THREE KINGDOMS TOUR FINALE ~ THRONE OF HEAVYWEIGHT REALM

Originally, we expected Genji Ikeda to go up against Joseph White, but instead it was KOSUKE who was booked square off against the “Gold Standard Killer”. The amateur wrestling and MMA star who notably competed at the FUSION supershow in New York City over a year ago revived his winning ways when he caught White with a kimura to secure a tapout submission victory.

After the match, White commented that this tour in MAX-J was challenging and more of a feeling out process where he could try new styles and techniques. Booked for the upcoming Sword of Lite Grand Prix, he promised that he would take this learning experience and show that he had grown from it, guaranteeing a spirited performance. Rumor has it that a mysterious yet legendary fighter will be booked against him in the opening round. Who could it be?!

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With Kusumoto injured after a point blank mist attack from GRIM and Lynx receiving the day off after two title defenses in 9 days, Tokyo Zombie went into battle against Kota Shoju on his own. He started out slow, still recovering from his 60 minute draw on 11/12, but he managed to clamp on the Vise of Virtue and drive Shoju to the mat, forcing another tapout victory on the night.

Reporters caught up with Tokyo Zombie and asked him about the upcoming Sword of Lite Grand Prix. He told them that desire leads to downfall and that he would not be lured into the mortal trappings or coveting the ceremonial Sword of Lite. Zombie quite famously won the 2018 J1 SUMMIT. Can he win this next tournament?

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Shinjiro Nakama and Umetaro Sakamoto would team up to face down Mushigahara and Hiro Minamoto. Nakama’s toughness saw him square up with Mushigahara several times, the latter pushing back the former with his sumo derived palmstrikes and often pushing him back into the ropes, a truly rare and awe-inspiring sight!

Sakamoto would also face down Mushigahara but put up a spirited fight and even scoring a takedown and locking on a sickle hold! It was hard to hold the big man in place though and inevitably Minamoto got in and laid into Sakamoto with stiff strikes and a brainbuster that got a two-count.

Sakamoto would escape a sleeper hold and go for a backslide pin and only get a two-count, but would get enough space to tag in Nakama who rushed into the ring with a knee strike to KO Minamoto and score the 1-2-3! Sakamoto bowed to Nakama after the match, the latter man a bit dismissive but still nodded out of some acknowledgement.

Nakama’s representative Arnold Cunningham boasted that Nakama had become the world’s top fighter and stated that he wanted to book his heavyweight title shot within the next few days! When reporters informed him that MJPW’s official position on his #1 contendership was noncommittal, Cunningham simply laughed it off and said that his client’s immense talent and skill was undeniable and assured them that he would indeed face the winner of the upcoming match.

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The match started out cautiously with the much smaller Gensai trying to shoot in for takedowns, eventually succeeding and bringing down the massive FDJ and putting him in a grounded headlock. But the big man would not be kept down long and when he got up to his feet hit an atomic drop and then clotheslined Gensai over the top rope and sending him to the outside!

FDJ followed him on the outside but ran into trouble when Gensai used a drop toe hold to smash his face into the ringpost! Gensai rolled FDJ back in the ring and locked on a cross armbreaker, nearly scoring a victory until FDJ got a foot on the ropes! Gensai peppered FDJ with stomps and knee drops trying to keep him down. But the toughness of FDJ can never be underestimated and he locked a hand around Gensai’s throat and put him down for a chokeslam! Let’s take you there…

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From the opening bell these two went at it with an enraged Musket charging forward and beginning a chopfest that backed up GRIM into a corner. He Irish whipped that King of the Dead into the opposite turnbuckle and went for a lariat ~ he missed ~ but! ~ he blocked a roundhouse kick, kicked GRIM in the gut, and nailed a brainbuster! Musket would pin him for a two-count in what was a frantic opening few minutes.

Musket would attempt to keep things on the ground, but his crafty opponent would manage to stand things open and knock the Mountain Man upside the head with a spinning roundhouse kick, a European uppercut, and then an STO! GRIM would apply a grounded headlock but Musket’s catch wrestling would help him slither out of it and turn it into a hammerlock which became a chicken-wing crossface!

