ZSJ records another defence
Capital Collision on April 15 saw Zack Sabre Jr. rack up a successful fifth defence of his NJPW World TV Championship, getting past Tom Lawlor in Washington DC
The submission pace was set high early as both worked for heel hooks at the same time, eventually slapping one another in the holds until they both had to release. As ZSJ found his feet however, a chop rocketed off the chest of the champion, putting the match in a different phase.
Sabre would fire in European uppercuts in response, before taking his challenger’s strikes away with a shot to the arm of Lawlor, who was now bleeding from the mouth. The challenger landed an exploder however, and an uranage slam stuffed Sabre for two. A PK was there in response for the champion, but his hurt ankle from the earlier heel hook was a significant concern.
As ZSJ went for an overhead kick, Lawlor would find an ankle lock that had Sabre in a world of trouble. As the challenger went for a high kick, he was caught with a pair of desperation clutch pins, but Lawlor had the upper hand, catching his foe with a rear naked choke that sent Sabre into the ropes.
Desperate, ZSJ hit the Zack Driver as less than five minutes remained on the clock. With the challenger in control, a knee popped Sabre on the chin, and a buzzsaw followed before a huge PK got two. A TTD followed, and Sabre wanted the NKOTB, countered with a series of pins for near twos. Pulses were racing as Lawlor landed a high kick, but a Skayde Special would see ZSJ just barely escape with the gold.
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