Dojo of Dragons: The Awakening [1]

[James Peterson]

ドラゴンの道場
DOJO OF DRAGONS

THE AWAKENING

Card Information 
Sunday 16th July, 2017. 
LIVE! From the Dojo of Dragons in Tokyo, Japan.
Attendance: 500 fans allowed access, limited tickets. 
Exclusive streaming to AxxessNet. 

Match One

Singles Match

10 minute limit

Akira Marufuji vs Kimihiko Umino

5 ft 7 in Billed height   5 ft 8 in

187 lb Billed weight   187 lb

Yotsukaidō, Chiba Hometown Kurihara, Miyagi

To start the evening would be a match between two students of the dojo. This would be the competitive debuts of both individuals, who greeted each other with a firm handshake before the bell was rung and the match began. They circled the ring, gradual and slow with their build up as they locked in with a collar to elbow tie up, which Akira managed to pull out as the victor, pushing Kimihiko into the corner and holding him there. The referee would ask him to release him and eventually he would, but leaving him with a cheapshot that riled the crowd a little. Kimihiko would come steaming out of the corner with a vengeance, only to be thrown to the canvas with a judo throw, executed beautiful. Akira would stomp on him repeatedly whilst Kimihiko crawled to the corner, grabbing onto the ropes by the corner to help himself up. Akira wasn't letting up. He would connect with several crisp knife edge chops before bringing him out of the corner and nailing him with a standard suplex in the center of the ring, a pin attempt to no prevail.

Akira would play to the crowd, establishing himself as the heel as he cockily walked around the ring, chilling by the corner as Kimihiko helped himself up by the corner. He ran towards him, a back elbow directly to the side of the head before he ran back to his original corner. He then ran back to him, another back elbow. And would do the same, and again, and again before he brought him out of the corner and looked for another suplex, but Kimihiko would fight his way down using his knee's, not allowing himself to be dominated by Akira, who let go of him. Kimihiko would then connect with an enziguri which rocked Akira who staggered around, Kimihiko then hit the ropes, shining wizard to Akira, and the fans would applaud as he covered, but no prevail.

In a seated position, Kimihiko would deliver a series of shoot kicks to the chest of Akira who was doing well to take them at first but then the kicks were getting harder and coming at a faster pace, and he clutched onto his chest, redness beginning to spread over his chest. Akira caught his boot at the eighth attempt and came up with him, Kimihiko looked to connect with an enziguri with his free leg but Akira ducked under the attempt. He pulled him back up from behind, delivering a bridging German suplex, but Kimihiko kicked out. The two were back up, Akira with a lariat attempt, ducked under by Kimihiko, roundhouse kick - ducked under, Akira then grabbed him by his waist, delayed body to body suplex! Immediately he raced up to his feet and hoisted himself up onto the top rope where he positioned himself. He then came flying off with a perfect elbow drop, hooking the legs of Kimihiko to finish the match and secure the win!

Winner: Akira Marufuji (6:30)
Rating: **

[James Peterson]

Match Two

Six Man Tag Match

15 minute limit

Arashi Takeda, Masayuki Asami, Yujiro Mikami

vs

Daisuke Chono, Keiji Suzume, Ryushi Takayama

Up next was a tag team match concerning six individuals who were all making their competitive debuts. There was no established heel or face team, just six men all looking for the opportunity to impress the limited crowd who attended as well as the trainers who watched by the side. Starting off in the ring would be Arashi Takeda and Daisuke Chono, who shook hands and as the bell rung the two engaged in a knuckle hold, knee to the mid section but Chono set the tone for a hard hitting opening, he would club him around the back with his forearm and force him back into the ropes, forward clinch and an abundance of knee's to the head. The referee broke it up and Chono would grab Takeda by his hair, bringing him to the center of the ring where he attempted to lock him in a sleep hold. Takeda would fight in position for a while, stretching for the ropes but he wasn't anywhere near. He would then step on the feet of Chono who let go, turning around and delivering quick strikes to the chest, two open pals before a double thrust which forced Chono back a little. He would then run towards him, only for Chono to shoulder barge him to the canvas. Chono took off to the ropes, bounced back only to leap over the grounded Takeda, bouncing off of the opposite ropes with Takeda this time leapfrogging over him - bouncing back and being taken down with a pinpoint dropkick. Chono rolled to the outside of the ring whilst Takeda made the tag to Asami. 

