{"id":38102,"date":"2017-01-27T19:07:51","date_gmt":"2017-01-28T01:07:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=38102"},"modified":"2017-01-27T19:07:51","modified_gmt":"2017-01-28T01:07:51","slug":"new-japan-feud-focus-tracking-key-matches-tomohiro-ishii-vs-togi-makable-rivalry-wrestle-kingdom-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/01\/27\/new-japan-feud-focus-tracking-key-matches-tomohiro-ishii-vs-togi-makable-rivalry-wrestle-kingdom-9\/","title":{"rendered":"NEW JAPAN FEUD FOCUS: Tracking the key matches in the Tomohiro Ishii vs. Togi Makable rivalry from Wrestle Kingdom 9 to"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1474126441\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><h3>NJPW FLASHBACK<br \/>\nJANUARY\u00a05, 2015<br \/>\nRyogoku Kokugikan Part 3 &amp; Hakata Starlanes<br \/>\nBy R.W. Andrews, PWTorch contributor<\/h3>\n<p><b>Pain Game: A NEVER Openweight Love Song<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I mentioned last week that I came running back to NJPW with an already established group of names in my head of who were the standouts in the company.\u00a0 One thing I knew for sure, at least at the time, was that Katsuyori Shibata was THE MAN.\u00a0 In my mind, his stranglehold on the NEVER Openweight Championship was Gorilla Glue tight.\u00a0 But that\u2019s when I was fresh out of the package.\u00a0 Now I know better.\u00a0 I was, however, right about one thing.\u00a0 The NEVER Openweight Championship is the crown jewel to some of the grittiest performances you will ever come across.\u00a0 It\u2019s one of the reasons that I love Shibata so much.\u00a0 One AXS broadcast after another had inundated my senses with high drama centered around him.\u00a0 But the more I\u2019ve watched and learned, the more a question kept popping into my head.\u00a0 What happened before him?<\/p>\n<p>January\u2019s New Year\u2019s Dash made me pose that question.\u00a0 During an uber-loaded tag match, I watched two men square off and fight with a viciousness I had only seen when that title was on the line.\u00a0 Albeit the fight was brief, the wrestling fan in me picked up the scent of an issue not quite ready to die on the vine.\u00a0 Those two men were Togi Makabe and Tomohiro Ishii, and after turning back the pages of a long history book between them, I found a story of brothers in arms turned bitter enemies.\u00a0 But that\u2019s a history lesson for after I\u2019ve spent a little more time hitting the books.\u00a0 The beauty of pro wrestling done right is that you don\u2019t need the full dossier if a singular event can throw all the fuel you need on the fire of a feud.<\/p>\n<p>So let\u2019s take a short trip back to the magical year of 2015.\u00a0 January 4<sup>th<\/sup>, 2015 to be exact.\u00a0 It is on that date where a love story began revolving two men whose sole passion is inflicting pain.\u00a0 And who better to inflict it on than one another?\u00a0 All they needed was a catalyst to keep that love burning.\u00a0 Enter the NEVER Openweight Championship.\u00a0 Coming into 2015, Ishii was the reigning NEVER Openweight champion in his second tour of duty, while Makabe was appointed the next man up.\u00a0 How fitting that the first chapter of a blood feud began on the biggest showcase of the year, Wrestle Kingdom 9.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b>MATCH 1:\u00a0Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Togi\u00a0Makable &#8211;\u00a0<\/b><b>NEVER Openweight Championship Match &#8211;\u00a0<\/b><b>Wrestle Kingdom 9<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Oh I\u2019ve been waiting to watch this one.\u00a0 Two guys with a proclivity for punishment at Wrestle Kingdom 9 &#8211; the place where the flint of my interest in New Japan was first struck thanks to an AXS replay.\u00a0 The entrance to the Tokyo Dome rampway was decked out sublimely for the event &#8211; with a large screen set atop a row of three other screens, all of which dwarfing the ring set an acre away.\u00a0 The screens are affixed with spotlights above them while a ticker snakes underneath to scroll the names of each competitor in bright yellow font.\u00a0 It makes the entrances, and the setup of the event as a whole, look so slick.<\/p>\n<p>When the gutty riff to Makabe\u2019s theme hits, the screens unite like the Galaxy Alliance to create one super-screen displaying his entrance video while the lights sparkle in red and white.\u00a0 Makabe comes out with a thick chain draped around his neck, his expression menacing as he looks out to the crowd.\u00a0 Once he\u2019s in the ring, the lights begin to strobe purple and white as the name \u201cTomohiro Ishii\u201d scrolls across the ticker.\u00a0 Above it, a video package of violence ensures us that what\u2019s to come will not be friendly fire.\u00a0 The NEVER Openweight title is snapped snugly around the Stone Pitbull\u2019s waist as the champion\u2019s succinct steps carry him down the ramp, his eyes focused on the path to the ring.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m without JR, Barnett, Kelly, and Corino on this one, watching it on The World with Japanese commentary.\u00a0 Truth be told, I love their main commentator\u2019s voice.\u00a0 It\u2019s shrill yet boisterous, delivering screams tunneling through my speakers with auditory urgency.\u00a0 His energy adds so much to each match, which in itself is a universal language.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2452782464\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Before the bell is rung, Ishii leans his stocky frame against the ropes to loosen up while Makabe cracks his knuckles.\u00a0 It is their only moment of peace before hell breaks loose.\u00a0 Once the bell tolls, Ishii races across the ring to belt Makabe in the chest with a clothesline, his arm cutting through the air like a sickle.\u00a0 They trade clotheslines, the force of which doing little to back the other man up.\u00a0 They quickly engage in a mini-Batsu that ends abruptly as Makabe bangs a succession of direct hits that stagger Ishii.\u00a0 Makabe runs for the ropes, but Ishii recovers quickly and gives chase.\u00a0 He connects with a blistering clothesline on the rebound before hitting a sneaky fifth gear towards the opposite ropes that would be terrifying to be in the way of.\u00a0 Ishii bounces back to use his shoulder as a battering ram to knock Makabe over, but the challenger simply shrugs it off.\u00a0 Ishii growls in retort before hitting the ropes again, but again his shoulder-tackle is absorbed comfortably by Makabe.\u00a0 As is the next.\u00a0 Makabe shows him how it\u2019s done, driving his shoulder into Ishii with enough force to make him hunch over.<\/p>\n<p>Makabe takes his turn at running the ropes, but on the way back finds his body snapped around swiftly from a powerslam.\u00a0 Makabe pops right back up!\u00a0 Ishii hits the ropes, only to fall victim to a powerslam.\u00a0 He pops back up!\u00a0 Both men stare at one another for a beat, then collide with dual clotheslines.