Post by Shining Road Review on Jul 23, 2017 11:03:42 GMT -5
The scene opens on Solomon Bentley, his mustache well-tapered and a Shining Road coffee mug in his hand.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Welcome everyone to the 7/22 edition of the Shining Road Review! Tonight we held the inaugural NOVA Cup, a one-night MMA tournament to determine which one of our fighters will graduate from the NOVA Division, the branch of the roster that epitomizes youth and spirit. These young fighters did not disappoint, did they?
The camera pans to the perpetually well-dressed Kai Harrison clad in a pin-striped Armani suit.
KAI HARRISON:
You said it. Katsuhiko Himura dominated the former gymnast Nobosuke Okada with a barrage of punches in the second round that ended this fight for good.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
That match between Akira Nakamura and Shinzo Takamori was quite competitive. It took a judges’ decision to give Nakamura the victory.
KAI HARRISON:
But nothing compared to that final match. It was a hell of a bout. Back and forth, back and forth. Akira Nakamura’s Karate and Judo background were on full-display.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Himura’s 165 IQ and eidetic memory surely had something to do with his strategizing. Every combination from Nakamura, it was like he’d seen it before! A back and forth in the third round ultimately saw Himura catch Nakamura in a triangle hold and forced him to tap out! Thus, Katsuhiko Himura won the NOVA Cup and will fight in the World Pro-Wrestling Tournament!
KAI HARRISON:
A huge accomplishment for the young fighter. He’ll have his hands full with the Kraken during the first round of the tournament.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Speaking of the big man, his partnership with Iron Mack Brody paid off in the biggest of moments when they defeated Falcon Hamada and Kaito Matsushita to become the 24th GPWS Tag Team Champions!
KAI HARRISON:
The two North Americans are bringing the GPWS Tag Team titles into the hands of Buck U Productions! Kraken used a triple powerbomb combination on Matsushita where each time his head hit the canvas it looked like whiplash! It’s going to be a long flight to New York City where on 7/29 he’ll challenge Thunder Mask for the Junior Heavyweight Championship.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Now we’re gonna switch gears a minute. We have the great pleasure of being joined by a special guest here in the studio. We saw him compete in Shining Road last month, but right now he is two weeks away from a King of the Lions Championship match versus Julian Cutlass – Lion’s Road’s own Matt Pulver.
We see Pulver wearing a suit with a jacket and tie. Kai Harrison stands up to shake his hand, whisper something in his ear, and smacks him on the shoulder triumphantly before sitting back down. Pulver sits between the two men in the middle of the set.
MATT PULVER:
Hello, guys. Great to be here!
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Welcome to the studio, Matt. We appreciate you taking the time out of your press tour to stop by. We understand you have a busy schedule.
MATT PULVER:
Yeah, I’ve done these press tours before, but this time it’s on a whole nother level. It seems like the hype for this match really blows the hype for our first match out of the water. Part of it is most likely because Lion’s Road has expanded a lot since February, but I also think a lot of it has to do with the fact that people have seen what me and Cutlass can do in that ring. People have seen that we really are two of the best fighters in the world. And maybe most importantly, they saw how neither of us could put the other down. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a fan of combat sports or if you’re a wrestling expert, when you watch that match you know that you’re watching something special. And this match is most likely going to be even crazier. We’re way past the point of any feeling out process now, so all that is left is just beating the living hell out of each other.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
I can’t imagine what that will look like. To me it certainly seemed like you beat the hell out of each other last time! Even after thirty minutes and six rounds neither of you could put the other away. What do you think it takes for either of you to be able to finish the other off?
MATT PULVER:
You tell me! Both of us pride ourselves in our ability to strategize, but we are also both known for our resiliency and for not giving up when the stakes are high. You saw that in the first match too. We both had game plans coming in, but neither of us let the other put us away, and if you go long enough you always get to a point where strategies go out the window. So while I will obviously be prepared and come up with as many game plans as I possibly can, I think in the end it will come down to that fighting spirit.
KAI HARRISON:
There’s been almost six months since the first match and a lot has happened since then – Cutlass won the Laurentide Cup, you’ve won and lost the Great Lakes tag team titles, you both have toured with Shining Road and you both have gone through some tough matches. How do you think the both of you have evolved as fighters since then?
