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00:00will challenge for the title.
00:01And it was in Japan, Kevin, where he challenged anyone from Ring of Honor for this event.
00:06And to the shock of everyone, Dragon Lee from CMLL came out and accepted the challenge.
00:11It was less than 24 hours later that the then undefeated Bandito put his hat into the ring.
00:17And here we are tonight, three of the greatest juniors in the world.
00:20So we've got New Japan Pro Wrestling represented with Ishimori,
00:24CMLL with Dragon Lee, and Ring of Honor with Bandito.
00:28Now, let's take the three best junior heavyweights in the world,
00:32and let's put them in the ring, and let's have the title on the line,
00:35and we'll settle it all here at G1 Supercard.
00:38And, of course, this is the first of many title matches, of course, still to come.
00:42Intercontinental Championship, IWGP Intercontinental title on the line.
00:46We will see the Ring of Honor World Championship on the line, part of our co-main event.
00:51It's so loaded.
00:52It's incredible.
00:53It's a double main event.
00:54By the way, our at debut painting, a beautiful painted canvas for this event,
01:00being very quickly cleaned by the great staff.
01:03Yeah, it's an incredible group that we have here, and we are so excited.
01:07Let's go to our next contest.
01:08Title action, triple threat, IWGP Junior Heavyweight title.
01:13And here we go.
01:15Title action, triple threat, IWGP Junior Heavyweight title.
01:21IWGP Junior Heavyweight title, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, in console.
01:25Challenger CM-LL, Dragon Lady!
01:30Ishimori issued the challenge, Dragon Lee was the first one to answer.
01:35Since then, I've read a lot what Dragon Lee's had to say.
01:40There's a lot of passion by his words.
01:43The last time he challenged for this title, it was against Hiromu Takahashi.
01:48Hiromu's of the broken neck in that match.
01:50I think Dragon Lee wants to win this title,
01:53because he knows Hiromu's return is pending,
01:57and he wants to make things right with Hiromu.
01:59He even came out with Hiromu's mask here tonight, Kevin,
02:02and a bit of a tribute.
02:04He wants Hiromu to get back to his best,
02:06so they're going to counter and engage in more classic bouts.
02:10Oh, but he's going to have his hands full.
02:19Challenger ROH, right brother, Bandito!
02:26Caprice, Colt, Bandito's a gentleman that we've got a ring-sized view for
02:30on a number of occasions.
02:31And this one, he might be the fastest rising star we've ever seen here in Ring of Honor.
02:36Emerging from relative obscurity, coming through the CMO Dojo system.
02:40Eskewing, being trained by Ultimo Guerrero to go his own way.
02:44Headlined all-in, and here tonight competing for the Adobe GP Junior Championship.
02:49This guy had a golden ticket already, but he chooses to take his own path.
02:53And look at him, he's in Madison Square Garden.
02:56It doesn't get any bigger than this.
02:58Fourth generation star, of course, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention Dragon Lee.
03:02It's the brother of Roosh, something they commonly acknowledge throughout CMLL.
03:07So it's a bit of a family affair here tonight.
03:10And maybe no tighterness family, Kevin, than the group that this man belongs to.
03:15Yeah, exactly, because Bullet Club is ruling New Japan right now.
03:20Taiji Ishimori dominated Pro Wrestling NOAH for years, and was brought to Bullet Club by Tama Tonga to win the title that he has around his waist.
03:30IWGP Junior Heavy Q Champion, Ballet Club, Bones Soldier, Ishimori Taiji!
03:40When in NOAH, Taji Ishimori held their GAC Junior Underweight title.
03:46Freedom of Times, 405-day reign.
03:49Oh, by the way, absolutely dominant.
03:52Big fish in a small pond, some said.
03:54So strike out on his own, but Tama very quickly reeled the catch in, brought him to Bullet Club, and my, oh my, he has lit the Junior Heavyweight division on fire.
04:04And what a sensational organization of talent.
04:07It speaks to the partnership that we have through the collective here that we have between Ring of Honor, New Japan, CMLL, and of course our partners in the UK, Rev Pro.
04:16We'll be excited to see that championship decided later here on tonight.
04:19A title whose roots go back to the days of Tensumi Fujinami, defended here, Madison Square Garden.
04:28IWGP Junior Heavyweight division, won't be able to win, but the first person to score a pinfall or submission with...
04:41Now the translation.
04:43Basically a triple threat match, as we all know, three men in the ring, all at the same time.
04:48First man to score a pinfall, your winner, and the champion does not have to be pinned or submitted to lose the championship.
04:55Irish shrimp, there we go, ooh, counter out of the Hurricane Rana, Dragon Lee in the blue, Bandito in the traditional Mexican colors with black shrimp.
05:02It is Bandito, who's the house of fire, was at the press conference yesterday, Bandito, oh my god!
05:07Not only can Bandito fly, but he's an absolute powerhouse.
05:13This is going to be a hard one to call, have fun, Ian and Kevin.
05:16Ducks through, rolls through, catches Bandito, it's Ishimori who rolls through, oh, cranking the neck!
05:21Ishimori not intimidated, not unfamiliar with the Mexican style, the Lucha Libre having competed for quite some time, Torimon promotion.
05:30Also familiar with wrestling in the United States.
05:33Spent a lot of time here as well, has competed in Ring of Honor before.
05:37Big return after six years to Ring of Honor for Ishimori, ducks the clothesline, it's Dragon Lee who's also competing...
05:43Whoa!
05:44Come on!
05:47Outtrackingly!
05:48And it's Ishimori who follows him in!
