Skip to playerSkip to main content
njpw fan
  • 2 days ago
Transcript
00:00Well now we'll turn our attention to the eagerly anticipated IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
00:11bout which on paper Chris I think there is a great sense of anticipation for this because
00:21of how evenly matched these two men are. They're incredible submission games and the fact that
00:29this could come down really to the it's a coin toss to pick a winner. It's a game of human
00:35chess to borrow the old adage and one where one slightest mistake will determine this one.
00:42It's going to be an incredible match for Taiji Ishimori. The challenger made his Bullet Club
00:49induction in 2018 and since then he's achieved what nobody on this roster has. Every single
00:58dome class event, Tokyo Dome, Meiji Stindium, MetLife Dome and now the Peipei Dome has had
01:05Ishimori in a championship match whether it's for singles or tag team gold and now Taiji Ishimori
01:12wants to claim another IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship reign here tonight in Fukuoka.
01:19And Chris Samson at the Chris Samson on Twitter tweeting out Bullet Club things happen at DonTaku. We just saw it with the shocking return of Machine Gun Carl Anderson, Duck Gallows. We saw new tag team champions crowned earlier on with Chase Owens and Bad Luck Follie and now the Bone Soldier reborn. This was the city that Taiji Ishimori was born in the world.
01:49He was introduced to New Japan as the newest member of Bullet Club four years ago. I think five years ago and now he's on the doorstep here at Fukuoka of becoming once again the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
02:04And for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship across five
02:22And for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship across five Fukuoka Dome events in DonTaku's past, the IWGP Junior title was only defended once. It was third from the bottom in 1995 and in 2022 it's third from the top.
02:48But El Desperado represents the exact same spirit of both Sabu and Koji Kanemoto from that night in the so-called Junior Heavyweight Golden Age.
02:59He's the marriage of wild and dangerous risk taken with expert science and a mean streak that's a mile wide.
03:07And he's the unlikely protagonist or shall we say anti-hero of this division but does he still leave here with the belt after this third match from the top here tonight.
03:19Again, many will give Hiromu Takahashi credit for raising the level of competition and the marketability of the junior heavyweight division.
03:33But carrying that mantle very strongly is the man who beat Hiromu at Tokyo Dome, at Wrestle Kingdom, in the semi-final spot on January 4th, in Hiromu's own style of match.
03:47That's how great a champion El Desperado is.
03:51And now, one more hurdle in his quest to become, I guess, indirectly, Chris, you said he didn't want to be the face of the division but that's the position that he finds himself in.
04:04That he's grown in so expertly and as you said, getting defeated Hiromu in Hiromu's style of match.
04:10And when he faced Sho, he wrestled a very different style, was fairly dominated by Sho in Ryogoku and that left him with a good deal of arm damage that Ishimori is sure to exploit here tonight.
04:26But Ishimori knows that Desperado is one of the toughest guys in the world to submit or knock out and both will be put to the test here in just a few moments time.
04:40Desperado is one of the best of the Super Junior Tournament.
05:10Sho doing some damage on the front end.
05:13Desperado is less than 100% coming in.
05:15Chris, as you mentioned, arm damage suffered from Sho.
05:19And there might be nobody better to look to pick that body apart than the master of both the S-lock and the Bone Lock, Taiji Ishimori.
05:30Sho really forced Desperado out of his game plan.
05:33And he wasn't wrestling like he had been in his past more successful encounters, including when he faced Kazuchika Okada in the first round of the New Japan Cup.
05:44If Desperado is not on his game here tonight, Kevin, then we've got a new champion.
05:48I think there's no doubt about that.
05:51And as we said, it's going to be the first slight minuscule slip that's going to decide this one with two wrestlers who are essentially all but flawless.
06:00And less than 10 seconds in, Ishimori already grabbing a hold of that left arm in the wrist lock.
06:09And Desperado can certainly wrestle his way out of predicaments as we see there.
06:14And we cannot discount the submission prowess of Desperado as well, who in all phases of the game checks all the boxes as the arm is lurched out of socket in an attempt to stretch those ligaments in the reverse now.
06:34Ishimori hangs on, will use his speed here to gain an advantage and does so.
06:40And standing senton, the bombs away, no, swing and a miss to the eyes.
06:50The announcement earlier on in the field of 20 in this year's Best of Super Junior Tournament.
06:56No matter the field, no matter the entrance, you've always got to look to these two as potential favorites.
07:03And they are in opposite blocks this year.
07:06And Desperado following Ishimori to the outside.
07:15Certainly Desperado got what he wanted when he said that he's trying to prove that this division isn't just Hiromi Takahashi and El Desperado.
07:24And that there's a wealth of phenomenal wrestlers as Desperado dropped throat first.
07:29Yeah, Desperado got dropped across the barricade.
07:34Absolutely no give on the barricade.
07:37And we will see where exactly Hiromi got it.
07:45It was in the throw, it was in the upper chest.