Although GRIM would find the ropes, Musket would have to be pried off of him. The referee delivered an extended lecture, which was enough time for GRIM to rush in with a running face kick that put down Musket! GRIM would follow up with a barrage of stomps and elbow drops to keep Musket stunned. He’d get him up to his feet and rush in with a flying knee strike and get a 1-2-2.5 count!

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The footage from the closing of the Tiger's Festival fades from the BATTLETRON above the stage as we are greeted to a panoramic shot of the arena. The Ōsaka crowd is amped. The over 500 hundred strong fan section for the Demon Brigade zealots seems to blot out an entire section of the seats, and there are probably another 500 more blackshirted zealots scattered throughout the rest of the arena. But the ACES WILD! merchandise is just as prevalent and hundreds of fans have taken to wearing a stylized white cowboy hat in support of Vegas. A few particularly ambitious fans have assembled themselves in cowboy gear, equipped with chaps, boots with spurs.

We are taken a view of the headphone wearing Tim Floss and Albert Mordecai seated at a table ringside.

TIM FLOSS:
Folks, we are finally here. We have arrived at the main event. Although we didn’t have to wait four months for it, the anticipation has nevertheless built up to a fever pitch. In the one corner we have the challenger, the “Outlaw”, the “Flash Money Man” who was born in Las Vegas, Nevada but raised right here in Osaka! As he pushes the chips to the center of the table, he’ll have most of the crowd behind him, all except the Demon Brigade fans who support the MAX Heavyweight Champion, the “Demon Lord” ZENKI. A crafty fighter with seemingly always has an ace up his sleeve. ZENKI claims to have achieved a new level of skill after unwittingly being on the receiving end of his partner GRIM’s mist attack a few days ago. Is this just tough talk? What lies in store? Al, we’ve got a hell of a show. I mean, look out there! Everyone’s come out to see the show!

True to his word, the night’s wrestlers have joined the audience ringside. Vegas’ fellow members of MAX Defense Force – Mike Musket, Frank Dylan James, and the injured Daichi Kusumoto – sit near the railing. Musket and FDJ seems to be squabbling over who gets the last strip of beef jerky in the pack. Tokyo Zombie sits with the Demon Brigade fans, his eyes closed in meditation. GRIM, however is nowhere to be found…

Purported #1 contender Shinjiro Nakama and his agent Arnold Cunningham also occupy a spot in the audience, with the former looking on stoically while the latter yells into a cell-phone. Go Gensai dons a perfectly white suit and shades as he looks on, a smirk adorning his face. Mushigahara occupies a whole fleet of seats as kids surround him and take pictures. As always, the MAX Dojo students stand on duty ringside in orange tees and black gym shorts.

ALBERT MORDECAI:
Oh you said it, Timmy. Look, if I’ve said it once I’ll say it again, Zenki is pound-for-pound the toughest fighter in MJPW. But his greatest asset may be his incredible in-ring IQ. You may not like his views of foreigners, but you can’t doubt that he’s always a step ahead in the mental game. Now, lets look at Jun Vegas. He’s going in with a 30lb advantage in size, and that’s good for him because he likes to brawl it out. You won’t find a lot of guys who can take a lick and keep on ticking like Jun Vegas! And I’ll tell ya something else, the crowd likes him too. That’s why he’s become a fan favorite throughout all of MJPW, but especially here in his adopted hometown of Osaka.

The lights dim…

The hard rock cover of “Desperado” kicks in and after the big riffs hit at twenty seconds, Vegas erupts from the curtains and stretches his arms, playing to the crowd with The Eye Candy behind him rooting him on. He tips his hat to the crowd and heads towards the ring with intent to fight someone. Suddenly, the white cowboy hats worn by the crowd fly into the air!

TIM FLOSS:
Look at that, Al! It’s raining ten gallon hats!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
That’s a riot! Hey, throw one over here!

