Robbie Eagles has long been trying to prove himself as a worthy part of the NJPW Junior Heavyweight roster. Now, he’s the biggest singles star in the division that CHAOS has, with Ospreay moved up to heavyweight and then defecting, and YOH & SHO more in the tag team ranks. Tonight is Eagles make or break moment, as he enters the Tokyo Dome for his first ever shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, currently held by El Desperado. Both men have a lot to prove tonight, and are ready to steal the show.
The Knee Of Robbie Eagles Has A Target On It
This is the first singles match for both men in the Tokyo Dome, while Eagles is the first Australian man to wrestle in a one on one match in the venue, a piece of history in its own right. Eagles would immediately have Desperado go after his leg, looking to follow up on some damage from last night’s match, where Desperado hit the knee with a steel chair.
The knee would be attacked early on, and Desperado took him down with a side headlock takeover before Eagles got a headscissor to the previously injured jaw of Desperado. They’d chain wrestle, before Desperado weaved into the ropes to lock up the arm and break the sequence. Getting moving, Eagles looked to use his signature speed, before taking a kick to the knee.
Eagles would take Desperado to the outside, and faked a dive but landed hard on the knee. Back in the ring, Eagles would stand his ground with some strikes, before taking a dropkick and modified dragon screw to the knee. That focused target on the limb shows why Desperado is such a great champion, and he was ruthless tonight.
Using the good leg, Eagles hit a knee strike and mid-kick, but his base was off and Desperado quickly took advantage. The leg would be tied up by Desperado, softening it up for the Numero Dos finish, but Eagles could barely make the ropes off this hold. Desperado broke the hold and hit a knee breaker, to ensure the control stays.
El Desperado Gets Caught In The Ron Miller Special
Unable to even run, Eagles was thrown across the ring and stumbled to the ground before being kicked to the outside. Eagles would throw Desperado into the barricade before hitting a modified 619 on the apron, sending Desperado over the barricade. In the ring, Eagles managed a springboard dropkick to the knee before applying the Ron Miller Special.
Desperado was able to crawl to the bottom rope, and successfully broke the hold. However, damage was done, and Desperado would have his knee smashed into the apron soon after. A back suplex got the match back in the corner of Desperado, but both men were feeling the effects of this match.
On their knees, they’d trade forearm strikes and trash talk as they rose back to their wobbly feet. Both sent kicks to the knee, before Desperado looked for a knee breaker. Eagles countered, before taking a right hand right to the jaw. Looking for the Blue Thunder Bomb, Desperado dropped Eagles for a two count. Pinche Loco was the next play but Eagles countered into a cradle pin before wanting the Ron Miller Special.
Desperado would kick Eagles into the corner before nailing a spinebuster and going right into Numero Dos. Eagles fought the full application before looking again for Ron Miller Special, but being countered into a pinfall. Another near fall followed from a cradle pin from Desperado, before both men nailed KO level blows.
Eagles was first up and nailed Turbo Backpack, but Desperado kicked out. Going to the top rope, Eagles would beat some feeling into the leg and hit the 450 Splash to knee before applying the Ron Miller Special. Desperado was trapped in the middle of the ring, and would be forced to tap out, ending his reign and starting the first of Eagles.
Both men showed great wrestling skills with their limb focus, and were able to tell a great story which put both men on the same level. It truly could have went either way at any moment, but in the end Eagles had the better gameplan and got the biggest win of his career. Match Rating: 3.75/5 (*** 3/4)
Hiromu Takahashi is back from injury, and is ready to challenge the new champion. Will he become the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion again soon? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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