Time Bomb racks up successful defence
The semi main event of Sakura Genesis on April 8 saw the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on the line, Hiromu Takahashi looking to make his third defence of his fifth reign as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
Watch the Sakura Genesis replay now!
A series of fast-paced counters marked the start of this title match, Robbie Eagles shocked to find himself falling victim to his own Ron Miller Special and forced to quickly grab the ropes. Hiromu’s signature sunset bomb saw his leg buckle, Robbie having done work in the preview tag matches leading up to this encounter, allowing challenger to trap champion in the gaps of the barrier with the Ron Miller Special for extra damage. Eagles continued to take aim at Hiromu’s injured leg, the champion barely able to hobble from corner to corner. With the title on the line Eagles sought to take every advantage he could, tearing the doctors tape off of Hiromu’s knee before firing off a surgically placed kick to the now exposed knee. To the enjoyment of Zack Sabre Jr. at ringside, Eagles locked in a knee bar but Hiromu was able to force a rope break.
With Takahashi unable to gain any footing in the match thus far, Eagles bested the champion at every turn as he battered Hiromu’s chest with a series of kicks. Finally, Hiromu was able to fight back with a frankensteiner, but as the champion began to charge his fire was quickly extinguished courtesy of Eagles’ rolling suicide dive to the outside and another submission back in the ring; after what felt like an eternity to Hiromu he once again found solace in a rope break. Looking to continue the excellent precision performed so far, Eagles soared with a 450-Splash from the top rope only to find Hiromu’s raised knees awaiting him, champion and challenger equal in their suffering.
Hiromu was able to score with Victory Royal, ultimately able to earn some much needed breathing room for the first time in the bout. A deadly exchange of suplexes had both men landing harshly on their back and heads, Hiromu getting the better and able to hit a running Death Valley Driver into the corner. Now on top, Hiromu cut the wire and was able to unleash Time Bomb, but Eagles was able to kick out at the last possible moment. Robbie, desperate to regain the momentum he had, hit a frightening poison-rana from the top rope and quickly headed back to the skies to hit the sniper 450-Splash to Hiromu’s injured leg and lock in the Ron Miller Special. Trapped in the middle of the ring and the Ryogoku crowd chanting his name, Hiromu struggled and just as he looked set to tap out wisely transitioned into a pin that forced Robbie to break the excruciating hold.
As Robbie looked set to re-apply the Ron Miller Special Hiromu was instead able to roll through and somehow able to plant Eagles with the Dynamite Plunger despite the pain coursing through his leg. His knee shredded but his spirit unrelenting, a heavy Hiromu-Chan bomber had Eagles weakened and Hiromu swiftly maneuvred into Time Bomb II to retain his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