Vegas has entered the ring and ascended to the middle turnbuckle. He throws his white cowboy hat into the crowd and raises his fists into the air! Although he doesn’t smile, it’s obvious from his posture that he realizes and appreciates the support of the crowd. As the song fades, he drops down from the turnbuckle onto the canvas.


Hironobu Kageyama’s classic opener hits the speakers and the caped Demon Lord Zenki emerges with the MAX Heavyweight title secured firmly around his waist. He wears green-and-black attire. He opens his arms to the crowd which showers him with cheers. As he stalks down the ramp, they throw cherry blossoms in his wake that fill the aisle.

TIM FLOSS:
Oh he’s feeling tonight, isn’t he, Al? And an unusual suit!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
Well, that’s the color of GRIM’s mist and he did say he’s been transformed!

TIM FLOSS:
Speaking of GRIM, I don’t see him anywhere… and that makes me nervous.

ALBERT MORDECAI:
You’re too paranoid, Timmy. He just got whooped by Mike Musket, remember? He’s probably licking his wounds.

Having shed the cape, ZENKI enters the ring. He sets his eyes upon Vegas, points down to the heavyweight title belt around his waist, and crosses his arms in an X! The referee motions the two men into their respective corners as the Japanese and English language PA announcers begin the introductions.

BURTON FASK – PA ANNOUNCER:
Ladies, gentlemen, fans of all ages around the globe… in tonight’s main event we witness the defense of the MAX Heavyweight Championship, the most prestigious title in the world of pro-wrestling. We thank you for joining us on the journey ahead.

He pauses…

BURTON FASK – PA ANNOUNCER:
Introducing the challenger… standing at 6’1” and weighing in at 255lb… born in Las Vegas, Nevada but raised in Osaka, Japan…

A quick pop from the fans…

BURTON FASK – PA ANNOUNCER:
… he is the “Outlaw”, the “Flashy Money Man”, the “Ace of Aces”… JUN VEGAS!

He steps out of the corner and instead of streamers the fans throw poker chips into the ring!

TIM FLOSS:
Look at that, Al!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
Timmy, that’s money! Give me a sec…

TIM FLOSS:
You stay right there!

The MAX Dojo students clear the ring of obstructions as the introductions continue…

BURTON FASK – PA ANNOUNCER:
And now introducing the MAX Heavyweight Champion… standing at 178cm and weighing 98kg… fighting out of Hokkaido… he is the leader of the Demon Brigade…

A rival pop from the zealots goes up through the crowd…

BURTON FASK – PA ANNOUNCER:
… he is the “Demon Lord”… ZENKI!

Black streamers fill the arena as ZENKI steps forward with a single fist raised in the air.

TIM FLOSS:
Well, folks, it’s time to get started. As the dojo students clear the ring and the referee lays down the ground rules for the two competitors, this is probably your last chance to get up and go to the restroom. Because you’re gonna wanna hold it so you don’t miss a moment of this one!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
No doubt about it, Timmy. You miss one moment in a match like this and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!

The ref finishes his parting words and backs the two competitors away and…

The bell sounds!

Zenki and Vegas immediately begin encircling one another, feeling each other out as they launch into a collar-and-elbow tieup. Vegas has the size advantage but Zenki is digging down low and deep and actually manages to push Vegas a few steps back…

ALBERT MORDECAI:
I told you he’s a strong one, Al!

ZENKI is pushing Vegas… backpedaling… backpedaling… but Vegas sidesteps and throws him into the turnbuckle! He’s launching chops to the chest and elbows a-flying! GUH punch! GUH punch! GUH punch! ZENKI sinks down into the turnbuckle as the referee intervenes at the closed fist jabs and backs him off. A murmur goes through the crowd.

TIM FLOSS:
Well, Zenki’s opener didn’t quite turned out as planned..

ALBERT MORDECAI:
The only way Zenki could move Vegas around like that was to put too much of his weight forward. Vegas realized this and knew Zenki must have been off-balance and used it against him!

