Post by Shining Road Review on Aug 13, 2017 20:29:42 GMT -5
We open back up to the Mirai Dome where Solomon Bentley and Kai Harrison sit at their announcer’s table. Several shots pan out to the arena and there is not an empty seat in the house. Both Shining Road and Lion’s Road merchandise is worn and it seems like every child eats from a box of chicken from the Pollobucket concession.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Folks, thank you for joining the live feed here in the Mirai Dome in Yokohama overlooking the beautiful Nippon Maru Memorial Park. Currently, technicians are preparing the ring for the MMA finals of the World Pro-Wrestling Tournament between Makoto Ueno and Takeshi Morimoto where the winner will also be crowned the first All-Japan Imperial Championship. But first, let’s go you caught up on some of the earlier action. Kai?
KAI HARRISON:
We had both GPWS titles on the line this evening. Thunder Mask made a convincing V3 defense of the Jr. Heavyweight title against “Starboy” Shigeru Toyama. Additionally, Buck U’s Krak-n-Mack team retained the tag team championship after Kraken used a sickening powerbomb on Sheik Spectre! Congrats to those men.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Also earlier we had the BLACK Lion’s Road trio team up together for the first time in the ring! The men were successful in defeating Matt Pulver, Teddy Davis, and Asterio. After the match, BLACK Lion's Road had this to say:
We return back to the Shining Road Review table.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Strong words from the BLACK Lion’s Road crew, huh Kai?
KAI HARRISON:
I tell you what, those guys can be just plain mean. But they back it up in the ring. And that’s where it counts.
The camera pans over ringside. B.L.R. sit on one side of Shining Road President and Chairman Takeo Yoshida while Pulver and Davis sit on the other.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Let’s take a moment to recap how we got here. The World Pro-Wrestling Tournament began on August 5th at the Pollobucket-owned Bushidokan across the city. Morimoto would face a stiff challenge against Hajime Tanaka and at many times looked near defeat in a match that went over twenty-three minutes! But Morimoto used his wits and perfectly executed an inside cradle to surprise the big man. Makoto Ueno on that night would make quick work of Thunder Mask.
KAI HARRISON:
And then came the shootfighting matches. Ueno was matched up against the mighty KRAKEN in an amateur freestyle match that pitted the two behemoths together. Ueno’s Olympic level skills were too much and he pinned him in Round 3. Morimoto was pitted against his “super-rival”, Ikki Yanagi, in a catch wrestling match. In the BATTLE VARIETY Series, these two founder under catch rules and Morimoto would win via split decision. A similar result would unfold this time after five grueling rounds where no man would give, but this fight would end via 4-1 majority decision.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
In the semifinals, we would get two classics. Makoto Ueno versus Masayoshi Arimoto would last nearly thirty minutes. Arimoto used his Edo brainbuster twice, but could not put Ueno away. Ueno would lock on the Pan Kratos and never look back. Morimoto fought Falcon Hamada in an epic match where he needed four Volcanic Busters, including the last one from the top rope, to put away Hamada! And now here we are, Kai…
KAI HARRISON:
It’s old versus new here tonight. Makoto Ueno lost the GPWS Heavyweight Championship several years ago to Flex Montana, who absconded with the title and never returned. Ueno has always felt guilty about that loss and you can tell this match would help avenge him. Now for Takeshi Morimoto, critics and analysts have always raved about the young man’s talent. He was set to be the #1 contender against Flex Montana, but he never received an opportunity to challenge for the GPWS Heavyweight belt. So you know he feels like he’s been waiting years for this opportunity. It’s fitting that these two made it to the finals. You couldn’t dream it up any better.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Indeed, my friend… I’m receiving word now that the ring is ready and we’re about to begin introductions. We’ll now pass the feed down to our broadcast team extraordinaires – Tim Floss and Albert Mordecai!
TIM FLOSS:
Welcome fans, if your tuning in now we are about to start out Mixed Martial Arts bout of the evening. We are in the finals of the World Pro-Wrestling Tournament and the winner will become the first All-Japan Imperial Champion. These two men couldn’t be a more mixed up match, Mordy.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Don’t you ever call me that.