\u00a0 The impact sends Makabe reeling on his heels while Ishii falls back into the ropes as the crowd explodes with applause.<\/p>\n<p>Recovered, both men walk to the middle of the ring and jaw at one another.\u00a0 Batsu game!\u00a0 Chop to the chest by Ishii, punch by Makabe, chop by Ishii, overhand right by Makabe, another loud chop by Ishii, overhead by Makabe, chop by Ishii, a nasty overhand by Makabe that makes Ishii grab his head, BIG chop by Ishii to keep the game alive.\u00a0 And another, waxing Makabe in the windpipe!\u00a0 Game over as Makabe falls to the mat clutching his throat.<\/p>\n<p>Ishii lunges his forehead into Makabe\u2019s skull thrice to keep his challenger at bay.\u00a0 A little dishonor between gladiators as Ishii brushes the back of Makabe\u2019s head with his boot, taunting him to rise and fight.\u00a0 Makabe throws some bass right back at Ishii from one knee as a swift ridge-hand swings into camera view to shut him up.\u00a0 Makabe finally manages to rise, his chest the victim of two wickedly loud chops.\u00a0 He retaliates with two overhand rights before Makabe-ing up as Ishii tries to keep the momentum.\u00a0 The pendulum swings in Makabe\u2019s favor as his fist rocks Ishii back into the turnbuckle pad.\u00a0 Makabe throws Ishii into the opposite corner and charges with a clothesline across Ishii\u2019s chest.\u00a0 He steps away for a moment, laughing maniacally to the crowd before stuffing Ishii into the turnbuckle pad with another stiff clothesline.<\/p>\n<p>Makabe climbs onto the second rope, casting a shadow upon Ishii as he rains down right hands.\u00a0 The crowd counts with each swing as Ishii\u2019s hand flippantly rises as if to say to them, \u201cTHIS is all he has?\u201d\u00a0 When Makabe hops down, Ishii steps forward and smacks him across the face.\u00a0 Makabe chops him in return, his hand connecting somewhere between Ishii\u2019s dense traps and whatever neck those traps allow to be put on display.\u00a0 Ishii gestures to the point of impact, asking for another.\u00a0 Makabe is more than happy to oblige.\u00a0 The two unleash a flurry of wild hooks to each other\u2019s head, pinpoint accuracy be damned as their arms work tirelessly to make the other quit.\u00a0 Makabe\u2019s endurance allows him to hang in longer, throwing a shot that stuns Ishii long enough for him to shoot in and hit a bridging Northern Lights Suplex.\u00a0 The ref flops down to count the pin, but Ishii is out at two.<\/p>\n<p>Ishii drags his body to the corner and tries to steady himself on noticeably wobbly legs, but Makabe decides that his foe has rested long enough.\u00a0 He serves up a slew of right hands to keep Ishii tucked into the turnbuckle padding.\u00a0 As Makabe keeps swinging, there is moment where Ishii\u2019s eyes dart up.\u00a0 Makabe keeps connecting to an unamused face as Ishii rests his hands on the ropes while Makabe tires himself out.\u00a0 He defiantly walks through Makabe\u2019s offense to back him into the corner.\u00a0 Ishii pops Makabe\u2019s jaw with a solid forearm before nearly breaking his chest cavity with a clothesline.\u00a0 Makabe drops to one knee as Ishii, spent from absorbing shot after shot, drapes his body against the top rope.<\/p>\n<p>Ishii is first to recover, hoisting Makabe onto the top turnbuckle before climbing after him.\u00a0 He lifts Makabe\u2019s body vertically, holding his weight for an eternity before falling back and rumbling the ring with a suplex.\u00a0 He quickly collects Makabe off the mat and gives him a powerbomb, packaging him up for a near fall.\u00a0 Ishii runs toward the ropes as Makabe recovers in his absence, met by a clothesline when he returns.\u00a0 Ishii tries for a headbutt, but it\u2019s blocked.\u00a0 Makabe tries for a clothesline, met by a clubbing double axe-handle to the arm.\u00a0 Ishii goes for a clothesline, his forearm bristling the top of Makabe\u2019s blonde scalp as he ducks out of the way.\u00a0 Makabe emerges to hit a lariat that turns Ishii inside-out!<\/p>\n<p>Makabe takes control, lifting Ishii up and planting him down with the King Kong Powerbomb that he holds for the pinfall.\u00a0 Ishii kicks out, making Makabe\u2019s brow furrow in disbelief.\u00a0 Makabe gets in a waistlock as Ishii furiously tries to back-elbow his way out.\u00a0 It\u2019s for naught as Makabe drives his heels into the mat and bends back to stick Ishii\u2019s neck and shoulder blades to the mat with a bridging German Suplex.\u00a0 The impact alone should have knocked Ishii out, but he wriggles free again!<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1763271339\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Makabe punches Ishii into the corner, the exhausted champion falling chest-first into the turnbuckles.\u00a0 Makabe picks him up like he\u2019s going to backdrop him, but instead sets Ishii up top before heading up and hooking his legs in the ropes for the Spider German Suplex.\u00a0 Ishii back-elbows him in the face, providing just enough time to navigate the tight space between Makabe and the ring post to sit facing the challenger.\u00a0 He levels him with a lariat, snapping Makabe back as his feet hooked in the ropes stall his fall.\u00a0 Makabe pops back up!\u00a0 He unloads on Ishii\u2019s face with a forearm as the commentator shrieks.\u00a0 In that brief moment of disorientation, Ishii gets thrown onto Makabe\u2019s shoulders in a fireman\u2019s carry.\u00a0 Makabe falls back and breaks his fall with Ishii\u2019s body as the ring tremors from the impact!\u00a0 Makabe covers.\u00a0 1, 2, kickout!\u00a0 You can see the frustration grow in Makabe\u2019s face as he glares at the ref.<\/p>\n<p>As Ishii struggles to his feet, Makabe rushes in and connects with a lariat that ejects a line of spit from Ishii so long that you could ride a log flume on it.\u00a0 Ishii stumbles back, but refuses to go down.\u00a0 Makabe hits another lariat, but Ishii counters with a leaping enzuigiri!\u00a0 It\u2019s blocked!\u00a0 Makabe plants another lariat on Ishii that sends him airborne before crashing down!\u00a0 Beautiful sequence!\u00a0 So frantic!\u00a0 Makabe covers again, and again Ishii kicks out with inches to spare!\u00a0 Makabe goes for another lariat, but Ishii reverses and hits a release German Suplex!\u00a0 Oh my God these guys are incredible!\u00a0 Makabe pops right back up and screams before getting blown up by an even harder lariat!\u00a0 Ishii covers, but Makabe kicks out at one!<\/p>\n<p>Both men rise at opposite ends of the ring, giving each other a knowing nod before racing forth for a dual clothesline.\u00a0 They trade clotheslines again.\u00a0 Makabe hits a chop on Ishii, which is countered by a headbutt that drops him.\u00a0 Ishii quickly picks up Makabe so he\u2019s seated on the mat and hits the ropes for a sliding clothesline that whips Makabe\u2019s body to the mat.\u00a0 He goes for the pin, but can only get a two.\u00a0 He tries for a brainbuster, but Makabe blocks it.\u00a0 Ishii strikes back quickly, smacking Makabe in the temple with an inebriating enzuigiri that causes him to convulse before crumpling to the mat.