Post by UNION of SPORTS! on Aug 31, 2018 21:28:03 GMT -5
J1 SUMMIT DAY 7
8/31/2018
MIRAI DOME, YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
On a rainy night in downtown Yokohama, just over 10,000 fans huddled in the Mirai Dome for the final night of the 2018 J1 SUMMIT. As they trickled into the arena and purchased t-shirts in the official merchandise store on the concourse, a split-screen image on all of the monitors showed Jacob Hammerstein and Tokyo Zombie. Hammerstein could be seen training, doing calisthenics, and rolling tape around his wrists. Shadowboxing, fans could hear the fists cut through the air like darts. Zombie for the most part sat in a deep meditative state, his rhythmic chanting echoing in the speakers and seemingly competing against Hammerstein’s own movements.
GM Masaaki Sano took the stage at the start of the show. He thanked the fans for their attendance and lively spectatorship. He reminded everyone about the upcoming ATTACK OF THE CASTLE! tour from 9/12-10/14 that will travel through Fukuoka and also feature a MAX vs. Lion’s Road series and a GAIJIN NO SPECIAL on 10/13 where King of Lions World’s Heavyweight Champion David Troy will defend the belt against Billy Danielson of Seattle PRO Wrestling. Finally, he confirmed the rumors from earlier today that James Edwards’ health would not allow him to compete. He assured the fans that METAL HERO would still defend the MAX Junior Heavyweight title, as an appropriate challenger had been determined…
… Weighing in at 219.7lb…
LYNX officially passed the weigh-in and, based on his performance joining MAX-J mid-tour, was deemed the #1 contender for the junior heavyweight championship. GM Sano wished all the fighters on the night’s show good luck as the festivities began.
In the opening match, Masanori Kawada and Shigeru Toyama would defeat Mitsuo Shimada and Genji Ikeda. It was a quick but exciting match where Toyama and Shimada exchanged a series of luchador-esque headscissors and other acrobatics. But in the end, Kawada would drop Shimada on his head with the fisherman-style Emerald Fusion, the K-Dynamite, and scored the pin to go 2-0 in tag matches over as many days.
Due to Lynx facing METAL HERO later in the night, Jack Tillman would face off against KOSUKE in a match that featured a lot of MMA. KOSUKE used his amateur wrestling background early and locked on an americana but Tillman just barely fought out of it. Eventually, Tillman would catch KOSUKE in his patented crossface hold, the Recluse, and force the amateur wrestler to tapout. After the match, Tillman boasted that in September he would ensure that MAX-J management realized the mistake they made in not nominating him as #1 contender.
In a tag match featuring two J1 semifinalists, ZENKI and Hiro Minamoto would square off against Shinjiro Nakama and Umetarō Sakamoto. ZENKI and Nakama went to battle in with a sequence fans hope will someday take place in singles competition where Nakama attempted a German suplex by ZENKI reversed it with an Asai DDT! He couldn’t get the pin due to Sakamoto, the top technical student of MAX Dojo, who came in and locked on an abdominal stretch to halt his offense! Eventually Minamoto, the King’s Road specialist who recently injured James Edwards, came in and broke it up and hit a powerbomb on Sakamoto just after he tagged in Nakama. “Mountain” Shinjiro rushed in with a knee strike and a high-angle German suplex hold to pin Minamoto and get the 1-2-3! After the match, Nakama’s agent Arnold Cunningham said that his client had tasted ZENKI’s power and found it to be weak. He told all the reporters to expect Nakama to be champion sooner rather than later.
GRIM versus Daichi Kusumoto got off to a strange start. After a tie-up, Kusumoto hit a thunderous European uppercut on GRIM and red mist shot out of his nostrils and hit Kusumoto in the face. The perplexed referee debated disqualifying GRIM, but the King of the Dead argued his case that he didn’t spit the mist and it was involuntary. The referee got on the headset with the front office and they determined that they couldn’t disqualify him. But with Kusumoto down and unable to continue, the match ended with a GRIM victory due to referee stoppage after only a few minutes.
In the next match, Mike Musket and Jun Vegas would show the Yokohama fans why they should be excited about their new alliance. The two grappled for several minutes with Musket showcasing his championship level catch wrestling background. And then the chopfest began. For nearly three minutes they went at it with one another until Vegas won out and then hit a brainbuster but only got two count.