Entering the ring, Asami ran over to the ropes and slingshot his way over to the apron - Chono clocked onto this, grabbing him by the back of his leg and sweeping him off of the apron, forcing him to fall onto it before rolling to the outside. Chono picked him up with his enormous strength, holding him high above his head before throwing him over the top rope and back into the ring. Chono then entered the ring himself and made the tag to Suzume, the two would then work on Asami in the corner. Chono would Irish whip Suzume into Asami, who barged into him before Irish whip back into Chono, who took him down with a lariat. Cover by Suzume but to no prevail. Suzume would then lock Asami in a boston crab submission hold and at this point, it was clear that the fans were now behind the team of Asami, as they clapped for him, in the hope of motivation for him to bounce back. Asami would reach the ropes, to the pleasure of the crowd. Suzume pulled him back up onto his feet, Irish whip, reversed, Suzume bounced back - back elbow by Asami. Back up to his feet, only to be met with another back elbow. Asami was feeding off of the energy of the crowd, running towards a cornered Suzume who kicked him backwards. Asami stumbled backwards and Suzume ran toward him, catching him with a fierce discuss clothesline to knock him back down to the canvas. Suzume then made the tag to Takayama and the two double teamed on Asami, Irish whip to the ropes, Asami bounced back, ducking under a double clothesline attempt, bouncing back off of the opposite ropes, double clothesline to his opponents!

Finally by his corner, reaching out and making the tag to the big man, Yujiro Mikami stormed into the ring. Chono ran toward him, Mikami grabbed him, bionic elbow with Chono immediately rolling out of the ring. Suzume now ran toward him, Mikami grabbed him - headbutt that caused Suzume to go tumbling to the outside. Asami and Takeda would enter the ring, suicide dives to the outside to Chono and Suzume! Now, it was only Mikami and Takayama in the ring and Takayama looked in fear at Mikami who was intimidating by size but had a massive smile on his face. Mikami would raise his right hand up, a surprise jab to the jaw with his left that knocked Takayama down and out almost instantly! He then mounted on top of him, for the one - the two, and the three to end the match there!

Winner: Arashi Takeda, Masayuki Asami, Yujiro Mikami (7:38)
Rating: **

[James Peterson]

Match Three

Singles Match

10 minute limit

Hiro Yoshiuni vs Naoki Ojima

6 ft 0 in   Billed height   5 ft 11 in in 

175 lb   Billed weight   225 lb lb

San Francisco, CA   Hometown   Togo, Aichi

To have your competitive debut against someone who has been around as long as Naoki Ojima is a daunting prospect but also an exciting one. That's what Hiro Yoshiuni had in store, a match against someone who's more experienced, with a weight advantage and is technically, one of the best within the Dojo of Dragon's division. Nevertheless, he was up for the challenge and by the way he presented himself, you could tell that. The two men would circle the ring with Naoki inviting the rookie for a collar to elbow tie up. Hiro would approach him reluctantly and the two would engage in a fierce collar to elbow battle, jockeying in position before Naoki got lower and used his low center of gravity to force Yoshiuni into a corner, he pushed him as far back as he possibly could before letting go of him and patting him on the shoulder. He turned his back toward him and played the air guitar to the fans who applauded his oozing charisma. Yoshiuni tended to his shoulder, rolling it around and the two circled the ring once again. Another collar to elbow, Naoki once again gaining the upperhand before coming around with a rear waist lock, looking to pick Hiro up but he remained grounded, using his weight to weigh himself down. Yoshiuni then managed to break out of the hold and reverse it to a rear waist lock of his own but Ojima was one step ahead, quickly reversing the hold - lifting him up and slamming him face first into the canvas, swiveling around to his head and locking him in a side headlock from a grounded position. Yoshiuni was kicking around for the ropes and eventually, he found them rather impressively - his ring awareness being a key factor to that. 

