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Post by ajcostello on Nov 14, 2015 15:27:08 GMT -5
Always a good read, Crue.
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Post by cruefan68 on Nov 15, 2015 19:31:44 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments Daytondave, Pariah, Crimson and AJ it is greatly appreciated. I always have a lot of fun coming up with things for the television show and that epic rant by Jim Cornette had me laughing as I was writing it. I tried to capture how upset he would be over a Midnight Express loss. I am happy you liked that as well as the Randy Savage and Bernard/Spivey segments. I was able to finish the opening night of the three-show KRU tour so here goes...
LOW Kings Road United - Yokohama Arena - Yokohama, Japan (Card #932)
1) Louis Lyndon defeated Johnny Rodz:
The highly regarded Louis Lyndon, a free agent who has appeared in AIW, took on “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz of ASW in the opening contest. Rodz came out of the gate aggressive and pounded away on Lyndon including scoring a two count with the rope choke and neck snap. He then went for a dive from the top rope but he missed and Lyndon cradled him for a two count. Lyndon then kicked it into high gear hitting a rolling German Suplex for a near fall before coming off of the top rope with a Flying Bodypress to score the pin. It was a solid win for Lyndon who hopes to impress on this KRU tour.
2) Sumie Sakai defeated Joyce Grable:
It was a great homecoming to Japan for Sumie Sakai as she took on veteran star Joyce Grable. Sakai, with some backing from Rikidozan of KRU, founded the Ring Angels division of LOW giving talent not employed by SHIMMER a chance to shine. Four women were invited to compete on this tour with the others being Rockin Robin and April Hunter. The crowd was solidly behind Sakai who fought off the size and power advantage that was enjoyed by Grable to pick up a big win. The finish saw Sakai execute a huracanrana followed up quickly by a Fisherman’s Buster to score the pin.
3) AJ Styles, Adam Cole, & Young Bucks defeated C.W. Anderson, Brent Albright, Arik Cannon, & Erick Stevens:
Eight-man tag team action saw C.W. Anderson, “The Shooter” Brent Albright, “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon and Erick Stevens join forces to take on the Bullet Club featuring “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles, Adam Cole and the Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson). The Bullet Club has made a pretty big impact since forming earlier this year having staked ground in both the IWA and KRU. Their opponents were anchored by the newly arrived Stevens who left the AWE to sign with KRU having completed some initial training in the dojo. Anderson nearly won this one early when he hit a falling armbreaker on Styles and cradled him for a two count. They had Bullet Club reeling for a good stretch including Albright scoring a two count on Cole with the 6-1-Knee. Cole came back and executed Panama Sunrise on Cannon but the pin was broken up. The finish saw Bullet Club come out on top when Nick pinned Albright after the Bucks connected with More Bang For Your Buck.
4) Silas Young defeated Jushin Liger:
Billed as “The Last Real Man in Professional Wrestling”, free agent Silas Young made a big impression on his first KRU tour as he took on Jushin “Thunder” Liger. It was a tall order going against a record seven-time LOW Junior Heavyweight champion in Liger but Young proved to be up to the task. Liger dominated early and hit Young with the shoda several times. He also scored a near fall with a top rope huracanrana and then hit the Liger Dive. Young found himself in trouble but played it smart waiting for his opening and he got it when he picked Liger off of the top rope with a bodyslam. With Liger prone on the mat it was Young pulling him back up and executing the Pee Gee Waja Plunge, a rolling fireman’s carry followed by an Arabian Press out of the corner, to score the pin. The crowd jeered the decision but Young ate it up getting into it verbally with some ringsiders as he returned to the back.
5) Giant Bernard & Dan Spivey defeated War Machine:
A highly anticipated tag team match saw the free agent team of War Machine (Hanson & Raymond Rowe) take on Giant Bernard & “Dangerous” Dan Spivey of the GWA. It was a battle of two intimidating tag teams and the action was as fierce and stiff as you would imagine. Both teams came out swinging looking to pick up an all important victory on the opening night of the tour. War Machine nearly had it won when Rowe caught Bernard with a stalling suplex for a two count. Later they hit the aptly named War Machine, a side slam and top rope legdrop combo, on Bernard but Spivey broke up the pin. Spivey would strike back picking up a big near fall on Rowe after delivering the Power Bomb. The action intensified with both teams trading blows in and out of the ring and War Machine nearly won it again when Hanson hit the Sin City Plunge on Spivey. The finish of a brutal battle came when Bernard overpowered Rowe blasting him with a bicycle kick and then delivering the Bernard Driver to score the pin. The crowd cheered for both teams afterward and though there was a tense stand off there was also a show of mutual respect among them.