Musket would fight back, hitting a backdrop driver but only getting 1-2-2.9 count as Vegas got the shoulder up. Musket would go for a lariat, miss, and the two men would both hit burning lariats on one another and collapse to the mat! The two men were nearly double KO’d, but both made it up before the ref counted to ten. Vegas would attempt another brainbuster, but Musket reversed it into an inside cradle for the 1-2-3! The mountain man raised his hand in victory, but joy soon turned to surprise when the referee declared the match a draw. It seems that Musket’s shoulders were also down and therefore the match ended in a double pin. After the surprise wore off, Mike Musket laughed about it with Jun Vegas and the two men pledged to train together before the next tour.
And now we will present the first of two matches aired in their entirety, streamed worldwide via the Battleground Network…
MAX JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP:
METAL HERO (champion) vs. LYNX (challenger)
“Your Time Has Come” fills the arena and the fans are one their feet as the enigmatic physical specimen known as Lynx hits the stage.
TIM FLOSS:
Well, everyone, General Manager Sano didn’t lie. It looks like Lynx is going to get the shot tonight. METAL HERO has been a lot for folks to handle, Al. Do you think the young man is up to the task?
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Well, if you get in the ring with METAL HERO and live, I count that as a win in my book. But if Lynx is as good against the champ as his physique looks? He may just have a chance to win this thing!
Breaking his solemn demeanor for a moment, Lynx shoots the fans with finger pistols before slowly making his way towards the ring and jumping onto the apron. In an acrobatic act, he catapults himself into the ring and stands in the corner to wait for…
The iconic screaming guitar riff of “Heroes” by David Bowie fills the arena as METAL HERO emerges from the backstage curtain. The imposing jet-black frame contrasts against the brilliant shimmer of the golden championship around his waist as he stalks down the aisle seemingly oblivious to the screaming, yelling fans.
Many young fans in the front row seem to have donned modified trashcans with holes cut in them, or black poster boards rolled into cylinders onto of black sweats, but HERO ignores them all. He ducks under the top rope to enter the ring and stands android-like in the corner with his back to the fans as he waits for the match to begin.
TIM FLOSS:
I have to say I am very surprised in Genki’s decision. It seems unwise given that METAL HERO is still undefeated here.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Of course you’re surprised. You don’t understand style or wrestling. Lynx has been tearing up the ring since he has walked into the company, and I have it on good accord that his work ethic has impressed many of the superstars who have been here a while.
TIM FLOSS:
Who are these Superstars?
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Who other than the Wild Man of Fuji Mountain Mike Musket. He’s been saying that Lynx hits the gym harder than a Bobcat hit by an 18-Wheeler.
The ref takes the MAX Jr. Heavyweight Title and presents it to each side of the ring for those in attendance before giving the belt to a stagehand at the corner. Turning around he checks on both men and signals for the bell.
TIM FLOSS:
Here we go Al.
The two men move toward one another in circular fashion until HERO steps forward for the grapple that Lynx is honored to meet him with. Both men struggle for superior positioning but its HERO that first looks as if he is being pushed back. Fans in the front row seem struck by surprise as if they had just heard the whirling and grinding of gears as HERO gets his footing back as he reaches up to grab Lynx by the back of the head with both hands and drops to his knees, driving Lynx’s face into his mirrored helm.
TIM FLOSS:
Looks like Hero is ready to show why he is champion here early on, Al.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
METAL HERO hit MAX running, it’s no surprise. He was quick to be the first man to dethrone Pulver and has been blasting his way through competition ever since.
Both men have made their way back to their feet and enter into another grapple competition, but this time it’s Lynx who gets pushed back. Sinking his weight down in to the mat he stops HERO’s progression and is meet with a stiff kick to the midsection…BUT LYNX CATCHES IT FOR A MODIFIED CAPTURE SUPLEX!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
The Lynx has come out to play TIMMY BOY!
Lynx does a kip up to his feet and turns to look over his shoulder at HERO who has made his way to one knee as he props himself up on the second rope. Lynx slowly turns to face HERO head on as HERO too gets to his feet and makes his way to Lynx…
Chop to the chest of HERO as it rings out like an empty metal drum being dropped…
Shuto to the face of Lynx… Chop! Shuto! Chop! Shuto! Chop! Shuto! Shuto! Shuto! A stiff chop sends HERO backpedaling slightly, but then he explodes forward with a running face kick that sends the big cat down!!
TIM FLOSS:
That’s the Atomic Assassin the fans have come to love.
Lynx lies motionless on the mat as HERO slowly makes his way over to his opponents downed body. He gives the man a gentle nudge with his right foot to see if the man’s awake. Getting no response, he takes a few steps backwards before shuffle stepping forward and dropping a knee to the solar plexus of Lynx that causes the man to clutch his chest.
TIM FLOSS:
It feels like a long time since we have gotten the chance to see HERO fighting in what he knows to be his environment.
