00:30She's built her reputation on tenacity, fundamental wrestling and proving people wrong.
00:37This match today is a big opportunity for her to make a statement in singles competition.
00:44Going up against the caliber of Mai Sakurai in this singles match.
00:50And she's not a world-beater, but somebody who can surprise you, now Ishikawa.
00:54In the green corner, the new heroine of the 100-man-goku, 158-56kg, number 70, Ishikawa Nao.
01:04Back number 17, Nao Ishikawa.
01:09She defeated her former partner Hummingbird with the horizontal cradle just on Saturday.
01:14So she's going to look to pick up another win tonight and keep it going.
01:24I, Kifujin Sakurai, steps in with Paul.
01:46Kifujin Sakurai, steps in with poise and confidence.
01:56She's elegant, high class in her presence.
02:00But don't let that fool you, she fights with real grit.
02:04And she had success with Julia and Tekla way before joining Marigold.
02:10But since arriving on Marigold, she has sharpened her game beyond words.
02:14Anashio Yobuchou Kifujin, 164cm, 56kg.
02:18Se番号 8, Sakurai Maai.
02:22Back number 8, the lady of the ring, Mai Sakurai.
02:27As our United National Champion, she had six successful title defenses.
02:31Dreams of becoming double champion.
02:33She put up a hell of a fight at Grand Destiny, but it just wasn't her night.
02:37Mai Sakurai has been out of action with a hand injury since losing that United National title to Victoria Yuzuki on October 26th at Ryogoku.
02:46Sakurai says she's ready for this return and is not dwelling on the past in that title loss.
02:51She's looking ahead with goals in mind.
02:53Well that's the difference now, you're right Sonny, between the now Mai Sakurai and last year's Mai Sakurai.
02:59She is able to take any problems, any hiccups and put them right behind her and keep her forward momentum, her goal in mind.
03:09I thought we were going to see a sign of respect, but that was no respect.
03:13German suplex, before the bell landed, going plural with them here, straight off the bat.
03:19Now Ishikawa, here to take no prisoners.
03:23One, two, nearly got her.
03:28What a start to this.
03:30Nice Akurai putting her right into the SCF node.
03:37Oh, she slipped out the back door.
03:39Here we come, now Ishikawa.
03:43With a different expression on her face tonight.
03:45Yeah, well Stu, you know as well as I do, losing a title lights a fire in you sometimes.
03:52And you can see that fire in the eyes of the former champ as she goes to work on now Ishikawa.
03:58The head full of steam into the ropes and boom, nope, nobody at home.
04:06And now Ishikawa with the fingers.
04:09Going to work on that hand.
04:11Oh, she's biting her hands.
04:13And whatever it takes to win, right?
04:16Well, she knows there's a weakness right there.
04:19Sakurai was out for the past month with that hand injury.
04:23That's a good point, Sonny.
04:25Now Ishikawa, not afraid to take advantage of your weakness.
04:30Double foot stomp.
04:35With a head full of hair, just throws her and drapes her over the rope.
04:38Some lace wash kicks.
04:39This is what I'm saying.
04:41And when the switch gets flicked on my Sakurai, there's a different version comes out of her.
04:51Sends Ishikawa to the outside.
04:53Yep, tumbling straight on to the outside.
04:56That's what Ishikawa has to do.
04:58She wants to stay in this against the former United National Champs.
05:01She's got to be smart.
05:02Smart over to roll out to the outside of the ring and catch her breath.
05:05And now it's just elbows.
05:06These two faced only once outside of Marigo, way back at Ice Ribbon, five years ago, to the month.
05:16Now was teaming with Miku Auna that day.
05:18Mai was teaming with Maya Yukihi.
05:23With all that water under the bridge.
05:25Yeah, those elbows were up close and personal.
05:27So they're going to get to know each other here tonight.
05:32Now's first real clash with Mai was August of last year for the Twin Star titles.
05:39Now, of course, with Mai Takahashi.
05:43Mai and Mirai, the inaugural champions at the time.
05:47Sekurai clearing out the area.
05:49Yeah, she's holding that hand though, Sonny.
05:51That injured hand that Naoi Ishikawa was biting.
05:56So we'll see.
05:57Oh!
06:00Into the front row of the south stand here at Korakuen Hall.
06:04We've only had one singles match before October of last year out in Hanamatsu.
06:09The chairs are now in play.
06:11That's a different side of Mai Sakurai we're seeing here tonight.
06:14Smile of Sakurai to take it to the outside because this isn't territory that Ishikawa is used to.
06:29Ishikawa is usually fighting against the younger wrestlers on the roster.
06:33And they're not taking it to the outside.
06:34So Mai Sakurai taking it to the outside.
06:36But look here, she's going to attack on that hand once again, Tom.
06:39Yeah.
06:41It's a smart game plan by Ishikawa.
06:44Uh-oh.
06:46What's this?
06:47Oh!
06:49Face fast into the chairs.
06:51That's sometimes what you have to do.
06:53You have to channel that energy.
06:54You have to use every part of the arena to your advantage.
06:5714.
06:58As we're on the international 20 count.