\u00a0 Ishii covers, but Makabe kicks out at two.\u00a0 Now Ishii\u2019s face is draped in frustration.<\/p>\n<p>Ishii hits the ropes and clotheslines Makabe in the back of the head.\u00a0 He heads for the opposite side of the ring, but is met by a Makabe clothesline.\u00a0 Ishii glowers at Makabe and drops him with a clothesline.\u00a0 Ishii sprints back to the ropes, but his offense gets gobbled up as he\u2019s spun around and dumped to the mat with a Dragon Suplex!\u00a0 Makabe holds him in place as the ref slides in to count, but Jesus Christ, Ishii kicks out!<\/p>\n<p>Both men struggle to rise, trading forearms from the time they get to their knees to the time they find solid footing.\u00a0 It\u2019s incredible.\u00a0 They scream at one another, with Ishii hitting a succession of quick forearms before dazing Makabe with a headbutt.\u00a0 Makabe wobbles back, but thrusts his forehead into Ishii, connecting with a thud.\u00a0 Ishii stumbles backwards before charging into a spinning double axe-handle.\u00a0 Makabe hits another, sending a gob of spit flying from Ishii\u2019s mouth.\u00a0 Makabe hits another lariat, cementing Ishii to the canvas.\u00a0 He covers, but Ishii kicks out AGAIN!\u00a0 How in the hell does he keep going!?\u00a0 Makabe steps outside to the apron and climbs to the top rope to leap off for the King Kong Kneedrop.\u00a0 Both of his knees come crashing down on Ishii\u2019s head, rendering the champion motionless and unable to kick out for one last gasp of heroics.<\/p>\n<p>Winner: Togi Makabe to win the NEVER Openweight Championship<\/p>\n<p><i>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis: Jesus Christ! This was an amazing match from start to finish.\u00a0 I just witnessed two men beat each other up nonstop, both coming back for more just to get knocked out again.\u00a0 They started at a hectic pace, and although they tired throughout the course of the match, the sheer violence kept it relentless.\u00a0 I thought the \u201ccharge!\u201d to start the match was a brilliant tone setter.\u00a0 And could it end any more violent than jumping off the top ropes and driving both knees into someone\u2019s head at maximum velocity?\u00a0 And yes, I think ending it with a chair shot would have done nothing.\u00a0 Men like these don\u2019t flinch at the steel whistling towards their face.\u00a0 For them it\u2019s a chance to catch their breaths.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen wars in the ring before\u2026but this!?\u00a0 This was a damn crusade to see who could make the other stop breathing.\u00a0 Unreal!\u00a0 If you\u2019ve seen it already \u2013 and I\u2019m sure most of you have \u2013 watch it again.\u00a0 Hell, watch it once a year just to pay homage to what these two guys put themselves through on that night.)<\/i><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>***Breaking News: Togi Makabe forced to relinquish title after illness***<\/p>\n<p>Oh what a terrible twist of fate.\u00a0 Togi Makabe, with only a month of holding such a hard fought strap, had it stripped right off his waist after being deemed unable to defend it due to a serious flu.\u00a0 That title would be handed to one man &#8211; Tomohiro Ishii \u2013 who had to go through Tomoaki Honma to get it.\u00a0 But you can\u2019t keep a good man down.\u00a0 And in April, that man would come knocking on Ishii\u2019s door to reclaim what was rightfully his.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b>MATCH 2:\u00a0Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Togi\u00a0Makable &#8211; \u00a0<\/b><b>NEVER Openweight Championship Match &#8211;\u00a0<\/b><b>Wrestling Hinokuni<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The NEVER Openweight division: You win some, you lose a lot, and without the belt you need to chase after it just to satisfy that love of inflicting pain.\u00a0 The first match was great, so let\u2019s see if the rematch can top it.<\/p>\n<p>The lighting in the arena is so telling.\u00a0 A darkness is set upon the crowd, matching the intentions of the men preparing for combat.\u00a0 First out is Makabe, adorned as usual in that thick chain and understandably pissed expression on his face.\u00a0 Ishii comes to the ring in similar fashion, booting it down the aisle with his head low and the belt clenched tight in his grasp.<\/p>\n<p>With both men in the ring, Red Shoes takes the title and displays it to the crowd.\u00a0 The bells tones out, but instead of a mad rush for blood, the bitter rivals stare one another down.\u00a0 In a complete change of pace from Wrestle Kingdom, they actually tie up to start the match.\u00a0 Ishii strikes first, locking in a side headlock that takes Makabe multiple attempts to pry out of.\u00a0 The two collide on a shoulder block, stare at one another, and the words start flying.\u00a0 Here we go again.\u00a0 They bash their shoulders into one another multiple times, but neither man is willing to budge.\u00a0 With both men using the ropes to build up steam, Makabe finally connects solidly enough to take Ishii down.<\/p>\n<p>Makabe shoves Ishii in the corner and slowly works him to the mat with a steady string of forearms.\u00a0 He slaps Ishii in the neck before Ishii cocks back and swings a chop that sends Makabe to the mat holding his throat.\u00a0 Ouch!\u00a0 Red Shoes shows his true allegiance early after Ishii plants a ridge-hand into Makabe\u2019s chest, stepping between them to warn Ishii not to hit Makabe\u2019s throat.\u00a0 How, Red Shoes!?\u00a0 Ishii was no closer to Makabe\u2019s throat than I am now.\u00a0 God damn narc, this guy.\u00a0 Ishii makes sure to lay the next three chops right to the B-cups, and right in front of Red Shoes.<\/p>\n<p>Much like the match before, Ishii feathers the back of Makabe\u2019s head and barks marching orders for him to get up and fight.\u00a0 Makabe slowly rises and they exchange forearms before Ishii buckles him into the corner with three consecutive shots, slumping him down on the fourth hit.\u00a0 Ishii stays on the attack, chopping and dive-bombing forearms to Makabe\u2019s jaw.\u00a0 Ishii steps away, almost as if Makabe is a shell of the warrior that beat him only four months earlier.\u00a0 But again, you can\u2019t keep a good man down.\u00a0 Makabe crawls towards the center of the ring, waving Ishii back.\u00a0 Ishii catches the gesture in his periphery, turning to Makabe\u2019s presence with a taunt for the challenger to meet him dead center of the mat.<\/p>\n<p>Makabe tries to mount a comeback, but a thick Ishii headbutt drops him again.\u00a0 Ishii tries to get Makabe up for a vertical suplex, but Makabe drops his weight down to keep Ishii squatted low.\u00a0 Ishii tries again, but again Makabe holds him down.\u00a0 Makabe, in a sudden show of fast twitch muscle, closes the gap with a short hop to hit a snap-suplex.\u00a0 Finally showing signs of life, Makabe sends Ishii coast to coast with clotheslines in the corner and scales the ropes to hover over Ishii and drop some fists down.