RESULTS: J1 SUMMIT 2024 - Day 4 (8/23/2024)

On a rainy day in Tokyo, the Mirai Dome was packed with eager fans grateful to be indoors, where the anticipation for the J1 SUMMIT continued to build. Day 4 promised intense competition, with every match contested under the sport form rule set. As the fans dried off and settled into their seats, the fighters prepared for another day of grueling matches that would determine their fates in the tournament.

Before the matches got started, the audience was treated to the arrival of All-Japan Sports and Wrestling Commission Vice President Seiji Nishimura who thanked the fans for attending and expressed his pleasure at the heart and skill of the participants in the SUMMIT. He assured that the fans that the AJSWC was firmly committed to making MAX-J the "strongest brand in real pro-wrestling" and promised that, via the International Development Office, there were big projects planned for the future that would be shared in the coming months.

Despite the mystery, the fans applauded as Hikaru Yamada led the ringside attendants to prepare the ring for the night's action.

In the opening bout, Takashi Yamashita took on Hajime Nishimoto in a fast-paced contest. Nishimoto came out swinging with a series of sharp low kicks, trying to soften up Yamashita’s legs. Yamashita weathered the storm, using his superior grappling ability to close the distance. After a clinch, he managed to trip Nishimoto to the mat and began working from side control. Nishimoto tried to scramble free, but Yamashita transitioned to a guillotine choke, locking it in tight. Nishimoto struggled but couldn’t escape, tapping out at 4:07 in the first round. Yamashita’s victory showcased his grappling prowess and earned him the crowd’s respect.

The next match featured NEXUS going up against Eiichiro Yamazaki in a hard-hitting Block A bout. Yamazaki attempted to use his size and sumo background to push NEXUS around, but the cybernetic competitor proved more resilient than expected. NEXUS wisely stayed out of Yamazaki’s range, choosing to shoot for takedowns and working from the ground. Yamazaki managed to break free several times, but each time NEXUS responded with a vicious kick to Yamazaki’s legs. The tide turned when Yamazaki was taken down for a third time, and NEXUS, showing his ruthless precision, delivered a brutal soccer kick to the downed Yamazaki, leading to a TKO victory at 3:54 in Round 1.

In Block B, Thunder Mask faced off against Rhythm Saitoh, with both competitors bringing their technical expertise to the mat. Saitoh started strong, using his grappling experience to engage Thunder Mask in a series of quick submission attempts. Thunder Mask countered, using his superior ring awareness to escape danger and transition to a top position. Saitoh fought to get back to his feet, but Thunder Mask quickly locked in an armbar from the mount, cranking on Saitoh's arm until he tapped out at 2:58 in the first round. Thunder Mask’s veteran savvy was on full display, securing him another win in the tournament.

Next up in Block C was the injured METAL HERO, taking on the dangerous Ryan Samuels. Samuels' hot start to the tournament had been interrupted the last couple nights and as a result he tried to impose his power early. However, METAL HERO went back to his Inoki-styled ground game as he used his good leg to continually send kicks into Samuels legs. This strategy caused Samuels to become more aggressive and at one point he backed up and leapt in the air in an effort to bypass the defense and gain a full mount. The maneuver nearly worked, as Samuels did bypass the defense, but METAL HERO found an opportunity to trap Samuels’ leg, transitioning smoothly into a kneebar. Despite Samuels’ best efforts, METAL HERO cranked on the hold until Samuels had no choice but to submit at 4:04 in the first round.

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Midway through the show, Mike Musket led the J1 training camp coaches plus lead ringside attendant Hikaru Yamada into to the ring. Musket held a suitcase in his hand and revealed four t-shirt cannons and they proceeded to shoot J1 SUMMIT 2024 t-shirts into the crowd. Many fans clamored for them, though when and adult caught a shirt and there was a nearby child, they tended to hand them off to the very appreciative kids.

This lighthearted intermission brought a warm and friendly spirit to the grueling battle of the day, which after this intermission picked up in earnest!

In Block D action, Alexander Irvine took on Earth Warrior in what many believed would be a dominant showing for Irvine. However, Earth Warrior surprised everyone in the first round by nearly securing a submission victory with a beautifully executed armbar. Irvine, caught off guard, struggled to escape but managed to survive the round. In the second round, a more focused and determined Irvine took control, using his powerful striking to wear down Earth Warrior. After a series of mounted palm strikes, the referee had no choice but to stop the match at 3:19 in Round 2, giving Irvine the TKO victory and solidifying his status as a top contender in the tournament.

