2014.02.23
Feb 27, 2014 22:07:36 GMT -7
Post by Kevin Elliott on Feb 27, 2014 22:07:36 GMT -7
Pacific Jr. Heavyweight Grand Prix - Night Five
2014.02.22
Korakuen Hall
2,205 Fans (No Vacancy)
It was finally time for the final night of the Pacific Jr. Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament and Kenshiki returns to the historic Korakuen Hall for the second time this tour. Tonight, the first half of the show is the final four matches in the 2014 Jr. Heavyweight Grand Prix. Katsuhiko Nakajima [6], KENTA [4], and Shuji Kondo [4] all remained in contention to win Block A while BUSHI [5], El Desperado [4], and Naomichi Marufuji [5] all have a chance two win Block B. The winners of each group will face off in the tournament final.
The tournament champion will be crowned the NWA Pacific Jr. Heavyweight Champion and Kenshiki's number one contender to the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion, NWA Hybrid Pro's Daniel Bryan. Bryan is in attendance tonight and will present the tournament trophy and Championship to the winner.
1. Jr. Grand Prix Block A - KENTA [4] vs Kotaro Suzuki [2]
KENTA is currently tied for second place with Shuji Kondo in Block A with four points, two behind Katshiko Nakajima. Suzuki, with two points, has been eliminatd from the tournament. Despite this, Suzuki puts up a strong fight, nearly hitting the Blue Destiny. KENTA slid his way out of the move and later finished Suzuki off with the Go To Sleep. KENTA finishes with six points and desperately needs a Kondo victory tonight to ensure a three way tie for first place in Block A!
2. Jr. Grand Prix Block B - El Desperado [4] vs Naomichi Marufuji [5]
Simply put, whoever wins tonight has a chance to win Block B and whoever loses is eliminated. Desperado, despite the inexperience compared to his opponent, starts the match off strong compared to Marufuji, who is on the defence from the get-go. It's a stiff kick from Marufuji that sends Desperado to the floor, followed by a Suicide Dive, that brings the momentum back to Marufuji. Marufuji continues to control the pace of the match, but can't put Desperado away. Desperado hits Marufuji with a stiff kick of his own and successfully hits the Guitarra de Angel to win the match! Desperado finishes with six points and needs a BUSHI loss to advance to the tournament final!
3. Jr. Grand Prix Block B - BUSHI [5] vs Minoru Tanaka [2]
Minoru Tanaka can not win the tournament, but a victory here can block BUSHI from winning Block B. He put up a good fight, but the result was was never in question. BUSHI finished Tanaka off with the MX, and he wins Block B with seven points, one ahead of El Desperado. BUSHI will wrestle in the main event!
4. Jr. Grand Prix Block A - Katsuhiko Nakajima [6] vs Shuji Kondo [4]
It all comes down to this. Should Nakajima pick up the victory, he will claim Block A and challenge BUSHI for the NWA Pacific Jr. Heavyweight Championship. Should Kondo win, we will have a three way tie for first place and it has not been announced what will happen in that scenario. Kondo uses his thicker frame to wear Nakajima down at the beginning of the match, hitting shoulder blocks repeatedly. Nakajima battles back, but Kondo reverses a Double Underhook Suplex into a Gutbuster, knocking the wind out of his opponent. Kondo then locks the Gorilla Clutch on Nakajima in the middle of the ring. Nakajima shows true fighting spirit by breaking the hold after a lengthy battle. Kondo continues on the offensive but is caught with a Roundhouse Kick from Nakajima. The two men continual to battle, and a missed Lariat from Kondo led to Nakajima hitting the Twister for the victory! With eight points and an undefeated record, Nakajima has won Block A and will wrestle BUSHI for the NWA Pacific Jr. Heavyweight Championship!
5. Kota Ibushi Challenge - Kota Ibushi vs La Sombra
In January, it was announced that ten junior heavyweights would participate in the inaugural Jr. Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament to determine the first ever NWA Pacific Jr. Heavyweight Champion. Because of his poor showing on the debut tour of Kenshiki, popular star Kota Ibushi was left out of the tournament. Angered, Ibushi issued an open challenge to five international junior heavyweights from around the world to prove is worth in the Jr. Heavyweight division.
