin could not let me happen, they're taking time from Hiramu Takahashi!
00:58They're a blast! Why? Oh! Balls just hit Kevin Kelly in the head!
01:03This was a bad idea! This is a great idea! I hate this idea!
01:07There's so many... There's so many bad jokes that I can make at this point!
01:12I love my job!
01:25The presentation, the patch tree here is remarkable and wonderful, but uh...
01:32Maybe another round of meetings before they decide to, you know, turn loose 60-pound balloons.
01:40Could you imagine this in the United States or Europe?
01:46Take me away. Take me away, guys. Take me away. Take me away. Take me away, take me away. T-而来!
01:53Take me away! Take me away. Take me away! Take me away!
01:58Listen to the people, Steve!
02:01Great ovation... for this young man.
02:06The newest member of LIJ.
02:11Four championships have been decided already.
02:14Four new champions.
02:24And the ace of the junior heavyweight division.
02:36Toriyana stole my red envelope.
02:44Oh, I'm hot.
02:46Now I gotta buy you.
02:47I can't even buy you dinner on my wallet.
02:56And it's one year ago at Wrestle Kingdom 10.
03:01Rashida bested Kenny Omega.
03:02In the red corner.
03:04Captured the IWGP junior heavyweight championship.
03:06IWGP junior heavyweight class champion.
03:08Set a whole crazy friggin' motion.
03:13Were it not for Kushida's win.
03:15Kushida!
03:17Would the events of 2016 have unfolded.
03:20Omega would still be junior heavyweight champion.
03:23Wouldn't be able to declare himself heavyweight.
03:25Wouldn't have taken over both clubs.
03:26All of these things.
03:27All predicated on the fact that Kushida defeated Omega one year ago.
03:32And it hasn't been an easy road for Kushida in 2016.
03:37He didn't just sail through the last 12 months.
03:40Because he had his hands full with another member of Los Angeles.
03:43They have owned all year long.
03:45Oh, yeah.
03:46Won and lost.
03:47Or lost and won the championship with Bushi.
03:50But what about the battles with Wolofsky?
03:53You know, this kid, and he's not a kid anymore.
03:58But Kushida has developed into the legitimate ace of the New Japan Pro Wrestling junior heavyweight division.
04:07And he may have his toughest defense ahead of him right here.
04:20The ace of the junior heavyweight division.
04:24Very cautious today.
04:25Because that young man right there, her own Takahashi and Tetsuya Naito.
04:36Look into the eye for Takahashi.
04:39They defeated Kushida and Tanahashi.
04:43Takahashi pinned Kushida and rode to Tokyo Dome night one in Cork and Hall.
04:48Back on December 16th.
04:49And it was just moments after Kushida had defeated Bushi to regain the IWGP junior heavyweight title
04:58for the fourth time at Congress struggle in Osaka on November 5th.
05:03At the time of the time bomb struck zero.
05:06And the ticking time bomb exploded.
05:12Kushida, the 75th IWGP.
05:15Oh!
05:15And the unpredictable nature of Takahashi.
05:23Was he going to start slow?
05:25Was he going to start hot?
05:28Very unpredictable.
05:30But Kushida's running.
05:34Kushida got back on his feet.
05:36Takahashi was taking his time.
05:39And Kushida made a pick for it.
05:41And now Kushida applied!
05:44Right in front of the Lord of the junior heavyweights.
05:47Shushan Thunder Liger!
05:51And now the match has started officially.
05:53Look at the replay.
05:54Jumping halfway across the ring onto the floor.
06:01So it is Kushida defending the IWGP junior heavyweight championship against Hiromu Takahashi.
06:07Referee Marty Asami, third man in the ring.
06:12Quick shot of our Japanese broadcast partners.
06:15We thank you for joining us here on njpwworld.com.
06:20Right down on the arm.
06:22That's the strategy of Kushida.
06:23Work on that left arm.
06:26Get that hoverboard lock on.
06:28He doesn't get paid by the hour.
06:30As all championship matches are here in New Japan, it is one fall 60-minute time limit.
06:38But this one will not go 60.
06:40There is no way.
06:41With the high-octane offense that both men can deliver.
06:44And here we go.
06:47And going back to the unpredictable nature of Takahashi,
06:51maybe that's playing into Kushida's strategy here.
06:56End this match as quick as possible.
06:57Try to get that submission victory.