Once letting go of him, Ojima got back up to his feet and pulled his trunks up with him, pulled Yoshiuni up to his feet to and leveling him in the corner. A backhanded chop to the chest connecting and a clap reverberating through the Dojo. Yoshiuni remained composed, gritting his teeth and pushing Ojima back with his head. Ojima smiled, surprised at the reaction by Yoshiuni, before leveling him up again - another chop to the chest! Yoshiuni once again gritted his teeth, letting out a brief cry before pushing him back with his head once again! Ojima smirked, and one last time, a thunderous chop to the chest and Yoshuni had enough, shoot kick to the thigh, open palm to the face, double palm thrust to the chest, Ojima stumbled to the center of the ring - Yoshiuni ran toward him, hurricanrana but Ojima would cartwheel his way onto his feet. The two would turn to face each other, Yoshiuni running toward Ojima who would then drop him to the canvas with a single leg drop kick to the ankle, an ankle that Yoshiuni was known to have injured back in his early days in MMA. Ojima then raced to his feet, ankle lock being locked in and Yoshiuni would scatter to the ropes, managing to find them quick before rolling to the outside of the ring. Ojima would lean against the ropes after scrambling toward him but stopped himself, watching Yoshiuni recover on the outside. He then took off to the ropes, bouncing off of them but by the time he did, Yoshiuni was back in the ring, running past him - bouncing off of the rope, Ojima stopped and turned around, Yoshiuni flew into the air and nailed him with a thunderous superman elbow that knocked him straight down to the canvas. Ojima held onto his jaw, spitting out blood as he rose to his feet. 

A shoot kick to the thigh's, both of them, repeated forearm strikes as he led him to the corner. He ran to the opposite corner, before running back toward Ojima and nailing him with a drop kick. He rolled back up to his feet and pulled Ojima back up with him, looking for a suplex that was out of his depths. Ojima was too big, too powerful for him and he managed to reverse the move, suplex back into the corner! An unsuccessful cover would follow but Ojima wasn't done there. He pulled Yoshiuni back up to his feet and would finish him with a Falcon Arrow, for the one - the two and the three to secure the win for himself. He got to his feet and his arm was raised. Ojima looked down at Yoshiuni and helped him up to his feet, holding his arm up too as a show of respect. 

Winner: Naoki Ojima (8:42)
Rating: **/5

[James Peterson]

Match Four

Tag Team Match

15 minute time limit

Atsushi Nishimura, Shinjiro Inoki

vs

Kazushi, Ikuto Takaiwa

Four men who had been in the Dojo for quite some time now. This wasn't their first time in the competitive spotlight but they were limited to the exposure. Starting off in the ring was Atsushi Nishimura and Kazushi. The match started fast, and it set the tone for the rest of the match - a quick collar to elbow, Kazushi with the win early on, going in behind him, rear waist lock - German attempt, Nishimura landing on his feet, turning him around, forearm strike, forearm strike before taking off to the ropes. He rolled over the bent over Nishimura before turning him around, quick fire strikes in quick succession, before heading to the ropes once again but Nishimura would follow, a knee to the mid section once he hit the ropes, grabbing onto his head and bulldog back to the center of the ring. Nishimura would rise to his feet and play to the crowd, dancing around to the annoyance of his tag team partner Inoki, who was pleading that he just got the job done. Nishimura hissed at him, pulling Kazushi back to his feet who reacted with a toe kick to the mid section, and a snap DDT. 

Crawling to their corners, the two men would make a tag and in came Inoki and Ikuto who immediately began a trade of strikes in the center of the ring. Forearm, forearm, elbow, elbow, jab - jab, one almighty right hook would force Ikuto back into the ropes, he bounced back, SUPERKICK! Inoki stumbled back into the ropes, looking for a lariat but Ikuto ducked under the attempt, springboard off of the ropes, but Inoki would catch him mid air with a forearm strike! Inoki would then pull him back up to his feet, hoist him up into the air and slam him down to the canvas with a brainbuster, securing the win for himself and Nishimura very early on in the contest. 

Winner: Atsushi Nishimura, Shinjiro Inok (4:47)
Rating: */5

[James Peterson]

Showcase Match

Singles Match

30 minute limit 

Jack Tillman vs Kento Nagata 

The history was there. 

