When put in the ring with Tomohiro Ishii, Ren Narita was right at home. It was a hard hitting match from bell to bell, but that is exactly the type of match that Katsuyori Shibata trained Narita for. However, tonight provides an entirely different challenge for The Son of Strong Style.
Many have tried to deduce the best way to deal with Toru Yano, and many have fallen to his endless list of tricks – including Shibata himself. Shibata has a 2-3 record against Yano, with their last match going 1:05 and Yano claiming the victory. However, Yano barely got past Great-O-Khan in the first round, with an assist from The Great Muta essential in his victory – and can’t rely on that level of help tonight.
Toru Yano Gets Jumped, Still Finds Room For Tricks
Narita would attack Yano before he even made it to the ring, striking him down and rolling him into the ring. Yano was stomped before trying to blind Narita with his entrance jacket and rolling him up for a one count. Narita would get right back on the offensive, applying pressure to the shoulder with both boots in the corner.
Yano would try to force a flash pinfall, only to take a boot to the face after Narita kicked out. Rolling to the outside would find little relief for Yano, as Narita remained on the offensive – but Yano caught him with a Manhattan Drop. Yano grabbed some athletic tape from under the ring, tying up the legs of Narita and storing him under the ring.
Narita would untangle himself and get back into the ring at 19, only to be run into a now exposed corner of the ring thanks to Yano. All the corners were exposed by Yano actually, making his a Four Corners of Steel match, and Yano would throw Narita into the corner for some big damage before a two count.
Ren Narita Remains Calm And On The Offensive
Narita would avoid a charge into the corner to damage Yano, before hitting the spinning back elbow into a front choke. Yano would avoid the suplex, only to be battered with strikes and hit with the Half Hatch Suplex, before an Armbar was applied. Narita moved into a triangle choke, but Yano would keep himself from passing out and get the rope break.
Yano would hit the Belly to Belly Suplex, before looking for the powerbomb. Narita fought free and hit a pump kick – before being shot into the steel and hit with a reverse spear. Yano would get a two count, and Narita kicked out and immediately went back to the triangle choke, with Yano escaping with a powerbomb for a one count.
Narita nailed a kick to the head, and a running knee smash for the three count – and has managed to solve the Yano problem for tonight. Is this Narita’s tournament to win? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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