Post by 円相! TV on Aug 29, 2024 19:49:50 GMT
Day 8 of the J1 SUMMIT 2024 was unlike any other day in the tournament thus far, with an atmosphere charged with intensity and anticipation. Even hours before the event began, nearly 2,000 of Lord ZENKI’s most fervent Demon Brigade followers gathered outside the Mirai Dome, staging a massive prayer ritual. The air was thick with the scent of incense as they chanted holy mantras, praying to the gods and other makeshift shrines for ZENKI's victory in his semifinal match against AJ Knight. The scene set the tone for what would be an unforgettable night of pro-wrestling, where every match carried immense weight.
The opening match of the night featured a semifinal bout in the Fighting Spirit Invitational, pitting Katsuhiko Himura against the cybernetic competitor, NEXUS. The crowd buzzed with excitement as the two fighters squared off, each representing a different style—Himura's classical wrestling background versus NEXUS's cold, calculated precision.
From the opening bell, NEXUS attempted to use his machine-like approach to dissect Himura’s technique, targeting his limbs with surgical precision. NEXUS’s strategy of wearing down his opponent with methodical strikes and submissions kept Himura on the defensive for the early part of the match. Every time Himura attempted to mount an offense, NEXUS would counter with a perfectly timed strike or takedown, frustrating the Japanese veteran.
However, Himura’s experience began to show as the match progressed. Realizing that he couldn’t outthink the AI, Himura shifted gears and started to rely on his instincts, using his agility and wrestling knowledge to evade NEXUS's attacks. The turning point came when NEXUS attempted to lock in a neck crank, only for Himura to slip out and counter with a series of blistering strikes, followed by a bridging German suplex that brought the crowd to its feet. With NEXUS stunned, Himura executed another German suplex hold, this time for the pinfall, securing his spot in the final of the Fighting Spirit Invitational.
Fighting Spirit Invitational - Semifinals: Kenzo Hirata vs. Earth Warrior
In the second semifinal of the Fighting Spirit Invitational, Earth Warrior took on Kenzo Hirata in a match that would see one of MAX-J’s most underestimated competitors attempt to overcome the power and skill of a rising star. Hirata entered the match with confidence, having dominated his opponents throughout the tournament, and he looked to do the same against the environmental activist.
From the onset, Hirata’s combination of size and speed proved difficult for Earth Warrior to handle. Hirata unleashed a barrage of strikes and slams, each one more punishing than the last, leaving Earth Warrior struggling to keep up. The crowd could sense Hirata’s dominance, as he seemed to be in complete control of the match, dictating its pace and direction. Every attempt Earth Warrior made to fight back was quickly thwarted, and Hirata appeared on the verge of victory.
However, as the match wore on, Hirata’s confidence began to morph into overconfidence. After grounding Earth Warrior with a powerful clothesline, Hirata made the fateful decision to ascend the top rope, looking to finish the match in spectacular fashion. But as Hirata leaped into the air, Earth Warrior rolled out of the way, leaving Hirata to crash into the mat. Sensing his opportunity, Earth Warrior quickly climbed the ropes himself and executed an avalanche-style hurricanrana that sent Hirata spiraling. The impact stunned Hirata just long enough for Earth Warrior to secure the pinfall, earning a shocking victory and advancing to the final. The crowd erupted in disbelief, as Earth Warrior had once again defied the odds.
Akira Nakamura and Rhythm Saitoh vs. El Refresco IV and Il Ladro
In a tag team match that served as a break from the high-stakes tournament action, Akira Nakamura and Rhythm Saitoh faced off against the dynamic duo of El Refresco IV and Il Ladro. The match began with Nakamura and El Refresco IV engaging in a high-energy exchange of strikes and aerial maneuvers, with both teams looking to gain the upper hand early.
El Refresco IV and Il Ladro’s lucha libre style kept Nakamura and Saitoh on their toes, as the masked men executed a series of fast-paced double-team moves that had the crowd roaring. However, Nakamura and Saitoh’s teamwork and experience eventually began to turn the tide. After a hot tag to Saitoh, the match intensified, with Saitoh’s unorthodox style catching Il Ladro off guard and leading to a series of near-falls.