It was well documented. 

Two graduates of the Dojo of Dragons, two former best friends, were at war. They used to be on the same side but since then, they've gone their separate ways. The Dogs of War were now Jack Tillman's alliance and Nagata, well, he was the lone soldier, who was always watching over to protect the promotion he so dearly loves. The two would come out to a thunderous reception, applause and cheers ringing through the Dojo and the two would stand across the ring from one another. They watched each other, not even blinking in the process as the referee discussed to both men the rules of the match before asking the two men to shake hands. They were slow, perhaps reluctant but they both walked toward the center of the ring. Tillman looked on the outside at his companions, Shimada and Hearst who nodded their heads at him, he then looked at Nagata, who had a stern look in his eyes. Tillman smirked and extended a hand, mouthing something to Nagata who looked down at his hand, and accepted the hand, a firm handshake. As Tillman looked to pull away, Nagata pulled him closer and the two men butted heads, the noise in the Dojo picking up and the referee having to remind the two men that the bell hadn't rung yet.

The bell rang and the two men remained in their positions. Tillman leaning back into the padded corner and Nagata holding onto the ropes by his corner. They allowed the fans to cheer for either of them and patiently waited for the volume to decrease before making their way around the ring. It was Tillman who instigated a knuckle lock and Nagata accepted, approaching the center of the ring - the two were slow, pulling in and out as they were as reluctant as each other. Eventually, the hold was intact and it was Nagata who was gaining the advantage, he powered Tillman down, forcing him backwards as he looked to press his shoulders onto the mat but Tillman who headstand, bridging himself in a position that prevented his shoulders from touching the canvas. The fans applauded. Tillman would then use his strength to power himself back up and reverse the move on Nagata. Nagata would do the same, bridging his way into a headstand position before powering his way back up to a stationary position. Tillman would then arm wrench, and lock him in a side headlock - Nagata immediately bringing him to the ropes, but Tillman would hold onto his head, tightening the hold as he brought him back to the center of the ring. Nagata would fight his way out of the hold, arm wrench - snapmare, kick to the best, a ferocious one at that!  Tillman would grit his teeth and immediately get to his feet. Snapmare on Nagata, and a kick to the back! Nagata was up, snapmare, kick to the back! Tillman was back up, snapmare, kick to the back! Nagata got back up to his feet and the two butted heads in the center of the ring, pushing each other backwards and exchanging words before Nagata would connect with a forearm strike. And another one, bringing him to the ropes - Irish whip, reversed, Nagata bounced off of the ropes, rolling under the arm of Tillman, rolling slightly backwards afterwards - kipping himself up before a surprise superkick attempt but Tillman was quick to step back. 

Running at each other, Tillman would take Nagata down with an STO. Nagata rolled to the outside of the ring and walked around the edges, holding onto his head. Tillman followed, grabbing him from behind and throwing him into the steel barricade. He then continued to deliver an abundance of strikes to Nagata, one after the other as he powered him down. He would then pull him back up and rest him against the barricade. He ran away from him and positioned himself as Nagata remained groggy on the steel barricade, not really aware of where he was. Tillman would then charge toward him and deliver a drop kick to Nagata who flipped over the barricade and to the fans. Tillman would then take another few steps backwards and waited for Nagata to rise to his feet again. He would run over to him, diving over the barricade to connect with a crossbody on Nagata, with the two landing on the chairs that were around them. 

The referee would stop his count and check on the two men. Tillman was fine but the same couldn't be said about Nagata who was still holding onto his head. Tillman grabbed him and rolled him back into the ring. He then hoisted himself up onto the top rope, a rare move but Tillman that would prove costly as Nagata raced back up to his feet, leaping onto the second ropes - BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX OFF OF THE TOP ROPE! Tillman goes crashing onto the canvas, arching onto his back but is still able to crawl his way into a seated position by the corner. Nagata clapped his hands and the fans would join him. Nagata would then go to his corner, roar, before running toward Tillman, leaping up into the air - drop kick to Tillman!

