RESULTS: J1 SUMMIT - Day 7 (8/28/2024)

The first match of the night saw NEXUS square off against Akira Nakamura in the Fighting Spirit Invitational (a/k/a the unofficial "J9") quarter-finals. Nakamura, who had struggled throughout the group stage, entered the ring determined to make a statement. The match began with Nakamura aggressively targeting NEXUS’s legs, utilizing his kickboxing background to keep the cybernetic fighter off balance. NEXUS, however, remained calm and calculated, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

As Nakamura attempted a high roundhouse kick, NEXUS ducked underneath and countered with a powerful German suplex that sent Nakamura crashing to the mat. Nakamura, dazed but not out, tried to regain control with a flurry of strikes, but NEXUS’s methodical approach proved too much. After ducking another spinning kick, NEXUS capitalized with the Neural Spike, his devastating Brainbuster DDT, to secure the pinfall victory. NEXUS advanced to the semi-finals, his cold precision earning him a well-deserved win.

Katsuhiko Himura faced Rhythm Saitoh in the next Fighting Spirit Invitational quarter-final match. Himura, known for his technical expertise, was up against Saitoh’s unpredictable jazz-inspired wrestling style. The match started with Saitoh using his unique timing and movement to confuse Himura, hitting a series of rapid dropkicks and transitions. However, Himura’s experience allowed him to weather the storm and stay focused.

As the match progressed, Himura began to ground Saitoh, taking away his mobility and forcing him into a grappling exchange. Once on the mat, Himura showcased his superior submission skills, locking Saitoh in various holds that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. Despite Saitoh’s best efforts to escape, Himura’s relentless pressure proved too much. After transitioning from a rear-naked choke attempt, Himura secured a deep guillotine choke, and the referee had no choice but to call for the stoppage when Saitoh couldn’t escape. Himura advanced to the next round, his technical mastery on full display.

Kenzo Hirata, one of the newest MAX-J sponsored fighters, took on Jimmy Winner in the next Fighting Spirit Invitational quarter-final. Hirata’s combination of size and speed made him a formidable opponent, and from the opening bell, he controlled the pace of the match. Using a mix of powerful strikes and suplexes, Hirata kept Winner on the defensive, preventing him from gaining any momentum.

Winner, a skilled Judoka, attempted to bring the match to the ground, hoping to leverage his submission game, but Hirata’s strength allowed him to power out of every hold. Hirata’s athleticism shone through as he seamlessly transitioned from striking to grappling, wearing Winner down with every move. As the match neared its conclusion, Hirata caught Winner in a kimura, forcing him to tap out. Hirata’s victory sent him to the semi-finals, and the crowd buzzed with excitement over his future prospects in MAX-J.

Earth Warrior pulled off another surprising victory in the Fighting Spirit Invitational quarter-finals, defeating Hayato Hamada. The match began with Hamada utilizing his MMA background to dominate the early exchanges, using precise strikes and takedowns to keep Earth Warrior at bay. Hamada looked confident as he controlled the pace, but Earth Warrior’s resilience and tenacity allowed him to stay in the fight.

As the match wore on, Hamada began to lose steam, and Earth Warrior seized the opportunity to turn the tide. After a series of well-placed kicks and strikes, Earth Warrior caught Hamada with a surprise knee to the midsection, followed by a flurry of palm strikes that sent Hamada reeling. With Hamada on the ropes, Earth Warrior continued his assault until the referee stepped in to stop the match. Hamada’s shocking 0-7 record in the tournament left fans stunned, while Earth Warrior’s victory solidified his place in the semi-finals.

Dark Feather II continued his dominant run in the tournament, defeating El Refresco IV in a hard-fought match. From the opening bell, El Refresco IV used his lucha libre background to stay one step ahead of the towering Dark Feather II. Refresco’s agility and speed allowed him to connect with a series of high-flying maneuvers, including a picture-perfect hurricanrana that brought the crowd to its feet.

However, Dark Feather II’s power and patience eventually turned the tide. After catching Refresco mid-air during an attempted crossbody, Dark Feather II slammed him to the mat with a vicious backbreaker. With Refresco struggling to recover, Dark Feather II capitalized with a series of punishing strikes, eventually hitting his patented Swallowing Kick to secure the pinfall victory. Dark Feather II’s menacing presence in the tournament continued to grow as he advanced to the semi-finals.

Midway through the show, lead ringside attendant Hikaru Yamada noticed what he thought was something burning near the J1 SUMMIT 2024 trophy that sat ringside. Upon investigation, he discovered that Demon Brigade zealots had smuggled incense into the arena and had begun lighting it and wafting the smoke toward the trophy.

When security arrived these passionate fans protested that they needed to purify the trophy so that "foreign devils" would never be able to touch it. Security officials ordered the fans to stop due to fears that their actions might somehow create smoke damage that would impact the rather expensive trophy. Two rather unruly fans were escorted from ringside and re-seated up high in the Mirai Dome's overflow seating area.