The match reached its climax when Nakamura, now the legal man, hit a devastating series of suplexes on El Refresco IV, setting him up for the Gauss Cannon. Nakamura’s patented move connected with pinpoint accuracy, and El Refresco IV was unable to kick out, giving Nakamura and Saitoh the victory. Despite the loss, El Refresco IV and Il Ladro received a standing ovation for their efforts, while Nakamura and Saitoh celebrated their hard-fought win.
Takashi Yamashita vs. Jin Hirai
Jin Hirai faced off against Takashi Yamashita in a match that promised to showcase the best of MAX-J’s junior heavyweight talent. Both competitors are known for their speed and agility, and the match did not disappoint, with each fighter pushing the other to their limits.
Yamashita started strong, using his superior striking ability to keep Hirai at a distance, landing several sharp kicks that left Hirai reeling. However, Hirai’s resilience and quick reflexes allowed him to weather the storm and start mounting his own offense. A series of dropkicks and high-flying maneuvers brought the match back to an even footing, with both men exchanging control in a fast-paced back-and-forth.
The decisive moment came when Yamashita attempted a running knee strike, only for Hirai to sidestep and counter with a lightning-quick jumping axe kick. The blow caught Yamashita squarely on the side of the head, dropping him to the mat. Hirai wasted no time in covering his opponent for the pin, securing a well-earned victory. The match was a showcase of athleticism and heart, with Hirai emerging as the victor in a hard-fought contest.
Thunder Mask and Eiichiro Yamazaki vs. Ryan Samuels and David Troy
In a tag team match that pitted the powerhouse duo of Ryan Samuels and David Troy against the veteran team of Thunder Mask and Eiichiro Yamazaki, the stakes were high as each competitor looked to make a statement heading into the final stages of the tournament. From the outset, it was clear that Samuels and Troy had the advantage in terms of raw power, with Samuels using his strength to dominate the early exchanges.
Thunder Mask and Yamazaki, however, used their experience and ring savvy to mount a comeback, with Thunder Mask’s judo techniques grounding Samuels and allowing Yamazaki to land several powerful strikes. The match swung back and forth, with both teams trading momentum in a hard-hitting battle. As the match wore on, the physicality began to take its toll on all four competitors, with each man digging deep to find that extra gear.
The match reached its climax when Troy, the legal man, managed to avoid a running lariat from Yamazaki and countered with a spinning back kick that set up the finish. With Yamazaki staggered, Troy delivered a shining wizard that connected flush, sending Yamazaki crashing to the mat. The pinfall was academic, as Troy secured the victory for his team. Samuels and Troy celebrated their win, while Thunder Mask and Yamazaki received a warm ovation for their efforts in a thrilling encounter.
J1 SUMMIT 2024 - Semifinals: ZENKI vs. AJ Knight
The first J1 SUMMIT semifinal of the night was a highly anticipated showdown between Lord ZENKI and AJ Knight. The atmosphere in the Mirai Dome was electric, with the thousands of Demon Brigade fans who had gathered earlier in the day now filling the arena with chants and cheers for their dark lord. Knight, ever the professional, remained focused despite the hostile environment, knowing that this match was the biggest challenge of his career.
From the opening bell, the intensity of the match was palpable. ZENKI immediately took control, using his unorthodox offense to keep Knight on the back foot. Knight, however, was not easily intimidated, and he quickly countered with a series of stiff forearm strikes and suplexes that brought the fight back to an even footing. The two competitors exchanged momentum, with ZENKI using his speed and agility to evade Knight’s offense and Knight using his technical prowess to neutralize ZENKI’s unorthodox attacks.
AJ Knight, however, was not one to be outdone and after hitting an arm drag takeover on ZENKI quickly followed it up with a shining wizard that caused the fans to gasp! Knight, knowing it would take more to put down ZENKI did not even attempt a cover but stood ZENKI up to his feet and picked him up and then dropped him for a Michinoku Driver! This would come close to ending the match but ZENKI would kick out just before at a 2.5 count.
Knight would land some stiff kicks to the downed ZENKI and then lock in a sleeper hold to his seated opponent! ZENKI would struggle to get it and then Knight transitioned to a Dragon sleeper! ZENKI began kicking his legs as Knight had him directly in the center of the ring and with seemingly nowhere to go. The referee would raise ZENKI's hand once...
... it went down.