07:46And Ishimori quickly loosening the straps on the blue corner pad.
07:50He'll go ahead and turn it away.
07:52Free the pad from its moorings and that will provide a target.
07:58Ishimori has used that.
07:59Yeah, he did catch him in the throat, Chris.
08:01You're exactly right.
08:02One, two, three.
08:07And every single time Desperado's in that position, he'll think back.
08:12But when he did have his jaw broken at the hands of Jun Kasai, literally, yeah, three years ago, Madman's wrestling Jun Kasai again before Best of the Super Juniors this year.
08:25And Desperado rolling in just enough to break the count, but then staying on the edge of the ring, he needs some time.
08:35But Ishimori will not afford him any time at all before continuing the attack.
08:42So obviously Bullet Club making headlines here tonight.
08:46Machine gun Carl Anderson, Doc Gallows, machine gun going after the new Denver Openweight champion, Tamatanga.
08:53And shoulder first, Chris, driven into the exposed deal.
08:58And that's exactly Ishimori's MO.
09:02Go after the shoulder.
09:04You'll see him perhaps deviate as he works for Bloody Cross.
09:07But the plan here, obviously, just like it was in Sapporo last year in a championship meeting, try and get Desperado to submit to the S-lock or the Bone Lock.
09:23And now, Ishimori going to sling that arm and stretch those ligaments.
09:39The sadistic side of Ishimori comes out in situations like this.
09:44Ishimori, during last year's Best of Super Junior Tournament, wrestled a flawless match in victory over eventual tournament winner Hiromu Takahashi.
09:56And, Chris, it's very much the same formula, what we're seeing here against Desperado.
10:03You can see.
10:06Oh, man, as he transitions into that triangle.
10:09See how committed he is to the grip of Ishimori.
10:15Holding the, not just the wrist, but controlling the fingers.
10:18Putting Desperado in his own butcher's grip there.
10:22There you see it.
10:22That's not Ishimori's hands laced, that Desperado's fingers laced with Ishimori's he can't escape.
10:30Even as he gets to the ropes, he's exactly where Ishimori wants him to be.
10:34Yeah, Ishimori, basically, Desperado was in a situation where he was choking himself out.
10:39And he is able to get to the ropes.
10:41So his throat has been attacked, his shoulder has been attacked, and his championship hangs in peril right now.
10:52Oh, no leverage at all for Desperado on those shots.
11:02And Ishimori able to just swat them away with E, the now looking to target that shoulder again.
11:08Uh-oh, wait a minute.
11:11Oh, there we go.
11:14That's what he needs to do.
11:15Oh, and a drag-and-screw leg whip with Ishimori tied in the ropes.
11:24And now looking for the Indian Deathlock here.
11:28Yes, smart for him.
11:30Not enough torque or strength in the arm for him to look for Numo Dos at this point.
11:35But Indian Deathlock, that's all in the leg strength and the leverage there
11:38that's going to keep Ishimori in place and talking that knee.
11:44And Ishimori trying to fight his way out of it.
11:46And as Desperado falls backwards, that tightens the vice on the legs of the Indian Deathlock.
11:54This move buys Desperado time as well to get some feeling and blood flow back in that shoulder
12:01as Ishimori is looking for an escape in the rope break.
12:04And I doubt Desperado is going to be jumping up and down to get out of this hold.
12:11Marty Asami, the referee, having to pry the legs apart.
12:16Back suplex.
12:17Ishimori is down.
12:22Going for a cover here, but Ishimori able to kick out.
12:25Now targeting the leg, Chris, again.
12:27Oh, it's grinding the shin bone into Ishimori there.
12:37Yeah, that was in between the knee pad and the boot cover, the shin pad,
12:42that protects the kicking legs of Ishimori.
12:47Ishimori.
12:51Ishimori, as we said, made his Bullet Club debut.
13:05In 2018, wow, man.
13:08My God, Chris, that wasn't a sound, that was a feel.
13:12I felt that as Desperado's shoulders crushed into that ring post.
13:17Oh, my God.
13:19Whoa, and look, just talking, even as he picks Desperado up into that shoulder breaker.
13:24Every, oh, and Ishimori, though.
13:27Oh, yeah.
13:28I was going to say every step of that move doing damage to Desperado,
13:32but dropping all that weight across the injured knee hurt him as well.
13:36Oh, my goodness.
13:37And could that be the mistake that determines this man?
13:43Like I said before, he was flawless against Hiromu in victory
13:47during the Best Super Junior Tournament, but that was an unforced error.
13:51Well, it was forced by the work done by Desperado on the leg of Ishimori.
13:56But now we'll see how the Bone Soldier Reborn can recover if he can.
14:00He'll go topside here in that exposed corner,
14:03and Desperado still extremely weakened.
14:06And here we go.
14:07Watch it.
14:08Whoa.
14:10450 missed, and the spear found its mark,
14:14the right shoulder for Desperado working,
14:17while the left is still in a bad, bad way.
