El Phantasmo and Hikuleo record first defence
El Phantasmo and Hikuleo faced a formidable challenge in their first defence of the STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championships on October 28 in Las Vegas, as they took on Alex Zayne and Lance Archer, Monstersauce.
A fast start saw Phantasmo and Zayne tangle before the big bulls of Archer and Hikuleo collided. After some high impact tackle attempts, Archer scored a Thesz Press on Hikuleo; a Zayne enzuigiri had Hikuleo in trouble, but after a high back body drop, ELP was back inside. Liquid offense put Zayne on the back foot, and while Archer and Hikuleo battled on the outside, Phantasmo walked the ropes.
Incredibly, that’s where ELP met Archer, who was himself walking the ropes on Hikuleo; a chaotic scene would see the challengers in the plus position, Archer getting two off a lariat to ELP, but after Hikuleo took the big man to the floor, he set Zayne for the spin on a Phantasmo UFO neckbreaker. Hikuleo again had to play perfect last second assist, stopping a Monstersauce double team with Archer back inside, and delivering Godsend to the Murderhawk Monster; after Sudden Death from ELP, another Godsend and then Thunder Kiss ’86 led to victory.
Post match, Hikuleo and ELP didn’t have time to celebrate; the West Coast Wrecking Crew took out the retaining champions and Jorel Nelson issued a challenge for Lonestar Shootout November 10.