The referee would raise the hand a second time...
... it went down.
The referee would raise the hand a third time...
... it went down!
~ BUT NOT ALL THE WAY! A fist from ZENKI shot up to the roar of the Demon Brigade who briefed a collective sigh of relief. ZENKI then used his massive strength to get his feet planted under him and springboard himself backward out of the hold ~ and apply his own DRAGON SLEEPER, turnabout being fair play and all between these two evenly matched competitors. Knight would not be denied, however and began to use his feet to power the two men up while they remained in the hold ~ however, ZENKI would hit a reverse DDT to put Knight back on the mat! He'd go for the cover but only get a two-count.
The fans witnessed a major turning point came when ZENKI attempted to hit a high-risk maneuver from the top rope, only for Knight to catch him mid-air with a devastating dropkick. The impact sent ZENKI crashing to the mat, and Knight quickly capitalized with a series of suplexes and strikes that left the Demon Lord reeling. Sensing an opportunity, Knight went for his signature Knightfall DDT, but ZENKI managed to counter with a release Northern Lights suplex that sent Knight crashing to the mat!
With Knight down, ZENKI quickly transitioned into the Netherlock, his modified Texas Cloverleaf with a heel hook that had proven to be a match-ending hold throughout the tournament. Knight fought valiantly, trying to reach the ropes, but ZENKI’s grip was too strong. With his body being bent into a pretzel and his heel being wrenched inside of ZENKI's armpit, and with nowhere to go, Knight was forced to tap out, giving ZENKI the hard-fought victory!! The Demon Brigade fans erupted in celebration as their dark lord advanced to the final of the J1 SUMMIT, while Knight, once he got up to his feet, received a standing ovation from the remainder of the crowd for his incredible performance.
J1 SUMMIT 2024 - Semifinals: Tiger Mask Red vs. Alexander Irvine
The second J1 SUMMIT semifinal saw Tiger Mask Red take on Alexander Irvine in a match that promised to be a battle of wills. Irvine, the former Marine, and Tiger Mask Red, the enigmatic and ruthless competitor, both entered the ring with the knowledge that victory would secure their place in the final.
The match began with Irvine attempting to use his technical wrestling and striking ability to keep Tiger Mask Red at bay. Irvine landed several powerful forearms and knee strikes that left Tiger Mask Red staggered, but the masked fighter quickly recovered and began to mount his own offense. Tiger Mask Red’s brutal and fearsome style came to the forefront as he targeted Irvine’s legs with a series of kicks and submissions, trying to wear down his opponent. This would culminate with Tiger Mask Red picking up Irvine for a dragon screw, but switched it up by instead launching forward for a massive elbow strike that put Irvine down to the mat!
Tiger Mask Red would then lock on a single-leg crab hold and then begin kicking Irvine in the back of the head repeatedly. While the move was certainly vicious, it only seemed to awaken something in Irvine, where he used his hands to push himself off the mat and he spun out of the hold. With Irvine only up to a knee, Tiger Mask Red would rush forward with a Boma Ye knee strike, but Irvine would cross his forearms in front of his face and block the blow just in time! This would give Irvine the time to get back up to his feet and rush forward and hit a Battle Cry, one of the most punishing forearm strikes in the business! Irvine would drop to the mat and the referee would count for the 1-2-3-NO! Tiger Mask Red would have a foot on the ropes.
With Tiger Mask Red suffering, Irvine's offense consisted of a series of suplexes and power moves - a release German suplex followed by a release half-nelson suplex, and then a sleeper suplex ~ each one more devastating than the last, but Tiger Mask Red’s resilience and ruthless aggression allowed him to stay in the fight, with Irvine picking up a two count after each hold. Irvine would then pick up Tiger Mask Red and began peppering him with punches to the body - including his patented liver shot, that caused Tiger Mask Red to double over in one of the corners.
As the referee checked on Tiger Mask Red, asking him if he wanted to continue, Irvine would back up and await for Tiger Mask Red to get back to his feet. When his opponent did, he rushed forward for a Battle Cry ~ and Tiger Mask Red rushed forward and used the Boma Ye knee strike on Irvine's elbow! The momentum would cause both men to spin about, Irvine clutching his arm and Tiger Mask trying to shake out his knee. The fans smacked the backs of the seats to shake up the two men to their feet, causing the entire arena to sound as though it were in some kind of a thunderstorm.