ALBERT MOREDCAI:
That’s right, Timmy, everything’s on the line and he’s had no time to properly download all the schematics on his opponent as he’s done with everyone else.
TIM FLOSS:
Completely in the dark.
HERO walks over and starts to deliver slow stomps into the stomach of Lynx. The pace slowly beings to build and the fans clap to the building pace that crescendos with a hard falling elbow drop to the chest of Lynx.
HERO is quick to his feet and pulls Lynx up off the mat and whips him into the opposite ropes grabbing hold of his opponent for a sidewalks slam but Lynx uses the momentum to whip his body around so that he grabs HERO by his giant dome piece with his legs and hurricarana’s HERO across the ring.
Both men however roll to their feet and ran at each other. HERO goes for a lariat…
Lynx ducks underneath…
Both men run back at each other as Lynx leaps up to catch HERO with his legs again…
HERO rolls underneath and turns around only to get hit by a spinning heel kick! Lynx goes for the pin.
1…
2-NO! HERO gets the shoulder up.
Both men get to their feet, but HERO is slightly slower.
How slow you may ask???
SLOW ENOUGH TO GET HIT BY A SHINING WIZARD FROM LYNX! He moves for the pin!
1…
2…
3-NO! THWARTED AGAIN!!!
TIM FLOSS:
HOW DOES HE DO IT?!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
It’s going to take more than a little knee to take down the intergalactic deep space assassin.
Lynx turns his head to see HERO as his foot rests on the bottom ropes resulting in Lynx pounding his fist against the mat. He crawls to his feet and lifts the Cybernetic Champion to his feet he goes for the whip only to be countered into a whip of his own that is turned into a short clothesline that sends Lynx to the mat and HERO stumbling into the ropes.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
HERO! HERO! HERO!
TIM FLOSS:
GO, GO, GO!
Lynx pushes himself up off the mat and up onto his feet as HERO pulls himself up using the top rope. Both men move towards each other and began a slow trade of blows to one another. Lynx’s larger frame starts to give him an advantage until HERO moves faster than a .50 caliber round and brings the man down with a drop toe hold.
He’s quick to get back onto his feet and runs into the ropes just as Lynx lifts himself up onto his knees only to get rewarded with a thunderous running low kick across his lower back that causes him to roar in pain.
TIM FLOSS:
It literally sounded like a sniper rifle just went off in the arena!
Lynx bounces his face off the mat and HERO is quick to pull the feline predator off the mat and to his feet. But HERO puts him right backdown with a violent hip toss that causes him to move into a quick side control and start pounding Lynx with short, stiff elbows to the skull. HERO goes for the pin.
1….
2….
3!!!!
BUT WAIT! Lynx broke the pin just in time.
TIM FLOSS:
Can you believe this action we are seeing here tonight, Al?
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Absolutely, Timmy! For one I’m not as dimwitted as you. And secondly, I actually knew who Lynx was when he came out.
HERO sits back on his knees as if he was struggling to process what was going on, but then looks to the turnbuckle mechanically before getting back to his feet. He makes his way towards the turnbuckle and starts to make his way to the top.
TIM FLOSS:
What is he doing, Al…
ALBERT MORDECAI:
I don’t know Tim, the top ropes is rare for METAL HERO. He’s a machine, but not a flying machine…
TIM FLOSS:
I thought you knew everything.
ALBERT MORDECIA:
Shut up, I’m trying to watch the match!
But as our champion makes his way to the top Lynx is quick onto his feet and jerks the champion back off the ropes by his midsection. HERO manages to still land on his feet and makes his way towards Lynx but is met with a stiff kick to the midsection and Lynx hooks him, lifts him up – EMERALD FLOWSION!!!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
FINAL BREATH! That’s the Final Breath!
TIM FLOSS:
He’s going for the pin!
HERO is out cold and Lynx grabs HERO’s legs, crossing one over the other in a Figure 4 and front flips over him, bridging to form a FIGURE FOUR JACKKNIFE HOLD and he’s got the pin!!!
1…
2…
METAL HERO starts to squirm…
3!!!!!!!!!
METAL HERO is too late with the kickout! The bell sounds!
TIM FLOSS:
He’s done it! He’s done it! Lynx is your new Junior Heavyweight Champion!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
It was a smart play from Lynx, Timmy. He surprised HERO with his finisher but knew it wouldn’t be enough. So, he went for not just any jackknife hold, but the Figure 4 variant to showcase his arsenal. Impressive!
Lynx is seen in the ring, waving to the fans with the MAX Junior Heavyweight Championship around his waist, the new champion basking in the glow of victory as the scene fades out…
After a brief intermission following Lynx’s surprise Junior Heavyweight title victory over METAL HERO, we would finally arrive at the final of the 2018 J1 SUMMIT.
