In the second match of the NJPW World Television Championship tournament, Zack Sabre Jr. would flirt with the fifteen minute time limit as he tapped Alex Zayne out. Meanwhile, David Finlay all but bulldozed his way past junior heavyweight legend Yoshinobu Kanemaru once he found his footing.
Both men are considered favourites to make the finals at Wrestle Kingdom 17 – with ZSJ being one of the greatest tournament wrestlers in the world, and Finlay finally finding his singles rhythm in the G1 Climax with wins over Shingo Takagi & Will Ospreay. However, only one can advance – and have just fifteen minutes to control their fate.
Zack Sabre Jr. Cranks Up The Aggression Early
Opening lock up would see ZSJ aggressively shove Finlay into the corner, making this one instantly a very physical affair. ZSJ would start to work on weakening the arms of Finlay, but realised his opponent was no slouch as Finlay fought free and applied a double arm choke. This would turn into an exchange of pinfall attempts on the mat, with both men getting near falls in the process.
Finlay would force ZSJ to the ropes, and had a chance to grind his forearm across the face before a proper strike. ZSJ tried to trade blows with Finlay, but was dropped with a hard European Uppercut – before sending his opponent to the mat with a quick arm wringer. Now with the arm hurt, he’d attack on the mat, bending the elbow in an unnatural way before a kick to the joint.
A submission would be turned into a pinfall by ZSJ, getting a two count – and keeping the pressure on. Finlay would be able to send ZSJ to the floor to get a chance to recover, before hitting the running European Uppercut. Snap suplex would follow, getting a two count, before another trade of pinfalls on the mat.
David Finlay Gets Out Wrestled By Zack Sabre Jr.
Finlay would go back to the running uppercut to regain the upper hand, forcing ZSJ into the corner where a back elbow smash landed flush. A flying uppercut would be caught, with ZSJ applying a cross armbreaker. PK would follow Finlay fighting free, with him rolling to his feet and luring ZSJ into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count.
ZSJ would go back to the previously targeted arm with a Fujiwaru Armbar, only to be tilted into a pinfall for a two count. Irish Curse Backbreaker would follow, but ZSJ would be quick to apply a Rear Naked Choke. Finlay was able to slip free, and get a near fall off the European Clutch.
They’d trade strikes in the middle of the ring, before ZSJ would send Finlay off the ropes and caught him with a backslide into an Jacknife Pinfall for the three count. No flirting with time limits tonight, and ZSJ pushes to the semi-finals – where he will face EVIL on November 5th, the final show of the Battle Autumn tour.
Is Zack Sabre Jr. about to win another tournament in NJPW? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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