RESULTS: Thursday night STORM in Sapporo (8/1/2024)

The atmosphere was electric at the Tsuki Dome in downtown Sapporo as BLIZZARD Pro’s weekly Thursday night STORM television taping kicked off with a packed house. BLIZZARD Pro, a partner promotion of MAX-J that covers northern Japan, has a dedicated loyal following and is a great spot for junior heavyweight competition. 

The fans had gathered from a temperate summer's day to witness their favorite wrestlers in action, and the buzz in the air was palpable as the night promised thrilling bouts and memorable moments. Despite the small arena, the fans were more vocal than one would expect, with more familiarity than some of the larger and more corporate promotions. 

Among the highlights were two matches featuring MAX-J fighters, showcasing their talents ahead of the highly anticipated 2024 J1 SUMMIT.

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The first match of the evening involving MAX-J fighters featured AJ Knight squaring off against Hiroyuki Fukudome, the latter known to American audiences for competing at the FUSION supershow in New York City several years ago, being upset in an MMA bout by KOSUKE of Shining Road Pro-Wrestling. Since then Fukudome has made Hokkaido and BLIZZARD Pro his stomping grounds and came into the match with a homefield advantage.

As the lights dimmed and the opening chords of AJ Knight’s entrance music echoed through the arena, the crowd erupted in cheers. AJ Knight, known for his high ring IQ and adaptability, was ready to prove himself against the skilled Fukudome. The two athletes began the match with a series of technical exchanges, each trying to gain the upper hand.

Fukudome, with his strong kickboxing background, landed a few hard strikes early on, but Knight’s grappling prowess kept him in the game. The match saw several momentum shifts, with Fukudome attempting to wear down Knight with a combination of strikes and submission holds. However, AJ’s strategic approach and resilience shone through as he countered with his own brand of grappling and high-impact moves.

The turning point came at the ten-minute mark when Knight managed to evade a high roundhouse kick from Fukudome, catching him off balance. Seizing the opportunity, AJ delivered a series of quick jabs followed by a powerful suplex that left Fukudome reeling. With the crowd on their feet, AJ Knight capitalized on the moment, hitting his patented Knightfall DDT and securing the pinfall victory. Fans have to wonder, given AJ's dominant performance, not only whether he would have defeated Thunder Mask at CRUISERWORLD II, but whether he is now a favorite to win the J1 SUMMIT that will be starting in about three weeks' time.

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The second match of the night featured the formidable duo of Ryan Samuels and NEXUS taking on Shinzo Takamori and Balloon Yamazaki. The towering presence of Samuels, known as “The Midwest Nightmare,” alongside the methodical and strategic NEXUS, made for an imposing team. As they made their way to the ring, the anticipation among the fans grew, eager to see how these MAX-J fighters would perform, especially NEXUS given his technical difficulties that occured during a POLLO ROAD event recently in the United States.

Takamori and Yamazaki, both respected competitors in their own right, faced an uphill battle against the sheer power and tactical prowess of their opponents. The match began with Samuels and Takamori locking up in the center of the ring, each trying to assert dominance. Takamori’s ice hockey background was evident in his tough, resilient style, but Samuels’ brute strength soon took control.

Throughout the match, NEXUS demonstrated his calculated approach, analyzing and exploiting weaknesses in the opposing team’s strategy. His precise strikes and submission attempts kept Yamazaki at bay, while Samuels used his raw power to wear down Takamori. The synergy between Samuels and NEXUS was evident as they executed seamless tags and coordinated attacks, leaving their opponents struggling to keep up.

The climax of the match saw Takamori attempting a desperate comeback, landing a series of strikes on Samuels. However, Samuels quickly regained control, hitting Takamori with a thunderous backdrop driver that folded poor Snap Shot onto the back of his neck and sent him bouncing across the canvas until he laid face-first on the mat. The impact echoed through the arena as Samuels covered Takamori to secure the vicotry. The crowd erupted in cheers, recognizing the dominance put on display..

As the night drew to a close, the performances especially of AJ Knight and Ryan Samuels had undoubtedly generated significant hype for the upcoming J1 SUMMIT and has fans wondering if media outlets, many of which have been predicting how fighters like former MAX Heavyweight champions ZENKI or Eiichiro Yamazaki will perform, may just be sleeping on how much potential the GLOBAL HEROES have to win the tournament. After all, it was "Mighty Fine" Mike Musket who won in 2017, so it wouldn't be unprecedented for a foreign fighter to take home the trophy.