ENSOU! TV and the Battleground Network now present the match in full:
2018 J1 SUMMIT FINAL:
JACOB HAMMERSTEIN vs. TOKYO ZOMBIE
A wrestling ring. MAX Dojo students in orange t-shirts and black mesh shorts check the fit of the orange and black turnbuckle paddings and ensure the tightness of the all-white ropes. As is tradition, wrestlers from the back have emerged. Masanori Kawada and Daichi Kusumoto, also in orange tees and black shorts, supervise the work of the Dojo students. While METAL HERO is nowhere to be seen, the new junior champ Lynx, still in his wrestling gear, sits at a table ringside with the belt over his shoulder. Across the way, Tillman in his leather jacket seems to shoot lasers at him.
TIM FLOSS:
Well, Al, as we wait for the two competitors, break down our main event for the folks at home.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
I tell you what, these guys are the top dogs. I mean, Hammerstein has fought through adversity. A couple of weeks ago, fans were throwing air fresheners at him! Now, they’re giving him love cause he has earned their respect, make no mistake. And Tokyo Zombie, well, he’s 5-0 in the tournament thus far, he’s earned the right to represent MAX-J in the Destiny8 Tournament. He wants to show the world he knows how to win a tournament…
As Mordecai continues on, the camera pans over to Musket and Vegas who can be seen chatting while eating bowls of pork tonkatsu ramen. Shinjiro Nakama is seated with his representative, Arnold Cunningham, the latter running his mouth nonstop while Nakama sits in focused silence. Finally, ZENKI and GRIM both wear black shirts and sit in the hundreds strong black-clad fan section of the Demon Brigade zealots. The former man carries the MAX Heavyweight title while the latter holds both tag team titles, both his half and that of Zombie.
And then the lights dim…
TIM FLOSS:
Here we go!
Parkway Drive’s “The Sound of Violence” blares from the PA system as Hammerstein steps out from behind the curtain. He walks down the aisle as he rolls his shoulders as his manager Reese Kennedy trails behind him, clapping his hands and keeping the energy up. The black trunks, kneepads, and boots are nondescript, and the hoodie covers his head as he keeps his eyes forward on the ring. He shadowboxes a bit once he hits the ring before mounting the second turnbuckle and surveying the crowd to the thousands of camera flashes and outstretched smartphones.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Let me tell you something, Timmy. That’s one focused man.
The mournful lyrics of “Obokuri-Eeumi” sung by Ikue Asazaki pass through the speakers and the piano melody falls soft as the rain outside the arena. After a few moments of pregnant suspense, the current opens and Tokyo Zombie hits the stage. He is dressed in Buddhist garb with a rice straw kasa hat covered his eyes. His mouth moves with chants as he makes his way down the aisle. He stops in front of the Demon Brigade section and hands off his entrance attire to ZENKI and GRIM, exposing the tattooed sutras on his upper body. He bows to the Demon Brigade and slides into the ring, tightening is white gi pants as he stands in his corner.
GM Masaaki Sano hits the stage and stands next to the Japanese language PA announcer, Takeshi Suzuki, and the English language PA announcer, Burton Fask. The English announcements follow shortly after the Japanese.
PA Announcer – BURTON FASK:
Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached the final match of the 2018 J1 SUMMIT. The two competitors before you have undertaken a challenging road. Please join me in congratulating their effort.
Applause goes up from the crowd. Both competitors are focused, zeroed in, unphased.
PA Announcer – BURTON FASK:
Now the ultimate test and the most difficult challenge stands before them. The winner will be crowned the winner of the J1 SUMMIT, our country’s most prestigious pro-wrestling tournament. Good luck to you both, and show the fighting spirit of MAX-J to the fans in the arena and the worldwide audience at home.
Sano steps away and the Japanese announcer takes the mic and begins the announcements.
PA Announcer – BURTON FASK:
And now introducing the first competitor… standing 6’2” and 243lb… he is the representative of J1 SUMMIT’s Block A… JACOB HAMMERSTEIN!
Red, white, and blue streamers flood Hammerstein’s corner of the ring, showering the American Monster in patriotic colors as he looks on.
PA Announcer – BURTON FASK:
And his opponent… weighing in at 220lb and standing 5’10” tall… he is one half of the World Tag Team Champions… the representative of Block B of the J1 SUMMIT… TOKYO ZOMBIE!
Black streamers emphasizing the Demon Brigade loyalty loop into the air and spill into the ring. Zombie, too, has his gaze pinned on the opponent across from him.