Kenshiki officials have stated if Ibushi wins all five contents he will be the number one contender to the Championship.
On Monday at Korakuen Hall, Ibushi defeated NWA Fight Entertainment’s Justin Gabriel, a former NWA Windy City Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champion, using the Phoenix Splash to pick up the victory. Tuesday at the Kasama Gymnasium, Ibushi was victorious over NWA Southwest’s Kalisto, picking up the victory with the Golden Star Press. After a two day break, Ibushi returned to the ring on Friday with a win over NWA South Beach’s PAC, using the Phoenix Plex to score the pinfall. Finally, to run his record to 4-0 on the tour, Ibushi defeated NWA UK’s Rocky Romero, who had his Forever Hooligans partner Alex Koslov at ringside, with the Golden Star Press.
One man stands between Ibushi and his shot at the NWA Pacific Jr. Heavyweight Championship, and that man is La Sombra, who bases himself out of the NWA Southwest booking office. Sombra has been idle for over one month, but has been impressive in outings in Texas and Mexico, mainly teaming with Los Hijos del Torros in six man tag team action. Sombra is here tonight alone, though, and, through an earlier translation, has stated he will do everything in his power to pick up the victory tonight and possibly challenge for the NWA Pacific Jr. Heavyweight Championship himself.
As you would expect from two talents of this calibre, the match was outstanding. Ibushi was wrestling with a chip on his shoulder and determination against the formidable Sombra. The exciting bout ended with Ibushi using the Golden Starr Press for the victory! He finishes his challenge series with a clean slate - five victories - and has earned a title match against the Grand Prix tournament winner!
6. NWA World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Round One - Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kyle O'Reilly
In the first and only non junior heavyweight match of the night, Hiroshi Tanahashi faces the NWA NOLA Heavyweight Champion, Kyle O'Reilly. O'Reilly has been on the entire tour wrestling in special tag team matches featuring NWA World Heavyweight Championship tournament participants. Tonight, O'Reilly truly proved his worth to the Japanese audience, stepping toe to toe with Tanahashi. Unfortunately for the American, he could not put "the Ace of the Universe" down, and Tanahashi hit the High Fly Flow to advance to the second round of the tournament!
7. NWA Pacific Jr. Heavyweight Championship - BUSHI [7] vs Katsuhiko Nakajima [8]
Prior to the match, NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan made his way to the ring. He sat at ringside, near the Pacific Jr. Heavyweight Championship. The match features BUSHI, who was undefeated with three victories and a draw against Naomichi Marufuji, and Katsuhiko Nakajima, who had an unblemished record throughout the tournament. However, BUSHI easily rolled through Minoru Tanaka tonight while Nakajima struggled to put away Shuji Kondo.
BUSHI started the match going for quick pinfalls - a roll up got a one and that was followed by a Sunset Flip for two, but Nakajima would not be put away that early in such an important match. Nakajima used a big boot to knock BUSHI to the mat and hit the Wheelbarrow Suplex when he returned to his feet, but was only able to get a two count on the ensuing pinfall attempt. At the end of the match, Nakajima went for the Twister, the same move he defeated Kondo with earlier in the night, but BUSHI slid out. BUSHI hit the MX, knocking Nakajima to the mat. He finished Nakajima off with the Phoenix Splash to become the new NWA Pacific Jr. Heavyweight Champion!
The World Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Bryan, enters the ring and presents BUSHI with the Championship as streamers fall from the ceiling. Bryan congratulates BUSHI and the two men shake hands, but the show is not over yet! Kota Ibushi emerges from the back. He immediately tosses Bryan outside the ring and gets in BUSHI's face! The challenger stares into the Champions face! Bryan gets back into the ring and a three way shouting match ensues. Ibushi leaves with a smile on his face, but he motions around his waste - he will be Champion soon enough!