TIM FLOSS:
Sorry for that. Like I was saying, this match is the closest thing to Cutlass vs. Pulver that I think we here in Japan could even try to make. However, in this bout here tonight our wrestler is the seasoned vet where as our young Tiger Morimoto is the one with the vicious striking game.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
For once I am in full agreement with you. Morimoto is a talented striker with great footwork, but he has been doing a lot of training for this match over in Fujiyama Dojo with Jimmy Winner working on his wrestling defense. Not only that but he has been badgering Ueno for his lost of the GPWS Heavyweight Championship that still rests on the shelf of Flex Montana. He knows Ueno carries that burden heavily, and the with the tournament for the All-Japan Imperial going on right now…it’s a freshly picked wound.
TIM FLOSS:
Looks like the men just went over the rules, let’s take the cameras down to ringside.
We come to see the two men standing in their corners as the ref asks if they are ready, and neither man breaks gaze. When the bell sound Ueno starts to enter with caution as Morimoto inches in closing the distance. A loud crack fills the arena as Moto’s right leg cracks against the outside of Ueno's left thigh, the knee buckling slightly. Ueno backs up and shakes it off and slowly comes in once again, Moto acts with a left inside leg kick followed by another hard right to the outside of the leg.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
You can hear those shots all the way in America Tim. Moto knows Ueno is a skilled Olympic Wrestler and wants to slow down that shoot as much as he can.
As if on cue Moto goes for another kick but Ueno ducks down to absorb it in his upper arm as he shoots in, catching Moto by his right leg and spinning out to slam her had into the mat in a Half Guard, trapping the left leg underneath his body as he starts battling for position, Moto countering and striking off of his back.
TIM FLOSS:
Look at how Moto just keeps striking and checking each of Ueno’s movements, he does not want to be caught off guard in this match Tim. He had been doing his work with Jimmy Winner.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
All the hate in the world doesn’t cause this man to take it easy. He knew what he was getting into and prepared accordingly. What he need to see is…OH BIG ELBOW BY MORIMOTO.
The left elbow of Morimoto has cut Ueno under the right eye, blow dripping on the chest of Moto, but in almost fluid motion Ueno uses the momentum of Moto’s strike to pin and slip behind Moto and a back-seating position and starts throwing short fists into the temples of Moto, but Moto swims between Uenos legs, squirm and moves out and back to his feet as he flips Ueno who rolls out to the same. This time Ueno plays it a less safe and moves in, landing a clean one two one two combinations followed by Morimoto answering with a hard push kick to the chest as the bell sounds.
TIM FLOSS:
What a first round Al. These two are on fire.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
It’s obvious these men did their homework on one another. Especially Morimoto who was showcasing some excellent ground work in the area of defense. He even cracked open Ueno from his back, and impressive feat in and of itself, but Ueno drove his face into his elbow to ensure that he could take Morimoto’s back. Impressive.
TIM FLOSS:
Both men are back on their feet and it looks like they got that cut to stop bleeding Albert. UENO’S OUT FOR BLOOD!
Ueno has closed the distance and is showcasing some striking of his own. The blows aren’t clean but they are effective, putting Moto on the defense, Ueno grapples low to the midsection and drives Moto to the corner, the two men battling for position.
TIM FLOSS:
An impressive show case by Ueno. He was laying some good blows their and seemed to almost rattle Morimoto.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Well don’t forget Tim, Ueno walks around at 280 pounds and is a massive beast of a man. Even without the striking efficiency that Morimoto has, those arms of his are almost as big around as the legs or waists of most other junior and lighter fighters. Even if you block the blow enough force might knock you out. But now he is got Morimoto in a nice clinch and is really putting Morimoto’s training to the test. I’m surprised Ueno hasn’t just pulled him out and thrown him across the mat.
And with that Morimoto answers by turning Ueno and pushing back freeing himself. He starts unloading with a barrage of strikes. Ueno attempts to answer back but Moto slips the blows and returns with counter punches, stiff kicks to the legs of Ueno causes him to buckle and Moto jumps forward, wrapping him up in a Thai clinch and just starts unloading with knees to the face and body.
TIM FLOSS:
Ueno looks rattled.
But he continues to cover up and defend, almost taking a knock out knee as he shoots down and pick Moto up. With speed and power he runs forward and slams Moto on the mat, trapped in a full guard as he postures up, and begins landing bombs of his own.
TIM FLOSS:
What power. Watch as each blow warps Moto’s body on impact.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Morimoto is in the last place he wants to be right now, the mat is not his friend.