The two men step forward as Dojo students clear the streamers and the referee takes them through the rules and checks their attire for foreign objects. Their eyes don’t leave one another as neither man refuses to back down.
TIM FLOSS:
Al, I can’t wait to get started here. We’ve waited all year for this moment!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
And these guys can’t wait either, I’m telling you, Timmy. Let’s go.
The referee backs them off, calls for the bell, it sounds, and the match begins! Both men spring into action. Hammerstein sets the pace as he circles in on Zombie and shoots in for a single leg takedown. Zombie backs off but Hammer grabs onto the gi pants and gets behind him with a rear waistlock. Zombie tries to break the clasped fingers, but Hammer’s meaty paws are locked on tight. Zombie feints a few elbows, but an aware Hammer keeps a cheek on Zombie’s back to avoid him and pushes the monk chest first into the turnbuckle.
The referee advises Hammer to break the hold and he does – but he sends a forearm shiver into Zombie’s back! Another shiver! He spins Zombie around in the corner and smacks a chop into the tattooed chest of Zombie that echoes throughout the Mirai Dome. A stray “WOOOOOO!” shout cuts through the silence and Hammer points out into the crowd and replies with a “Damn right!” before launching another chop to Zombie’s chest!
TIM FLOSS:
Early offense from Jacob Hammerstein, Al.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
It’s all that pent up energy, Timmy. Hammer’s gotta let it loose on someone!
Hammer cocks back the chop one more time but Zombie rushes him and catches the American Monster in a standing arm triangle chokehold! Hammer gets a foot on the ropes and the ref pries Zombie off of him and the monk backs him to some warm applause from the Demon Brigade.
With the two fighters reset, Zombie goes on the attack with a series of kicks that Hammerstein evades. Zombie chases him with kicks until he backs Hammer into a corner and stops. Zombie then starts to bob and weave, feinting a few blows before hitting a throat strike that causes Hammer to raises his hands toward his neck and then lays into him with a roundhouse kick to the gut! Hammer doubles over and Zombie locks on the front chancery for a snap suplex! He floats into a cover.
1…
2-NO! Hammer kicks out.
TIM FLOSS:
An early pin attempt by Zombie. He’s gotta know that it’ll take more than that to do away with Hammerstein!
Zombie applies a grounded headlock with Hammer on his side. Zombie rolls over a bit to pin Hammer’s shoulders to the mat.
1… Hammer gets the shoulder up, but Zombie forces him back down.
1…
2… Hammer gets the shoulder back up, and then Zombie applies more force to pin his shoulders to the mat.
1…
2…
3-NO! Hammerstein gets a shoulder up at the last second.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Timmy, this is all strategy from Tokyo Zombie. Every kickout takes just a little bit of energy away from Hammerstein.
TIM FLOSS:
I see. And you add that up?
ALBERT MORDECAI:
It’s death by a thousand pinfalls!
Hammer reaches up with a free hand, slipping on Zombie’s clean shaven scalp before finally getting his fingers under the chin and pull his cranium down into a grounded headscissors. Hammer’s muscular legs have formed a vise around the neck area of Zombie, who currently lies on his back. Zombie tries to push open on one of Hammer’s legs but the grip is too strong and the American Monster tightens the hold as Zombie grunts.
After a moment of rest, Zombie swivels his legs to generate enough momentum to swing up to his knees, though his head is still kneeling down caught in the headscissors, almost as if in prayer. Hammerstein is propped up by his hands. Zombie steadies himself and goes into a headstand, pausing for several seconds to the “oooooh” of the crowd. As he comes down, he slowly… slowly… slowly emerges from the headscissors, and quickly hits a front dropkick into Hammerstein’s chest! Zombie rolls backward and rebounds toward the ropes. Zombie runs forward with a big boot – misses! Hammerstein rebounds and goes for a POUNCE – but Zombie evades and Hammer goes flying into the ropes like a missile! Fortunately for him, his foot gets tangled on a rope and he drops with his back to the apron.
TIM FLOSS:
Hammerstein just barely avoided a long fall, Al.
Hammer is getting up to his feet, a bit shaken up… and he doesn’t see Zombie running at him with a Yakuza kick that sends him flying from the apron and into the guardrail!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
So, Timmy, you were saying…?
Hammer is wincing in pain as Zombie drops down to the outside and lays a few stomps into him before throwing him into the side of the ring, causing Hammer to clutch his back again. Zombie snatches him up by the air and walks him over to the ringpost, he goes to slam his head – but Hammerstein gets a foot on the post, smacks his hand away and drops him with a short clothesline that puts down the Buddhist monk! In the Demon Brigade section, ZENKI and GRIM stand up and watch the action.