Zenki is back on his feet, shaking out the cobwebs, as he restarts and shoots in for a double-leg takedown, but Vegas is there and blocks it, allowing Zenki to only snatch up a leg… Vegas is hopping on one foot and throws and enzuigiri ~ Zenki ducks and throws a roundhouse kick into Vegas’ chest while he’s on a knee, the smack echoing throughout the arena! Vegas is defiant as Zenki throws another one! A third roundhouse kick smacks the chest again!

Vegas gets up to his feet as Zenki runs against the ropes and uses a shoulder-block! Vegas doesn’t budge! Zenki runs against the ropes again with another shoulder-block! Vegas is still standing! Zenki runs against the ropes and rebounds ~ Vegas swings with a clothesline ~ Zenki ducks and rebounds ~ but Vegas is standing ready, with his chest puffed out and taking a stable, wide stance ~ so Zenki baseball slides through Vegas’ legs! Zenki jumps up to clasp Vegas in a rear waist lock, lifting up Vegas and dropping him on his face as he scrambles into a front face lock to slow the temp down!

TIM FLOSS:
What an opening salvo, Al! The champ is a green-and-black blur in the ring!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
He knows what he’s doing. After that flurry, he needs to take some time to recover.

The champ has the front facelock in place, but Vegas is getting rowdy and he twists out of it! Both men are on their knees… a chop from Vegas goes into the chest of Zenki! Zenki responds with a palm strike! Vegas with a chop! Zenki with a palm strike! Vegas with an elbow! Zenki with an elbow! Vegas with an elbow! Vegas with an elbow! The Outlaw gets up to his feet, picks up Zenki, and puts him down with a vertical suplex! Zenki arches in back in pain on the canvas as Vegas’ two lady friends applaud on the outside.

TIM FLOSS:
Vegas is roaring back!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
Zenki got himself in trouble, Al. When it turned into a brawl there on the canvas, you don’t need to be a gambling man to know what will happen! Vegas is playing with house money down there!

Vegas picks up Zenki and Irish whips him into a corner. He gets a running start and throws an elbow into the side of Zenki’s face ~ it connects! Vegas throws him with the Irish whip back into the other corner and attempts another ~ -it connects! Zenki stumbles out of the corner, Vegas runs and rebounds against the ropes and hits a bulldog! He goes for a pin!

1…

2…

3-NO! Zenki gets a shoulder up.

Vegas scoops up Zenki and puts him on his shoulder, attempting a powerslam ~ Zenki slides off his back and pushes him forward. Vegas turns around and eats a palm strike to the face! He runs against the ropes and hits a spinning heel kick that puts the Outlaw on his back! Zenki runs against the ropes and goes for a springboard moonsault from the 2nd rope ~ it connects! He’s got a pin!

1…

2…

3-NO! Vegas kicks out.

TIM FLOSS:
Back and forth action here in the early going!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
These two are evenly matched, Al!

Zenki sits up Vegas and locks on a triangle hold! The Outlaw is fighting and trying to get a foot to the bottom rope, but no dice! He’s too far away. The referee asks him if he wants to give…

Vegas shakes his head no!

… but the hold is still locked on tight and there doesn’t appear to be any way out of it. The referee asks him again, or more like begs him…

But Vegas shakes his head no!

And then he flips onto his back, flipping Zenki as well, and pulls himself up and out of the hold! He jumps on Zenki’s back and pulls him up ~ HALF-NELSON SUPLEX!! Zenki goes tumbling across the ring!

TIM FLOSS:
Big time reversal from Jun Vegas!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
Zenki must’ve flown half-a-dozen feet!

Vegas stoops over Zenki and picks him up by one of the horns on his mask. He scoops him up and puts his feet on the ropes, putting his head in a front face lock and ~ DDT ~ the Straight Flush! The fans applaud at the signature move as Vegas goes for the pin!

1…

2…

3-NO! Zenki kicks out.

He sits up Zenki… low enzuigiri to the back of the head! The champ is down as Vegas keeps up the offensive. He looks to the top rope and the fans sense his intentions…

TIM FLOSS:
High risk coming up!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
He’s from Vegas! What do you expect from a gambling man?!