The bell sounds. Both men slowly lift themselves to their feet and retreat to the corners. Their men patching them up.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
What an impressive round for both men. Ueno may have won that round due to the take down but Morimoto landed an impressive amount of strikes that round.
TIM FLOSS:
The bruising on the outside of his legs tells the tale all to well AL. He looks like he is collecting a vineyard of grape on his legs is body is so battered.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Now we start round three and Morimoto looks like he knows that he has to put Ueno away to win this fight. He is doing a lot of impressive head movement with his foot work trying to stay safe while opening up a clean shot.
Moto is steps to the left as he sticks to clean right jabs into Ueno’s face. Again step and two rights, again, again, now he does a quick sweep back and throws a hard left high kick into Ueno’s head.
TIM FLOSS:
He looks rattled.
Sensing blood Moto closes in throwing quick jabs to the face and hard hooks to the body. Right elbow to the face, left uppercut, he shuffles back and comes in with a hard Bas Rutten-styled MMA lariat, but Ueno ducks and traps Moto’s arm in a standing arm triangle and…
ALBERT MORDECAI:
HE JUST SUPLEXED MORIMOTO AND STILL HAS THE TRIANGLE LOCKED! You can feel Morimoto panicking Tim. That’s it, Moto taps and that’s the end of the fight. What a match we saw here tonight folks!
TIM FLOSS:
Makoto Ueno wins the World Pro-Wrestling Tournament and becomes the first All-Japan Imperial Champion!
The massive former Olympic-style wrestler receives a six foot tall golden trophy and Takeo Yoshida wraps the All-Japan Imperial Championship around his waist in the center of the ring. Cutlass, Irvine, Pulver, Davis, and Winner have all jumped the guardrail, put aside their differences, and shake hands with the new champion and give him a pat on the shoulder. Ueno responds with handshakes and bows of thanks.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
What sportsmanship! I love to see these warriors put aside their differences to congratulate Makoto Ueno on this great night.
TIM FLOSS:
This is an example of what pro-wrestling is all about. Folks, we'll see you next week when Solomon and Kai will deliver the Shining Road Review and break down tonight's action as well as when Shining Road returns back to the Bushidokan on 8/19! Have a wonderful night!
WORLD PRO-WRESTLING TOURNAMENT: Day 4
Date: August 13, 2017
Location: Mirai Dome, Yokohama, Japan
Attendance: 10,000 fans (100% capacity, sold out)
1. NOVA 3-Way Eliminator Match: Akira Nakamura defeats Shinzo Takamori and Nobosuke Okada (11:49) by pinfall after using a German suplex hold on Okada. Okada eliminated Takamori via pinfall earlier when he used a backslide pin.
2. Katsuhiko Himura defeats Kishin Nozaki (7:13) via pinfall after the Katana Blaster.
3. Satoshi Kamakura and BLADE Takano defeat Hideyuki Fukudome and DARK FEATHER II (10:54) via pinfall when Kamakura uses a backdrop hold on Fukudome.
4. Ikki Yanagi and Hajime Tanaka defeat Masayoshi Arimoto and Takeda Izumi (11:19) via pinfall after Yanagi uses the Ikki lariat on Izumi.
5. Hidehiko Nagata defeats Zen Hayashi (15:33) by pinfall after a backdrop driver.
6. Hayato Hamada and Kaito Matsushita defeat Yoshihiro Sawamura and Toru Ishii (12:16) by submission when Hamada uses an anaconda sleeper on Ishii.
7. Lion’s Road vs. BLACK Lion’s Road: Julian Cutlass, Alexander Irvine, and Jimmy Winner defeat Matt Pulver, Teddy Davis, and Asterio (17:06) by submission when Irvine uses an anaconda sleeper on Asterio.
8. GPWS Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Thunder Mask (c) defeats Shigeru Toyama (15:54) via pinfall after a shooting star press (3rd defense).
9. GPWS Tag Team Championship: KRAKEN and Iron Mack Brody (c) defeat KOSUKE and Sheik Spectre (18:09) by pinfall when KRAKEN uses a snap powerbomb on Spectre (1st defense).