Hammerstein picks up Zombie and rolls him into the ring under the bottom rope and quickly joins him. He locks on a grounded front face lock and sits on it for a moment before driving a knee into Zombie’s skull! The monk does not react with indifference, doing his best to cover up as Hammerstein continues the grounded knee attack! Hammer is relentless with viciousness and the crowd starts to murmur in horror at the primal attack.
TIM FLOSS:
Jacob Hammerstein is showing off some ground-n-pound skills this evening.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Well, you have to understand that Hammerstein has competed in Lion’s Road Pro-Wrestling for years. Many strong style greats have made their name in that company, guys like Julian Cutlass, AJ Knight, and former MAX champions Ben Chrenshaw and Matt Pulver. This is what they are know for, Timmy. Relentless, hard-hitting strikes and bone crunching submissions.
Hammer is a bit gassed and Zombie has sufficiently covered up in a prone position to where further strikes seem pointless. He jumps on Zombie’s back and goes for a rear naked choke, but Zombie ducks the chin down and won’t let him sink it in. Hammer backs off of it and gets Buddhist monk on his feet in rear waistlock once again. He waits for Zombie to go for an elbow, and when he does catches him with a half-nelson! He’s going for the suplex, but Zombie quickly breaks it up jumping into a bicycle kick that catches Hammer on the side of the head!
TIM FLOSS:
Quick thinking by Zombie on that one!
Hammer is stunned and he doesn’t see Zombie rushing at him with a flying elbow smash that puts Hammer down on the mat. Zombie sits up Hammer and then locks on an iron claw to the head~the Vise of Virtue! Hammerstein lets out a roaring groan as the Zombie closes his eyes and drives his fingers into the skull of the American Monster.
Hammerstein struggles…
The ref stops by. “Give up?”
Hammerstein shakes his head as the fingers dig in tighter… tighter… Hammerstein gets to a knee and Zombie stands on his tippy-toes as he drives his grip further and further. Hammer gets up to his feet – and he snatches Zombie around the throat, both men have each other in their clutches and the ref doesn’t know who to ask to give up! Both men fight, but it’s Hammerstein who lifts up Zombie by the throat and puts him on his back with a chokeslam! He covers for a pin!
1…
2…
3-NO! Zombie gets the shoulder up!
TIM FLOSS:
I knew Hammerstein was strong, but that was unworldly!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
That’s a big man there in that ring, Timmy. He’s got the heart and will to move mountains!
Almost on cue, the camera pans to “Mountain” Shinjiro Nakama who sits with arms crossed taking in the match. We pan back in the ring and Hammerstein has Zombie up and runs him into the turnbuckle and follows him with a Stinger Splash! Zombie is still lounging in pain as Hammer backs up and lands with another Stinger Splash! Now Hammer grabs Zombie by the wrist, pulls him out of the corner, and throws him over his head with an EXPLODER suplex! He floats over for the pin!
1…
2…
3-NO! Zombie gets the shoulder up!
Hammer gets Zombie up to his feet, hits him with a few elbow strikes and goes for another exploder, but Zombie breaks it and catches Hammer with the double underhook – headbutt! Headbutt! Headbutt! Headbutt! Zombie is using his skull as a weapon and eventually draws blood on Hammerstein before throwing him backward for the double-underhook belly-to-belly suplex!
TIM FLOSS:
Gawd Almighty! That’s a nasty cut, Al!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
That’s Zombie’s bread and butter. He has the most vicious headbutts in the game!
Hammer is bleeding all over the ring. As Zombie gets him up to his feet, the blood smears across the formerly lily white gi pants of Zombie. Unaffected, Zombie locks him in a front chancery and lifts him up… with a FALCON ARROW! He’s got the pin!
1…
2…
3-NO! Hammer kicks out.
Zombie gets up to his feet and crouches in wait. Zombie runs at him going for a ~ HAMMERSTEIN WITH THE POUNCE! He catches Zombie in midair and sends him flying chest-first into a turnbuckle!
TIM FLOSS:
He caught him! He caught him! Zombie is in the corner and he looks lights out!
Zombie’s sutra covered body is slumped on the turnbuckle, his chin balanced on the top. Hammerstein slowly saunters over and even more gingerly moves Zombie up on the top rope until Zombie is sitting on the top turnbuckle with his back facing the ring. Hammerstein climbs up and is crouched directly behind him.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
The Hell’s going on…
Hammerstein lifts up an arm into a half-nelson and HALF-NELSON SUPLEX FROM THE TOP ROPE!!!!!!! The fans shout with madness! Zombie spills halfway across the ring! Hammerstein crawls over and drapes an arm over the chest for a pin!