The next match saw ZENKI take on Akira Nakamura in Block A competition. The Demon Lord came out with a clear strategy, using his speed and agility to stay out of Nakamura’s reach. Nakamura, a skilled grappler in his own right, attempted several takedowns, but ZENKI’s defensive grappling proved superior. As the fight progressed, ZENKI took control, dragging Nakamura to the mat and locking in an armbar. Nakamura fought valiantly but had no choice but to submit at 3:30 in Round 1. ZENKI’s victory added another point to his tally, further securing his position at the top of Block A.

In another crucial Block B matchup, AJ Knight faced off against Katsuhiko Himura in a bout that would play a significant role in determining advancement from the group stage. Himura, a student of Thunder Mask, came prepared with his mentor’s teachings, using his speed and technical grappling to counter Knight’s offense. The two engaged in a back-and-forth struggle, with Knight attempting to use his strength to overpower Himura, while Himura focused on outmaneuvering his opponent. In the end, however, Knight’s relentless pressure proved too much. After a series of punishing palm strikes, Himura’s corner decided to throw in the towel at 4:22 in Round 1, giving Knight the victory and keeping his tournament hopes alive.

Tiger Mask Red continued his impressive run in Block C with a dominant showing against Jimmy Winner. Winner, despite his improved abilities, found himself overwhelmed by Tiger Mask’s relentless offense. The veteran luchador used his agility and submission skills to control the match, catching Winner in a guillotine choke early in the first round. Winner struggled to escape but was forced to tap out at 3:08 in Round 1. Tiger Mask Red’s win secured him another two points in the standings, putting him in a strong position to advance from Block C.

In the main event, David Troy faced Hayato Hamada, who was accompanied to the ring by ZENKI and Shigeru Toyama. Hamada, known for his MMA background, came out strong, using his grappling skills to keep Troy grounded. However, Troy’s striking power began to wear Hamada down as the fight progressed. The first round was quite the back-and-forth and the Japan Chessboxing League fans rooted heavily for "Checkmate" David Troy. The first round wound certainly favor Hamada, who demonstrated some additional aptitude with the sport form rules since we'd last seen him, relying more on his ground game to control the match.

In the second round, Troy countered Hamada's style by preferring to keep the fight upright. While in an MMA environment, this no doubt would have favored Hamada's striking, given the limited strikes allowed by the sport form rules, Hamada was a bit more hesitant while on his feet.

As the two men were in a clinch, Hamada held his ground and you could tell he wanted to deliver some knees. However, that's illegal in the sport form. As Hamada tried to separate the hold, Troy flung an overhand palm strike to Hamada that landed right on the bridge of his nose, sending him spilling to the mat! Troy leapt into action and delivered a series of powerful palm strikes that rocked the stunned Hamada. The referee had no choice but to stop the fight at 4:31 in Round 2, awarding Troy the TKO victory. 

After the match, ZENKI whispered something to Hamada as they exited the ring, leaving the audience to speculate on what the Demon Lord might be planning next.

Date: 8/23/2024

Location: Mirai Dome, Tokyo, Japan

Attendance: 20,000 fans

1. Sport Form Rules: Takashi Yamashita defeats Hajime Nishimoto (R1 4:07) via submission (guillotine chokehold).

2. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK A (Sport Form Rules): NEXUS [4] defeats Eiichiro Yamazaki [4] (R1 3:54) via TKO (soccer kick).

3. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK B (Sport Form Rules): Thunder Mask [6] defeats Rhythm Saitoh [0] (R1 2:58) via submission (kneebar).

4. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK C (Sport Form Rules): METAL HERO [6] defeats Ryan Samuels [2] (R1 4:04) via submission (armbar).

5. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK D (Sport Form Rules): Alexander Irvine [6] defeats Earth Warrior [2] (R2 3:19) via TKO (mounted palm strikes).

6. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK A (Sport Form Rules): ZENKI [7] defeats Akira Nakamura [0] (R1 3:30) via submission (armbar).

7. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK B (Sport Form Rules): AJ Knight [6] defeats Katsuhiko Himura [4] (R1 4:22) via corner stoppage.

8. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK C (Sport Form Rules): Tiger Mask Red [6] defeats Jimmy Winner [2] (R1 3:08) via submission (guillotine chokehold).

9. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK D (Sport Form Rules): David Troy [8] defeats Hayato Hamada [0] (R2 4:31) via TKO (palm strike).

ZENKI [7]

Eiichiro Yamazaki [4]

NEXUS [4]

Akira Nakamura [0]

Thunder Mask [6]

AJ Knight [6]

Katsuhiko Himura [4]

Rhythm Saitoh [0]

METAL HERO [6]

Tiger Mask Red [6]

Jimmy Winner [2]

Ryan Samuels [2]

David Troy [8]

Alexander Irvine [6]

Earth Warrior [2]

Hayato Hamada [0]