10. World Pro-Wrestling Tournament Finals and All-Japan Imperial Championship (MMA Rules): Makoto Ueno defeats Takeshi Morimoto (R3 3:14) via submission (arm triangle hold) to win the tournament and become the 1st All-Japan Imperial Champion.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Folks, thank you for joining the live feed here in the Mirai Dome in Yokohama overlooking the beautiful Nippon Maru Memorial Park. Currently, technicians are preparing the ring for the MMA finals of the World Pro-Wrestling Tournament between Makoto Ueno and Takeshi Morimoto where the winner will also be crowned the first All-Japan Imperial Championship. But first, let’s go you caught up on some of the earlier action. Kai?
KAI HARRISON:
We had both GPWS titles on the line this evening. Thunder Mask made a convincing V3 defense of the Jr. Heavyweight title against “Starboy” Shigeru Toyama. Additionally, Buck U’s Krak-n-Mack team retained the tag team championship after Kraken used a sickening powerbomb on Sheik Spectre! Congrats to those men.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Also earlier we had the BLACK Lion’s Road trio team up together for the first time in the ring! The men were successful in defeating Matt Pulver, Teddy Davis, and Asterio. After the match, BLACK Lion's Road had this to say:
After the match, the BLACK Lion’s Road crew stand in the ring. All three men wear ブラク t-shirts. The trio all carry gold. Jimmy wears Pollomania’s Scramble Championship around his waist. Irvine has the Heritage title over his shoulder. Cutlass stands in the center of his two teammates with the the King of Lions Championship, gripping the leather strap with his fist and allowing the belt to dangle to the canvas. In his other hand, he holds a microphone.
JULIAN CUTLASS:
I’ve spent a lot of time up at the top. I’ve been recently informed that A.J. Knight wants his shot at the King of Lions title.
He surveys the crowd in a pause.
JULIAN CUTLASS:
As far as I’m concerned, you’re on. But this time it’ll be on my turf. You got your long-awaited match under the Iron rules, but when the King of Lions title is on the line – I’m fucking ichiban.
The Japanese crowd pops a bit.
JULIAN CUTLASS:
And this time you won’t have a technicality to save you. Don’t get me wrong, you’ve impressed me, kid. You won’t have instant replay or points depletion to save you. Talk to Edwards, Corey, Pulver, Chrenshaw, Hammerstein, Robb Daniels, Justin Seville… Hell, look in the mirror. It all ends the same way.
He smiles.
JULIAN CUTLASS:
I grow stronger with the King of Lions after each match. I’m the greatest champion this company has ever witnessed. Hell, I might as well be the only one at this point. And now I’m actually excited to face you. I may even develop a few new moves. And I definitely won’t hold back.
He hands off the microphone to Alexander Irvine.
ALEXANDER IRVINE:
While my brother-in-arms takes out that dumpster-fire A.J., I got a message for Jacob Hammerstein. So listen up, you bloated cholesterol volcano.
Winner covers his mouth with a fist and we can see him mouth an “oh snap!”
ALEXANDER IRVINE:
You may think you can run out on Lion’s Road and none of us on the roster in the back will notice. But you know how I noticed? All those trays that the caterer brings in are stocked to the brim. Were you just binge-eating? Or were you taking food home to your wife because you surely can’t make enough money being the spokesman for Jenny Craig?
Cutlass shakes his head, but he can’t suppress a grin.
ALEXANDER IRVINE:
Cutlass has beat you twice over… Hell, Jimmy Winner even beat you in Pollomania… I got next. If you ever have the guts to show your face in Lion’s Road, we’ll see what happens when the heart of Lion’s Road…
Irvine smirks.
ALEXANDER IRVINE:
… meets its stomach.
Jimmy Winner laughs hysterically as Irvine drops the mic in the ring and the B.L.R. trio return to the back.
I’ve spent a lot of time up at the top. I’ve been recently informed that A.J. Knight wants his shot at the King of Lions title.
He surveys the crowd in a pause.
JULIAN CUTLASS:
As far as I’m concerned, you’re on. But this time it’ll be on my turf. You got your long-awaited match under the Iron rules, but when the King of Lions title is on the line – I’m fucking ichiban.
The Japanese crowd pops a bit.
JULIAN CUTLASS:
And this time you won’t have a technicality to save you. Don’t get me wrong, you’ve impressed me, kid. You won’t have instant replay or points depletion to save you. Talk to Edwards, Corey, Pulver, Chrenshaw, Hammerstein, Robb Daniels, Justin Seville… Hell, look in the mirror. It all ends the same way.
He smiles.