1…
2…
3 – WAIT! Zombie kicks the kickout!!
TIM FLOSS:
Jesus Christ! Buddha! Someone help us!
Hammerstein grins with caked blood on his face from the cut on his forehead. He steps over to the downed Tokyo Zombie and hits him with a leg drop! As Zombie gets up, Hammer rebounds against the ropes, he’s got the POUNCE – but Zombie breaks it up with a rolling koppu kick that gets Hammer to a knee! Zombie jumps up and SHINING AXE KICK~RISING ZOMBIE MOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hammer is out cold and Zombie hooks the leg for the pin!
1…
2…
3!!!!!!!!
NO!!! Hammer’s shoulder is up at the last minute!
TIM FLOSS:
My gawd! My gawd! How is this possible?!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
I don’t know… I thought Zombie was a goner and then ten seconds later I thought Hammerstein was done for… but they’re both still here, Timmy!
Fans can detect the slightest hint of agitation on the Buddhist monk’s face as now goes to set up Hammerstein for the FALLING TOKYO SUN – but Hammer blocks it and spins to nail a ROARING ELBOW!!!!!!!! Hammer kicks Zombie in the gut, locks on the front chancery, and down him with a vertical-drop BRAINBUSTAAAAAH!!! He sits up and pauses for a moment and gets Zombie back to his feet, collects the front chancery and hoists him up…
… he stalls….
… stalls…
… still stalling…
… HAMMERSTEINER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The crown of Zombie’s head goes bouncing off the canvas and Hammerstein goes for the cover!
1…
2…
3!!!!!
WAIT!!!! ZOMBIE HAS A SHOULDER UP!!!!
TIM FLOSS:
Jesus, c’mon ref! This is dangerous!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
They both want to be here, Timmy! This is pro-wrestling!
Hammerstein smacks the mat but is undeterred. He locks up Zombie, who can barely stand and appears to have passed out, one more time in the front chancery. The fans know it’s coming again and many can’t bear to look as Hammerstein once again hoists up Zombie’s limp near carcass like body in the air…
… he stalls…
… stalling…
… still stalling…
… now spinning! … “Ooooooooh…” from the fans…
… still spinning! … “Oooooooooh…”
… still… spinning! … “oooooooh… ooooooooh…”
A SECOND HAMMERSTEINER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“OOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!!”
HAMMERSTEIN DRAPES AN ARM OVER THE CHEST FOR THE PIN!!
1…
2…
3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FOOT. ON. THE. ROPES!!!! The arena is filled with thunder as the fans have been stirred into a frenzy!
TIM FLOSS:
My gawd! My gawd! My gawd! NO! NO! NO!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Uh… I… no… can’t… be…
Hammerstein lifts his head when he doesn’t hear the bell and sees a seemingly unconscious Zombie laying there with a foot on the ropes. Hammer drops his head and the two men simply lie there in a state of exhaustion. Zombie starts to roll over onto his side, but he doesn’t get very far before he virtually passes out.
Hammer gets up to his feet first and he’s setting him up for a third. He stands Zombie up to his feet and locks in the front chanc – INSIDE CRADLE FROM ZOMBIE!!!!!!!
1…
2…
TIM FLOSS:
There’s no escape!
3!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAIT!!!!!!!! Hammer got the shoulder up – was it just before the kickout?!?
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Did he kick out? Did he make it?
The referee holding up two fingers confirms the fact that Hammer indeed managed to escape. A very angry Hammerstein is now up on his feet and he throws Zombie into a corner and pummels him with body shots, closed fists to the midsection where they are legal! The referee can do nothing to stop him! He continues striking like a machine gun! Zombie tires to get away but slumps through the ropes and lands on the apron! The fans are going nuts!
Hammerstein inside the ring manages to pull Zombie up to his feet – he’s got that front chancery on and… FROM THE APRON HE LIFTS UP ZOMBIE FOR A HAMMERSTEINER…
… he stalls…
… backs up…
… backing up into the center of the ring, ensuring there's no escape with the ropes…
… ZOMBIE TWISTS OUT OF IT! He locks on a SLEEPER HOLD!!!!
TIM FLOSS:
And now Hammer is caught in the middle of the ring with nowhere to go and no escape!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Looks like his strategy backfired, Timmy!
Hammer is stuck with nowhere to go…
He struggles… struggles…
… eventually the body goes limp but remains standing as Zombie has the sleeper locked in tight…
The referee lifts the wrist… it falls…
1…
The referee lifts the wrist… it falls again…
2…
The referee lifts the wrist… it falls again!!!!!!!!
