Post by 円相! TV on Aug 24, 2024 17:15:40 GMT
The fifth day of the J1 SUMMIT started with an unexpected incident that electrified the audience. As the lights dimmed and the opening ceremony began, the entire Mirai Dome was suddenly plunged into darkness. A tense silence gripped the crowd, broken only by hushed whispers and the flicker of phones. Suddenly, the giant LED screens lit up, revealing a series of rapid-fire images of past J1 SUMMIT winners, culminating in a spotlight shining down on an empty stage. A single banner unfurled from the ceiling, displaying the words:
"The Summit Awaits Only the Strongest..."
The lights came back on, and the crowd erupted in cheers. The atmosphere had gone from anticipation to high tension, setting the perfect tone for the night’s sport form matches...
Sport Form Rules: Il Ladro vs. Takashi Yamashita
The opening bout saw Takashi Yamashita taking on the crafty Il Ladro. Il Ladro, known for his jiu-jitsu prowess, attempted to take the fight to the ground early, executing a slick drop toe hold into a rolling kneebar. Yamashita defended with excellent posture, breaking free and transitioning to a front headlock. Ladro responded by spinning out and attempting to secure an armbar, but Yamashita countered with a double leg takedown, landing in mount. From there, Yamashita unleashed a barrage of palm strikes, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 1:03 in the second round. Yamashita's victory by TKO earned him a decisive win and showcased his powerful striking.
J1 SUMMIT - BLOCK A (Sport Form Rules): ZENKI vs. NEXUS
In Block A, ZENKI squared off against the formidable NEXUS. The Demon Lord quickly asserted his dominance with lightning-fast movement, avoiding NEXUS’ attempts to grapple and punishing him with low kicks. NEXUS tried to bring the fight to the ground with a well-timed ankle pick, but ZENKI twisted out of it and trapped him in a rear waist lock. NEXUS countered with a standing switch, but ZENKI slipped free, grabbing an arm and yanking NEXUS down into an armbar. NEXUS struggled mightily, trying to power out, but ZENKI's technique was flawless, forcing him to tap out at 4:05 in the first round. ZENKI’s victory further solidified his dominance in the tournament, much to the delight of the Demon Brigade fans in attendance.
J1 SUMMIT - BLOCK B (Sport Form Rules): AJ Knight vs. Thunder Mask
The much-anticipated bout between AJ Knight and Thunder Mask in Block B had the crowd on the edge of their seats, as this was the match that many expected to determine who would advance from their group. The two warriors wasted no time, with Thunder Mask using his judo expertise to throw Knight to the ground early. Knight, however, displayed impressive grappling acumen, immediately reversing the position and locking in a guillotine choke. Thunder Mask escaped with a deft roll, transitioning into an armbar attempt. Knight fought off the submission, eventually taking Thunder Mask's back and locking in a rear naked choke. The veteran tried to pry Knight’s arms off but ultimately had to submit at 4:22 in the first round. A victorious Knight excitedly climbed to the turnbuckle, thumping his chest and holding up a single finger to signal that he had only one more match to go before the finals.
J1 SUMMIT - BLOCK C (Sport Form Rules): Tiger Mask Red vs. Ryan Samuels
In Block C, Tiger Mask Red faced Ryan Samuels in what turned into a brutal display of submission wrestling. Samuels, known for his power, tried to overwhelm Tiger Mask with a series of strong takedowns, but Tiger Mask kept his composure, utilizing his agility to avoid most of the damage. After a failed suplex attempt by Samuels, Tiger Mask took advantage, catching him off balance and securing an armbar on the mat. Samuels tried to fight free, but the hold was too tight, and he tapped out at 3:50 in the first round. However, Tiger Mask was a few seconds slow to release the hold, leaving Samuels in visible pain. A more sinister look lingered in Tiger Mask’s eyes as he stared down at his fallen opponent, a change that did not go unnoticed by the audience.
J1 SUMMIT - BLOCK D (Sport Form Rules): David Troy vs. Earth Warrior
David Troy continued his dominance in Block D, taking on Earth Warrior. Earth Warrior opened with aggressive leg kicks, attempting to keep Troy at bay, but Troy quickly adapted, catching one of the kicks and taking Earth Warrior to the ground. Once there, Troy used his superior grappling skills to transition into a kneebar. Earth Warrior fought to escape, but the pressure was too much, and he tapped out at 2:39 in the first round. Troy’s victory was decisive, solidifying his position as the top competitor in Block D.
J1 SUMMIT - BLOCK A (Sport Form Rules): Akira Nakamura vs. Eiichiro Yamazaki
In Block A, Eiichiro Yamazaki took on Akira Nakamura in a clash of styles. Yamazaki used his sumo background to push Nakamura around the ring, while Nakamura attempted to counter with precise judo throws. The match was competitive, with Nakamura nearly locking in a rear naked choke after a takedown. However, Yamazaki's power proved to be the deciding factor, as he landed a series of thunderous knife-edge chops that left Nakamura dazed. Yamazaki followed up with a relentless assault, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 4:33 in the first round. Yamazaki’s TKO victory keeps him in the running in Block A.
