Well after some minor connection issues with Twitch got resolved, we managed to put together a ZIP JAPAN show this past Friday, and it was a doozy. No lie, just about every match on this show was a MOTN contender. 8 X 100% match ratings out of 11 matches. It was plenty of fun, thanks to those who made it to the show.
If you missed it and haven't gotten caught up yet, the show is currently archived right here:
Fatal Four Way Elimination match
- ECKO vs Shuji Tsukamoto vs Yutaro Ichikawa vs Tora Katsu
This was a match with Shuji Tsukamoto simply brutalizing his opponents. He forked open Ichikawa's head less than a minute into it, and kicked the snot out of everyone. Katsu eliminated Ichikawa with an ugly looking Katsu Valley Driver that left Ichikawa in a broken, unconscious heap in a pool of his own blood. Shuji dropped ECKO on his head with a pair of Ice Picks before he took out Katsu with a Big Body Bomb. ECKO tried to quicken the pace against the slower Tsukamoto, but got caught by a face first chokeslam -> Nagata lock combo to end the match. Shuji making a statement of intent here.
- Vicki Violence vs Hanako Yoshii
A strong early shout for MOTN, these two women went absolutely ham on each other for over 20 minutes. Fought at a lightning pace and packed with exciting, believable nearfalls, this was fantastic stuff. Vicki did her best with spears and head drops, but Hanako pressed her usual armwork and striking agenda, nearly causing a submission on multiple occasions. It seemed like Yoshii was well in control when Vicki nailed a Package Piledriver out of nowhere and secured the win.
- Blue Destiny (Maki Yoshida/Jin Matsuda) vs Pure HEEL (Kenji Sawada/Kenzo Kobayashi)
Two of the best tag teams in ZIP JAPAN ripping it up for 40 minutes. This was super tag action throughout with both teams taking their chances to isolate an opponent and work him over. In the end, Pure HEEL once again proved to the doubters that they are masters at snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, as Sawada kicked out of a Matsuda pin after a huge MX dive and dropped his younger opponent with an Evil Clutch Driver for the win.
- Rebecca Roxx vs Suki ZIP
Roxx has been on a roll recently and carried that momentum well into this match with her old rival Suki ZIP. There was some definite tension in the air as Rebecca's first ZIP JAPAN match ended in a CRIT defeat to Suki's ZIP Driver, resulting in serious neck surgery for the young Canadian. The second Joshi match on the card delivered more solid back and forth action, with Rebecca scoring several near falls before being put away by a ZIP Driver again. Hopefully there was no more damage to her neck.
- Darkness HAGE vs Danger Daniels
Before the show, ZIP JAPAN fans identified this match as a potential show stealer on a pretty stacked card, and it certainly delivered. HAGE was flying around and head dropping like mad, while the relative rookie Daniels stayed intensely focused on his legwork throughout. That focus paid off in the end, with Daniels shaking off a Cross Arm German and running DDT to cinch in an Ankle Lock for the well deserved win over the veteran HAGE.
Archive match from 2002
- Yoji Shinichi vs Captain Insano Jr
A very nice showcase match from the ZIP JAPAN tape archives which showed off Captain Insano Jr's varied skills. He dove, he danced, he no sold super kicks and finished things off with a textbook Insano Buster in the center of the ring. Quality stuff.
To determine #1 Contender for ZIP JAPAN Joshi Championship
- Yumi Yamaguchi vs Psycho Witch
Both these women have been on a roll coming into this #1 contender's match, but only one could emerge victorious. Yumi showcased her usual deep well of fighting spirit, fearlessly tearing into her larger opponent with throws and chops, and Psycho Witch showed off her brute strength. Yumi did well, but could not escape a tight Dragon Clutch at the end, tapping out to make Psycho Witch the next challenger for Momoe Ito's Joshi Championship.
Fatal Four Way Elimination match to determine #1 Contender for ZIP JAPAN Heavyweight Championship
- Mad Bomber vs GORO vs Touma Tanaka vs Thunder Fist
This was a damn war. Four of the toughest men in ZIP JAPAN did battle all over the arena for over 40 minutes before there was a single elimination. ZIP newcomer Touma Tanaka made a huge statement by eliminating Mad Bomber with a huge running big boot, and also taking out Thunder Fist with a Package German suplex. In end it came down to two of the biggest jerks in ZIP JAPAN, Takana and GORO. GORO managed to kick out of a Package German and finished off Tanaka with a Victimizer. GORO will face Justin Starr for the Heavyweight Championship, but Tanaka proved in this match that he is the real deal and will likely remain near the top of the card. This was my pick for MOTN.
TIPWF Old Guard Championship match
- Newfie George vs Wataru Nakajima (C)
History making match here, the first time a non-ZIP JAPAN title was defended on a ZIP JAPAN show. Newfie George put up a good fight but TIPWF Old Guard Champion Wataru Nakajima has been on a great run of form recently, putting on some of the best performances of his lengthy career. Nakajima proved too much for George on this occasion, putting him away after a second Head Hold Lariat and successfully defending his title.
ZIP JAPAN Junior Heavyweight Championship match
- Ichiro Katagiri vs Tetsuo K (C)
The match opened with a series of vicious striking exchanges, and escalated from there. Both guys were kicking out of everything here, including Katagiri shrugging off a Fire Star Splash and Tetsuo no selling an Orbital Explosion. In the end Katagiri battled through another series of kicks from Tetsuo to deliver a sickening Knees of Death strike to win the Junior Heavyweight Championship! Excellent stuff, could easily have been MOTN.
ZIP JAPAN Tag Team Championship match
- Doogan Bros (Donnie Doogan/Dougie Doogan) vs Team Fighting Spirit (Akira Shinjo/Daisuke Shimura) (C)
Doogan Bros scoring their biggest win by far since joining forces as a tag team, unseating the very popular dominant Champions Shinjo and Shimura. Both teams fought hard in this one, all 4 men utilizing high impact offense to great effect, and even Dougie managed to look like an effective threat and not a goofball. Great action throughout, but the match ended after Donnie caught Akira Shinjo with a huge Doogan Hammer II while Dougie was dealing with Shimura. Team Fighting Spirit have finally been defeated, and the Doogan Bros are the new Champions!
Overall a very strong event I think. A stacked card with almost every match delivering top notch action and drama...what else could you want from a Fire Pro show? :P
Thanks again to everyone who came out and got involved in the chat during the show, it always makes the matches more exciting and is much appreciated. We will do it again in two weeks time, card for the next event (and injury updates) will be posted in a couple of days.