With both men up to their feet, Irvine went for a chop to the chest with his non-injured arm! Tiger Mask Red answered with a chop! Irvine with a chop! Tiger Mask Red with a chop! Irvine with a chop! Tiger Mask Red with a chop! Irvine with a ~ Tiger Mask Red captured the arm and in a flash positioned himself to rear and got a forearm around Irvine's throat and braced Irvine's head with his other hand and dropped him for a Tiger Mask Red managed to counter a TIGER SUPLEX '85 HOLD! Tiger Mask Red preserved the bridge of the pin as the referee counted...
1...
2...
3!!!
The bell sounded as Tiger Mask Red’s victory secured his place in the final of the J1 SUMMIT, but the sinister look in his eyes as he refused to immediately release the hold left the crowd with a sense of unease. Irvine would receive some medical attention
JUST PRIOR TO GOING OFF THE AIR...
Immediately after the main event, ZENKI would step out onto the stage and confront Tiger Mask Red! The atmosphere was electric as ZENKI slowly made his way down to the ring. Tiger Mask Red, still exhausted from his encounter with Irvine exitted the ring and stalked toward him, telling hin to "bring it on!". The ringside attendants led by Hikaru Yamada were scared to approach the two fighters as an intense energy radiated from the two men.
The intensity of the staredown was enormous, and it was J1 Training Camp Head Coach and former J1 winner Mike Musket who jumped up from his seat and actually told the ringside attendants not to approach them for their own safety! Sensing that chaos could emerge, he ordered the attendants to guard the ringside area to prevent any Demon Brigade zealots from jumping the guardrails and he went forward himself into the aisle to keep the situation from escalating.
But the two finalists of the J1 SUMMIT standing in the walkway that leads to and from the ring, with the lights and eyes of the arena firmly upon them, barely seemed to notice his presence, as the entirety of their burning intensity was trained on one another as the show closed in one of the most incredible scenes that we have witnessed as the hype continues to build to seemingly infinite levels...
THE GRAND FINAL OF THE J1 SUMMIT AWAITS!
POST-SHOW FALLOUT
As Day 8 of the J1 SUMMIT 2024 came to a close, Demon Brigade fans were overjoyed and resumed their prayers. Wafts of smoke from incense fishtailed into the air of Tokyo's downtown. Seemingly in every bar or restaurant the conversation continued as fans remarked at the excitement of the show.
We managed to catch up with J1 Training Camp Head Coach Mike Musket to ask him why we waived off the ringside attendants from approaching the two men as they stood in the aisle in their epic staredown. Musket said that, "fellas ain't trained to deal with monsters like them. These fellers are on a whole 'nother level. I wasn't just worried about someone gettin' hurt, but maybe someone going down for count, if you know what I mean. And if somebody's gonna bite the dust out there trying to wrangle with either one o' them boys, well, I've lived a long life. There are worse ways for a man to go out."
In other news, fortunately for day 9 of the tournament, we were able to catch up with Irvine and determine that his elbow was not injured and that he had suffered a major contusion. He described this bruise as "merely a flesh wound" - though the giant ice pack taped to his arm would beg to differ.
Some argued that Earth Warrior's incredible upset of Battleship Hirata might just be one of the biggest surprises of the entire tour. Hirata is a top-five competitor in OCW and he has rarely, if ever, lost to a junior heavyweight fighter. Earth Warrior commented that while he was a junior heavyweight, his heart and spirit was "the size of Mother Earth" and that he would venture into the finals of the Fighting Spirit Invitational with the intention of capping off the tour with a victory.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
J1 SUMMIT 2024 - Day 8
Date: 8/29/2024
Date: 8/29/2024
Location: Mirai Dome, Tokyo, Japan
Attendance: 20,500 fans
1. Fighting Spirit Invitational - Semifinal: Katsuhiko Himura defeats NEXUS (11:12) via pinfall with a German suplex hold.
2. Fighting Spirit Invitational - Semifinal: Earth Warrior defeats Kenzo Hirata (14:01) via pinfall after an avalanche-style hurricanrana.
3. Akira Nakamura and Rhythm Saitoh defeat El Refresco IV and Il Ladro (10:50) via pinfall when Nakamura uses the Gauss Cannon on El Refresco IV.
