Hiromu makes explosive return as Eagles delivers strong message and DOUKI arrives
The main event of August 27’s Summer Struggle tour closer saw Hiromu Takahashi make a long awaited return to in ring action after six months away to face DOUKI. Suzuki-Gun’s masked rudo was not going to stand on ceremony as Hiromu made an extravangant entrance, and as he took his opposition to the floor, the two men almost went to a 20 second countout. On a quick reset inside however Hiromu set to work on DOUKI, punctuating a pair of John Woo dropkick blasts with a triumphant yell of ‘I’m back!’.
Takahashi considered using his version of the DOUKI bomb senton to the floor, but as his target avoided contact, the action turned to the ring, where a fast paced exchange saw Hiromu with a clear edge. Bailing out, DOUKI grabbed his familiar steel pipe and used it to his advantage, before keeping up the pressure as Takahashi rejoined the ring. A reverse Italian Stretch saw DOUKI pull Hiromu’s arm backwards, straining the surgically repaired pectoral of his opponent, but another shotgun dropkick from the Time Bomb put DOUKI to the floor, and Hiromu unleashed another blow running down the apron line as DOUKI was sent reeling.
Momentum continuing to build, Hiromu found a tijeras and Falcon Arrow for two, and looked for a signature DVD into the corner as the match passed the ten minute mark. DOUKI wriggled off the hook however, and Doton no Jutsu would send shockwaves down Hiromu’s spine to earn a two count. Hiromu blocked the Daybreak DDT attempt that followed, but DOUKI landed an enzuigiri, and quickly went for his Italian Stretch #32, Hiromu quickly going to the ropes to escape the ‘DOUKI Chokey’.
DOUKI continued to press the advantage, and escaped a Hiromu belly to belly into the corner, but didn’t escape a German suplex out of it. Now with DOUKI sufficiently weaked, Hiromu had enough to deliver the corner DVD. DOUKI repeatedly fought out of the follow up Time Bomb, even as he ate a stiff powerbomb for two, but when another attempt from Hiromu saw DOUKI on the apron, he followed through with a spectacular quebrada tat had the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion in deep trouble.
Now it was DOUKI who wanted the DOUKI Bomb, but would be cut off by Takahashi, who hit a body scissors bomb for a nearfall. DOUKI again escaped the Time Bomb though, and went back to the Italian Stretch, adding in the leg of his opponent to almost put Hiromu out before he made the ropes at the 20 minute mark. DOUKI’s attempt at a Daybreak DDT follow up was countered, and Hiromu looked for a sunset flip powerbomb to the floor, but DOUKI responded with a Frankensteiner, and ran off the apron to land a double stomp.
With Hiromu out on the floor, DOUKI landed a DOUKI Bomb some eight years in the making from when he first met his foe in Mexico. Barely making the ring before 20, DOUKI rolled Hiromu in to finally hit Daybreak, but still didn’t get the victory. Hiromu escaped a Suplex De La Luna, but the adrenaline saw Hiromu escape, and bring the pace, landing a German suplex and lariat for one, before DOUKI responded in kind.
Fighting on pride Hiromu landed a thunderous lariat at the 27 minute mark, and wanted the Victory Royal, countered into a backslide for two. A lariat for DOUKI, and the masked man connected with Doton no Justsu Kai with two minutes left on the clock. DOUKI again went for Suplex De la Luna, but Hiromu found a Complete Shot, and then the Victory Royal for a nearfall. With only 30 seconds left on the clock, Time Bomb II connected, and the three count was rendered with just 17 seconds remaining.
Before Hiromu made his return to in-ring action, Master Wato and Robbie Eagles locked horns in what was a significant non-title opportunity against the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. A fast paced open saw Wato catch Eagles with a headscissor whip, but the champion would catch the blue haired prodigy with a tijeras in return, before Wato made Eagles pay for ego shown with a big dropkick.
Taking control on the outside, Wato sent Eagles into the guardrails, but when he sized the champion up for a big headkick, Eagles avoided contact, and Wato’s foot went right into the ringpost. Directly targeting the leg of Wato, Eagles took control of the bout, and peppered his young opposition with strikes before locking in a modified bow and arrow.
Wato avoided some charging double knees in the corner, and found some offense, a high kick and springboard European uppercut finding its mark. A tornillo out to the floor followed, and Wato continued to build momentum with his strikes in ring, but Eagles would go back to the knee with a trip to put the match back in his control. A springboard basement dropkick, and the Sniper found the Ron Miller Special, but Wato was quick to the ropes.
As both men found their feet, Eagles challenged Wato to bring his best right hands and kicks. The champion had the better of the exchange, but right from Eagles was caught with a captured T-Bone suplex, and a whirlwind kick followed. Wato scored with the TTD and went upstairs for the RPP, but with damage done to his leg, his ascent was slowed, and the move only found empty canvas.
A second attempt at the whirlwind was caught and met with a Turbo Backpack for two though, and with a 450 across the outstretched leg, Eagles had an open door to the Ron Miller Special. Wato tried to crawl, but couldn’t find sanctuary in the ropes, and submitted to give Eagles the victory.
With both men victorious, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and challenger September 5 in MetLife Dome met in the ring, though Takahashi dealt with the encounter in his own… unique way. After a conversation with the scorned Belt-san, Hiromu stated that ‘pro-wrestlers are stupid, and I will make you worry a good deal more before I live my dream. But I will live it,’ stating backstage that in an era where lines are blurred between junior and heavyweight wrestlers, he will show exactly what junior heavyweight wrestling is all about at MetLife Dome.