06:58Try to get this first defense done.
07:02Because you don't know how dangerous this kid is.
07:06Mexico changes a man.
07:08Look what it did for Naito.
07:10When Takahashi began his excursion journey,
07:15Europe, Mexico, it was Mexico where he transformed.
07:18Where he grew out of his, you know, young lion shell.
07:23And became the athlete that, as you mentioned, became Kimatachi.
07:27But now is the ticking time bomb fighting under his own name.
07:32That world of experience.
07:34But Kushida is carrying the fight here.
07:36And Steve, I think you're exactly right.
07:38Kushida knows he's got to put Takahashi away quick and get on to business.
07:43Yeah, because this is not the same guy that left Japan a few years ago.
07:50Oh, sunset bomb.
07:52Got him!
07:53Got him!
07:54Kushida tried to hold on.
07:56The momentum and strength that Takahashi pulled him down.
08:06The explosive nature of Takahashi so quick.
08:14Very cocky here.
08:16And they are attending to Kushida.
08:22And referee Marty Asami is going to have a decision to make.
08:25Will he stop the match?
08:27Has he gotten enough information from Kushida
08:30to determine whether or not he could safely continue in this match?
08:35In spite of the fact that he just got sunset bombed onto the floor,
08:38there is a possibility that Marty Asami will let this match continue.
08:42But we could just as easily have a stoppage.
08:46And Hiromu Takahashi will become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
08:51And I think what he wants to make sure is that, you know,
08:54there's not a concussion.
08:55You see the doctor at ringside here.
08:57The back of the head, we can't see it from our monitor.
09:00Hopefully we'll get a replay out of this.
09:02He came down so violently, maybe on the back of his head.
09:06We worry about concussions.
09:07This doctor has been around since I've been here.
09:10I've been here 16 years.
09:12And no better ring doc.
09:14What guts.
09:15Just to be able to pull himself back in.
09:19That's the pride.
09:20That's the fighting pride.
09:22These warriors here in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
09:29My gosh, he's saying he's not done.
09:30Just disrespected Machampo.
09:36And now in the LIJ group.
09:46Under the leadership of Naito.
09:48Before learning.
09:50Under the learning tree of Christopher Daniels.
09:52Right to the back of the head there.
10:02Here's the cover.
10:04Count of two.
10:05Very cocky cover.
10:10Fighting under his former moniker, Okanitachi.
10:13Really made a name for himself with the New Japan officials.
10:17Realizing he was ready to come back from excursion when he competed last year in Fantastica Mania.
10:24And his memorable matchup with Dragon Lee at Corican Hall is certainly one that all fans of New Japan and CMLL will never forget.
10:34Caught.
10:35Caught.
10:36Oh.
10:37Driven face first.
10:39Violently.
10:41But then it was determined that the final step in excursion for then-Kamitachi would be to compete in Ring of Honor.
10:53Mexico changes the man, I think.
10:56New Japan office should rethink about sending these guys to Mexico.
10:59Well, again, the three-company partnership between New Japan, CMLL, and Ring of Honor will continue.
11:07And you've been to Mexico before.
11:09Just once.
11:18Nice!
11:18Cushida trying to gain his wits.
11:30Well, you know, it's great.
11:31A great...
11:33Marty Asami doesn't get enough credit as a referee, but I thought he did a great job earlier on, Steve.
11:37He could have very easily just...
11:38Reaction.
11:39Just stop the match.
11:40But he really took his time to determine whether or not Cushida was fit to continue.
11:46I'm not complimenting him.
11:47I'm a little mad at him.
11:48Yes.
11:51Caught him.
11:51Caught to him by Tajiri.
11:53Now he's caught his wits.
11:55He's going after him.
11:56Could it be?
11:57Hoverboard lock.
11:58He's got it.
11:58He's got the left arm trap.
12:01But Hiromu breaks the grip.
12:03Oh, look at this.
12:05Following it up.
12:07German suplex.
12:08Once again, landing on the back of his head.
12:11Now, Marty, I believe Marty's got to get in there and see if...
12:16There he is.
12:17See if Cushida can continue.
12:19You've got to watch out for all this.
12:26That's why I believe the 20 count is so important on the outside.
12:29To give these athletes a chance to regain their composure.
12:33Sometimes 10 is not enough.
12:3420.
12:36You can see where they're at.