14:23Ishimori's leg buckled when he rolled up to his feet on that 450,
14:27and now Guitara de l'Angel this time again countered.
14:32Look at this.
14:33Saipa Utsaki.
14:34Yep.
14:35But again into the knee of Ishimori.
14:38And at this point, a lot of his offense is predicated on his legs,
14:43going for a cover here, trying to end it.
14:47That move right there, that quick cover, Chris,
14:49indicating to me that Ishimori's knee is in a really bad way.
14:53I think you're right there, Kevin.
14:55And that was what determined things back in Sapporo last summer,
15:00the last time they met over the IWGP junior title.
15:03Both men with weakened body parts.
15:20The left shoulder of Desperado, the left knee of Ishimori.
15:25That might seal the deal, but he's unable to execute.
15:36Down, two, not out.
15:39See, after only 10 minutes gone in this match,
15:50just how much damage has been incurred by both of these guys.
15:54Oh, rocket floor.
16:03Oh, rocket knee.
16:04Jeez.
16:06Blasted him.
16:09Still got some lifted drive in that left leg.
16:12Here we go.
16:13Buddy cross.
16:14Buddy cross.
16:14No.
16:14That might have been that same right hand
16:25that he felt from June Kasai
16:27that broke his jaw a few years ago.
16:33Desperado using it,
16:36bashing his right hand into the face of his challenger.
16:44Kinchiloko, let's see if he can hit it.
16:53No.
16:54Now La Mistica.
16:56Oh, man.
16:58And the Yes Lock is there.
17:00That's...
17:01Ishimori's going to win.
17:06That La Mistica.
17:09You hit that, forget it.
17:12And now the Yes Lock.
17:13Ishimori's going to look to reposition,
17:15roll back through.
17:17No.
17:17Bloody cross.
17:18Going to bloody cross here.
17:19Bloody cross.
17:24Now which way, Pinchy?
17:27No.
17:27Again, another reversal.
17:29But a roll through.
17:30The counter, too.
17:31Oh, it's so close.
17:32Oh, it's a...
17:33It's that stretch, Mupply.
17:35If he can get the arms,
17:36it'll be numerous.
17:37Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
17:41Ishimori had the match in his hand.
17:44Victory was forthcoming in the Yes Lock.
17:48Went for bloody cross.
17:50Despy made a pay for it.
17:51Now he rolls.
17:52Ishimori back.
17:53Wait a minute.
17:53No.
17:54Counters out.
17:55No, no, no, no, no, no.
17:57No, no, no.
18:00No.
18:04Trapped again.
18:05Defense.
18:06Oh, what defense by Desperado.
18:09Give him up.
18:11But Ishimori tried desperately to prevent himself from being turned over,
18:16trying to stop,
18:17trying not to give Despy his arms,
18:19but he's lost one.
18:20Now he's lost both.
18:21Despy rolling through.
18:22got it doesn't have it 100% yes you might got free and not all my god but
18:46the core strength of Ishimori and now he's got almost like a Cobra twist on
18:51Desperado like a flying man she applied desperate trying to walk all of that
18:59rage somewhere keeps the hole doesn't let go
19:08oh my god right down two and oh it's still not enough to get a victory
19:15what toughness by Ishimori but what presence of mind
19:21and athletic skills the junior heavyweight champion
19:28pinche loco pinche loco
19:40keep the arms butterfly wait a minute he's gonna go for it
19:48one pinche loco not enough for Despy went for two countered now into the bone lock
20:00rolling back just like in the best of Super Junior tournament last year
20:08just like in the best of Super Junior tournament last year just like how Ishimori won before in Desperado Tops
20:16we've got a new junior heavyweight champion a magical night for bullet club here in
20:24ishimori is the new
20:44to be the best you've got to beat the best and taiji ishimori just beat the best
21:10it wasn't a match about creating a weakness in their opponent it was about exploiting hubris
21:19and ishimori did just that desperado lost the junior heavyweight championship here tonight
21:25the same way he lost against kazuchiko okada in the nippon budokan he had pincei loco but he wanted
21:32that emphatic statement he wanted the second he will forever rue what might have been had he just
21:39gone for that pin but the fact is he did not and the fact is that ishimori submitted the champion
21:45to capture the gold for the third time and just to play devil's advocate though chris i have i have
21:51a wonder if whether desperado trusted pincei loco enough to keep an athlete the toughness and skill
21:59of ishimori down i think he needed that assurance that insurance policy that second pincei loco for
22:06confidence that he could keep ishimori down but we'll never know because ishimori had the counter
22:11and once he got the bone lock applied that was it the back and forth the ebb of the flow
22:19and that's a champion celebrating victory that's how much that personally means to taiji ishimori
22:25so taiji ishimori now chris will head into the best of super junior tournament
22:32as the iwtp junior heavyweight champion that'll put a huge target on his back heading into the
22:42tournament
Be the first to comment
Add your comment