The hometown crowd now gets to their feet as he climbs the turnbuckle and stands. He looks over his shoulder at the downed champion… he gives a nod to the crowd… he leaps into the air for the flying back elbow drop ~ THE BIG SLICK ~ he seems to suspend in air for a moment and comes violently down…

… and eats canvas! Zenki rolled out of the way!

TIM FLOSS:
Yep, that’s how it happens.

Zenki is on his feet and lays a few stomps into Vegas who lays on his side. He sends a soccer kick into the back of the head that causes Vegas to cover up. The champ snatches one of Vegas’ legs and pulls on it. He’s spins round to go for a Figure 4 Leg Lock ~ but Vegas puts a foot on his butt and pushes him away! Zenki turns around and runs forward ~ but Vegas has kipped up and ~ GUH punch! The jab takes Zenki down as Vegas stands recovering with his hands on his hips!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
Well he didn’t stay down long, Timmy!

TIM FLOSS:
No he did not! I’ve heard that he was working on his stamina to get ready for this match. Sounds like a worthwhile investment!

Vegas now has Zenki in a rear waistlock… GERMAN SUPLEX! He bridges for the pin!

1…

2…

3-NO!! Zenki rolls out of it.

An unsatisfied Vegas gets Zenki onto his feet and scoops him up onto his shoulder. He dashes forward with a running powerslam! He holds in place for the pin!

1…

2…

3-NO!! Zenki’s shoulder in a flash gets up.

TIM FLOSS:
“Outlaw” Jun Vegas is softening him up for the kill, Al!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
You can feel it building…

Indeed, the crowd seems to have realized that we’ve reached that point in the match where at any moment a decision could be rendered. Musket claps his hands ringside as he encourages his friend. The Demon Brigade zealots, always standing, have a look of collective nervousness on their faces. Back in the ring, Vegas jumps and hits a standing senton for good measure! He then gets the champ up to his feet ~ and locks on a full nelson! Zenki’s got nowhere to go… RELEASE DRAGON SUPLEX!!!!! Instead of going for the pin, Vegas lies in wait… he’s in a crouch off to the side… he waits for Zenki to get up and…

LARIATOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!!

In the crowd Musket is going nuts jumping up and down! In the ring Vegas has the leg hooked for the pin!

1…

2…

3!!!!!!!!

WAIT!!!! Zenki somehow manges to get the shoulder up!

TIM FLOSS:
My gawd! A thundering sequence of events!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
I thought he had him there! I really did! We need a replay!

Vegas smacks the canvas as he readies for another onslaught. He gets Zenki up to his feet and throws him into the corner, laying in a series of punches into the midsection and chops to the chest… but Zenki dives forward with an elbow, breaking up the momentum! Vegas with a chop! Zenki with an elbow! Vega with a chop ~ Zenki catches it and takes him down with a Fujiwara Armbar! And he’s got himself between Vegas and the ropes!

TIM FLOSS:
What a smart play by Zenki!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
I tell ya what, Timmy, Zenki always seems to always know the right move at the right time.

Zenki is wrenching that arm and Vegas seemingly has no place to go, covering up his face with his arm as he hides from the referee.


But Vegas doesn’t reply, continuing to obstruct his face… Zenki wrenches the hold… and… we hear the sickening pop from inside of the ring! Zenki loosens the hold and Vegas rolls away and gets up to a knee ~ his arm is just hanging there limp!

TIM FLOSS:
My gawd! My gawd! My gawd! Zenki has popped Vegas’ shoulder out of its socket!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
I think I’m gonna be sick!

All of the wrestlers in the audience have stood up to their feet having witnessed this injury, out of both shock and respect. The referee walks over to call for the bell, but Vegas follows him and gets in his way, telling him he just needs a moment… and he pops his shoulder back in place with another sickening crunch! The fans are apoplectic!

TIM FLOSS:
What the Hell?!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
Yep, this just got worse.