JULIAN CUTLASS:
I grow stronger with the King of Lions after each match. I’m the greatest champion this company has ever witnessed. Hell, I might as well be the only one at this point. And now I’m actually excited to face you. I may even develop a few new moves. And I definitely won’t hold back.
He hands off the microphone to Alexander Irvine.
ALEXANDER IRVINE:
While my brother-in-arms takes out that dumpster-fire A.J., I got a message for Jacob Hammerstein. So listen up, you bloated cholesterol volcano.
Winner covers his mouth with a fist and we can see him mouth an “oh snap!”
ALEXANDER IRVINE:
You may think you can run out on Lion’s Road and none of us on the roster in the back will notice. But you know how I noticed? All those trays that the caterer brings in are stocked to the brim. Were you just binge-eating? Or were you taking food home to your wife because you surely can’t make enough money being the spokesman for Jenny Craig?
Cutlass shakes his head, but he can’t suppress a grin.
ALEXANDER IRVINE:
Cutlass has beat you twice over… Hell, Jimmy Winner even beat you in Pollomania… I got next. If you ever have the guts to show your face in Lion’s Road, we’ll see what happens when the heart of Lion’s Road…
Irvine smirks.
ALEXANDER IRVINE:
… meets its stomach.
Jimmy Winner laughs hysterically as Irvine drops the mic in the ring and the B.L.R. trio return to the back.
We return back to the Shining Road Review table.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Strong words from the BLACK Lion’s Road crew, huh Kai?
KAI HARRISON:
I tell you what, those guys can be just plain mean. But they back it up in the ring. And that’s where it counts.
The camera pans over ringside. B.L.R. sit on one side of Shining Road President and Chairman Takeo Yoshida while Pulver and Davis sit on the other.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Let’s take a moment to recap how we got here. The World Pro-Wrestling Tournament began on August 5th at the Pollobucket-owned Bushidokan across the city. Morimoto would face a stiff challenge against Hajime Tanaka and at many times looked near defeat in a match that went over twenty-three minutes! But Morimoto used his wits and perfectly executed an inside cradle to surprise the big man. Makoto Ueno on that night would make quick work of Thunder Mask.
KAI HARRISON:
And then came the shootfighting matches. Ueno was matched up against the mighty KRAKEN in an amateur freestyle match that pitted the two behemoths together. Ueno’s Olympic level skills were too much and he pinned him in Round 3. Morimoto was pitted against his “super-rival”, Ikki Yanagi, in a catch wrestling match. In the BATTLE VARIETY Series, these two founder under catch rules and Morimoto would win via split decision. A similar result would unfold this time after five grueling rounds where no man would give, but this fight would end via 4-1 majority decision.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
In the semifinals, we would get two classics. Makoto Ueno versus Masayoshi Arimoto would last nearly thirty minutes. Arimoto used his Edo brainbuster twice, but could not put Ueno away. Ueno would lock on the Pan Kratos and never look back. Morimoto fought Falcon Hamada in an epic match where he needed four Volcanic Busters, including the last one from the top rope, to put away Hamada! And now here we are, Kai…
KAI HARRISON:
It’s old versus new here tonight. Makoto Ueno lost the GPWS Heavyweight Championship several years ago to Flex Montana, who absconded with the title and never returned. Ueno has always felt guilty about that loss and you can tell this match would help avenge him. Now for Takeshi Morimoto, critics and analysts have always raved about the young man’s talent. He was set to be the #1 contender against Flex Montana, but he never received an opportunity to challenge for the GPWS Heavyweight belt. So you know he feels like he’s been waiting years for this opportunity. It’s fitting that these two made it to the finals. You couldn’t dream it up any better.
SOLOMON BENTLEY:
Indeed, my friend… I’m receiving word now that the ring is ready and we’re about to begin introductions. We’ll now pass the feed down to our broadcast team extraordinaires – Tim Floss and Albert Mordecai!
TIM FLOSS:
Welcome fans, if your tuning in now we are about to start out Mixed Martial Arts bout of the evening. We are in the finals of the World Pro-Wrestling Tournament and the winner will become the first All-Japan Imperial Champion. These two men couldn’t be a more mixed up match, Mordy.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Don’t you ever call me that.
