Post by UNION of SPORTS! on Aug 1, 2018 14:08:05 GMT -5
J1 SUMMIT DAY 1
8/1/2018
MIRAI DOME, YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
The day has finally arrived and literally opened up with fireworks from the stage on the entranceway as over 9,000 fans in the Mirai Dome stood up to their feet and waved their smartphones in the air recording the action. All ten of the fighters took the stage to be announced and would then return to the backstage to prepare for the upcoming matches. MJPW’s owner, Chikashi Enatsu, waved to the crowd from the executive suites as he sat alongside General Manager Masaaki Sano.
The concessions and the official MAX-J store were booming business. It seemed that nearly every fan who passed by a vending machine picked up a can of SHIMADA! Juice, a pomegranate lemonade energy drink that has apparently proven delightful! We also discovered that Shinjiro Nakama’s recent performances have earned him a niche following among some of the collegiate male fans. Calling themselves “Mountain Bros”, they like to wear dark sunglasses, show off their muscles, and eat the brand-new MOUNTAIN BAR protein snack.
Tag team action would get the night started where MAX Jr. Heavyweight Champion METAL HERO would team alongside newcomer Shensi Dashi against Tokyo Zombie and Mitsuo Shimada. The junior champ and Zombie would have a titanic showdown with the Buddhist monk locking on his patented brain claw, threatening to crush METAL HERO’s helmet! But the cybernetic warrior reversed hold into a flying cross armbreaker! Shimada would enter to break up the submission. Shensi Dashi would show off some fancy moves, landing a flying elbow smash to Shimada for a 1-2-NO! Shimada would power back with an assortment of chops to the chest that would send Dashi back into his corner and tag in HERO who would rush in with a flash shining wizard against Shimada and get the 1-2-3!
The J1 SUMMIT would kick off with Daichi Kusumoto and Jacob Hammerstein squaring off. Kusumoto brought his boxing technique to bear on the American Monster with numerous body shots that softened him up. But Hammerstein took the punishment and ran Kusumoto in the ropes for a Mountain Bomb! Hammer would keep the fight on the ground, locking in a rear naked choke that almost tapped out Kusumoto, just barely making it to the ropes. Hammerstein would not be satisfied and nailed an Evenflow DDT! He’d hook the leg for a 1… 2… not quite as Kusumoto kicked out.
Kusumoto would battle back with an elbow strke! An elbow strike! And then a roaring elbow! But Hammerstein simply absorbed the blows, bounced off the ropes, and nailed a POUNCE! Kusumoto would stumble back into the ropes and Hammerstein would catch him with a Hammersteiner that proved just too much and allow the American Monster to pick up a win!
In the next bout, Robb Daniels versus Shinjiro Nakama would show off the dominance of the “Mountain”. Daniels spent a lot of this match playing defense his rather large opponent who would attempt to lock him up and throw knees to the chest whenever he could. Daniels hung out near the ropes to slow the action and would eventually get Nakama on the ground with a fireman’s carry takedown and a knee drop.
But Nakama’s experience grappling throughout the month of July saw him get back up to his feet and with Daniels on one knee go for a knee strike – that missed! Daniels having avoided decapitation kicked Nakama in the gut and locked on the Memory Loss! With his patented guillotine chokehold locked on tight, there was nowhere for Nakama to go… until he arched his back and threw Daniels halfway across the ring with a release Northern Lights suplex! Daniels got up his feet, but Nakama was already on him and delivered a crushing knee strike into Daniels’ solar plexus that knocked the wind out of him and was enough to stun him, allowing Nakama to earn the pinfall victory!
Without question, James Edwards versus GRIM made for the creepiest match of the night. As Edwards stretched out in the ring, GRIM’s music hit and the hooded figure made the stage twirling a goblet in his fingers as Jin Hirai and GRIMMY Winner flanked him. He took a sip and emitted a bizarre shriek and took off the robe to reveal crimson red eyes! When the action got started, GRIM absorbed several roundhouse kicks to the chest from Edwards and proceed to laugh, grabbing the fourth kick and nailing a Dragon Screw! Edwards shook out his knee but GRIM was on him in a jiffy and dropped him with a Saito suplex! 1… 2… nope! The stunned Edwards got the shoulder up just in time.
But GRIM kept on him, repeatedly tangling the ropes around Edwards’ throat to choke him out and severely upsetting the referee. The thousands of Demon Brigade zealots in the crowd cheered, giving off the impression of a rather unsportsmanlike fanbase. But in truth, most of the fans were appalled and parents covered the eyes of their children. GRIM went for a running big boot that Edwards ducked, and then Edwards went for a spinning backfist but missed! GRIM attempted his own spinning backfist – and the Burning Heart caught the arm and jumped into a cross armbreaker! GRIM was caught in the middle of the ring and was forced to tapout! Edwards' hand was raised and he quickly exited the ring to avoid drama with Demon Brigade zealots.
