Ren Narita was trained by Katsuyori Shibata to be strong, fast, and efficient in winning matches. Due to this, he was practically made for the NJPW World Television Championship tournament – and was able to defeat Tomohiro Ishii in the opening round, and Toru Yano in the second round. Tonight, he meets someone in their prime in NJPW with SANADA – who took out Taichi & KENTA to make it here tonight. With fifteen minutes on the clock and Tokyo Dome on the horizon – both men will be in peak form tonight.
SON OF STRONG STYLE vs. COLD SKULL
Narita would look as comfortable as a world travelled veteran as the bell rang, with SANADA going for a lock up – and Narita able to keep up as they grappled. SANADA would be forced over the to the ropes, but he’d turn it around on Narita and offer a cocky but clean break. Narita would swing wild with a forearm, and nearly end up in the Skull End – but got the ropes.
SANADA would get Narita in the Paradise Lock and would pose on the Son of Strong Style, before a dropkick to the rear. Narita would roll right to his feet and hit a snapmare before a PK across the shoulder blades. SANADA would take the fight to the floor, and used the barricade to set up the Magic Screw Neckbreaker.
A piledriver out on the floor would follow, SANADA looking for a countout victory. In the ring, SANADA took a breather while Narita tried to find his feet, and the ring – making it back in for the count of fifteen as we passed the five minute mark of the match. Narita would be tied up in the ropes with the Paradise Lock, and would free him sending him to the floor – and SANADA kept the pressure on with a vaulting body press.
Back in the ring, SANADA would apply the rear chinlock, rising into a headlock as Narita found his feet. An uppercut would land from SANADA, before Narita launched him with a Belly to Belly Suplex. Spinning back elbow in the corner would be followed by the Half Hatch Suplex for a two count.
Ren Narita Was Trained To Fight To The Bitter End
Cross armbreaker would be applied – with SANADA getting the bottom rope before Narita got the full extension. Narita would kick away at the arm of SANADA, before looking for the Cobra Twist in the middle of the ring but taking a hip toss instead. SANADA would nail a dropkick before looking for a backdrop, with Narita landing on his feet before applying the Cobra Twist.
Narita would be unable to keep SANADA away from the ropes, and a rope break forced the Cobra Twist to be released at the ten minute mark. SANADA would be kicked into the corner, before Narita put his weight on the shoulders. Narita would run into the Skull End attempt, but countered before blocking the TKO into a Cobra Twist attempt. SANADA would work into Skull End, locking it in dead center in the ring.
SANADA would let it go before the rounding body press would lead to the knees up. Narita got a near fall off an O’Connor Roll – before trading forearm shots with SANADA in the middle of the ring. Narita Special IV would be blocked with a headbutt from SANADA, before the springboard dropkick.
O’Connor Roll was blocked into a Rear Naked Choke from Narita, with SANADA rolling through into Skull End. Narita would wrestle free and go back to the Rear Naked Choke. SANADA would take an Exploder Suplex at the fourteen minute mark, before taking a rolling elbow and catching SANADA with Narita Special IV for the win – punching ticket for Wrestle Kingdom.
Will Ren Narita surpass his mentor Katsuyori Shibata? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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