Sabre records fourth defence
The NJPW World TV Championship would be on the line April 8 in Ryogoku, Zack Sabre Jr. defending his title in a hunt for revenge from New Japan Cup defeat to the Roughneck.
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A flurry of back-and-forth pinning combinations at the sound of the bell almost ended in a flash-finish for Shota, the match then settling into a feeling out process as both men countered the other’s holds and exchanged European uppercuts with Shota winning the battle. Shota made his target clear; hitting two dropkicks to the knee and a knee buster before locking in a knee bar that saw ZSJ scrambling for the ropes. But in true Sabre fashion it only took a slither of space to get back on top, the champion countering Shota’s basement forearm attempt into an armbar. Now with a weakened body part highlighted, the submission master focused his offence on the Roughneck’s arm. But, with the crowd behind him, Shota fired back and hit the basement forearm he previously missed.
A fisherman suplex with a perfect bridge earned Shota a two count, but as soon as ZSJ was back on his feet he locked in a series of submissions, a cruel cobra twist, front chancery and rear-naked choke; Umino eventually able to muster the strength to fight out and hit a reverse elevated DDT. The respite was brief at best for Shota as he found himself trapped in vicious armbar variations, and as it looked like the champion was set to retain the challenger miraculously found the relief of a rope break.
With less than five minutes on the clock both men knew time was of the essence, neither able to hold their multiple pin attempts long enough for a three count. An enzuigiri seemed to wobble Sabre but he shot straight back with a PK. Taking a page from ZSJ’s playbook, Shota landed a sinister swinging DDT and held on to hit Death Rider, however the champion refused to quit. With seconds left on the clock, Shota had everything in his control but a crafty counter saw Sabre steal a three count against the run of play; the veteran instinct of Zack Sabre Jr. able to overcome the fiery enthusiasm of Shota Umino.
Post match, Sabre would nominate Tom Lawlor for a championship match in Washington DC! Will the Filthy one accept for Capital Collision?
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