In a rematch of last year’s final, Mike Musket versus ZENKI took centerstage and had the fans up on their feet from the opening minutes where the former champ and the current champ launched into a three minute chop fest! Musket would push back ZENKI into the turnbuckle, but when he went for the kill he ate a turnbuckle into the chest and ZENKI tossed the mountain man over his head for a release German suplex! ZENKI would then charge forward and go for a Shining Wizard – but Musket got his hands up just in time and took the fight to the ground, catching ZENKI in a kneebar! The MAX Heavyweight Champion struggled and struggled but eventually found the ropes.
The white hot action continued when ZENKI put his hands up to stop Musket’s advance, and then dropped him with a basement dropkick to the knee, exploiting the kind mountaineer! Musket rolled to the outside and ZENKI followed him by diving over the top rope with a suicide plancha! The two men took the fight into the aisle. With the fans behind him, ZENKI set up Musket for a running shotei – but the mountain man ducked it and dropped him with a backdrop driver in the middle of the aisle! The referee would begin the 20-count and somehow, someway, ZENKI made it into the ring at 19.5!
Let’s pick up the action from there!
The concessions and the official MAX-J store were booming business. It seemed that nearly every fan who passed by a vending machine picked up a can of SHIMADA! Juice, a pomegranate lemonade energy drink that has apparently proven delightful! We also discovered that Shinjiro Nakama’s recent performances have earned him a niche following among some of the collegiate male fans. Calling themselves “Mountain Bros”, they like to wear dark sunglasses, show off their muscles, and eat the brand-new MOUNTAIN BAR protein snack.
Tag team action would get the night started where MAX Jr. Heavyweight Champion METAL HERO would team alongside newcomer Shensi Dashi against Tokyo Zombie and Mitsuo Shimada. The junior champ and Zombie would have a titanic showdown with the Buddhist monk locking on his patented brain claw, threatening to crush METAL HERO’s helmet! But the cybernetic warrior reversed hold into a flying cross armbreaker! Shimada would enter to break up the submission. Shensi Dashi would show off some fancy moves, landing a flying elbow smash to Shimada for a 1-2-NO! Shimada would power back with an assortment of chops to the chest that would send Dashi back into his corner and tag in HERO who would rush in with a flash shining wizard against Shimada and get the 1-2-3!
The J1 SUMMIT would kick off with Daichi Kusumoto and Jacob Hammerstein squaring off. Kusumoto brought his boxing technique to bear on the American Monster with numerous body shots that softened him up. But Hammerstein took the punishment and ran Kusumoto in the ropes for a Mountain Bomb! Hammer would keep the fight on the ground, locking in a rear naked choke that almost tapped out Kusumoto, just barely making it to the ropes. Hammerstein would not be satisfied and nailed an Evenflow DDT! He’d hook the leg for a 1… 2… not quite as Kusumoto kicked out.
Kusumoto would battle back with an elbow strke! An elbow strike! And then a roaring elbow! But Hammerstein simply absorbed the blows, bounced off the ropes, and nailed a POUNCE! Kusumoto would stumble back into the ropes and Hammerstein would catch him with a Hammersteiner that proved just too much and allow the American Monster to pick up a win!
In the next bout, Robb Daniels versus Shinjiro Nakama would show off the dominance of the “Mountain”. Daniels spent a lot of this match playing defense his rather large opponent who would attempt to lock him up and throw knees to the chest whenever he could. Daniels hung out near the ropes to slow the action and would eventually get Nakama on the ground with a fireman’s carry takedown and a knee drop.
But Nakama’s experience grappling throughout the month of July saw him get back up to his feet and with Daniels on one knee go for a knee strike – that missed! Daniels having avoided decapitation kicked Nakama in the gut and locked on the Memory Loss! With his patented guillotine chokehold locked on tight, there was nowhere for Nakama to go… until he arched his back and threw Daniels halfway across the ring with a release Northern Lights suplex! Daniels got up his feet, but Nakama was already on him and delivered a crushing knee strike into Daniels’ solar plexus that knocked the wind out of him and was enough to stun him, allowing Nakama to earn the pinfall victory!
Without question, James Edwards versus GRIM made for the creepiest match of the night. As Edwards stretched out in the ring, GRIM’s music hit and the hooded figure made the stage twirling a goblet in his fingers as Jin Hirai and GRIMMY Winner flanked him. He took a sip and emitted a bizarre shriek and took off the robe to reveal crimson red eyes! When the action got started, GRIM absorbed several roundhouse kicks to the chest from Edwards and proceed to laugh, grabbing the fourth kick and nailing a Dragon Screw! Edwards shook out his knee but GRIM was on him in a jiffy and dropped him with a Saito suplex! 1… 2… nope! The stunned Edwards got the shoulder up just in time.
But GRIM kept on him, repeatedly tangling the ropes around Edwards’ throat to choke him out and severely upsetting the referee. The thousands of Demon Brigade zealots in the crowd cheered, giving off the impression of a rather unsportsmanlike fanbase. But in truth, most of the fans were appalled and parents covered the eyes of their children. GRIM went for a running big boot that Edwards ducked, and then Edwards went for a spinning backfist but missed! GRIM attempted his own spinning backfist – and the Burning Heart caught the arm and jumped into a cross armbreaker! GRIM was caught in the middle of the ring and was forced to tapout! Edwards' hand was raised and he quickly exited the ring to avoid drama with Demon Brigade zealots.