MATT PULVER:
Well, I’ve learned a lot as a fighter in the past few months. After our first match I feel like I lost a lot of aggressiveness and that ‘fire’ or whatever you want to call it. But it was actually wrestling here in Shining Road and training at the Fujiyama dojo that reignited that fire. Sometimes you just need a change of pace and a change of setting to get out of a rut and get back on track - and seeing the level of talent here helped motivate me to work harder and become better than I ever was. And of course studying the ‘Two Paths’ at the dojo taught me a lot about Cutlass’ style and ways to counter it, but also gave me a lot of insight in how to improve my own game. As for how Cutlass has changed since last time, it’s always very difficult to get a read on him, so who really knows? But if you look at all of his title defenses since then, he’s been as dominate as ever. He even the won the entire Laurentide Cup in a clean sweep, like you mentioned, so it’s safe to assume that he has only gotten better if anything. All I know is that I would either have to be very stupid or have a death wish to underestimate him.
KAI HARRISON:
You mentioned your time in Shining Road and how that has affected you as a fighter. Do you think you will be back in Shining Road any time soon?
MATT PULVER:
I hope so! Like I said before, it was a great learning experience wrestling here. Shining Road really is a melting pot for different fighting styles and disciplines, and it’s a great place to test yourself against different types of competitors. And maybe someday I’ll even get to fight for one of the titles here. Maybe I’ll even defend the King of the Lions title here. Either way, I don’t think this is the last Shining Road will see of Matt Pulver.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
I know that both Kai and I will look forward to that. Now before you have to leave, do you have any final words to the people watching at home?
MATT PULVER:
Make sure to tune into Mane Event on the 3rd of August, you won’t be disappointed. That’s all there is to say really. Thanks for having me on, guys!
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
And thank you, Matt. Kai, who gets the Fighting Spirit Award?
KAI HARRISON:
Give it up to “Genius” Himura this evening on Graduation Night. Congratulations, kid!
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Congratulations, indeed! As a reminder, we’ll be off next week but please root for our competitors traveling stateside to compete in FUSION. Have a great week!
GRADUATION NIGHT!! NOVA Cup MMA Tournament
Date: 7/22/2017
Location: Bushidokan, Yokohama, Japan
Attendance: 3,200 fans (64% capacity)
1. Semi-Finals (MMA rules): Katsuhiko Himura defeats Nobosuke Okada (R2 0:43) via TKO (punches).
2. Semi-Finals (MMA rules): Akira Nakamura defeats Shinzo Takamori (R3 5:00) via judges’ decision (unanimous).
3. Jimmy Winner and Big Cage Mike defeat Sheik Spectre and David Lee Sellers (10:18) by pinfall after Mike uses the Cocaine Blues on Sellers.
4. Zen Hayashi, Hajime Tanaka, and Satoshi Kamakura defeat Takeshi Morimoto, DARK FEATHER II, and Shigeru Toyama (17:32) via pinfall after Kamakura uses a brainbuster on Toyama.
5. Takeda Izumi and KOSUKE defeat Hiroyuki Fukodome and Kishin Nozaki (11:41) by referee stoppage (kicks, Izumi on Nozaki).
6. Makoto Ueno and Ikki Yanagi defeat Hidehiko Nagata and Masayoshi Arimoto (14:50) by submission when Ueno uses the Pan Kratos on Nagata.
7. GPWS Tag Team Championship: Kraken and Iron Mack Brody defeat Hayato Hamada and Kaito Matsushita (15:16) when Kraken pins Matsushita after a triple powerbomb to become the 24th champions.
8. Finals (MMA rules): Katsuhiko Himura defeats Nobosuke Okada (R3 3:56) via submission (triangle hold) to win the tournament.
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, United State of America
1. GPWS Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Thunder Mask/BLADE Takano (c) vs. Kaito Matsushita
2. MMA rules: "Future Warrior" Hiroyuki Fukudome vs. Kosuke "KOSUKE!" Toriyama
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Welcome everyone to the 7/22 edition of the Shining Road Review! Tonight we held the inaugural NOVA Cup, a one-night MMA tournament to determine which one of our fighters will graduate from the NOVA Division, the branch of the roster that epitomizes youth and spirit. These young fighters did not disappoint, did they?
