Switchblade Era crashes to a halt in Osaka
February 11 and New Beginning in Osaka saw a Loser Leaves Japan match, as Hikuleo battled Jay White with both men’s Japanese career at stake.
Attempts to get in the mind of Hikuleo were futile in the early moments, Jay White instead finding himself victim to the size and strength of his opponent; Hikuleo trapping White in the corner before tossing him across the ring. Finding his footing, White was able to throw Hikuleo over the top rope, the giant Tongan landing awkwardly on the apron as he came crashing down to the floor. Hikuleo was able to recover and hurtle White over the barrier, across a table and into the front row of the audience with a single throw. A distraction from Gedo gave Switchblade time to slide out of Hikuleo’s grip and run him into the ringpost, finally gaining control in the match for the first time. Still on the outside, White charged Hikuleo into and over the steel barricade, the big man’s head crashing into the unforgiving floor.
The match finally returned to the ring with White entirely in the lead, but a DDT could only keep Hikuleo down for a one count. Exerting his size and strength yet again Hikuleo whipped White into the corner, a follow up big boot and ruthless running powerslam earning a two count only. Dodging another boot in the corner allowed White to cut begin cutting down the Tongan tree, a couple of nasty chop blocks to the back of Hikuelo’s knee stifling the bigger man’s speed and strength. Able to land the Complete Shot and Saito suplex, White followed up with an impressive Blade Buster but again for only a one count; Hikuleo’s pride unrelenting.
A further series of chop blocks and hyper-extending leg breakers left Hikuelo unable to stand. With the referee distracted by Gedo, Jay White unleashed a barrage of brutal chair shots to the back of the prone Hikuleo before hitting the Kiwi Crusher, but again Hikuleo refused to give in. Still unable to stand, Hikuleo suffered a series of knife edge chops leaving his chest red and raw before unleashing his own gun shot chops from his knees that sent White to the mat. Hikuleo valiantly struggled to his feet and returned the favour, an onslaught of chops leaving White battered and bruised.
Hikuleo quickly pulled out his signature scoop powerslam but was unable to follow up after landing on his damaged knees, and with the referee inadvertently knocked to the mat White hit a sneaky low blow. However, Hikuelo hit back with a huge lariat but his second scoop powerslam attempt was smoothly countered into the Blade Runner, but White was also unable to follow up. A second Blade Runner attempt was stopped by the huge hands of Hikuleo, sending Jay to the rafters with a massive Last Ride powerbomb for a hauntingly close two count.
With Hikuleo’s hands gripped firmly around his throat, Jay White seemingly accepted his fate and threw up a Two Sweet which Hikuelo reciprocated; a chokeslam giving Hikuleo the biggest win of his career and putting an end to the Switchblade Era in Japan.