The first J1 SUMMIT quarter-final of the night saw ZENKI take on Thunder Mask in a rematch that had the crowd buzzing with anticipation. Thunder Mask, still seeking revenge for his loss at CRUISERWORLD II, came out strong, using his judo background to keep ZENKI off balance. The two veterans exchanged holds and strikes in a fast-paced match that had the audience on the edge of their seats.

Thunder Mask managed to catch ZENKI with a diving shotei, sending the Demon Lord crashing into the turnbuckle. However, ZENKI’s resilience allowed him to bounce back quickly. As Thunder Mask attempted a follow-up attack, ZENKI countered with a brutal spinning heel kick that floored his opponent. Sensing an opportunity, ZENKI unleashed a series of suplexes that left Thunder Mask reeling. In the final moments of the match, ZENKI delivered the Zenki Bomb, securing the pinfall victory and advancing to the semi-finals. Thunder Mask’s quest for redemption came up short, but he earned the respect of the crowd with his valiant effort.

AJ Knight faced Eiichiro Yamazaki in a highly anticipated quarter-final match that showcased two of MAX-J’s top competitors. The match began with a display of sportsmanship as the two fighters shook hands before engaging in a technical wrestling battle. Yamazaki, using his sumo background, attempted to overpower Knight with powerful throws and strikes, but Knight’s agility and ring awareness kept him out of harm’s way.

Knight began to shift the momentum in his favor by targeting Yamazaki’s legs, using low kicks and submissions to wear down the larger opponent. Yamazaki fought back with a series of high-impact slams, but Knight’s resilience allowed him to stay in the fight. After a back-and-forth exchange that had the crowd on its feet, Knight managed to counter a suplex attempt and delivered his signature Knightfall DDT, securing the pinfall victory. After the match, the two competitors shook hands once more, acknowledging the hard-fought battle they had just endured.

In one of the most anticipated matches of the night, Tiger Mask Red faced David Troy in a brutal quarter-final bout. From the opening bell, the two competitors went toe-to-toe in a hard-hitting affair that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. Troy, known for his striking and grappling skills, tried to keep Tiger Mask Red at bay with precise strikes, but the masked fighter’s relentless aggression began to wear him down.

Tiger Mask Red targeted Troy’s midsection with a series of brutal knee strikes, eventually cornering him in the ring and forcing him into a defensive position. As Troy tried to fight his way out of the corner, Tiger Mask Red locked in a guillotine choke, and although Troy fought valiantly, the referee stepped in to call for the stoppage when it was clear that Troy could no longer defend himself and would not tap-out. Tiger Mask Red’s sinister demeanor and refusal to release the hold immediately, which we had seen before, was but another reminder that this was no ordinary version of Tiger Mask Red. This was a fighter hell-bent on not only defeating opponents' physically but spiritually, as well.

The main event of the evening saw Alexander Irvine take on Ryan Samuels, the fighter who replaced the injured METAL HERO, in a match that showcased two of the most powerful competitors in the tournament. From the opening bell, the match was a slugfest, with both men exchanging heavy blows and suplexes. Samuels, known for his brute strength, tried to overpower Irvine, but the former Marine’s experience and technical prowess allowed him to counter Samuels’ offense at every turn. A chopfest in the center of the ring managed to break in Samuels' way and he snatched up a stunned Irvine and dumped him on the back of his head with a backdrop driver! The move, however would only get a two-count.

Samuels would stomp and elbow drop Irvine and these body shots and parting shots would slow down Irvine quite a bit, but a Dragon whip would put Samuels on his back and Irvine would get the mount and start beating him with hammer fists. Samuels would cover up but Irvine was relentless! However, Samuels would eventually buck Irvine off of him, though he would eat a running knee strike to the face that put him back down. Samuels, however, wouldn't give up and would slide to the outside of the ring to collect his bearings.

As the match wore on, Samuels managed to hit a series of power moves, including a spinebuster that nearly secured him the victory! However, Irvine’s resilience and ring savvy kept him in the fight. After a back-and-forth battle that had the crowd roaring in approval, Irvine finally gained the upper hand. He countered a lariat attempt from Samuels with a Fujiwara armbar that he then transitioned to a Crossface hold. However, Samuels would push off Irvine's hand and roll out of the way and finally hit his patented lariat to put him down for what appeared to be a three-count - but Irvine had a foot on the ropes!

Samuels at this point was feeling all the momentum and went for a burning lariat but Irvine would preempt the move with a sharp knee to the gut that knocked the window out of Samuels. And then, in what might be the biggest showcase of strength we've seen in the tournament, Irvine lifted up the +300lb behemoth and planted him with a devastating vertical-drop brainbuster, securing the hard-fought pinfall victory in the process. 

Despite the loss, Samuels - who had accepted METAL HERO's spot on short notice - earned the respect of the fans who could appreciate the Midwest Nightmare's dynamic aggression. Nevertheless, it was Alexander Irvine who moved on to the semi-finals, his eyes firmly set on the J1 SUMMIT crown that sat ringside...