The camera pans to the perpetually well-dressed Kai Harrison clad in a pin-striped Armani suit.
KAI HARRISON:
You said it. Katsuhiko Himura dominated the former gymnast Nobosuke Okada with a barrage of punches in the second round that ended this fight for good.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
That match between Akira Nakamura and Shinzo Takamori was quite competitive. It took a judges’ decision to give Nakamura the victory.
KAI HARRISON:
But nothing compared to that final match. It was a hell of a bout. Back and forth, back and forth. Akira Nakamura’s Karate and Judo background were on full-display.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Himura’s 165 IQ and eidetic memory surely had something to do with his strategizing. Every combination from Nakamura, it was like he’d seen it before! A back and forth in the third round ultimately saw Himura catch Nakamura in a triangle hold and forced him to tap out! Thus, Katsuhiko Himura won the NOVA Cup and will fight in the World Pro-Wrestling Tournament!
KAI HARRISON:
A huge accomplishment for the young fighter. He’ll have his hands full with the Kraken during the first round of the tournament.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Speaking of the big man, his partnership with Iron Mack Brody paid off in the biggest of moments when they defeated Falcon Hamada and Kaito Matsushita to become the 24th GPWS Tag Team Champions!
KAI HARRISON:
The two North Americans are bringing the GPWS Tag Team titles into the hands of Buck U Productions! Kraken used a triple powerbomb combination on Matsushita where each time his head hit the canvas it looked like whiplash! It’s going to be a long flight to New York City where on 7/29 he’ll challenge Thunder Mask for the Junior Heavyweight Championship.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Now we’re gonna switch gears a minute. We have the great pleasure of being joined by a special guest here in the studio. We saw him compete in Shining Road last month, but right now he is two weeks away from a King of the Lions Championship match versus Julian Cutlass – Lion’s Road’s own Matt Pulver.
We see Pulver wearing a suit with a jacket and tie. Kai Harrison stands up to shake his hand, whisper something in his ear, and smacks him on the shoulder triumphantly before sitting back down. Pulver sits between the two men in the middle of the set.
MATT PULVER:
Hello, guys. Great to be here!
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Welcome to the studio, Matt. We appreciate you taking the time out of your press tour to stop by. We understand you have a busy schedule.
MATT PULVER:
Yeah, I’ve done these press tours before, but this time it’s on a whole nother level. It seems like the hype for this match really blows the hype for our first match out of the water. Part of it is most likely because Lion’s Road has expanded a lot since February, but I also think a lot of it has to do with the fact that people have seen what me and Cutlass can do in that ring. People have seen that we really are two of the best fighters in the world. And maybe most importantly, they saw how neither of us could put the other down. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a fan of combat sports or if you’re a wrestling expert, when you watch that match you know that you’re watching something special. And this match is most likely going to be even crazier. We’re way past the point of any feeling out process now, so all that is left is just beating the living hell out of each other.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
I can’t imagine what that will look like. To me it certainly seemed like you beat the hell out of each other last time! Even after thirty minutes and six rounds neither of you could put the other away. What do you think it takes for either of you to be able to finish the other off?
MATT PULVER:
You tell me! Both of us pride ourselves in our ability to strategize, but we are also both known for our resiliency and for not giving up when the stakes are high. You saw that in the first match too. We both had game plans coming in, but neither of us let the other put us away, and if you go long enough you always get to a point where strategies go out the window. So while I will obviously be prepared and come up with as many game plans as I possibly can, I think in the end it will come down to that fighting spirit.
KAI HARRISON:
There’s been almost six months since the first match and a lot has happened since then – Cutlass won the Laurentide Cup, you’ve won and lost the Great Lakes tag team titles, you both have toured with Shining Road and you both have gone through some tough matches. How do you think the both of you have evolved as fighters since then?