TIM FLOSS:
Sorry for that. Like I was saying, this match is the closest thing to Cutlass vs. Pulver that I think we here in Japan could even try to make. However, in this bout here tonight our wrestler is the seasoned vet where as our young Tiger Morimoto is the one with the vicious striking game.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
For once I am in full agreement with you. Morimoto is a talented striker with great footwork, but he has been doing a lot of training for this match over in Fujiyama Dojo with Jimmy Winner working on his wrestling defense. Not only that but he has been badgering Ueno for his lost of the GPWS Heavyweight Championship that still rests on the shelf of Flex Montana. He knows Ueno carries that burden heavily, and the with the tournament for the All-Japan Imperial going on right now…it’s a freshly picked wound.
TIM FLOSS:
Looks like the men just went over the rules, let’s take the cameras down to ringside.
We come to see the two men standing in their corners as the ref asks if they are ready, and neither man breaks gaze. When the bell sound Ueno starts to enter with caution as Morimoto inches in closing the distance. A loud crack fills the arena as Moto’s right leg cracks against the outside of Ueno's left thigh, the knee buckling slightly. Ueno backs up and shakes it off and slowly comes in once again, Moto acts with a left inside leg kick followed by another hard right to the outside of the leg.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
You can hear those shots all the way in America Tim. Moto knows Ueno is a skilled Olympic Wrestler and wants to slow down that shoot as much as he can.
As if on cue Moto goes for another kick but Ueno ducks down to absorb it in his upper arm as he shoots in, catching Moto by his right leg and spinning out to slam her had into the mat in a Half Guard, trapping the left leg underneath his body as he starts battling for position, Moto countering and striking off of his back.
TIM FLOSS:
Look at how Moto just keeps striking and checking each of Ueno’s movements, he does not want to be caught off guard in this match Tim. He had been doing his work with Jimmy Winner.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
All the hate in the world doesn’t cause this man to take it easy. He knew what he was getting into and prepared accordingly. What he need to see is…OH BIG ELBOW BY MORIMOTO.
The left elbow of Morimoto has cut Ueno under the right eye, blow dripping on the chest of Moto, but in almost fluid motion Ueno uses the momentum of Moto’s strike to pin and slip behind Moto and a back-seating position and starts throwing short fists into the temples of Moto, but Moto swims between Uenos legs, squirm and moves out and back to his feet as he flips Ueno who rolls out to the same. This time Ueno plays it a less safe and moves in, landing a clean one two one two combinations followed by Morimoto answering with a hard push kick to the chest as the bell sounds.
TIM FLOSS:
What a first round Al. These two are on fire.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
It’s obvious these men did their homework on one another. Especially Morimoto who was showcasing some excellent ground work in the area of defense. He even cracked open Ueno from his back, and impressive feat in and of itself, but Ueno drove his face into his elbow to ensure that he could take Morimoto’s back. Impressive.
TIM FLOSS:
Both men are back on their feet and it looks like they got that cut to stop bleeding Albert. UENO’S OUT FOR BLOOD!
Ueno has closed the distance and is showcasing some striking of his own. The blows aren’t clean but they are effective, putting Moto on the defense, Ueno grapples low to the midsection and drives Moto to the corner, the two men battling for position.
TIM FLOSS:
An impressive show case by Ueno. He was laying some good blows their and seemed to almost rattle Morimoto.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Well don’t forget Tim, Ueno walks around at 280 pounds and is a massive beast of a man. Even without the striking efficiency that Morimoto has, those arms of his are almost as big around as the legs or waists of most other junior and lighter fighters. Even if you block the blow enough force might knock you out. But now he is got Morimoto in a nice clinch and is really putting Morimoto’s training to the test. I’m surprised Ueno hasn’t just pulled him out and thrown him across the mat.
And with that Morimoto answers by turning Ueno and pushing back freeing himself. He starts unloading with a barrage of strikes. Ueno attempts to answer back but Moto slips the blows and returns with counter punches, stiff kicks to the legs of Ueno causes him to buckle and Moto jumps forward, wrapping him up in a Thai clinch and just starts unloading with knees to the face and body.
TIM FLOSS:
Ueno looks rattled.
But he continues to cover up and defend, almost taking a knock out knee as he shoots down and pick Moto up. With speed and power he runs forward and slams Moto on the mat, trapped in a full guard as he postures up, and begins landing bombs of his own.
TIM FLOSS:
What power. Watch as each blow warps Moto’s body on impact.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Morimoto is in the last place he wants to be right now, the mat is not his friend.
