When the participants of the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship tournament were announced, KUSHIDA was the instant favorite. Having great experience with the round robin format being a former winner of Best Of Super Juniors with New Japan Pro Wrestling. His biggest test in the A-Block was former champion Tony Nese, who he had a chance to take out very early. Nese would be no slouch however, having been consistently one of the best wrestlers in the Cruiserweight division. Who would win in their first time clash?
KUSHIDA & Nese Prove They Are The Cream Of The Crop
Things would start with Nese showing of his superior strength as he threw KUSHIDA aside before taking him to the mat. This was a mistake as KUSHIDA would be able to show he can wrestle circles around Nese from a technical perspective. Nese would attempt to get a submission of his own, but would consistently be countered. Realizing this was not working out, Nese would uncork a big right hand and make things more physical, following it up with a stungun over the top rope, reminisent of Macho Man.
This would take the match to the outside, with Nese brawling on the outside and sending KUSHIDA through the barricade. KUSHIDA would withstand this assault, and come back with a chop off the top rope to regain some control in this match. He would then go for the handspring back elbow, but Nese had this scouted as he would go prone to trip KUSHIDA before pulling him back outside, tossing him into the barricade.
Back in the ring, Nese would target the hurt ribs with a tight bodyscissors, with KUSHIDA fighting out with chops before going for some ground and pound. They would exchange some shots with KUSHIDA throwing Nese over the top rope, only to again be sent throat first over the top rope. Nese took this chance to go for his triangle springboard moonsault, which was dodged. The handspring back elbow would finally connect, and would be followed with the hip toss into a cartwheel dropkick combo. KUSHIDA was on a roll, hit the straight right hand, and would follow up with some kicks to the arm.
Victory Was Certain
Nese was not ready to give up, and would negotiate himself into the position for a Pumphandle Slam, only for KUSHIDA to snatch the left arm into the Sakuraba Lock, but Nese would be able to counter out with a Northern Lights Suplex. He would follow this up by going to the top rope, only to be hit with a kick to the head, but he would push KUSHIDA away and hit a 450 Splash for a very close near fall.
Fatigue was clear, and Nese would go for the Running Nese, but KUSHIDA channeled the spirit of Jushin “Thunder” Liger to hit series of wicked Shoteis. Nese would play possum as KUSHIDA went up top, hitting a palm strike of his own. They would battle for control on the top rope, before KUSHIDA brought them down to the map while applying the Sakuraba Lock, which would get him the submission victory. This match was absolutely fantastic.
With this victory, KUSHIDA is now tied for the top of the A-Block alongside Jake Atlas. Tony Nese & Drake Maverick are tied at the bottom, but the tournament is still young. Do you think KUSHIDA will be able to win it all? Can Nese make a come back? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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