Ahead of YOH matching up with Yoshinobu Kanemaru on May 21st, they will open up tonight’s show in a tag team match. YOH has the decorated NJPW heavyweight in Hiroyoshi Tenzan, while Kanemaru brings Suzuki-gun stalwart TAKA Michinoku. Kanemaru had issues with the unfamiliar foes in Alex Zayne & Ace Austin – but YOH is familiar territory for him.
YOH Pins The Legendary TAKA Michinoku
Kanemaru would attack YOH from behind to start this match, before taking an arm drag and basement dropkick. Tenzan would come in and nail a headbutt, before calling for and successfully hitting the brainbuster. Kanemaru & Michinoku would work together to break the legend down, some blatant chokes and other fouls used along the way.
Tenzan struck back with Mountain Bomb, before YOH hit a diving lariat across the ring. A blindside shot would follow, before Kanemaru hit a basement dropkick. Michinoku came in to apply that JUST Face Lock, before a series of knee strikes for a near fall.
Tenzan helped to save YOH, before Drop The Needle would allow him to pin TAKA Michinoku. Kanemaru would hit a kick to the gut before heading to the back, and they meet again on the 21st.
Fear The Ankle Lock Of Ryusuke Taguchi
Alex Zayne, Ryusuke Taguchi, & Clark Connors tournaments already tell very different stories, with Zayne being at 4 points with Taguchi & Connors lag at 0 points. Tonight, Zayne & Connors prepare for their next matches, against Taiji Ishimori & SHO respectively, in an eight man tag. Joining them is Jado, while Ishimori & SHO have Gedo & Dick Togo.
Zayne had his elbow wrapped coming into this match, showing some lingering damage from his recent match against SHO. He’d still be able to take Ishimori down, before hitting a running Sky Twister Press. On the floor, that bandaged arm was attacked, while Gedo & Dick Togo stomped on Jado in the ring.
Dick Togo hit the running fist drop, before SHO would work away on Jado – who hulked up for a lariat and tag to Connors. SHO was run down with a heavy shoulder tackle, before the Extinction Elbow and the spear landed. Connors would get a two count, before SHO got a spear of his own.
Gedo & Taguchi hit the ring, and Taguchi missed the hip attack. Ankle Lock would get applied moments later, with Gedo unable to counter out or grab the ropes – and Gedo tapped out.
Ace Austin Gets His First Taste Of Los Ingobernables de Japon
Ace Austin & Hiromu Takahashi have both been on a roll, but one of them will taste defeat on May 21st when they meet in the semi-main event. Tonight, they meet in a tag team match – with Austin bringing Tiger Mask, and Hiromu bringing former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion – Shingo Takagi.
Tiger Mask would be taken into the L.I.J corner and had his legs cracked with the wishbone. A double shoulder tackle would follow, before Hiromu nailed a basement dropkick. Tiger Mask would take a vertical suplex from Shingo, but did not stay down for a three count.
Tiger Driver would follow, Shingo being dropped on his neck. Austin & Hiromu got tags, with Austin able to hit a leg drop to the neck, before Hiromu rolled to the floor. The PK off the apron and Space Flying Tiger Drop would follow, before a double springboard kick was blocked into the thrust kick. Hiromu hit the Pop Up Powerbomb, and Austin hit the Skull Kick.
Shingo would almost get pinned by Tiger Mask, before ending up in a kneebar. Sliding lariat and Noshigami would be the response from Shingo, but Austin would save the match. Pumping Bomber would land on Tiger Mask, and Hiromu held Austin back – meaning he took his first loss of the tour.
Can Ace Austin beat Hiromu Takahashi? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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