The bell sounds. Both men slowly lift themselves to their feet and retreat to the corners. Their men patching them up.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
What an impressive round for both men. Ueno may have won that round due to the take down but Morimoto landed an impressive amount of strikes that round.
TIM FLOSS:
The bruising on the outside of his legs tells the tale all to well AL. He looks like he is collecting a vineyard of grape on his legs is body is so battered.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
Now we start round three and Morimoto looks like he knows that he has to put Ueno away to win this fight. He is doing a lot of impressive head movement with his foot work trying to stay safe while opening up a clean shot.
Moto is steps to the left as he sticks to clean right jabs into Ueno’s face. Again step and two rights, again, again, now he does a quick sweep back and throws a hard left high kick into Ueno’s head.
TIM FLOSS:
He looks rattled.
Sensing blood Moto closes in throwing quick jabs to the face and hard hooks to the body. Right elbow to the face, left uppercut, he shuffles back and comes in with a hard Bas Rutten-styled MMA lariat, but Ueno ducks and traps Moto’s arm in a standing arm triangle and…
ALBERT MORDECAI:
HE JUST SUPLEXED MORIMOTO AND STILL HAS THE TRIANGLE LOCKED! You can feel Morimoto panicking Tim. That’s it, Moto taps and that’s the end of the fight. What a match we saw here tonight folks!
TIM FLOSS:
Makoto Ueno wins the World Pro-Wrestling Tournament and becomes the first All-Japan Imperial Champion!
The massive former Olympic-style wrestler receives a six foot tall golden trophy and Takeo Yoshida wraps the All-Japan Imperial Championship around his waist in the center of the ring. Cutlass, Irvine, Pulver, Davis, and Winner have all jumped the guardrail, put aside their differences, and shake hands with the new champion and give him a pat on the shoulder. Ueno responds with handshakes and bows of thanks.
ALBERT MORDECAI:
What sportsmanship! I love to see these warriors put aside their differences to congratulate Makoto Ueno on this great night.
TIM FLOSS:
This is an example of what pro-wrestling is all about. Folks, we'll see you next week when Solomon and Kai will deliver the Shining Road Review and break down tonight's action as well as when Shining Road returns back to the Bushidokan on 8/19! Have a wonderful night!
- RECAP -
WORLD PRO-WRESTLING TOURNAMENT: Day 4
Date: August 13, 2017
Location: Mirai Dome, Yokohama, Japan
Attendance: 10,000 fans (100% capacity, sold out)
1. NOVA 3-Way Eliminator Match: Akira Nakamura defeats Shinzo Takamori and Nobosuke Okada (11:49) by pinfall after using a German suplex hold on Okada. Okada eliminated Takamori via pinfall earlier when he used a backslide pin.
2. Katsuhiko Himura defeats Kishin Nozaki (7:13) via pinfall after the Katana Blaster.
3. Satoshi Kamakura and BLADE Takano defeat Hideyuki Fukudome and DARK FEATHER II (10:54) via pinfall when Kamakura uses a backdrop hold on Fukudome.
4. Ikki Yanagi and Hajime Tanaka defeat Masayoshi Arimoto and Takeda Izumi (11:19) via pinfall after Yanagi uses the Ikki lariat on Izumi.
5. Hidehiko Nagata defeats Zen Hayashi (15:33) by pinfall after a backdrop driver.
6. Hayato Hamada and Kaito Matsushita defeat Yoshihiro Sawamura and Toru Ishii (12:16) by submission when Hamada uses an anaconda sleeper on Ishii.
7. Lion’s Road vs. BLACK Lion’s Road: Julian Cutlass, Alexander Irvine, and Jimmy Winner defeat Matt Pulver, Teddy Davis, and Asterio (17:06) by submission when Irvine uses an anaconda sleeper on Asterio.
8. GPWS Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Thunder Mask (c) defeats Shigeru Toyama (15:54) via pinfall after a shooting star press (3rd defense).
9. GPWS Tag Team Championship: KRAKEN and Iron Mack Brody (c) defeat KOSUKE and Sheik Spectre (18:09) by pinfall when KRAKEN uses a snap powerbomb on Spectre (1st defense).
10. World Pro-Wrestling Tournament Finals and All-Japan Imperial Championship (MMA Rules): Makoto Ueno defeats Takeshi Morimoto (R3 3:14) via submission (arm triangle hold) to win the tournament and become the 1st All-Japan Imperial Champion.