MATT PULVER:
Well, I’ve learned a lot as a fighter in the past few months. After our first match I feel like I lost a lot of aggressiveness and that ‘fire’ or whatever you want to call it. But it was actually wrestling here in Shining Road and training at the Fujiyama dojo that reignited that fire. Sometimes you just need a change of pace and a change of setting to get out of a rut and get back on track - and seeing the level of talent here helped motivate me to work harder and become better than I ever was. And of course studying the ‘Two Paths’ at the dojo taught me a lot about Cutlass’ style and ways to counter it, but also gave me a lot of insight in how to improve my own game. As for how Cutlass has changed since last time, it’s always very difficult to get a read on him, so who really knows? But if you look at all of his title defenses since then, he’s been as dominate as ever. He even the won the entire Laurentide Cup in a clean sweep, like you mentioned, so it’s safe to assume that he has only gotten better if anything. All I know is that I would either have to be very stupid or have a death wish to underestimate him.
KAI HARRISON:
You mentioned your time in Shining Road and how that has affected you as a fighter. Do you think you will be back in Shining Road any time soon?
MATT PULVER:
I hope so! Like I said before, it was a great learning experience wrestling here. Shining Road really is a melting pot for different fighting styles and disciplines, and it’s a great place to test yourself against different types of competitors. And maybe someday I’ll even get to fight for one of the titles here. Maybe I’ll even defend the King of the Lions title here. Either way, I don’t think this is the last Shining Road will see of Matt Pulver.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
I know that both Kai and I will look forward to that. Now before you have to leave, do you have any final words to the people watching at home?
MATT PULVER:
Make sure to tune into Mane Event on the 3rd of August, you won’t be disappointed. That’s all there is to say really. Thanks for having me on, guys!
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
And thank you, Matt. Kai, who gets the Fighting Spirit Award?
KAI HARRISON:
Give it up to “Genius” Himura this evening on Graduation Night. Congratulations, kid!
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Congratulations, indeed! As a reminder, we’ll be off next week but please root for our competitors traveling stateside to compete in FUSION. Have a great week!
- RECAP -
GRADUATION NIGHT!! NOVA Cup MMA Tournament
Date: 7/22/2017
Location: Bushidokan, Yokohama, Japan
Attendance: 3,200 fans (64% capacity)
1. Semi-Finals (MMA rules): Katsuhiko Himura defeats Nobosuke Okada (R2 0:43) via TKO (punches).
2. Semi-Finals (MMA rules): Akira Nakamura defeats Shinzo Takamori (R3 5:00) via judges’ decision (unanimous).
3. Jimmy Winner and Big Cage Mike defeat Sheik Spectre and David Lee Sellers (10:18) by pinfall after Mike uses the Cocaine Blues on Sellers.
4. Zen Hayashi, Hajime Tanaka, and Satoshi Kamakura defeat Takeshi Morimoto, DARK FEATHER II, and Shigeru Toyama (17:32) via pinfall after Kamakura uses a brainbuster on Toyama.
5. Takeda Izumi and KOSUKE defeat Hiroyuki Fukodome and Kishin Nozaki (11:41) by referee stoppage (kicks, Izumi on Nozaki).
6. Makoto Ueno and Ikki Yanagi defeat Hidehiko Nagata and Masayoshi Arimoto (14:50) by submission when Ueno uses the Pan Kratos on Nagata.
7. GPWS Tag Team Championship: Kraken and Iron Mack Brody defeat Hayato Hamada and Kaito Matsushita (15:16) when Kraken pins Matsushita after a triple powerbomb to become the 24th champions.
8. Finals (MMA rules): Katsuhiko Himura defeats Nobosuke Okada (R3 3:56) via submission (triangle hold) to win the tournament.
**FIGHTING SPIRIT AWARD**
Katsuhiko "Genius" Himura
- PREVIEW -
Date: 7/29/2017Katsuhiko "Genius" Himura
- PREVIEW -
FUSION presented by Lion’s Road, SKYFIRE, Seattle Pro Wrestling, and Shining Road
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, United State of America
1. GPWS Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Thunder Mask/BLADE Takano (c) vs. Kaito Matsushita
2. MMA rules: "Future Warrior" Hiroyuki Fukudome vs. Kosuke "KOSUKE!" Toriyama