Vegas is having a discussion with the referee, pointing to his arm and oh-so-gingerly moving it as he grits his teeth and winces. The referee seems unconvinced as Vegas and he speak with each other. Zenki has his hands on his hips. He motions to Tokyo Zombie in the Demon Brigade section and his compatriot shrugs.

After a lengthy discussion, the referee steps away from the ropes and orders the fighters to continue! Vegas, obviously in pain, begins to encroach on Zenki – who goes for a collar-and-elbow tie-up and easily overpowers the weakened Vegas, pushing him into the turnbuckle and laying into him with palm strikes to the face and then closed fist punches on that injured shoulder! Vegas can do nothing but absorb the blow and try to cover up.

TIM FLOSS:
Folks, we’ve got Sue Tsuboi on the line with a word from ringside. Sue, tell us what you’ve learned.

SUE TSUBOI:
Tim, I’ve just gotten word ringside that apparently this was a partially separated shoulder injury and also a historic injury for Vegas. He explained to the referee that his history dealing with this injury and amounts more to a bum shoulder that, while painful, won’t get any more injured from continuing in the match. Based on that assessment, the referee allowed the match to continue but has stated that he will continue to watch that injured shoulder. If the ref believes it is getting worse, he will stop the match.

TIM FLOSS:
Thank you, Sue. Well, Al, a strange development.

ALBERT MORDECAI:
No doubt, and Zenki has seized on it in the ring!

The champion has Vegas by the wrist and is wrenching on the injured shoulder, Vegas going down to a knee in pain near the ropes. Vegas grips the ropes to get himself back up, but Zenki pushes him back in the turnbuckle. After an elbow to the head, Zenki sits Vegas up on the top rope. The fans stand in anticipation. The two men are on the top rope… Zenki locks on a front chancery…

… the cameras flash…

… AVALANCHE-STYLE BRAINBUSTAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!! Vegas goes down in a heap!!!

TIM FLOSS:
Mygawd-mygawd-mygawd-mygawd!

Zenki crawls over to Vegas and drapes an arm over his chest!!!!!!!

1…

2…

3…

WAIT!!!!!!

Vegas gets the shoulder up! And immediately groans in pain!

TIM FLOSS:
How’d he do it?! How’d he do it?!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
He’s in the black, now! Jun Vegas is no longer with us! He’s flying on autopilot!

Zenki is on his hands and knees and looks up at the referee with an exasperated posture. He gets up to his feet and snatches Vegas by the hair. He puts Vegas in a front face lock… and then he spends him around into a belly-to-back suplex… he locks in the wrist-clutch… he goes for the ZENKI SUPLEX… IT CONNECTS!!!!!!!!!!!!! He bridges for the pin!!!!!

1…

2…

3!!!!!!!!!

WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VEGAS ROLLS OUT! AND ONTO HIS INJURED SHOULDER!

TIM FLOSS:
AGAIN?! AGAIN!!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
He’s a robot! He’s built in a factory! It’s the only explanation!

Zenki sits up and holds up his hands in frustration. He holds up three fingers to the referee, seemingly asking him, “Can you count?” and the referee responds by shaking his head and holding up two fingers. Ringside, Musket, FDJ, and Kusumoto have their arms locked in solidarity. The Demon Brigade section now outstretches their arms into the sky to give the champ their energy! Nakama has his arms folded as Cunningham watches slackjawed in disbelief. Gensai’s smirk and his sunglasses covered gaze has not changed.


The dueling chants and the thundering of fans smacking the seats is deafening. Zenki is up to his feet and Vegas is on one knee. The champ runs against the ropes… rebounds… shotei to the face! Vegas wobbles but does not go down. Zenki goes for another… it connects! But Vegas is still on his feet… Zenki goes for another ~ GUH punch with the other hand! Zenki goes stumbling backward into the ropes and crouches with his hands to his face as Vegas is still standing, but doubled over in the center of the ring. Zenki is in a crouch holding his face for quite sometime while Vegas holds his injured arm. Neither man moves.

TIM FLOSS:
These two are spent, Al.

ALBERT MORDECAI:
They’ve put on a clinic, but who is gonna take it?!