REPLAY BOARD

Nagata would hook his legs in hopes for the win but only getting the two! Shimada and Hearst pounded against the canvas for their companion to wake up. Nagata walked over to them and shooed them away. Shimada leaped onto the apron and stared down Nagata who got in his face, the two exchanging words with the referee getting between them. Nagata turned around, ducking under a lariat attempt by Tillman, hitting the ropes with Tillman running past him, hitting the ropes - ducking under a lariat attempt by Nagata, stopping himself - pele kick connecting, shades of Jason P Davidson with that pele kick! Nagata would fall onto a knee, holding onto his head once again. Tillman who then grab him, waist lock - looking for a German, but Nagata would land on his feet. Tillman ran toward Nagata who was leaning against the ropes, lifting him up and onto the apron. Nagata then slingshot his way onto the apron to join Tillman, looking to catch him with a superkick but Tillman caught his foot, turned him around - a snap dragon suplex on the hard apron! 

Recoiling off of the apron and landing on the outside! Tillman would roll his way back into the ring and lay their, not wanting to get Nagata back into the ring but instead, recover himself - happy to take the count out victory. The fans booed but that was to no concern of Tillman. Nagata would slowly make his way up to his feet and the referee was on the count of fourteen. By seventeen the fans were urging Nagata to get back in the ring. Nineteen, and all of a sudden Nagata burst back to life and slid into the ring, to the dismay of Tillman. 

Tillman grabbed him by his fingers and taunted to the crowd as well as Nagata, telling him he was about to break his fingers and there was nothing he could do about it. Tillman laughed as he separated his fingers and Nagata screamed in agony. But he managed to kip back up to his feet, arm drag. The two raced up, another arm drag - the two back up on their feet once again, forearm strike by Nagata who followed this with a hard back kick to the mid section of Tillman. He took off to the ropes, handspringing his way onto them and propelling himself backwards. Tillman caught him by the waist, holding him there before delivering a delayed bridging German! ONLY THE TWO! Tillman pulled Nagata back up to his feet, who exploded into life - shoot kick, open palm, discus lariat and mounted on top of him! ONLY TWO! Nagata picked him up, vertical suplex position but Tillman fought his way back down, Nagata ran toward him, toe kick to the mid section - he lifted him up, brainbuster style, before landing him on his knee for The Martyr! TWO AND A HALF! 

The fans were restless and so was Tillman! Rising to his feet, he pulled Nagata up with him, signaling the end with the Ballroom Blitz! Wrist clutch, spun out, Nagata reacted with a bicycle knee that forced Tillman back into the ropes, he bounced off of them - SUPERKICK BY NAGATA! Tillman was down! Nagata hoisted himself up onto the top rope but either side of him on the apron was Shimada and Hearst! They taunted him, they warned him but he ignored, flying off of the top rope with a corkscrew 450 attempt, but he missed! Tillman pulled him up, wrist clutch, spun out - BALLROOM BLITZ! For the one, the two and the win!

Winner: Jack Tillman (15:04)
Rating: ****

[James Peterson]

Backstage, a familiar face takes the scene, but the usually prideful Ricky Valero’s expression tells a much different story this evening. He is not lacking in confidence, but it is evidence he is much more focused than he had been just a few months prior after making a disappointing NJFC debut. Valero, a man who believes very highly of himself and has earned the right to feel such a way, underperformed, underwhelmed, and ultimately, fell short of his goals in the chase for the NJFC Global Championship.

The gaijin superstar stands before us now, his blue eyes fixated on the camera in front of him. There’s no trademark smirk, no arrogant swagger. Just a man in a leather jacket and ring gear ready to ignite a fire under the NJFC umbrella.

Ricky Valero: In this industry, it’s all about what you have done for me lately. Sure, people respect you for what you have accomplished. The titles in your trophy case. The epic matches never to be forgotten. But when it comes down to where you rank in the here and now, all that matters is what you have to show for yourself today. Today, I’m the polar opposite of what everyone expects from Ricky Valero. I am a failure, much to the pleasure of the Japanese fans, of course. Myself and the people of Japan have always had a bit of a love-hate relationship. I’m okay with that. Nothing I’ve ever done in that ring was to appease them and their meaningless desires. There is no denying my accomplishments and the impact I have made on the Japanese wrestling scene over the last 17 years.

He pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath.

Ricky Valero: But it’s that love-hate relationship that keeps bringing me back, because nothing feels more satisfying than silencing their disrespect with every triumph and rubbing their noses in it!

Finally, that sly grin creeps across his face.

Ricky Valero: My NJFC career may not have gotten off to the best start, but make no mistake about it, it’s about to get a whole lot more exciting around here. I have my sights set on the Global Championship and I will not rest until I have that belt firmly in my grasps. I’m going to remind the people of Japan exactly why they call me the “King of Wrestling”, and they will grovel at my feet like the god that I am, because I deserve that much. I have earned that much! And I will prove it all again, that I am the greatest superstar to ever grace a wrestling ring and anytime you want to have a conversation about who the game’s greatest of all time are, you have to include my name alongside guys like Chandler Scott.

Once more, he pauses. His eyes travel to the floor momentarily before returning to the camera.

Ricky Valero: Because these people...they can boo me all they want. They created this monster. And now this monster will not stop until he has devoured everything in his path and claims that NJFC Global Championship as his own once and for all!

He cracks that trademark smirk once again.

Ricky Valero: It’s game time baby…

And as Valero exits the scene, we fade to black

[James Peterson]

Main Event

Singles Match

30 minute limit

Cosmo Cooper vs Ricky Valero

The main event of the evening was finally here.

And it was going to be a tough one following the match that just happened.

But with two premier athletes like Cosmo Cooper and Ricky Valero, anything was possible. This was the first meeting between the two. Cooper came out to a warm reception, a relative unknown in the realm of Japan but in the wrestling world, he was certainly making a name for himself. Valero received a thunderous pop. Despite the fans perception of him, it was nice to see him back in an NJFC ring. Valero swaggered his way down the ramp, embracing the love from the fans but switched back into game time zone, watching Cooper who bounced on the balls of his feet. Cooper had his Aces High title wrapped around his waist, a title that belonged to the deceased Monkey Business Wrestling organization. He took it off and handed it to a staff member on the outside of the ring. He nodded his head at Valero who smirked, an arrogant nod back at him as he leaned back into the ropes. 

Cosmo Cooper

Height: 6'2" 

Weight: 227 lbs.

Hometown: Santa Rosa, California

Ricky Valero

Height: 5’11” 

Weight: 227 lbs.

Hometown: New York, NY

The bell rang and the two men circled the ring and the fans were initially behind the more familiar Ricky Valero. The two men got into a lower stance and tried to catch each other out with leg take downs but they both avoided going down, with Cooper managing to get behind Valero quickly with a rear waist lock, lifting him up and slamming him down to the canvas belly first. Valero would sliver his way out of the position and reverse, rear waist lock on Cooper, but Cooper would then reverse the move, the two getting higher and higher from each reversal. Valero would then reverse the situation, side headlock on Cooper, side headlock slam, head scissors, kip up by Valero - the two back to their feet and facing one another, embracing the cheers.

Back to their designated corner before approaching the center of the ring. Knuckle lock attempts but Valero was quick to transition into an attack of his own, a single leg take down attempt, holding onto the foot of Cooper who was jockeying in position, Cooper used his free leg to push Valero off of him, a nimble and effective move by Cooper. Cooper lunged towards him looking for a double leg take down but only gets a hold of one leg which is enough, he swipes Valero off of his feet with his free foot, rear waist lock from a grounded position as Valero tried to quickly move whilst grounded. Cooper would pick him up and slam him back down to the canvas with Valero grabbed Cooper by his arm and fighting his way back up. The two would then engage in a knuckle lock, pushing into each other as they tried to best each other in this test of strength. Cooper had the the height advantage and tried to power him down but Valero used his low center of gravity to his advantage. He pushed him back into the corner and held him there before performing a monkey flip out of the corner. The two raced to their feet immediately engaging in another knuckle lock, butting heads at the same time! The two would let go at the same time and back away from each other.

