Alex Coughlin is working to move past his young lion status, much like Clark Connors & Karl Fredericks before him. He’s the final student of Shibatas class to not take that next step, and tonight he faces the first who did in Fredericks. This should be a nice clean fight, but Fredericks has never lost a one on one match to Coughlin.
A Firey Start To This Show
The bell would ring, and this match would get started. They’d pace around the ring before locking up, neither man wanting to make the first mistake. When you know someone so well, it’s easy to get overly scientific with a match, but Coughlin would resist those urges and throw the first big forearm. They’d trade blows in the middle of the ring, before Coughlin hit the ropes to charge Fredericks down with a shoulder tackle.
Fredericks came back with a high crossbody block and a shoulder tackle of his own, getting a one count. A major scoop slam and a jumping stomp followed, but Coughlin would get back up to fight back. He’d take a knee to the midsection in response, before some hard kicks to the back. The crowd was chanting for more, and Fredericks kicked away before getting a two count.
However, Coughlin was looking fired up, and would nail a leaping shoulder tackle to drop Fredericks. He’d take his rival into the corner for some big overhead chops, and when Fredericks got free and attempted a stinger splash? Coughlin caught and threw him with a big suplex. He’d roll Fredericks into his shoulders and nail a huge gutbuster, and follow up with a Gutwrench Suplex for a two count.
Karl Fredericks Shows Why He’s The Alpha
Fredericks would rally back and nail the stinger splash, before emulating Shibata with some downward forearm shots to set up the big hesitation dropkick. He’d follow up with a big backdrop, before a jumping elbow drop for a two count. Coughlin was sent off the ropes and right into a spinebuster, before Fredericks applied a modified version of the STF. He’d refuse to quit, and manage to get the bottom rope.
Back to his feet, he’d nail a loud chop before taking a backbreaker from Fredericks. However, Coughlin ended up in the perfect position to turn it into a backdrop, helping him maintain control before hitting a Fallaway Suplex for a two count. Next he uncorked a lariat that’d make Stan Hansen blush, but again only was able to find two.
Fredericks came back with a huge slap to the face, before brutalizing Coughlin with some knee strikes. Coughlin would work him up into a suplex, but Fredericks countered out, hit a backbreaker and an implant DDT for the win.
A great opening match, with some flash but mostly a lot of substance. Fredericks isn’t that far ahead of Coughlin, and they used the Young Lion formula, but were able to mix in some impressive moves. You can see the influence of Shibata in both men, and they are future stars for sure. Match Rating: 3/5 (***)
Will Alex Coughlin soon graduate from Young Lion status? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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