4. Jin Hirai defeats Takashi Yamashita (8:15) after a jumping axe kick.
5. Ryan Samuels and David Troy defeat Thunder Mask and Eiichiro Yamazaki (15:35) via pinfall after Troy uses a shining wizard on Yamazaki.
6. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - Semifinal: ZENKI defeats AJ Knight (23:43) via submission with the Netherlock.
7. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - Semifinal: Tiger Mask Red defeats Alexander Irvine (20:28) via pinfall with a Tiger Suplex '85 hold.
PREVIEW OF DAY 9
We have so many amazing matches for the last day of the tour, most are calling this the most important date in the entire history of MAX-J, going all the way back even to the company's beginning in 2017.
- We will have #1 contenders for the World Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Thunder Mask will team with SANGRE to go up against El Refresco IV, who has performed quite well on the tour, and veteran journeyman Satoshi Kamakura. The current World Jr. Tag Champs, Hayato Hamada and Jin Hirai, are in a bit of disarray due to Hamada's underperformance on this tour. Needless to say, whoever their opponens turns out to be will be quite the challenge.
- The "J9" Fighting Spirit Invitational will put Katsuhiko Himura - who many argue should have gone deeper into the SUMMIT - versus the incredible underdog story of Earth Warrior. We have seen Earth Warrior pull out so many wild upsets over the last year ~ will he add "Genius" Himura to his list or will Himura win the Invitational in an act of redemption?
- In a matchup that probably could not have been scripted any better - in the J1 3rd Place Match we will see the bitter rivalry between AJ Knight and Alexander Irvine play out right in front of our eyes. The feud between these two men goes back years and ever since the two men arrived in Japan months ago they have resumed throwing barbs at one another. From Okinawa to Sendai and now to Tokyo, we will see their rivalry reach a new phase tomorrow.
- At the end of the day, it's the epic showdown between ZENKI versus Tiger Mask Red that is on everyone's mind. With both competitors having battled through some of the toughest opponents in MAX-J, the anticipation for the final was at an all-time high. Analysts argue that this is the "ultimate match" and if you look at the performance metrics, these truly are the top two fighters in the world. Many are already framing this match as "Japan vs the World" or an "East vs West" showdown as these are considered the two strongest fighters in their respective geographic regions. The Mirai Dome, filled to its maximum capacity, will witness history in the making as the J1 SUMMIT 2024 comes to its thrilling conclusion.
J1 SUMMIT - Day 9
Date: 8/30/2024
Location: Mirai Dome, Tokyo, Japan
1. Takasha Yamashita and Il Ladro vs. Jimmy Winner and NEXUS
2. Rhythm Saitoh vs. Jin Hirai
3. Ryan Samuels and David Troy vs. Hiroyuki Fukudome and Shinzo Takamori
4. Kenzo Hirata, Akira Nakamura, and Shigeru Toyama vs. Eiichiro Yamazaki, Balloon Yamazaki, and Dark Feather II
5. #1 Contender for World Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Thunder Mask and SANGRE vs El Refresco IV and Satoshi Kamakura
6. Fighting Spirit Invitational - Final: Katsuhiko Himura vs. Earth Warrior
7. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - 3rd Place Match: AJ Knight vs. Alexander Irvine
8. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - Grand Final: ZENKI vs. Tiger Mask Red
Date: 8/30/2024
Location: Mirai Dome, Tokyo, Japan
1. Takasha Yamashita and Il Ladro vs. Jimmy Winner and NEXUS
2. Rhythm Saitoh vs. Jin Hirai
3. Ryan Samuels and David Troy vs. Hiroyuki Fukudome and Shinzo Takamori
4. Kenzo Hirata, Akira Nakamura, and Shigeru Toyama vs. Eiichiro Yamazaki, Balloon Yamazaki, and Dark Feather II
5. #1 Contender for World Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Thunder Mask and SANGRE vs El Refresco IV and Satoshi Kamakura
6. Fighting Spirit Invitational - Final: Katsuhiko Himura vs. Earth Warrior
7. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - 3rd Place Match: AJ Knight vs. Alexander Irvine
8. J1 SUMMIT 2024 - Grand Final: ZENKI vs. Tiger Mask Red