\u00a0 Ishii catches Makabe off-guard and grabs him, heaving his challenger straight down with a nasty powerbomb that bounces the back of Makabe\u2019s head off the mat.\u00a0 He goes right back to brushing the back of Makabe\u2019s head with his boot, riling the ex-champ back to his feet.<\/p>\n<p>Makabe braces himself for incoming chops, absorbing every single one aimed right at his chest.\u00a0 Ishii hits the ropes, but is countered with a powerslam by Makabe on the trip back and gets smooshed into the corner with a clothesline.\u00a0 Makabe scales the turnbuckles again, earning every single roar from the crowd as his ten-punch connects.\u00a0 As he hops down, he takes Ishii with him and hits a bridging Northern Lights Suplex for two.\u00a0 Makabe gets another powerslam and immediately tries for the King Kong Powerbomb.\u00a0 Ishii labors Makabe over and dumps him off with a backdrop.\u00a0 Ishii sends a forearm at Makabe, but Makabe fires back one of his own.\u00a0 Flash knockdown!!!\u00a0 Ishii\u2019s body buckles from a stiff as F- forearm before falling in a heap!\u00a0 But Makabe doesn\u2019t cover, instead choosing to hover over Ishii as he struggles to the corner.\u00a0 Makabe NEEDS to inflict pain dammit.\u00a0 It\u2019s in his genetic makeup.\u00a0 He picks Ishii up and delivers a forearm that dumps the champ right back to his ass.<\/p>\n<p>Its Ishii\u2019s turn to brace for impact as the crowd beings chanting his name.\u00a0 Makabe hits him repeatedly with forearms \u2013 each forearm waking him up like shots of Espresso.\u00a0 He leans into the onslaught, fortified by a bulletproof body to make Makabe backpedal.\u00a0 Ishii hits a huge forearm that sends Makabe staggering back before absolutely MOWING him down with a shoulder-tackle!\u00a0 Powerbomb by Ishii, stacking Makabe\u2019s torso up for two!\u00a0 Ishii hooks both of Makabe\u2019s arms back and pulls, trying to get a man who had never strung the words \u201cI\u201d and \u201cquit\u201d together to do so for the first time.\u00a0 After a long struggle for the ropes, Makabe is forced to painfully work his way back to his feet.\u00a0 Ishii, showing so much finesse, transitions into a Tiger Suplex!\u00a0 He sets up Makabe for a diving clothesline, but Makabe leans back to let Ishii\u2019s arm buzz past his eyelids.\u00a0 Makabe goes for a waistlock, but Ishii throws his head back and thumps Makabe in the face to break free.\u00a0 The blow sends Makabe backpedaling to the corner as the announcer screams, \u201cGwaaaaaah!\u201d\u00a0 Ishii stays in tight Josh Norman coverage, pummeling Makabe before he can even clear his head.\u00a0 Ishii perches Makabe on the top rope, climbs up after him, and hits a stalling vertical suplex.\u00a0 He covers, but Makabe narrowly beats the three count.<\/p>\n<p>Makabe recovers enough to go for a waistlock, with Ishii elbowing his way out.\u00a0 In the skirmish to escape, Ishii leaves himself wide open to get LEVELED with a lariat to the back of the head!\u00a0 Brutal!\u00a0 They deliver dual clotheslines, daring the other to fall first.\u00a0 They scream at each other, both knocking themselves stupid with another thunderous dual clothesline.\u00a0 Ishii finally knocks down Makabe, but Makabe pops right back up and drops the champion with a clothesline.\u00a0 Ishii bounds back to his feet, but gets rifled in the throat with a lariat!\u00a0 Both men fall to the mat next to one another from exhaustion and pain!\u00a0 So much drama!<\/p>\n<p>Makabe is the first one up and hits the King Kong Powerbomb, but Ishii kicks out.\u00a0 He blocks an Ishii enzuigiri, hitting the ropes and coming back to a slap in the face.\u00a0 They exchange Batsu-style double slap\/double jabs on a continuous loop before Ishii hits a lariat of his own.\u00a0 Ishii covers, but Makabe shoves him off at one.\u00a0 They scream at one another again, with Makabe hitting Ishii with a double axe-handle.\u00a0 Makabe hoists Ishii\u2019s heft up and hits a bridging German Suplex, but Ishii kicks out at two.\u00a0 Makabe points to the corner as the crowd switches sides and start chanting his name.\u00a0 He swats Ishii\u2019s wide back with a clothesline and lifts him up to the top rope.\u00a0 Makabe climbs up, hooks his feet in the ropes, and tosses Ishii with a Spider German Suplex!\u00a0 I\u2026love\u2026that\u2026move.\u00a0 Makabe hastily rolls himself up and settles himself for the King Kong Kneedrop, but Ishii rolls out of the way at the last possible second.<\/p>\n<p>Ishii hits a standing dropkick on Makabe and both men are back down, rolling slowly to their sides in search of a stimpak as the crowd cheers.\u00a0 They resort back to forearms, both men barely standing on visibly shaky legs.\u00a0 Makabe sneaks in a shot that causes Ishii to scream, spitting fire throughout the crowd that causes them to pop.\u00a0 Ishii suckers Makabe into a German Suplex, but Makabe pops back up and roars to the crowd.\u00a0 Ishii hits a leaping enzuigiri on Makabe, who shakes it off and points at Ishii.\u00a0 Running headbutt by Ishii!\u00a0 The thud!\u00a0 Ishii connects with a sliding lariat, but Makabe kicks out at 2.\u00a0 Ishii can\u2019t believe it!<\/p>\n<p>Makabe knees out of a brainbuster attempt and clubs Ishii in the back of the head.\u00a0 Ishii back-elbows out of a waistlock, but gets nearly snapped in half on a counter Dragon Suplex!\u00a0 They trade lariats AGAIN!\u00a0 THE THUDS!\u00a0 Makabe hits Ishii with his hundredth lariat of the night, this one hitting hard enough to make Ishii\u2019s eyes roll into the back of his head.\u00a0 His body drops lifelessly to the canvas as Makabe covers for the win.\u00a0 But Ishii kicks out!\u00a0 He fights back, lunging his head straight into Makabe\u2019s!\u00a0 He peppers Makabe with forearms that spin him around, but on the backswing gets nailed with a counter lariat!\u00a0 And another, this time with Makabe charging off the ropes to tee off on Ishii\u2019s head!\u00a0 He covers.\u00a0 1, 2, kickout!\u00a0 Makabe ushers Ishii back to his feet and hits armor-piercing double axe-handles until Ishii finally drops.\u00a0 Makabe goes all the way up top\u2026and jumps.\u00a0 He comes down knees-first right as Ishii begins to rise.\u00a0 Makabe\u2019s double-kneedrop envelopes Ishii\u2019s head, forcing it to the mat with violent force!\u00a0 He covers.\u00a0 1, 2, 3!<\/p>\n<p>Winner: Togi Makabe to recapture the NEVER Openweight Championship<\/p>\n<p><i>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis: Oh my f****ng God!\u00a0 This was another hard fought war, but one of a different caliber.\u00a0 Instead of the all-out assault of their previous match, this one was more measured at the beginning, giving way over the course of fifteen-plus minutes to a damn crime scene back-loaded near the final bell.\u00a0 Both guys varied up their offense enough to make the rematch feel different from the previous encounter.\u00a0 Now granted, both men are going to get in their signature hardnosed style, but the addition of the submission hold and the meticulous pace at which they worked in the beginning made it feel fresh.