NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING

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FEB.21.2021

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Rush’s rematch ends in Sudden Death 【NJoA】

Lio Rush falls to Phantasmo superkick on STRONG

Headlining this week’s NJPW STRONG was a rematch from the first round of Super J-Cup 2020, as Lio Rush faced El Phantasmo. 

Both competitors tried to outdo one another from the outset. While Phantasmo showboated for the home audience, Rush was more about getting down to business, controlling his opponent on the mat before being countered into a Bow and Arrow Hold. As the pace quickened, neither Rush nor Phantasmo gained the upper hand, until Rush was able to misdirect ELP into a boot to the face and follow up elbow drop just past the five minute mark. 

Phantasmo would bail to the floor and bide his time but when back inside, Rush was still able to stay on top. A huge DDT however, and the match shifted to the Headbanger’s advantage. Between offense, Phantasmo taunted and humiliated everyone from Rush himself to Alex Kozlov ringside, before Rush was able to dig deep and land a huge swinging DDT. 

A springboard stunner didn’t get the job done for Rush however, and when the Man of the Hour tried to follow off the top rope, a frantic Phantasmo slowed him again. ELP went for a low blow and a deliberate DQ, but was countered into La Magistral; moments later though, Rush was shoved into the direction of the referee, and in the subsequent confusion loaded up the boot to deliver Sudden Death. Could the same move win Phantasmo the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Castle Attack? 

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