After War Machine left for the back there was a disturbance in the crowd as the members of Bullet Club (AJ Styles, Adam Cole and the Young Bucks) headed to the ring. They got into a confrontation with Bernard and Spivey based on what is coming up on the final night of the tour in Tokyo as Styles and Cole will face them in tag team action. Styles grabbed the mic and said that Bernard and Spivey are an impressive tag team but they stand no chance with Bullet Club. Bernard laughed and got into the face of Styles as Spivey stared down Cole and the Young Bucks. Styles said that Bullet Club runs things in KRU and anywhere else they choose to go and that there was no way that Bernard and Spivey will stop them. Bernard grabbed the mic away from Styles and said that he and Spivey could care less about Bullet Club and their only concern is to mow down their opponents and earn a shot at the LOW World tag team titles. Styles opted to back off but then gave a signal which saw Cole and the Bucks pounce on Spivey. Bernard moved in to help his partner but Styles blasted him with an enzuigiri. Bernard went down in a heap and then Cole and Matt Jackson hoisted Spivey up holding him in place for the Indytaker from Nick Jackson. The crowd jeered the actions of the Bullet Club members who clearly sent out a message here by laying out one of the more feared tag teams in LOW.
6) Harley Race defeated Mr. Saito by Count Out:
With IWA photographer Dr. Mike Lano snapping photos from ringside it was Harley Race squaring off against Mr. Saito in a battle of rugged veterans. Saito made a great accounting of himself early and nearly put Race away with a sleeper hold. He also locked on his trademark Scorpion Leglock for a submission chance. The two traded blows back and forth from there before Race executed his trademark Piledriver resulting in a big near fall. Saito impressed by kicking out there and also kicked out at two when Race nailed him with a back suplex. This one ultimately ended up out on the floor where Lano got some nice close-up shots of the action. Saito gained the upper hand and charged at Race who countered with a backdrop. Saito crashed hard on the floor and moments later Race rolled back into the ring to score a count out victory.
7) Steve Williams, Terry Gordy, & Masked Superstar defeated Giant Baba, The Destroyer, & Tiger Mask:
A big six-man tag team showdown saw Shohei “Giant” Baba, The “Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer and Tiger Mask take on Steve “Dr. Death” Williams, Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy and the Masked Superstar. Williams took over on offense early and scored a two count on Baba with an impressive Doctor Bomb. Tiger Mask looked great during his time in and nearly pinned the Superstar with a counter cradle hold off of the ropes. He also hit the jumping spin kick and series of lightning fast kicks. Gordy likewise was dominant whenever he was in including using the Oriental Spike on Tiger for a submission chance. It was a missed top rope dive by Tiger that helped turn things around for the opposition. The Superstar caught him with a legdrop on that for a two count and then along with Gordy and Williams they took turns attacking the junior heavyweight star. The finish saw Williams nail Tiger with the Oklahoma Stampede to score the pin as Gordy and Superstar fought off a save attempt by Baba and The Destroyer.
8) Fred Blassie & Ed Lewis defeated Rikidozan & Antonio Inoki:
The main event was a heated affair as Rikidozan & Antonio Inoki, who received a hero’s welcome in his hometown, took on the gaijin team of the “King of Men” Fred Blassie & Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Rikidozan and Blassie were squaring off one night before they meet in a singles match in Sapporo, a rematch from their epic battle at the Tokyo Dome (Card #901) which Blassie won. The fiery exchanges between both sides in this match were really something. Inoki hit both men with the top rope kneedrop to score two counts and then hit Blassie with the Enzuigiri but Lewis made the save setting off a four-way brawl. Rikidozan nearly won it when he hit Blassie with the Thunderous Chops but Lewis made the save. A controversial moment came when Inoki dove off of the top rope at Blassie and the referee was knocked down as well. He was down for a good stretch and during that time all four men got in some offense. He recovered as Lewis trapped Rikidozan in the Strangler’s Headlock but that was broken up in the ropes. Blassie went to his underhanded tactics biting and choking Rikidozan who wound up being busted open. Lewis again trapped him in the Strangler’s Headlock but Rikidozan grabbed the ropes to break it up again. Rikidozan was showing some great resiliency but in the end Blassie caught him with the Southern Neckbreaker and scored the pin.
Inoki was distraught over the loss and he nailed Blassie from behind with the Enzuigiri and then trapped him in the Octopus Hold. Lewis tried to make the save but he was tackled out of the ring by Rikidozan. Inoki torqued the hold and had Blassie yelling in pain before KRU officials ran in to break it up. Rikidozan collared Inoki and pulled him out of the ring as the officials and Lewis attended to Blassie who had to be carried out of the ring on a stretcher. Dr. Mike Lano followed a post-show report and it was revealed that Blassie suffered an injury to his ribs but that he would be able to finish up his dates on the tour.
