Victorious Ishimori makes case after Korakuen tag

Taiji Ishimori was the focal point after the first night of the Summer Struggle series in Korakuen Hall on July 26 when he assaulted the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi with Bloody Cross after the bell and proceeded to lay down a challenge for the Time Bomb’s title. 

Ishimori’s challenge came after a six man tag team main event which saw Tetsuya Naito nominate himself to start, only for Ishimori rather than Naito’s intended EVIL to begin for BULLET CLUB. Naito wasn’t going to stand on ceremony however, ducking out of Ishimori’s lock up to go right for EVIL on the floor as his partners took care of business in the ring. That created a chance for Hiromu to go after Ishimori in revenge for his post match assault in Nagoya, but flying in with a dropkick was too ambitious, Ishimori avoiding contact and Hiromu rattling his hurt neck. 

BULLET CLUB would control Hiromu until a superkick dropped Dick Togo and brought in Naito. El Ingobernable demanded EVIL join him, and a rare furious side of the former champion came out as he tore into the King of Darkness and Togo to boot. Naito couldn’t connect with an attempt at Gloria however, allowing a Darkness Scorpion, while Ishimori locked in Yes Lock on Hiromu. 

BUSHI would step up, making the save and later taking out EVIL and Togo with a double Frankensteiner and a tope suicida. An MX to Ishimori was denied by EVIL however, who gave Naito a low blow and hit Darkness Falls, holding back Naito long enough for Ishimori to hit Bloody Cross on Hiromu.

 Post match, Ishimori hit another Bloody Cross to Hiromu as BULLET CLUB stood tall. Ishimori teased the fallen champion stating ‘look at you, you’re all beaten up. You know what I have to say? I’m challenging for that belt!’

The Bone Soldier promised backstage that this was only the beginning of what he had in mind for Takahashi. We’ll see what comes to pass on Monday night as LIJ again face BULLET CLUB in the main event.