3 – WAIT!!!!!! The fist goes up at just the last minute! Hammer elbows Zombie in the side! The sleeper starts to crack! Another elbow! It cracks again! Another elbow – Zombie breaks it off and hits the FRONT RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP~FALLING TOKYO SUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TIM FLOSS:
He got him! He got him! He got him! Like a damn steak sandwich he got him!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
I don’t know what you’re saying but it’s true!
Zombie crawls over to the side of the ring under the ropes and back onto the apron… he uses the ropes to get up to his feet and lifts his head to see Hammer slowly struggling up… when Hammer gets to a knee, Zombie springboards himself onto the top rope and jumps off!!!!!!!!! SPRINGBOARD RISING ZOMBIE MOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Shining Axe Kick seems to slice through Hammerstein as he goes out cold! ZOMBIE DRAPES AN ARM OVER THE CHEST FOR THE COVER!!!!!!
1…
2…
3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FOOT.
DOESN’T MAKE THE BOTTOM ROPE!!!!!!!!
THE BELL SOUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TIM FLOSS:
By gawd! By gawd, he’s done it! Tokyo Zombie has done it! Tokyo Zombie has won the 2018 J1 SUMMIT!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
What an incredible match, Timmy! Look at those two!
ZENKI and GRIM have rushed into the ring to join medical staff checking out Tokyo Zombie while Mike Musket with Jun Vegas in tow has entered the ring, standing off some distance, hoping to see what the medics say about Jacob Hammerstein.
TIM FLOSS:
Well, folks, at over 33 minutes, you can definitely say that this match went the distance! We had something for everyone here, I’d think, but it’s the heart of these two men that have impressed me most of all! This is a match that fans are going to be talking about for years. Where were you on that rainy night in downtown Yokohama at the end of the summer? Well, we can say we were right here watching the match of a lifetime!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
You said it, Timmy. These two put on an absolute clinic. Let me tell you somethings, all of you out there trying to break into this game. You go back and you study these two guys? You’ll do just fine!
Tokyo Zombie is helped up to his feet by ZENKI and GRIM. The two men walk him over to the massive gold J1 trophy that is nearly just as tall. GM Masaaki Sano bows to Zombie and the exhausted warrior gives the best bow he can muster before wincing just from moving his head. He reaches out a hand and grasps the near six foot tall J1.
PA Announcer – BURTON FASK:
And your WINNER of the 2018 J1 SUMMIT… TOKYO ZOMBIE!!!!!
The referee steps over and perfunctorily raises his arm in the air. Zombie leans on the trophy and grips its surface mainly to keep himself upright at this point.
We see Hammerstein slumped against the bottom turnbuckle as medics check him. He throws them off of him and limps over toward Zombie. He doesn’t say a word but before leaving gives the Buddhist monk a nod that connotates both respect and a warrior’s defiance.
TIM FLOSS:
Probably the right move from Hammerstein there.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Hammer’s gotta be disappointed, Timmy. But you can tell from his demeanor he’ll be back and better than ever before.
TIM FLOSS:
But tonight, it’s Tokyo Zombie, the man who outdid the leader of the Demon Brigade by going undefeated in his block and winning the whole thing! Folks, we’re just about out of time. Thank you for watching us on ENSOU! TV, the Battleground Network, and we’ll catch you in Fukuoka in just under two weeks!
The scene closes on Tokyo Zombie, his tattooed body battered, his gi pants stained with blood, yet still standing as he leans against the J1 trophy for support as cameras flesh and forever preserve the conclusive final into eternity…
- RECAP -
J1 SUMMIT 2018: Day 7
Date: 8/31/2018
Location: Mirai Dome, Yokohama, Japan
Attendance: 10,500 fans (101% capacity)
1. Masanori Kawada and Shigeru Toyama defeat Mitsuo Shimada and Genji Ikeda (8:33) via pinfall after Kawada uses the K-Dynamite on Shimada.
2. Jack Tillman defeats KOSUKE (10:12) via submission with the Recluse.
3. Shinjiro Nakama and Umetarō Sakamoto defeat ZENKI and Hiro Minamoto (10:44) via pinfall when Nakama uses a high angle German suplex hold on Minamoto.
4. GRIM defeats Daichi Kusumoto (3:29) via referee stoppage.
5. Mike Musket versus Jun Vegas ends in a draw (11:17) as a result of a double pin.
6. MAX Junior Heavyweight Championship: Lynx defeats METAL HERO (c) (15:59) via pinfall after a Final Breath/Figure 4 Jackknife hold to become the 3rd champion.
7. 2018 J1 SUMMIT – Final: Tokyo Zombie defeats Jacob Hammerstein (33:48) via pinfall after a springboard Rising Zombie Moon (tournament final).