ZENKI stands and bounces off the ropes ~ Vegas goes for LARIAT ~ swing a miss! Zenki rebounds and Vegas goes for another LARIAT ~ Zenki ducks and gets behind Vegas, pulling him back by the hair ~ AND PLANTS A BIG A KISS ON HIS LIPS!! Zenki’s got Vegas in a CPR-esque as he slowly takes him down to the canvas and then breaks it off!

TIM FLOSS AND ALBERT MORDECAI:
WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!?!?!?!?

The referee approaches Zenki and asks him just what the hell he is up to. Meanwhile, Vegas is on the mat coughing incessantly and a keen eye observe him coughing up puffs of smoke that quickly dissipate into the air! ZENKI shrugs his shoulders as the referees' eyes are upon him, interrogating him about his unusual behavior!

TIM FLOSS:
That sneaky bastard! He really did learn something from GRIM ~ except instead of a mist he used smoke!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
Are you sure?! I didn’t see Zenki breathing any smoke. And there's nothing in the rules about a little smooch here or there...

TIM FLOSS:
Goddamn it, Al! What other explanation is there?

Zenki steps over to Vegas who is still coughing up a fit in a heap in the center of the ring. He sets him up, knees him in the gut, and lifts him in the gutwrench… he gets a running start… ZENKI BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He’s got the pin!

1…

2…

3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE BELL SOUNDS!

Zenki raises a fist as he falls onto his back as the ring is flooded with the dojo students and medical attendants.

TIM FLOSS:
That’s a cheap tactic, Al, even from Zenki! By using smoke instead of a mist, Zenki knew that he wouldn’t leave any evidence of having broken the rules! I bet that’s why he spent so much time belaboring that last GUH punch from Vegas. He was just loading it up and holding his breath so that he could fill Vegas’ lungs with poison!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
Well, since we didn’t actually see it, Timmy, I guess we’ll never know. But if that was his plan, it would’ve been a genius strategy…

TIM FLOSS:
How else do you explain why Jun Vegas was coughing up smoke?!

ALBERT MORDECAI:
Well, if he IS a robot maybe he was overheating…

TIM FLOSS:
Shut up! Just shut up!

Back in the ring, ZENKI has the MAX Heavyweight Title returned to him. He poses for the photographers as medical staff tend to the beleaguered Jun Vegas. The MAX Defense Force has entered the ring to stand in company with Vegas while Tokyo Zombie has joined ZENKI in the ring. An ocean of security personnel stand between the two sides. The Defense Force sends hateful eyes that the Demon Brigade pair seems to ignore.

… and then Shinjiro Nakama stands up.

This catches ZENKI’s attention, the champ calling out the Mountain to step into the ring.

… and then Go Gensai takes off his sunglasses…

The camera pans around and the tension is at an all-time high as the Dojo students and security personnel stand with arms outstretched trying to keep all the fighters at bay.

TIM FLOSS:
Folks, we’ve run out of time here tonight! We’ll be sure to update you if something happens! Otherwise we’ll see you at the Sword of Lite Grand Prix in Tokyo! Good night!

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THREE KINGDOMS TOUR FINALE  ~ THRONE OF HEAVYWEIGHT REALM
Date: 11/15/2018
Location: Project KANRYU Arena, Ōsaka, Japan
Attendance: 5,400 fans (99% capacity)

1. KOSUKE defeats Joseph White (8:12) via submission with a kimura.
2. Tokyo Zombie defeats Kota Shoju (9:30) via submission with the Vise of Virtue.
3. Shinjiro Nakama and Umetaro Sakamoto and Mushigahara and Hiro Minamoto (10:08) via pinfall after Nakama uses a running knee strike on Minamoto.
4. Go Gensai defeats Frank Dylan James (16:15) via referee stoppage (rear naked choke).
5. Mike Musket defeats GRIM (17:17) via pinfall with a dragon suplex hold.
6. MAX Heavyweight Championship: ZENKI (c) defeats Jun Vegas (28:49) via pinfall after the ZENKI Bomb (2nd defense).