EVIL narrowly bests Hiromu at Hyper Battle

EVIL successfully recorded his second defense of the NEVER Openweight Championship on April 9 at Hyper Battle, narrowly defeating a game Hiromu Takahashi who had the champion scouted almost every step of the way.

EVIL wanted Hiromu to wait at the bell as he took a powder in an attempt to dictate the pace, but Takahashi was fast to take control, quickly moving to strike at the champion. Still, EVIL was able to parlay Dick Togo’s presence into a lariat and then traditional outside tactics to gain an advantage.

The conveniently exposed turnbuckle did its damage in the ring as well, but a tijeras created an opening for the junior heavyweight, who kept up the offense. A corner DVD saw success, as did an incredible sunset bomb into Dick Togo on the outside, to the crowd’s delight.

EVIL’s environmental awareness paid off however, as he pulled Young Lion Yuto Nakashima in the path of Hiromu’s running drop kick and then pulled the stunned Takahashi inside for Darkness Falls. Hiromu still wouldn’t go for the EVIL ride, even as Togo intervened again though, and in fact it would be the Spoiler tasting the King of Darkness’ favorites hold at Hiromu’s hands as the challenger closed in on victory.

Matching EVIL’s low blow with one of his own, Takahashi kept pushing the pace with a Tome Bomb and Victory Royal, both for two. In the end though EVIL sent Hiromu again into the exposed corner, and though Takahashi fired back, he ran right into EVIL for the three.

Post match, Tama Tonga, freshly officially welcomed to Hontai by Hiroshi Tanahashi, hit the ring and declared that after EVIL’s betrayal to expel him from BULLET CLUB ‘it’s time for revenge’. Yujiro Takahashi would cut Tama off, but was stopped in turn by Tanga Loa and Apesh*t, and as EVIL was struck with a Gunstin, a clear message was delivered by the Guerrillas of Destiny.