12:38Fighting spirit can only take you so far.
12:42Brain starts swelling.
12:43You start...
12:45You know, the heart starts racing.
12:47That anxiety gets up.
12:49Oh, and now Takahashi...
12:50I wondered if he was going to let Cushida get back to his feet.
12:53He does.
12:55Oh!
12:57Thank goodness Cushida had the wits to hold on.
13:02Takahashi may have been thinking about trying to pull Cushida all the way out to the floor.
13:05Oh, he was definitely trying to.
13:09But now he got him to the floor, but I don't think of the way that he wanted to.
13:12Oh, no.
13:13This is so dangerous.
13:15My God!
13:16Did you hear that?
13:19Sacrificing his own body.
13:22Jumping Senton from the top turnbuckle to the outside of the floor.
13:26Look at that.
13:27Nails Cushida.
13:28Cushida takes the broad of it, but...
13:32Oh, Takahashi violently down.
13:35You see it took a toll on him.
13:38Maybe hit the left elbow.
13:40Could have knocked the wind out of himself.
13:44This is what the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship means to these guys.
13:52And now, Marty Asami begins the count.
13:55Pull!
13:58Back into the ring to break the count.
14:07But Takahashi going back upstairs again.
14:10Cushida somehow getting back on his feet.
14:12No problem.
14:13Knee drop from the top.
14:14Two.
14:15No.
14:19These are our seventh of ten matches.
14:23Our fifth of eight title matches.
14:25This amazing, amazing card.
14:28All titles have changed so far.
14:32Yeah, you talked about the percentages of titles that have changed hands in 25 previous January 4th events.
14:39We're breaking the bell curve here tonight.
14:41Absolutely.
14:41It started with 44%.
14:43Now it's up to 46%.
14:45Maybe a little more now.
14:49Both men are down.
14:52Both men need to regain their strength.
14:55Create some space.
14:56And that's what Cushida's doing.
14:58Cushida, the more experienced of the two athletes.
15:02Precious time here.
15:06Precious time here.
15:10I'm going to get that tank full of energy a little bit more.
15:16Trying to have a look at Cushida's eyes.
15:19Sunset bomb second time.
15:26Oh, what a counter.
15:29Self-preservation and athleticism all wrapped up into one.
15:33But watch out.
15:34The ticking time bomb.
15:35Oh, he called him.
15:36Oh, he gets a hole breaker.
15:39Unbelievable.
15:42He's not going for the win.
15:43He's going to break this kid's arm.
15:49He's risking disqualification here.
15:52Yeah, that's exactly what Marty's telling him.
15:59Cushida does not care.
16:00This has gone from competition to hatred very quickly.
16:04Listen to him scream.
16:08He's got a...
16:09Marty counting the bell valve.
16:15Cushida's got to be risking disqualification here.
16:22Now, instead of perhaps picking up the count out win,
16:24he rolls it back in, Steve.
16:27Turnabout is fair play.
16:32Cushida's angry.
16:33He has absorbed so much punishment.
16:36But he dished out a ton of it right there.
16:40Perhaps could have just walked away with a count out win
16:43and still the championship.
16:45But wants to make Takahashi submit.
16:48Oh, I don't think I've ever seen this side of Cushida before.
17:05Oh, I don't think I've ever seen this side of Cushida before.
17:05That left hand, I caught him in the ear.
17:19Back to the left arm.
17:21Ouch.
17:27Akashita, the young veteran.
17:29Ow!
17:31Hyper-extending the elbow with the boot.
17:34To the hoverboard lock.
17:36Got him.
17:37Right in the middle.
17:38Yeah, I was just going to ask you, Steve.
17:40How close is Takahashi to the ropes?
17:46He pulls on it.
17:48Takahashi's going to be in trouble.
17:49He's in trouble now.
17:52Takahashi can't prevent the offer going.
17:54There it is.
17:55Full application of the hoverboard lock.
18:03Takahashi's showing his toughness.
18:05He's refusing to tap out.
18:07Oh, my goodness.
18:08Oh, Akashita's going to step that off.
18:10Look at that.
18:10This is...
18:12Listen to this crowd surprise.
18:15Look at him.
18:16Look at him.
18:17Look at him.
18:19Pulling on it.
18:26So far away from the ropes, though.
18:30Akashita trying to change his weight distribution to get it back into the middle.
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