EVIL was someone no-one wanted to see in the field for the NJPW World Television Championship tournament, but he’d cheat his way into the second round when he defeated Aaron Henare. Tonight, that dirty victory will just ensure the crowd is even more behind perpetual underdog YOSHI-HASHI – who also slipped past the first round, but didn’t cheat in his victory over Jeff Cobb.
Instead, YOSHI-HASHI just used his high in-ring IQ and a well timed cradle pinfall. YOSHI-HASHI has never held singles gold in NJPW, and that could well change with this tournament – but only if he can vanquish EVIL tonight.
House of Torture Exploits Their Numbers Edge
With Dick Togo in his corner, EVIL would once again look to exploit the numbers to push closer to the Tokyo Dome. YOSHI-HASHI did not bring his tag team partner Hirooki Goto to assist in taking Togo out, for reasons unknown to everyone. EVIL would send YOSHI-HASHI off the ropes, only to be dropped with a shoulder tackle and back elbow smash.
A running chop to the throat would follow, with YOSHI-HASHI taking pointers from CHAOS ally Tomohiro Ishii to help punish EVIL. Setting him up on the top rope, YOSHI-HASHI wanted the shotgun dropkick, but Togo pulled EVIL to safety before yanking the leg of YOSHI-HASHI. EVIL would use a steel chair on the floor to attack YOSHI-HASHI, while Togo removed a corner pad from the ring.
Togo would roll YOSHI-HASHI back into the ring, with EVIL getting a two count. YOSHI-HASHI would throw some chops in the ring, before going low with the basement dropkick to the knee. EVIL would use the corner to help him to his feet, only to take another running chop before the Bunker Buster.
EVIL Reigns Supreme Once Again
Togo would take a baseball slide dropkick, sending him into the barricade, before YOSHI-HASHI hit the Hangman’s Neckbreaker for a two count. EVIL would re-direct a kick from YOSHI-HASHI would hit the referee. Steel chair would be wrapped around the neck of YOSHI-HASHI, before EVIL swung a second chair to hit a home run.
Darkness Falls would follow, but YOSHI-HASHI was able to kick out at two. The STO would be blocked, with EVIL thrown into the exposed corner – and stumbling back into a Dragon Suplex. EVIL would hit a lariat, but YOSHI-HASHI stood tall and nailed a superkick. Togo was dropped again, before EVIL was hit with the lariat and Fisherman Buster for a near fall.
EVIL would be unable to hit a low blow, with the referee sick of his antics – and slapping EVIL. A cradle pinfall would have gotten the win, but Togo pulled the leg of the referee. EVIL went to use a chair, but got Togo instead, before a roll up for a two count. YOSHI-HASHI would hit a knee drop neckbreaker, before being thrown into the steel of the corner and dropped with the STO – allowing EVIL to advance to the semi-finals.
Will EVIL make it to the finals? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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