Hiromu Takahashi did the impossible, and for the third year in a row – has won the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. Now, he will look to once again claim the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, currently held by one of his toughest rivals. Taiji Ishimori claimed the belt just before the tournament began, and would only lose three matches during the tournament – against Ace Austin, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and Hiromu Takahashi. With his back against the wall here tonight, Ishimori will look to do everything in his power to keep the belt within BULLET CLUB.
Taiji Ishimori Looks To Destroy The Shoulder Of Takahashi
They’d lock up hard to start the match, with Ishimori forcing Takahashi into a corner. Clean break was allowed, before Ishimori would hit a chop on the ropes. Sliding German Suplex was set up, but Ishimori avoided before missing the shotgun dropkick.
Ishimori would catch Takahashi as he tried to leave the ring, and hit the arm breaker on the floor. In the ring, he’d remove a corner pad, before bending the arm of Takahashi around the ring post. A steel chair added even more damage, after Ishimori used the bell hammer to distract the referee.
With the shoulder already in serious pain, Ishimori would move to the neck – hitting the neck snap in the middle of the ring. Ishimori would go for the armbar, but ended up with a side triangle choke instead. Takahashi got the bottom rope, before applying a choke over the top rope. A quick lariat and basement dropkick would follow, before a shotgun dropkick off the apron.
Back in the ring, Takahashi would hit the Falcon Arrow, but only got a two count. Ishimori would set up and nail the Sliding German Suplex, before blocking the Sunset Flip Bomb, driving Takahashi shoulder first into the ring post. Keeping the pressure on Takahashi, Ishimori would hit the moonsault to the floor, crashing down onto the challenger.
Takahashi would look to apply the D in the ring, but was blocked into a powerbomb. Ishimori would take a shotgun dropkick soon after, but shot back with the Canadian Destroyer. Takahashi remained on his feet, and hit a Belly to Belly Suplex into the corner.
Hiromu Takahashi Doesn’t Give Up Easily
Both men took time to recover after this hectic sequence, before trading forearm blows in the middle of the ring. Takahashi would fire up and hit the Victory Royale, but only got a two count. Ishimori would respond by tossing Takahashi into the ring post, injured shoulder first.
Shoulder Buster would be followed by La Mistica, with Ishimori moving into the Bone Lock. Takahashi blocked into a pinfall, but barely got two. Ishimori would hit La Mistica into the Yes! Lock, with Takahashi fighting to reach the bottom rope.
Cradle Piledriver on the apron would see Takahashi got spiked on his head. Bloody Cross in the ring would somehow just get a two count, with Takahashi showing his insane pain tolerance. D would be applied, before Takahashi nailed Time Bomb for a near fall. Time Bomb II would be blocked into Bone Lock, but Ishimori felt Takahashi slipping away.
A Bloody Cross was attempted, but Takahashi blocked into a Stunner. Jumping knee strike from Ishimori was met with a superkick, before a series of Stunners. Time Bomb II would be attempted, but Ishimori would fight before getting on the top rope. Dragon Sleeper was applied, before a super Bloody Sunday. Bloody Cross would follow, and Ishimori remains champion.
KUSHIDA Is BACK!
Following the match, we’d get a massive return. While Ishimori claimed there was no more challengers? Former ace of the Junior Heavyweight division KUSHIDA is BACK! After a failed run in WWE, he’s back in NJPW, and has his eyes on the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. He reminded fans who he was, and made it clear he wants the next shot.
Ishimori would claim that you can’t just show up and demand a title shot, and that KUSHIDA will need to earn his way back to the top of the division. Will KUSHIDA take the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship off Taiji Ishimori? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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