J1 SUMMIT - BLOCK B (Sport Form Rules): Katsuhiko Himura vs. Rhythm Saitoh
Himura vs. Saitoh was a match that many had identified as having upset potential all over it, with the former jazz musician and current chess aficionado Saitoh an unpredictable competitor given his nascent pro-wrestling ability. Himura, not one to be bested and in a tough fight in Block B, started strong, using his superior technical skills to control the early exchanges. He took Saitoh to the ground with a single leg takedown and worked to secure a crossface. However, Saitoh defended well and surprised everyone by suddenly trapping Himura in an anaconda choke during a scramble. The maneuver came out of nowhere, and before Himura could react, the choke was locked in tight, forcing him to tap out at 3:42 in the first round. The crowd erupted in disbelief, as Saitoh celebrated his first victory in the tournament.
J1 SUMMIT - BLOCK C (Sport Form Rules): Jimmy Winner vs. METAL HERO
METAL HERO took on Jimmy Winner in another Block C match that proved to be a striking battle. HERO tried to keep the fight standing for much of it, leading some to think that perhaps he'd recovered a bit from his injured knee. However, a more cautious style from HERO led some to believe perhaps this wasn't the case. As Winner attempted a takedown, METAL HERO back up and as Winner was on the way up uncorked a devastating roundhouse kick to the head of his rising opponent, sending him spilling dizzy to the canvas. As Winner crumpled to the mat, and the referee quickly called for the bell, awarding METAL HERO the victory via TKO at 4:11 in the first round.
J1 SUMMIT - BLOCK D (Sport Form Rules): Hayato Hamada vs. Alexander Irvine
The main event featured a clash between two former U.S. military veterans, Alexander Irvine and Hayato Hamada, in Block D action. Despite Hamada’s affiliation with the nationalist Demon Brigade, the two fighters displayed a surprising amount of respect for one another. Irvine, a former Marine, and Hamada, a former Navy SEAL, exchanged a handshake before the match, acknowledging their shared background.
The fight itself was a tactical affair, with both men trading takedowns and submission attempts and there was very little striking. In the first round, Hamada nearly caught Irvine in an armbar, but the Marine veteran managed to escape just in time as the bell rung.
The second round saw Irvine take control, using his superior grappling to dominate Hamada on the ground. Hamada would have some trouble with the much larger Irvine, who used his weight to control the fight from a mounted position. Irvine eventually locked in a kimura, forcing Hamada to tap out at 4:15 in the second round. After the match, the two men shook hands again, a rare moment of respect in the cutthroat world of the J1 SUMMIT.
POST-SHOW FALLOUT
It was Rhythm Saitoh who got the lion's share of attention after the show - but not for the reason you might think. He had little to say to reporters about defeating Himura, shrugging and replying that, "sometimes that's the way the match flows" and noted that he was essentially already eliminated from the tournament yet he still wanted to give the fans a show! So, he invited reporters and fans to join him as he would be doing an impromptu jam session at a pub in Tokyo.
Reporters would look for Tiger Mask Red after the show, but his official Japanese spokesperson Kurisutofā Akihiko told the press that Tiger Mask Red is engaged in preparation for Day 6 with his team. Despite virtually assured of making it out of the group stage, he is keen on avenging his loss to METAL HERO, a fighter that despite coming into the tournament with an injury has been difficult to stop and seems to be getting healthier. The spokesperson promised that Tiger Mask Red would bring "holy war" down on the heroic cyborg.
A name that was also buzzing in peoples' ears after the show was none other than AJ Knight. Defeating a junior heavyweight legend in Thunder Mask is no small feat and AJ's performance suggests that he's locked in and ready to go as we get to the last day of the tournament. After the show, he was spotted hitting a cafe to eat some ramen with a gym bag at his feet, suggesting that even after his performance this evening he had further training ahead.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
J1 SUMMIT 2024 - Day 5
Date: 8/24/2024
Location: Mirai Dome, Tokyo, Japan
Attendance: 20,000 fans
1. Sport Form Rules: Takashi Yamashita defeats Il Ladro (R2 1:03) via TKO (palm strike).
2. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK A (Sport Form Rules): ZENKI [9] defeats NEXUS [4] (R1 4:05) via submission (armbar).
3. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK B (Sport Form Rules): AJ Knight [8] defeats Thunder Mask [6] (R1 4:22) via submission (rear naked choke).
4. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK C (Sport Form Rules): Tiger Mask Red [8] defeats Ryan Samuels [2] (R1 3:50) via submission (armbar).
5. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK D (Sport Form Rules): David Troy [10] defeats Earth Warrior [2] (R1 2:39) via submission (kneebar).
6. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK A (Sport Form Rules): Eiichiro Yamazaki [6] defeats Akira Nakamura [0] (R1 4:33) via TKO (knife-edge chop).
7. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK B (Sport Form Rules): Rhythm Saitoh [2] defeats Katsuhiko Himura [4] (R1 3:42) via submission (anaconda choke).
8. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK C (Sport Form Rules): METAL HERO [8] defeats Jimmy Winner [2] (R1 4:11) via TKO (roundhouse kick).
9. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK D (Sport Form Rules): Alexander Irvine [8] defeats Hayato Hamada [0] (R2 4:15) via submission (kimura).
STANDINGS
As we head into Day 6, we will arrive at the end of the group stage. And even on the eve of the group stage finale there are still important shifts in the standings that can have an effect on who will make it into the single-elimination portion of the tournament.
- Block A is already decided. With ZENKI's victory this evening, he will finish in 1st place in the Block - even if he is defeated tomorrow by Yamazaki. And speaking of Eiichiro "Mushigahara" Yamazaki, by virtue of his victory over NEXUS in the pro-wrestling rule set on Day 1, his advancement is also assured as he owns the 2nd place spot in the block.
- AJ Knight will advance out of Block B; however, whether he will win the block is still in doubt. If Thunder Mask is victorious on Day 6, he holds the pro-wrestling rules tie-breaker over Knight and would jump to 1st place, putting Knight in 2nd. Thunder Mask's advancement is not guaranteed, however, because if Himura defeats him on Day 6, it will be Himura that leapfrogs him into 2nd place. So, much is still left to be determined in Block B.
- In Block C, both Tiger Mask Red and METAL HERO will advance. Tomorrow's match will determine who wins the block itself.
- Likewise, in Block D, Irvine and Troy will advance to the single-elimination stage. However, because they will face tomorrow, the actual winner of Block D will be determined tomorrow.
BLOCK A
ZENKI [9]
Eiichiro Yamazaki [6]
NEXUS [4]
Akira Nakamura [0]
BLOCK B
AJ Knight [8]
Thunder Mask [6]
Katsuhiko Himura [4]
Rhythm Saitoh [2]
BLOCK C
METAL HERO [8]
Tiger Mask Red [8]
Jimmy Winner [2]
Ryan Samuels [2]
BLOCK D
David Troy [10]
Alexander Irvine [8]
Earth Warrior [2]
Hayato Hamada [0]
PREVIEW OF DAY 6
With all the sport form rules matches out of the way, Day 6 will return us for good back to the pro-wrestling rule set, expanding the number and types of moves that fighters can use. Even with only one day left in group stage, there is still a lot on the line! Only one Block's positioning in the single-elimination is currently determined, so we expect an exciting show full of unexpected turns and twists.
- ZENKI and Mushigahara will meet in a match that while the result will not change their tournament placement, still holds a lot of value. ZENKI defeated Yamazaki under the sport form rule set, but it was via judges' decision, leaving many to wonder whether the Demon Lord in fact has the power to finish off the man who dethroned him for the MAX-J Heavyweight title five years ago.
- David Troy vs Alexander Irvine will determine the winner of Block D, as a win by Irvine would cause the two fighters to tie in points and also give Irvine the tie-breaker. Remember, the winner of the Block gets an advantage because they start off by fighting the 2nd place winner of one of the other blocks. But given these two competitors, we can't imagine that either of them needs any more motivation.
- Himura vs Thunder Mask will determine which fighter advances from Block B. A win by Himura ties the two fighters in points and grants him a tie-breaker over Thunder Mask to jump into 2nd place. A win by Thunder Mask will secure his advancement at a minimum, and if Knight is upset by Saitoh earlier in the evening then Thunder Mask would win Block B entirely.
- In the main event, Tiger Mask Red and METAL HERO will battle it out to determine who will win Block C. METAL HERO has utilized a rather unusual strategy ever since Day 2, which allowed him to defeat Tiger Mask Red under the sport form rules, but Tiger Mask Red is in deep preparations as we have learned from his spokesperson. All of this virtually guarantees an epic ending to closeout the group stage!
J1 SUMMIT 2024 - Day 6
Date: 8/25/2024
Location: Mirai Dome, Tokyo, Japan
1. El Refresco IV vs. Satoshi Kamakura
2. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK A: Zenki vs. Eiichiro Yamazaki
3. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK B: AJ Knight vs. Rhythm Saitoh
4. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK D: David Troy vs. Alexander Irvine
5. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK D: Hayato Hamada vs. Earth Warrior
6. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK A: Akira Nakamura vs. NEXUS
7. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK B: Katsuhiko Himura vs. Thunder Mask
8. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK C: Jimmy Winner vs. Ryan Samuels
9. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK C: Tiger Mask Red vs. METAL HERO
3. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK B: AJ Knight vs. Rhythm Saitoh
4. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK D: David Troy vs. Alexander Irvine
5. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK D: Hayato Hamada vs. Earth Warrior
6. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK A: Akira Nakamura vs. NEXUS
7. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK B: Katsuhiko Himura vs. Thunder Mask
8. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK C: Jimmy Winner vs. Ryan Samuels
9. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - BLOCK C: Tiger Mask Red vs. METAL HERO