\u00a0 Yes, this match is a serious recommend.\u00a0 Yes, you will enjoy it.\u00a0 And yes, please pay homage to these two warriors.\u00a0 They deserve nothing but the utmost respect for putting their bodies through such blunt force trauma just to ignite a spark of electricity within anyone who lays eyes upon their work.\u00a0 Just incredible!)<\/i><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>So what\u2019s a guy to do after vindicating the relinquishment of his first title reign?\u00a0 Defend it to prove that he is a God of War of course!\u00a0 His first defense was a win in the rubber match with Ishii, finally vanquishing his rival.\u00a0 But how would he do against another opponent that he might not have such a string of good fortune against?\u00a0 When I saw the name of who stepped up to the plate, I knew immediately that it was going to be all hands on deck.\u00a0 Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present\u2026<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b>MATCH 3:\u00a0Togi Makabe (c) vs. Kota Ibushi &#8211;\u00a0<\/b><b>NEVER Openweight Title Match &#8211;\u00a0<\/b><b>Destruction in Okayama<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Now THIS is the way to see Kota Ibushi!\u00a0 Like I mentioned during my Wrestle Kingdom 11 review, I\u2019m sure donning the Tiger Mask W mask is a cushy gig, but I want to see the Kota Ibushi who went through hell with Nakamura and dazzled in the CWC.\u00a0 That being said, I\u2019m not so sure how that dazzle is going to sit with Makabe.\u00a0 I\u2019m really hoping this isn\u2019t going to turn out to be a match where Makabe swats the NEVER Openweight interloper away like a pesky fly, only to grow tired of edging his sadism and just squishing the poor guy.<\/p>\n<p>All the house lights in the arena are beaming down on the ring while the crowd is completely blacked out.\u00a0 It pulls full focus on the action in the ring, which is a very good look.\u00a0 Ibushi comes out first with a pensive look on his face, taking heavy inhales as he prepares to deal with an extreme weight and strength disadvantage favoring a monster unchained.\u00a0 When the hard guitar riff of Makabe\u2019s music hits, he storms into view to a raucous reception.\u00a0 The title is strapped around his waist, the chain proudly sported around his neck.\u00a0 And the look on his face?\u00a0 It\u2019s as if he just found out that Ibushi called him the C-word backstage and he finally gets to clear him up on it.\u00a0 \u201cHe may be a walking slobberknocker, Ladies and Gentlemen,\u201d remarks JR on commentary.\u00a0 Oh, did I not mention that I\u2019m watching this on AXS?\u00a0 Chewie\u2026we\u2019re home.<\/p>\n<p>Ibushi stretches before the bell rings while Makabe paces in his corner.\u00a0 As Red Shoes takes the belt over to Ibushi, JR gets a little nasty towards the champion, saying \u201cMakabe\u2019s face looks like it caught on fire and someone tried to put it out with a rake.\u201d\u00a0 Offsides, Sir!<\/p>\n<p>When the bell rings the crowd gives Makabe a little home cooking by chanting his name loudly, no doubt entering Ibushi\u2019s ears and turning his legs to Jell-O.\u00a0 He immediately finds himself in a Batsu game with one of the greats, winding up in a daze of well-seasoned forearms.\u00a0 Ibushi gets lured into ANOTHER Batsu, losing yet again, but hits a standing dropkick after an Irish Whip reversal.\u00a0 Ibushi stays on the champion, blasting him in the chest with three hard kicks.\u00a0 \u201cMan, those are toxic,\u201d exclaims JR.\u00a0 Makabe\u2019s done messing around, shooting low to take Ibushi down and rain forearms.\u00a0 But Kota rolls him over, getting in the mount to drop some forearms of his own.\u00a0 They reverse positions again, getting closer to the ropes as Makabe is in position to strike.\u00a0 ANOTHER reversal, but this time Ibushi gets sucked outside with Makabe.<\/p>\n<p>They trade forearms before the guardrails get into the action &#8211; holding steady to greet Ibushi\u2019s back, then sternum.\u00a0 Makabe, pleased with the amount of punishment delivered thus far, rolls inside and waits for Ibushi as the count gets close to twenty.\u00a0 Ibushi beats Red Shoes\u2019 count, but more forearms are in his immediate future.\u00a0 Makabe\u2019s shots back Ibushi into the corner where he finally slumps to the mat.\u00a0 He\u2019s valiant though, pulling himself back up to stiff Makabe in the jaw with a forearm.\u00a0 It\u2019s not a desired result, as Makabe just looks at him before saying, \u201cEhh?\u201d\u00a0 He levels Ibushi right back and slams him to the mat.<\/p>\n<p>Makabe hits a snapmare on Ibushi and locks in a reverse chinlock.\u00a0 The hold is broken at the ropes, with Makabe staying on offense with a vertical suplex.\u00a0 He then locks in a half-crab, sitting back as Ibushi screams en route to the ropes to break it.\u00a0 As Ibushi is left close to comatose on the canvas, Makabe looks at Red Shoes and raises his hands as if to ask why the match is still going on.\u00a0 Red Shoes isn\u2019t ready to call it a night, so Makabe lifts Ibushi to his feet and sends him to the ropes.\u00a0 Ibushi counters, springing back to life with a swift kick to the chest!\u00a0 Finally finding a semblance of offense, Ibushi lays in a flurry of forearms, the aftermath of which sees Makabe simply growling at him.\u00a0 The cameraman is set up perfectly, capturing Ibushi\u2019s teeth clench tight as Makabe\u2019s retaliatory forearm strikes.\u00a0 Ibushi has to rely on his smarts, baiting Makabe into a Batsu where he feints a forearm to stall Makabe just long enough to stutter-step back and land a spin-kick to the gut.<\/p>\n<p>Makabe charges, but gets punted in the chest to send him to the mat.\u00a0 Ibushi pivots into position and lands a picture perfect standing moonsault for two.\u00a0 He sprints to the ropes, but Makabe cuts off whatever he was thinking with a powerslam.\u00a0 The champion is fuming as he lifts Ibushi up and drives him down with the King Kong Powerbomb.\u00a0 He holds for the pinfall, but Ibushi kicks out!\u00a0 Makabe is beyond pissed at this point, damn near running Ibushi through the turnbuckle pad with a charging clothesline.\u00a0 He climbs over Ibushi for the ten-punch, but Ibushi sneaks out from under his legs to hit a Pele kick to the back!\u00a0 Amazing desperation escape!\u00a0 With Makabe still perched up top, Ibushi jumps up after him and hits a top rope Frankensteiner for 2 \u00bd.\u00a0 They smack into one another with dual clotheslines, resulting in Ibushi falling to one knee as Makabe wobbles ever so slightly.\u00a0 Yeah, Makabe is pretty pissed.\u00a0 He gives Ibushi two middle fingers and lobs out an obscenity before heading to the ropes to finish Ibushi off with a clothesline.\u00a0 Ibushi strikes first, decking Makabe with a lariat of his own!\u00a0 They both fall to the mat as the crowd showers the ring with applause.<\/p>\n<p>Makabe rolls outside.\u00a0 Ibushi chases after him, only to get reversed on an Irish Whip and sent into the guardrail.