In a rematch of last year’s final, Mike Musket versus ZENKI took centerstage and had the fans up on their feet from the opening minutes where the former champ and the current champ launched into a three minute chop fest! Musket would push back ZENKI into the turnbuckle, but when he went for the kill he ate a turnbuckle into the chest and ZENKI tossed the mountain man over his head for a release German suplex! ZENKI would then charge forward and go for a Shining Wizard – but Musket got his hands up just in time and took the fight to the ground, catching ZENKI in a kneebar! The MAX Heavyweight Champion struggled and struggled but eventually found the ropes.
The white hot action continued when ZENKI put his hands up to stop Musket’s advance, and then dropped him with a basement dropkick to the knee, exploiting the kind mountaineer! Musket rolled to the outside and ZENKI followed him by diving over the top rope with a suicide plancha! The two men took the fight into the aisle. With the fans behind him, ZENKI set up Musket for a running shotei – but the mountain man ducked it and dropped him with a backdrop driver in the middle of the aisle! The referee would begin the 20-count and somehow, someway, ZENKI made it into the ring at 19.5!
Let’s pick up the action from there!
Musket in the dark brown tights drags Zenki in his red-and-white suit up to his feet by his hair. Zenki punches him in the knee and Musket stumbles back in response and is then dropped with a running shotei!
TIM FLOSS:
What a turn of events here! These two are going back and forth!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
You said it, Timmy! He might already be the champ, but Demon Lord Zenki still feels it from last year’s loss in the tourney! He wants it bad!
Zenki waits for Musket to stumble up to his feet and… running shotei again! Musket goes down and he gets back up… running shotei again! Musket goes down, gets back up as Zenki reloads another shotei – Musket ducks! Zenki rebounds and – ZANBATOOOOOOH!!!! The diving shoulder tackle flings the mountain man across the ring and Zenki hooks the leg for the pin!
1…
2…
3-NO! Musket kicks out!
TIM FLOSS:
What a turn of events here! These two are going back and forth!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
You said it, Timmy! He might already be the champ, but Demon Lord Zenki still feels it from last year’s loss in the tourney! He wants it bad!
Zenki waits for Musket to stumble up to his feet and… running shotei again! Musket goes down and he gets back up… running shotei again! Musket goes down, gets back up as Zenki reloads another shotei – Musket ducks! Zenki rebounds and – ZANBATOOOOOOH!!!! The diving shoulder tackle flings the mountain man across the ring and Zenki hooks the leg for the pin!
1…
2…
3-NO! Musket kicks out!
TIM FLOSS:
Musket survived the Zanbato!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
That’s one of Lord Zenki’s top moves! But it’s not the only one!
Zenki raises a fist in the air to let the fans know he’s going to finish this match off! He gets the groggy Musket up to his feet and knees him in the gut to bend him over at the waist. As Zenki gets him in the gutwrench, he lifts the Mountain Man on his shoulders to the roar of the crowd! He takes a running start and… Musket starts laying in punches to Zenki’s face! Big Country slides off Zenki’s shoulders, landing on his feet and – BURNING LARIATOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!!!! ZENKI jackknifes as his head bounces off the canvas! Musket jumps on him for the pin!
1…
2…
3!!!!
The bell sounds!
TIM FLOSS:
My gawd! Musket managed to escape the Zenki Bomb! And that lariat, my gawd!
ALBERT MORDECAI:
It must be all that survival training! But Mike Musket has done it again! These two have fought several times now and each time is just better than the last! What a start to the J1 SUMMIT!
With Day 1 in the books, let’s take a look at the standings!
BLOCK A
Mike Musket [2]
Jacob Hammerstein [2]
Mitsuo Shimada [0]
Daichi Kusumoto [0]
ZENKI [0]BLOCK B
James Edwards [2]
Shinjiro Nakama [2]
Tokyo Zombie [0]
Robb Daniels [0]GRIM [0]
The fighters will have a few days to recuperate and train for the next slate of bouts. The J1 will continue…
- RECAP -
J1 SUMMIT: Day 1
Date: 8/1/2018
Location: Mirai Dome, Yokohama, Japan
Attendance: 9,000 fans (90% capacity)
1. METAL HERO and Shensi Dashi defeat Tokyo Zombie and Mitsuo Shimada (10:04) via pinfall after METAL HERO uses a shining wizard on Shimada.
2. Block A: Jacob Hammerstein [2] defeats Daichi Kusumoto [0] (12:27) via pinfall after the Hammersteiner.
3. Block B: Shinjiro Nakama [2] defeats Robb Daniels [0] (13:55) via pinfall after a knee strike.
4. Block B: James Edwards [2] defeats GRIM [0] (12:59) via submission after a cross armbreaker.
5. Block A: Mike Musket [2] defeats ZENKI [0] (21:38) via pinfall after a burning lariat.