Applause of appreciation echoed through the dome and the two men nodded heads at one another, a mutual respect of sorts for their competitive nature and close opener. They came together once again, a collar to elbow tie up this time with Cooper gaining the advantage, pushing Valero back into the padded corner! At the referee's count, Cooper let go, faked a strike and patted him on the chest, to which Valero reacted with a poke to the eye! The fans booed as Cooper held onto his eyes as Valero laughed in the corner, shrugging his shoulders as the referee questioned his actions. Cooper then burst back into life, coming at Valero with a tenacity that these fans were unaware of - ferocious forearm strikes being planted on Valero who took them life a champ. He stumbled out of the corner as Cooper took a step back and turned away, only to turned back and connect with another thunderous forearm! Cooper then ran to the opposite corner before running back to Valero, diving into him with a forearm smash! He would then grab him, belly to belly, dropping him over his head - an overhead release belly to belly connecting! Valero arched his back and Cooper rose to his feet, mounting on top of him for the two. He picked up Valero, wheelbarrow position and managed to lift him up and over for a wheelbarrow suplex! The fans applaud Cooper as he got to his feet and Valero recovered in the center of the ring. Cooper pulled him up, beginning a series of open palm strikes to Valero who had no reply to any of them, before attempting a spinning backfist but Valero ducked under the attempt, roll up from behind - two count! Valero then pulled him back up to his feet and met Cooper with a move Cooper had performed on him earlier, an overhead belly to belly suplex! Valero would cover him but nothing substantial. He would cover him again, but again, nothing. He then mounted on top of him and delivered a barrel of vicious strikes to Cooper. Getting off of him, Cooper crawled towards the corner and used the ring ropes to help himself up. Valero ran toward him, forearm smash to Cooper who stumbled out of the corner afterwards, Valero with a toe kick to the mid section and lifted him into a powerbomb position, looking to powerbomb him into the corner but Cooper would fight his way down. Cooper then ran towards him, Valero ducked under his strike attempt - a perfectly executed pele kick being delivered and Cooper stumbled backwards. Valero came to his feet, Cooper was now on a knee and Valero ran toward him, delivering a shining wizard which he then followed with a cover, only for the two!

"COO - PER!"

"COO - PER!"

"COO - PER!"

They were cheering his name, to the annoyance of Ricky Valero who told the fans to shut up! Cooper is on the outside recovering and Valero makes his way over to him, he grabbed him from behind and Cooper reacted with a elbow into the mid section. Valero clutched onto his stomach and Cooper ran toward him, Valero moved out of the way, allowing Cooper to run toward the barricade but he stopped himself, he turned around and Valero is there to greet him, toe kick to the mid section, head between the legs, lifted him up onto his shoulders - powerbomb position! He then took a couple of steps back whilst Cooper tried to fight his way down, a section of the crowd move out of the way and Valero ran toward the empty section of chairs, throwing Cooper over the barricade and into the chairs!

Pulling him back up and rolling him back into the ring. Valero looked deadly, he looked like a man who was ready, willing and wanting to kill. He stalked Cooper who was still recovering from that powerbomb into a load of chairs. He was cold and calculating, a smirk upon his lips as he waited for Cooper to rise to his feet. Once he did, he grabbed a hold of him and turned him around, hoisted him up into a fireman carry position and...

REPLAY BOARD

For the one, the two but only the two!

Valero buried his head in his hands, swearing to the ref that he counted the three! Valero would then lock him in a bridging neck lock and Cooper would struggle, the referee asking whether he wanted to quit but he would shout "no" repeatedly. Cooper would eventually reach the ropes, forcing Valero to let go of him. Valero was frustrated, wanting the match to end and he intended for the match to end sooner rather than later. He looked for the Franchise Tag but Cooper would get his second win, open palm strikes followed by a spinning backfist!

He was building momentum, much needed momentum! Shoot kicks to the torso of Valero would follow and the fans would count along with him. Cooper would end this by reverting to his signature triple rolling gutwrench suplex's, performed to perfection! The fans were electric and Cooper was reaching his climax, picking Valero up, tombstone position, spinning around before planting his head on the canvas for the Crater Maker! ONE, TWO, THREE! AND THE WIN FOR COSMO COOPER!

Winner: Cosmo Cooper (21:43)
Rating: ****/5