\u00a0 He gets launched into the opposite rail, yet again crashing sternum-first.\u00a0 Makabe snatches a table from the stash spot and sets it up near the guardrail.\u00a0 He lifts Ibushi up for a powerbomb, but Ibushi slips out and counters with a lightning quick kick to the head.\u00a0 Ibushi continues to use agility over brawling, hopping the guardrail to use it as a launch point to hit a hurricanranna to the floor.\u00a0 He then repositions the table, eliciting a stir in the crowd.\u00a0 He rolls Makabe onto the table before heading back inside where Red Shoes tries to have a sidebar.\u00a0 Ibushi shrugs him off before heading waaay up top to leap outside and onto Makabe\u2019s sternum with a double stomp!\u00a0 The table stays intact, which Barnett notices and quips, \u201cIf you\u2019re in need of a table I\u2019d suggest that one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ibushi tries to get back inside to beat the count, but Makabe reemerges stage right like a slasher flick villain to grab him back.\u00a0 Startled, Ibushi turns quickly and kicks Makabe in the chest to push him back before racing inside to beat the count.\u00a0 Makabe staggers after him and gets in the ring nineteen.\u00a0 Ibushi is waiting for Makabe to get up, hitting two loud palm strikes and a kick to the neck.\u00a0 Makabe drops to his knees before Ibushi scoops him up and hits his beautiful sit-out powerbomb.\u00a0 1, 2, kickout!\u00a0 Ibushi heads for the turnbuckles, but Makabe grabs him to halt his progress.\u00a0 Ibushi spins in Makabe\u2019s grasp to kick him in the head, forcing the champion to let go.\u00a0 With Ibushi heading up top, Makabe gets to his feet and charges, chasing down Ibushi with a clothesline to the back that leaves him draped over the ring post.\u00a0 Makabe goes up with him and smacks Ibushi\u2019s head against the post.\u00a0 He wraps up Ibushi\u2019s waist and locks his feet in the ropes, launching Ibushi overhead with a Spider German Suplex.\u00a0 But Ibushi flips out of it and onto his feet!\u00a0 Makabe sees it and tries to roll his body back up before Ibushi can take advantage of his precarious positioning.\u00a0 He\u2019s too late!\u00a0 Ibushi catches up to him and sinks in a waistlock, dragging Makabe off the ropes and holding him mid-air before hitting a bridging German Suplex!\u00a0 1, 2, kickout!<\/p>\n<p>Ibushi sees daylight, heading back to the top and hurling his body skyward for the Phoenix Splash!\u00a0 Makabe rolls out of the way, too savvy to get caught by Jet Grind aerialistics!\u00a0 But he\u2019s also too exhausted to get to his feet first, allowing Ibushi to stand and deliver a straight right to Makabe\u2019s jawline.\u00a0 Makabe wags his finger at him from one knee, waving his challenger to bring him some more.\u00a0 Ibushi kicks him in the chest, hard, but Makabe keeps rising.\u00a0 Finally to his feet, Makabe gets attacked with a kick and lariat combo, but comes right back with a clothesline that stunts Ibushi\u2019s offense.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s drunk on damage!\u201d screams Barnett.\u00a0 They trade really, really, REALLY nasty clotheslines, each one more painful looking than the next.<\/p>\n<p>They clutch onto one another and trade forearms, but Ibushi\u2019s stamina helps him get the advantage.\u00a0 He manages to land multiple uncontested punches that finally drop Makabe.\u00a0 It\u2019s a fleeting breather, as Makabe gets right back up and punches him in the face.\u00a0 Ibushi strikes back with a right hook that connects so solidly that it sounded like a damn gun went off!\u00a0 Makabe is down, but Ibushi doesn\u2019t cover!\u00a0 He pulls Makabe back to his feet with his hand cocked back.\u00a0 It\u2019s a terrible decision that results in Makabe belting him with a lariat.\u00a0 Makabe covers, but Ibushi kicks out.\u00a0 Jr is still buzzing from Ibushi\u2019s punch, gushing, \u201cMan what a shot!\u00a0 Echoing throughout the arena here!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Makabe manages to daze Ibushi and perches him back up top, yet again throwing his challenger\u2019s head against the top of the ring post.\u00a0 Ibushi refuses to get Spider German Suplexed, so Makabe snatches him up in a full Nelson and lobs him backwards, sending Ibushi crashing straight down on his head!\u00a0 The cameraman gets another gold star as he\u2019s set up to catch Makabe\u2019s satisfied reaction as he watches Ibushi\u2019s crash landing.\u00a0 The crowd rumbles at the impact as Makabe rolls himself back up and rearranges his position to leap out and drive his knees down on Ibushi\u2019s prone body!\u00a0 \u201cBig time King Kong Kneedrop!\u201d bellows JR as Makabe covers for the win.<\/p>\n<p>Winner: Togi Makabe in 18:41 to retain the NEVER Openweight Title<\/p>\n<p><i>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis: That was freaking amazing.\u00a0 I really got a good look at what Makabe brings to the table when he\u2019s not tussling with Ishii.\u00a0 With the way Ibushi was outmatched physically, Makabe looked like an absolute monster.\u00a0 It was awesome seeing his diminutive foe escape the onslaught of violence only to have Makabe reappear in various camera shots right when Ibushi thought he was safe.\u00a0 And that camera shot on the release Spider Dragon Suplex!\u00a0 The look on Makabe\u2019s face when Ibushi hit was superb.\u00a0 It was one of those expressions that confirms Togi Makabe\u2019s love for inflicting pain.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>Kota Ibushi came off really well in this match.\u00a0 He was outweighed and outmuscled, but used his speed to garner most of his offense.\u00a0 Don\u2019t get me wrong, the man stayed as toe-to-toe as you can get with Makabe, but ultimately had to rely on his quickness to even have a prayer at survival.\u00a0 From the very start of the match when Ibushi had that \u201chow the hell did I get myself into this\u201d look on his face, to the mad flurry at the end to try and stop Makabe cold, he morphed into an absolute warrior.\u00a0 What a transformation.\u00a0 It makes me not want to go back and see their earlier match in the G1, just in case it reveals that this was a carbon copy of that one.\u00a0 I\u2019m more than happy living in a headspace where this is a one of a kind matchup.)<\/i><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>After the match, a familiar face stomps down the aisle.\u00a0 It\u2019s Tomohiro Ishii!\u00a0 He gets in the ring and goes nose to nose with Makabe.\u00a0 They exchange words before Ishii leaves just as quickly as he came in.\u00a0 Makabe grabs a mic and says to the crowd, \u201cYou saw me just win!\u00a0 And Ishii came to challenge me?\u00a0 Of course I\u2019ll take it!\u201d\u00a0 The crowd, as expected, roar at the acceptance of the challenge.<\/p>\n<p>What?\u00a0 You didn\u2019t really think Ishii was going to bow out that quickly did you?\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t be much of a tale if he just LET Makabe walk away with a pint of blood left in his body.