Originally, Will Ospreay was supposed to face Hiroshi Tanahashi for the now vacant IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship tonight. However, COVID-19 changed these plans. Ospreay claimed he deserved the shot due to being the one to put former champion SANADA on the shelf with an injury, but will have to wait his turn. Instead, Tomohiro Ishii has stepped up to try and finally claim this title – something he almost did when the belt was introduced in the tournament finals against Kenny Omega.
Tomohiro Ishii Has A Ton To Prove Tonight After Nearly Not Making The Card At All
During the press conference for his match, Ishii was as fired up as anyone has ever seen him. He had the following to say.
“I’ve only wrestled for that belt one other time, five years ago. That just happened to be the same year I wrestled Tanahashi one on one last. Now, the title gets vacated, a match gets made, that match gets changed and here I am. Now is it all coincidence, or was it inevitable all along? I don’t know, but I’m gonna say it was the latter.
Over the last five years, it might not have been against Tanahashi, and it might not have been for that belt, my name might not have even been on the goddamn card. But I’ve been fighting with all seriousness, and all for this match tomorrow.
Me and Tanahashi, with this timing, in this situation, well you couldn’t have asked for a better reunion. Yes this is a title match, but there’s a lot more that I’ll be carrying with me up here as I get in that ring.”
Leaving It All In The Ring Tonight
As The Ace made his way to the ring, The Stone Pitbull showed nothing but focus. Recent huge wins over Minoru Suzuki & Jonah have Ishii at the top of his game, and tonight is his biggest of the year so far. They’d lock up strong with a Collar & Elbow tie up, with Tanahashi being driven off the ropes.
Tanahashi would respond with a slap to the face, before some forearm shots and a springboard crossbody and some air guitar. Ishii kicked Tanahashi right in the back, showing there is no time for taunting in this match. They’d trade forearm blows in the middle of the ring, with Ishii showing the upper hand and taking Tanahashi to the mat before getting a two count.
Tanahashi was backed into a corner and forced to try and chop his way free – only for Ishii to rush him down once again. Another heavy chop was met with a flying forearm smash – before Tanahashi hit the Somersault Senton out of the corner.
Ishii would get back to his feet and blocked a slingblade with a basement dropkick before a dragon screw leg whip. He was pulling Tanahashi’s playbook, before hitting a kneebreaker and backdrop. Scorpion Deathlock was nearly applied, but Tanahashi fought free. He’d start to throw heavy strikes, but Ishii just looked offended by this.
Ishii was lending into the shots, backing Tanahashi into the corner and levelling him with a single shot. Tanahashi would try for a powerbomb from the corner, only to instead take Ishii off ropes with a Dragon Screw. Another set of short dragon screws on the mat would land, and Tanahashi would lock in the Texas Cloverleaf.
Hiroshi Tanahashi Proves Himself Worthy As Champion Again
Ishii was able to break free of the hold, and would nail the powerslam right in the middle of the ring. Just over ten minutes into this match, and both men were feeling the pain of this encounter. Tanahashi ducked a lariat before slapping Ishii across the face, with these shots previously breaking the jaw of Hirooki Goto.
Ishii wasn’t bothered, and would get right back up after a Dragon Suplex to hit one of his own. A big lariat was met by a Slingblade, with Tanahashi hitting a second for a near fall. Tanahashi hit a Straight Jacket German Suplex, but Ishii was able to kick out again.
Going for High Fly Flow would just prompt a wild Ishii to hit an upward headbutt to stun Tanahashi. A superplex would follow, but Ishii was only able to get a two count. A set of Twist & Shout neckbreakers would follow, before a Dragon Suplex for the near fall.
High Fly Flow to the back landed, before Ishii rolled from the second. A cradle from Ishii got a two count, before Tanahashi threw some lariats but Ishii was a brick wall… who could also hit a picture perfect enziguri. Ishii hit the ropes for a huge lariat, but Tanahashi kicked out at one!
Vertical Drop Brainbuster would still see Tanahashi kick out, prompting Tanahashi to go back to the Ishii-Driller. Instead, Tanahashi slipped free and hit a slingblade, before trading headbutts with Ishii.
Ishii hit a slingblade of his own before being dropped with a vertical drop brainbuster. Another slingblade, and Ishii kicked out again at one. Tanahashi went up for Aces High and nailed Ishii. High Fly Flow landed, and Tanahashi is a three time champion.
BULLET CLUB Has A New Member
After the bell, Tanahashi was celebrating his victory. New IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Chase Owens would remind everyone that in the G1 last year – he pinned the ace. He never got his title shot, but he doesn’t care about that belt anymore.
A masked man would come to the ring in a BULLET CLUB vest – and punched Tanahashi in the jaw before hitting Pulp Fritciton. Juice Robinson has joined BULLET CLUB, and wants the belt he once held back.
Everyone thought Robinson was retired, with his NJPW contract done. Turns out he played us all for fools – and he’d steal the belt tonight. Will Hiroshi Tanahashi defeat Juice Robinson? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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