07:01And the ref has just signaled 15.
07:02I think this may be it.
07:0516.
07:07Now Ishikawa looking to climb in the singles ranks here today.
07:10This could be a defining moment for her.
07:13Absolutely.
07:14Looking to prove herself to break out of the middle of the pack in Marigold.
07:17and Mari goes she picks up win after win against the younger wrestlers but she needs a big win
07:22against someone the caliber of Mai Sakurai yeah she's so resilient and she's been an underdog for
07:27so long but hard working with it very difficult to get inside the head of someone like Mai Sakurai
07:35though palm strike to the jaw that one brought everybody to their feet you could feel that one
07:46in the first row we're seeing what now Ishikawa is made of because Mai Sakurai is taking things to
07:52another level here she's going to go for the cover here she wants to do more damage Sakurai off the ropes
08:06now catches her on the way in on the shoulders one two
08:12great looking technique there from now Ishikawa nice kick by Sakurai
08:22arms hooked
08:26this is the fire we love to see from now
08:36absolutely she is stepping up to the plate Mai Sakurai has fought some of the biggest matches in Mario
08:54matches in Mario's history and now Ishikawa is hanging right there with her toe-to-toe
09:02oh no this is looking bad for Ishikawa but immediately scouts it and counters it going right back to work on that hand
09:10having none of that STF now Ishikawa now Ishikawa doing her homework you never see anyone escape the STF and she's escaped it twice in this match and now she's on the attack now you're trying to get some
09:22some extension on the left arm oh my she takes away the grip strength
09:28fans she can absolutely take away the best move in
09:32from my Sakurai's arsenal that STF
09:38and now Ishikawa picks up Mai
09:40wanted the suplex
09:42couldn't get it
09:44nice awareness from now Ishikawa
09:48uh oh
09:52here we go
09:54blade runner
09:55she's got to get the pin
09:56one
09:57two
09:58now she waited just half a second too long and now for the submission
10:02transition
10:03boom
10:04arms locked in
10:05that looks nasty
10:08how does she get out of this dude
10:10she's got to hustle
10:12she's got to dig deep and try and drag herself through the bottom ropes
10:16you know she's not going to give up
10:18you know she's not going to top out
10:22now Ishikawa with nothing to lose
10:24oh she's tearing that tape off of the hand of Mai Sakurai
10:29oh this is just nasty how she's pulling those fingers apart
10:34this is the side of now Ishikawa we've been waiting for
10:40it's coming out here tonight at Korakuren Hall
10:44on the neck
10:51and she drops
10:56almost a double knock out there
10:59referee is checking on both competitors here to see
11:02oh we're on the count
11:07someone's got to answer it
11:09three
11:10four
11:13four
11:14four
11:15nine
11:17Mai Sakurai has found herself being pushed
11:19a little bit harder than she imagined here today
11:23seven
11:25eight
11:28this is getting dangerously close
11:31they finally
11:33answer that
11:34ten count
11:39that look on now Ishikawa's face says it
11:42anything you can do I can do better
11:47big forearm shots
11:49look in her eyes
11:51now Ishikawa a different version we have seen of her tonight
11:54and the one in a million new heroine step up her game against Kifu-jin
12:04oh
12:08holy
12:10oh
12:12vicious
12:13my goodness
12:15and rather than go for the pin she says get up
12:18get up Ishikawa
12:20oh
12:21catches the kick
12:22oh Ishikawa looking for that double underhook
12:24Underhook, Sikai Beast Buster!
12:27One, two, looking for the big win!
12:30Sakurai says nope.
12:37Oh, flying!
12:40Just as the energy had shifted in the match,
12:42my Sakurai right back in it, and oh!
12:45I got one!
12:47No, look at this!
12:48Immediate kick out from Nali Shikawa.
12:51Caught her!
12:55This could be it!
12:58Ishikawa able to escape out the back door.
13:01What's it going to take to put her away?
13:03Still going to show her up.
13:06Caliber fight in Ishikawa here tonight.
13:10Sakurai now with the snap suplex.
13:12Setting her up.
13:14She hasn't gone back to that STF though.
13:17She's got to wonder if her hand, how's her hand?
13:19And she goes up to the top.
13:21From the sixth floor.
13:23My Sakurai!
13:25Monstrous elbow drop!
13:27And it's a...no!
13:29Two rounds at the referee.
13:32That was only two, she says.
13:34She said okay.
13:36I've got more where that came from.
13:38Chance of Ishikawa here.
13:44Blocked!
13:46Shoulders down!
13:48She blocked the STK!
13:50Everybody thought that was about to end.
13:52Ishikawa countering machine tonight.
13:56Sakurai with a butt saw kick.
13:58The one.
13:59The two.
14:00Still doesn't get to three.
14:01Ishikawa did her homework.
14:02She is countering all of my Sakurai's big moves.
14:04She is pushing Mai further than she has ever done before.
14:08And it is STK!
14:10On straight.
14:11Into the STF.
14:12Here we go.
14:13Can't she lock it in properly?
14:14And hold on to it with that injured hand.
14:16You can see it's taking everything she's got.
Be the first to comment