\u00a0 Oh no, no, no.\u00a0 This is story about two men who love inflicting pain.\u00a0 What better reason to reunite than to fight over the NEVER Openweight Championship?\u00a0 It\u2019s like a dog whistle for the macabre.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b>MATCH 4:\u00a0Togi Makabe (c) vs Tomohiro Ishii &#8211;\u00a0<\/b><b>NEVER Openweight Championship Match &#8211;\u00a0<\/b><b>King of Pro Wrestling<\/b><\/p>\n<p>How great is Ishii\u2019s entrance video?\u00a0 It\u2019s a masterclass in Batsu.\u00a0 The Stone Pitbull walks to the ring with purpose as JR says, \u201cThis will not be a pretty, catch as catch can, scientific wrestling match, Ladies and Gentlemen.\u201d\u00a0 You got that right.\u00a0 Makabe is out next, his expression screwed on tight as he\u2019s ready for business.\u00a0 JR regales us with the tale of Makabe and Ishii\u2019s NEVER Openweight Title match at Wrestle Kingdom 9 where they were, \u201c\u2026basically in just a backyard brawl.\u00a0 It reminded me of a bar fight in Muskogee, Oklahoma on a payday Saturday night.\u00a0 Two rednecks just beating the hell out of each other.\u00a0 Not that these Gentlemen are rednecks.\u00a0 And not that there\u2019s anything wrong with that by the way.\u201d\u00a0 THAT is just a sample of why I love having JR in the driver\u2019s seat for these matches.\u00a0 What in the hell was that all about?<\/p>\n<p>Red Shoes displays the belt and it\u2019s on.\u00a0 They tie up to start, with Ishii backing Makabe into the ropes to give him a slap.\u00a0 Makabe backs Ishii into the ropes, but Ishii meant what he did a moment ago and slaps the piss out of Makabe again before bowling him over with a shoulder-tackle.\u00a0 Makabe strikes back, hitting a clothesline that dazes Ishii before hitting a shoulder-tackle of his own.\u00a0 JR tries to get back on track, stating \u201cI don\u2019t think either of these two men could be intimidated by anything with a heartbeat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Makabe chucks Ishii outside and sends him into the guardrail.\u00a0 He tries to go coast to coast, but Ishii sends Makabe into the rail stomach-first.\u00a0 They race towards one another, connecting with dual clotheslines that have zero effect.\u00a0 They wind up and collide again, ending with both men screaming at one another and pointing to get back in the ring.\u00a0 The interaction makes the crowd chuckle before breaking into a round of applause as they take it back inside.\u00a0 Both men get in the starting blocks &#8211; which in this case are corners of the ring opposite one another &#8211; and explode out to connect with a dual clothesline that leaves them both shaken.\u00a0 And another.\u00a0 And ANOTHER, but this time Makabe goes down.\u00a0 He pops right back up, decking Ishii to the mat with a lariat.\u00a0 Ishii pops right back up, then goes right back down from an even more potent shot.\u00a0 Awesome stuff!\u00a0 JR: \u201cThis is the epitome of the strong style in New Japan.\u00a0 Beat the hell out of your opponent and apologize later.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Makabe backs Ishii into the corner and begins laying in forearms, met by Ishii saying something with a swoop of his finger.\u00a0 Makabe keeps swinging.\u00a0 Ishii keeps yelling at him before addling Makabe with a heavy-hitting forearm.\u00a0 He smacks Makabe with a thick paw to the chest, pasting the underside of his skin in burst blood vessels.\u00a0 With Makabe down to a knee, Ishii yells at him and gives him a swipe to the back of the head.\u00a0 Ishii scores with a vertical suplex, then hovers over Makabe to smack him in the face.\u00a0 This freaking cameraman!\u00a0 There\u2019s another timely shot zoomed in tight on Makabe\u2019s face as the slap wakes him up and he begins screaming at Ishii.<\/p>\n<p>As Makabe tries to rise, Ishii paintbrushes the back of his head with his boot.\u00a0 Ishii lays in more chops to a now standing Makabe, each one causing the champion to growl vitriol.\u00a0 Ishii hits the ropes, his snub-nosed frame scooped up and power-slammed with a snap on the way back.\u00a0 Makabe sends Ishii to the corner, but Ishii sprints back and hits a forearm.\u00a0 He sends Makabe to the ropes, who comes back with a shoulder-tackle.\u00a0 Makabe clotheslines Ishii in the corner, peppers him with a ten-punch, and laughs just like Sagat before hitting a Northern Lights Suplex for two.<\/p>\n<p>Ishii chops Makabe, Makabe punches Ishii, and Ishii chops the s- out of Makabe to send him to a knee.\u00a0 Ishii hits a backdrop, then chops Makabe so flush in the corner that he instantly clutches his chest like he\u2019s having a heart attack and drops.\u00a0 Ishii props Makabe up top, climbs to the second ropes and hooooolds that big bastard up for a vertical superplex.\u00a0 God almighty, Ishii!\u00a0 Ishii covers, but Makabe escapes at two and change.\u00a0 Ishii runs into a side lariat and gets his shoulders pressed to the mat from Makabe\u2019s bridging Northern Lights Suplex, but kicks out at two.\u00a0 They\u2019re reading from the same playbook, colliding with more impact than Anthem to make both men shutter.\u00a0 Makabe leans into the ropes and comes back with a HARD AS F- clothesline that makes Ishii scream as he struggles to keep himself upright.\u00a0 Makabe winds up and hits him again, this time aiming for Ishii\u2019s neck.\u00a0 But Ishii stays on his feet!\u00a0 Makabe gives him a nod, takes off for the ropes, and comes back with a HARDER THAN HARD AS F- clothesline that snaps Ishii to the mat!\u00a0 Holy S-!<\/p>\n<p>Red Shoes checks on Ishii, who just flops his arm around to show that he\u2019s still breathing.\u00a0 Makabe scoops him up for the King Kong Powerbomb\u2026and connects!\u00a0 1, 2, nooo!\u00a0 Close, close, close, two count.\u00a0 Makabe tries to lift Ishii &#8211; who is spitting up on himself at this point &#8211; and backs away so Red Shoes can check him.\u00a0 Red Shoes decides that he wants to see more, so he drops down to urge Ishii to get up.\u00a0 Ishii needs the ropes to do so, leaving himself wide open to get strapped up by Makabe.\u00a0 Ishii fights out of a waistlock with a baker\u2019s dozen of back elbows, but Makabe clotheslines him in the back.\u00a0 Makabe sprints to the ropes and races back with a HARDEST OF ALL F- lariat that makes Ishii\u2019s body shiver before he falls to his back!\u00a0 Makabe covers, but Ishii kicks out again, leaving the champion looking annoyed with Red Shoes for the pacing of his count!<\/p>\n<p>Makabe perches Ishii up top, hooks his legs in the ropes, but Ishii fights him off before liftoff.\u00a0 Makabe is still hooked, giving Ishii an inch of room to maneuver around and unload a four-pack of forearms.\u00a0 The two look at one another, still perched high above the ring, and exchange words and forearms.\u00a0 Makabe unhooks his feet to gain leverage, but Ishii\u2019s forearm whips around to strike him clean in the face.