J1 SUMMIT 2018: Day 4

The Mirai Dome was on fire tonight.

Literally.

About twenty minutes before the first bout was scheduled to begin, the fire alarm began going off and prompted a brief evacuation from the arena. What caused the fire, you may ask? It seemed that a coterie of Demon Brigade zealots started what resembled a bonfire on one of the concourses! Apparently, the zealots built a mountain of MJPW merchandise from gaijin – coonskin caps from Mike Musket, Edwards’ BURNING GOSPEL and Hammerstein’s brand-new PYTHON SLEEPER t-shirts – and lit the pile aflame! Fire marshals who interrogated the suspects said that this wasn't so much a case of arson as a protest movement against the gaijin competitors in the tournament. Apparently, the suspects believed that burning the merchandise would purify MAX-J from the unholy gaijin influence.

After the fire department cleaned up the mess and the fans returned to their seats, we got started with a six-man tag. Nakama and Hammerstein teamed up with the lovable curmudgeon of MAX Dojo, Hiro Minamoto, to take on METAL HERO, Jun Vegas, and Shensi Dashi. It was a back and forth affair with Hammerstein and Jun Vegas notably getting into a chopfest that would end with Vegas knocked back the American Monster with a roaring elbow to the cheers of the crowd! In the end, it would be Minamoto who would pick up a win for MAX Dojo after hitting a vicious half-nelson suplex on Dashi and getting the 1-2-3.

The all-Demon Brigade bout was a highly anticipated matchup and it did not disappoint. Zombie and GRIM showcased the technical skills of both wrestlers. We’re accustomed to seeing GRIM deploy underhanded tactics, but he took Zombie to the mat with a hip toss and grounded headlock that he tried to transition to an Anaconda Vise but the Buddhist monk pushed himself out of the headlock and the two fighters applauded as they stared each other down.

Back on their feet again, Zombie and GRIM locked up and it was the former who backed GRIM into the ropes with a series of chops to the neck and then a Saito suplex for a two-count. Zombie would back up and then hit a rolling Koppu kick that would send GRIM tumble through the ropes onto the apron! After suplexing him back into the ring, Zombie would get into the mount and lock on a cross armbreaker, but GRIM would slither out and as Zombie got up to his feet nail a superkick! GRIM would cover for a 1…2… NO! Zombie kicked out.

GRIM would keep the action hot, nailing a release Northern Light suplex and then a hangman’s neckbreaker. As a woozy Zombie got up, GRIM crept from behind and went for a rear naked choke! He nearly got the hooks in, but Zombie tossed him off. He would go for a Mongolian Chop, but GRIM blocked it and trapped both of Zombie’s arms. Let’s take you to the action…




In the third bout of the J1, Daichi Kusumoto and Mike Musket put on a show. The two men would lock up with Musket trying to take the fight to the ground while Kusumoto sought to keep the fighters on their feet. In the end, it would be Musket who would achieve a double-leg takedown! On the canvas, Musket’s catch wrestling prowess would show as he thoroughly dominated Kusumoto with submissions, wrenching the arm with an americana at one point and then locking on a kimura after Kusumoto bucked him off. Kusumoto would grown in pain, but eventually catch the ropes with his foot and break the hold.

With his elbow clearly in pain from Musket’s repeated arm locks, Kusumoto would struggle to keep consistent offense going against the Man of the Mountain, trying to clinch up with Musket for knee strikes. But against the wily hillbilly this would only get him into trouble, as Musket would once more take him down to the mat with an STO and go back to work on the injured arm of Kusumoto. This time, however, Kusumoto would wrap his legs around Musket and flip him over to achieve a full mount and started raining down the open hand palm strikes! Kusumoto would get him up to his feet and then hit a release German suplex! Kusumoto would cover for a two-count before picking up Musket and running him into the ropes, only to drop him with a running high knee! Let’s take you to the action…

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With only one more day remaining here in the block stage of the J1 SUMMIT, let’s examine the standings.

In Block A, MAX Heavyweight Champion Demon Lord ZENKI’s tournament is over and has secured himself a spot in the semifinals. The winner of Hammer and Musket will determine which of the two fighters will reach the next stage. Kusumoto has been eliminated from the tournament based on tiebreakers while Shimada cannot attain enough points.

Tokyo Zombie is 3-0 in Block B and has locked up a second spot in the semifinals for the Demon Brigade. Like the other block, it will be the James Edwards versus Shinjiro Nakama match that will determine who makes it into the semifinals. GRIM and Daniels are both eliminated.

BLOCK A
ZENKI [6]
Mike Musket [4]
Jacob Hammerstein [4]
Daichi Kusumoto [2]
Mitsuo Shimada [0]

BLOCK B
Tokyo Zombie [6]
Shinjiro Nakama [4]
James Edwards [4]
GRIM [2]
Robb Daniels [0]

Going into 8/21, we have two out of the four spots in the semifinals already locked up while four fighters will compete for the remaining two.

Catching up with last year’s winner Mike Musket, he told the press that he will use his experience to overcome Jacob Hammerstein and catch him in his Wolf Trap Sharpshooter. Hammerstein took a less gregarious approach and before walking off declared that he “wouldn’t let that white trash son of a bitch get one over on him”.

Arnold Cunningham, Nakama’s representative from Xpress Fighting Systems was boastful that a “skinny mini” fighter like Edwards could not possess the intestinal fortitude to matchup with his client. Cunningham recommended that Edwards simply forfeit the match to avoid major injury. Edwards stated that in his travels he’s cut down fighters of all sizes and simply promised that Mountain Shinjiro would not be the last.




Attendance: 9,550 fans (96% capacity)