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Post by Pariah on Nov 15, 2015 19:49:50 GMT -5
What an emotionally charged conclusion to a superb show... Rikidozan & Inoki fell short, but certainly not for lack of trying...
Spivey & Bernard proved that they have no fear by facing off with all four members of Bullet Club AFTER a grueling match against War Machine... Holy snap! Styles & Cole better bring their A-game when they meet those two monsters in the ring...
Really enjoyed the opening match that saw Louis Lyndon emerge victorious... And how can you not be impressed with The Last Real Man after he managed to score a pinfall over Jushin Liger... Wild!
As expected, the KRU tour kicks things off in exciting fashion... Looking forward to more!
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Post by Crimson Cross on Nov 15, 2015 20:18:38 GMT -5
Intense match between War Machine and Bernard&Spivey, but I loved the victory by B&S and then that very cool Bullet Club showdown. I'm hoping Bernard&Spivey wins that fight against Styles and Cole. The big time victory for Silas Young over Jushin Liger was a highlight and I wonder where it'll take him in your LOW. Another top of the line KRU event and you continue to deliver a entertaining read...
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Post by ajcostello on Nov 16, 2015 19:50:03 GMT -5
Great card.
If I had to pick a moment... the Race/Saito match really had my interest.
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Post by cruefan68 on Nov 18, 2015 15:04:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments Pariah, Crimson and AJ. I have so much fun putting together the KRU tours and rolling out the action. I have not rolled out the next card yet due to limited time but I hope to have it done by the weekend. The Bernard & Spivey vs. Bullet Club angle was one I thought since they are facing off at the end of the tour so it just seemed to fit. Bullet Club is certainly making waves in both KRU and the IWA.
The win by Silas Young over Jushin Liger was a nice surprise. Young will be teaming up with Harley Race vs. War Machine on the next card. How's that for a battle of the real men? Race vs. Saito was a great bout on that card, glad you liked it AJ. The main event post-match deal came on a roll of doubles and it will be interesting to see not only how Blassie fares wrestling injured but also if he will get some revenge on Antonio Inoki before the tour ends. The two are not scheduled to wrestle on either of the next two shows so I might have to bring Blassie back to KRU for an official match with Inoki. I know I gave some "behind the curtain" info here but that is part of the fun.
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Post by EpicDave on Nov 19, 2015 20:38:40 GMT -5
I agree with Pariah- Silas Young > Jushin Liger was a huge upset. Ditto for the Bullet Club taking out Spivey and Bernard. I never thought in a million years that Inoki would be the heel with a post-match attack on a dirty guy like Blassie!
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Post by cruefan68 on Nov 20, 2015 14:53:19 GMT -5
I agree with Pariah- Silas Young > Jushin Liger was a huge upset. Ditto for the Bullet Club taking out Spivey and Bernard. I never thought in a million years that Inoki would be the heel with a post-match attack on a dirty guy like Blassie! I looked at it more like Inoki being angry over what Blassie has been able to do to his mentor, Rikidozan, beating him in two high profile matches now. Inoki isn't going heel just trying to get the better of Blassie. It's an interesting way to look at it though as the the roll of doubles on the chart referred to the loser of the match attacking which in this case was Inoki/Rikidozan. I agree on Young over Liger being an upset. It will be interesting to see how Young fares on the rest of the tour and if he can pull off some more big wins. |
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Post by Pariah on Nov 20, 2015 15:41:14 GMT -5
I agree with Pariah- Silas Young > Jushin Liger was a huge upset. Ditto for the Bullet Club taking out Spivey and Bernard. I never thought in a million years that Inoki would be the heel with a post-match attack on a dirty guy like Blassie! I looked at it more like Inoki being angry over what Blassie has been able to do to his mentor, Rikidozan, beating him in two high profile matches now. Inoki isn't going heel just trying to get the better of Blassie. It's an interesting way to look at it though as the the roll of doubles on the chart referred to the loser of the match attacking which in this case was Inoki/Rikidozan. I agree on Young over Liger being an upset. It will be interesting to see how Young fares on the rest of the tour and if he can pull off some more big wins. Excellent point indeed... I see Inoki as being much closer to an anti-hero in this scenario... Attacking a vile being in an attempt to distribute justice does not make you a villain... It makes you Batman! |
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Post by bookerbill on Nov 20, 2015 17:27:38 GMT -5
That card was amazing Crue. Great mix of the old and new from Japan. Lots going on top to bottom and the results have created a great anticipation for the balance of the tour. Cannot wait to see what happens next.
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