\u00a0 An Ishii headbutt leaves Makabe dizzy as he loses his footing and falls to the mat.\u00a0 Ishii\u2026goes to the top turnbuckle!\u00a0 What???\u00a0 He dives off, crooking his knee to drop it straight down on the back of Makabe\u2019s head!<\/p>\n<p>The crowd stirs loudly as Makabe slowly rises and Ishii hits the ropes.\u00a0 The two men smack into one another, then bang forearms against each other\u2019s skull.\u00a0 Makabe\u2019s shot lands cleaner, giving him the opportunity to snatch Ishii in a waistlock.\u00a0 Once again Ishii fights out with a back elbow, this time coming back with an enzuigiri on the way out.\u00a0 He lunges at Makabe with a clothesline and flattens him to the canvas.\u00a0 Ishii covers, but Makabe kicks out.\u00a0 He sits Makabe up and runs to the ropes for the sliding clothesline, but the champ gets to his feet.\u00a0 Ishii changes his trajectory and throws out a high clothesline, but Makabe ducks and catches Ishii spinning back around with a huge lariat as the crowd applauds wildly!<\/p>\n<p>Makabe and Ishii run into each other again with dual clotheslines, their heads shaking violently from the force.\u00a0 They won\u2019t go down, instead engaging in a smorgasbord of right hooks and slaps to the face.\u00a0 Ishii gets the better of it, landing two smacks to the face for every Makabe hook.\u00a0 But Ishii is spent &#8211; his volley slowing to the point where Makabe can lob a right hook that grinds across the top of Ishii\u2019s head to put him down.\u00a0 Makabe pulls Ishii back to his feet, but is caught off guard by a headbutt.\u00a0 Ishii hits another, but gets a chop to the side of the neck on a third attempt.\u00a0 The force spins Ishii around and in perfect position for Makabe to grab him and hit a bridging German Suplex for two.<\/p>\n<p>Makabe hits a running clothesline in the corner before clubbing Ishii with a double axe-handle for two.\u00a0 He hoists Ishii up and sets him on the top rope.\u00a0 Ishii\u2019s back is to Makabe, his near lifeless body dangling over the top of the ring post.\u00a0 Makabe climbs up after him, hooks his feet in the second rope, and lobs Ishii\u2019s body to the mat with a Spider German Suplex.\u00a0 Makabe goes to the top and leaps off for the King Kong Kneedrop.\u00a0 Ishii rolls out of the way!\u00a0 As both men rise simultaneously, Ishii torpedoes the crown of his head at Makabe\u2019s face.\u00a0 Ishii races to the ropes and zips back with a lariat that levels Makabe back to the mat.\u00a0 He covers, hooks the leg, but Makabe kicks out with Ishii still hanging onto his leg for dear life.\u00a0 Great visual!<\/p>\n<p>Makabe goes for a clothesline, but Ishii ducks and dumps him on the back of his head with a Release Dragon Suplex.\u00a0 He sets Makabe up in a seated position, hits the ropes, and dives down with a big clothesline that jolts Makabe\u2019s body back to the mat.\u00a0 He hooks the leg again, and again Makabe kicks out!\u00a0 Ishii screams in frustration, lifting Makabe up for a brainbuster that he holds before spiking the champion\u2019s head straight into the mat!\u00a0 Ishii covers.\u00a0 1, 2, new champion!<\/p>\n<p>Winner: Tomohiro Ishii in 17:54 to win the NEVER Openweight Championship<\/p>\n<p><i>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis: What a culmination in an almost year-long battle for the NEVER Openweight title.\u00a0 This match was just as hard hitting as the others, but with the pace of the Wrestle Kingdom war.\u00a0 I have an intimate knowledge now of the exact shade of pink both men\u2019s chests display after an expansive series of chop-fests.\u00a0 The crowd was expecting a war and they got one.\u00a0 Hell, I was just hoping for something close to their prior matches and they exceeded my expectations easily.\u00a0 This match did not disappoint, with the outside spat and the constant banter between the two being an exceptional delight.\u00a0 And seeing Ishii go up top and take the leap is a sight to behold.\u00a0 He\u2019s a man who should never be up there, but when he does, you know something big is coming.\u00a0 Makabe was terrific in defeat, taxing Ishii at every corner with nasty strikes and showing off some unreal feats of strength.\u00a0 As always, this is a must-see match.\u00a0 Going forward, whenever I see these two in their respective tag teams I\u2019ll think back to their battles waged over the NEVER Openweight Championship and pay homage by rooting for both equally.\u00a0 They demand it after all.)\u00a0 \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>After the match, Tomoaki Honma \u2013 who in a way reminds me of Hardcore Holly &#8211; races to the ring and dives in right as Ishii is getting out.\u00a0 He grabs a mic and says in his gravely tone, \u201cYo, Ishii!\u00a0 I\u2019m up next!\u201d\u00a0 As he throws the mic down, Ishii rolls back inside the ring and gets right in Honma\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s your problem?\u201d Ishii woofs.\u00a0 \u201cBring it on!\u00a0 You only get a single chance!\u00a0 I\u2019ll beat you up bad!\u00a0 Bring it on!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHonma gettin\u2019 a little frisky here!\u201d exclaims a fired up JR at the prospect of Ishii\u2019s next challenger.<\/p>\n<p>And so it\u2019s set, Ishii vs. Tomoaki Honma for the NEVER Openweight Championship, inked in the spittle of violent intentions only mere seconds after the clock struck on the champion\u2019s fourth reign.<\/p>\n<p>Such is life when you\u2019re true love is inflicting pain.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>CHECK OUT THE PREVIEW NEW JAPAN ARTICLE:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/01\/21\/documentary-review-njpw-origins-tetsuya-naito\/\">DOCUMENTARY REVIEW: NJPW Origins: Tetsuya Naito<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-1521002914\"><div id=\"pwtor-493714825\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>NJPW FLASHBACK JANUARY\u00a05, 2015 Ryogoku Kokugikan Part 3 &amp; Hakata Starlanes By R.W. Andrews, PWTorch contributor Pain Game: A NEVER Openweight Love Song I mentioned last week that I came running back to NJPW with <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/01\/27\/new-japan-feud-focus-tracking-key-matches-tomohiro-ishii-vs-togi-makable-rivalry-wrestle-kingdom-9\/\" title=\"NEW JAPAN FEUD FOCUS: Tracking the key matches in the Tomohiro Ishii vs. Togi Makable rivalry from Wrestle Kingdom 9 to\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,66,27],"tags":[87,404,4677,1755],"class_list":["post-38102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-japanscene","category-specialists","tag-new-japan","tag-njpw","tag-tobi-makabe","tag-tomohiro-ishii"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/NJPWdark_3x2.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38102"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38102\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38103,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38102\/revisions\/38103"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}