05:54Big Moonsault!
06:01And right now, Cold, I'm going to put you on the spot, Ishimori, looks like he has control.
06:05What has he got to do right now to put his...
06:07He's got control right now as we see this Moonsault off the second on the Dragon Lee.
06:13Bandito kind of taken a little bit afterwards, but yeah, he's in control now, but I hate to tell you, Ian, this thing is far from over.
06:20Absolutely.
06:21And there's going to be so many twists and turns.
06:23And New Japan referee, Kenta Sato, the official for this championship contest.
06:28So much has happened at G1 Supercard, and so much yet to come, but the focus now on the junior heavyweights.
06:36When we think about the great history, you mentioned it earlier, Tatsumi Fujinami, guys like Dynamite Kid, Cobra Tiger Mask, etching their mark in this...
06:44Oh, goodness!
06:45Hubs away!
06:45Ishimori is uber fast!
06:49Going for the cover!
06:50Two!
06:50And it's Dragon Lee breaking up the pin.
06:52Caprice, you're exactly right.
06:53I've said, I think Ishimori, fastest man in pro wrestling.
06:57It's almost like three hybrids in the ring, and with the role that he's on, it's going to be hard to stop him, because he's seen everything already.
07:04But so fast, it's Dragon Lee!
07:08Combination, cabron, flying in with the knee.
07:12Oh!
07:13Oh, I comprende that one.
07:15Shout out to his mother, double underhug!
07:17Got him!
07:19Back breaker!
07:20Oh!
07:21Hooks the leg, one, two!
07:23Oh, Bandito just in the nick of time.
07:25Maybe a shout out to his brother there with the Bulls' horn.
07:27I was getting ready to say that.
07:28It would be a...
07:30It would be perfect if they could pick the victory up over Ishimori, then there would be no controversy.
07:35Oh, big knee!
07:37At the press conference yesterday, these two said they were willing to fight each other, despite both being from Mexico.
07:42They have a great deal of respect for one another.
07:43Look at the strength.
07:44Bandito, could it be?
07:47Loves this position.
07:49X-knee!
07:50You were talking about the powerhouse of Bandito!
07:53Spins him inside out, hooks the leg!
07:55One, two!
07:57And I don't think we've ever seen anything like Bandito at all.
07:59And there was the comparison to Rey Mysterio.
08:01I don't think he's the next Rey Mysterio.
08:03I think he's the first Bandito.
08:05These guys are able to display strength.
08:07They're able to display speed.
08:09And they're able to display feats like this.
08:12These are hybrid athletes.
08:14You can expect anything.
08:15Oh, my goodness!
08:16Look at the strength.
08:18Power bomb!
08:19Tiger driver!
08:20Two!
08:21You know, when you see guys this size, you think, oh, they're going to jump off the top rope.
08:25But they pull off feats that power guys do.
08:29These guys are amazing!
08:30And with three men in the ring virtually at the same time, it's been very difficult for one to seize full control.
08:36But it looks like now, Dragon Lee's in the driver's seat.
08:40Yeah, but you see Bandito's just a hop away.
08:45Possibly a springboard away.
08:47Yeah, we're going to see a double stomp here right through the heart of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
08:52Well, what did I say?
08:54Springboard!
08:55Super Hurricane Rana!
08:56Oh, my goodness!
09:02Oh, running Destroyer!
09:15We've got to take a look at the replay!
09:18Ishimori swinging through with a bulldog, but the Dragon Destroyer delivers on Ishimori!
09:24And, of course, before that, it was Bandito coming back to life, like Colt had said, and changing the tone of the match.
09:34It was one springboard away!
09:36This is awesome!
09:39This is awesome!
09:40Bandito now with Dragon Lee in his crosshairs.
09:42Has him set up for the 21-plex.
09:44It's dead!
09:44It's Dragon Lee with a roll-through!
09:46I think he set him up for that.
09:48Up and over, Dragon Lee!
09:50Oh, high-knee rocking Dragon Lee!
09:53Ishimori!
09:53Oh!
09:55Pop-up cutter!
09:58One, two, and three!
10:00Oh, just a two-count!
10:01My God!
10:02Ishimori got popped up so high, I thought he was going to bring down Rain.
10:06And how much trim does it take to do that?
10:08And, Kevin, correct me if I'm wrong, in New Japan tradition, times are announced.
10:11I believe we're at the five-minute mark of the match.
10:13Only five?
10:14Incredible!
10:15Bandito!
10:17Bandito!
10:17Yeah, we'll hear Abe-san call out the times.
10:20As Bandito going to the top, it's Dragon Lee sweeping the leg.
10:25Maybe this time, Kevin, through the heart!
10:27Nobody to stop him.
10:29Oh!
10:31And he has the champion isolated here.
10:33Ishimori almost right there for him.
10:35Dragon!
10:36Oh, countered!
10:38Countered into Herkarata one!
10:39Two!
10:40And, ooh!
10:43If there was any time to get a win, that was the window.
10:46That window was getting shorter each second.
10:48Oh, God!
10:50Bloody Cross!
10:52One!
10:53Two!
10:54Oh, so close!
10:55And, Kevin, in my haste, I'm so excited.
10:57My first time calling.
10:58And when you've got Ishimori in the driver's seat, he's looking for Bloody Cross, or he's
11:04looking for the Yes Lock.
11:05He's got a submission finisher and a high-impact finisher.
11:09If he could continue to work on Dragon Lee, here we go, Bloody Cross, Bloody Cross!
11:14Looking for it there, no, kick to the midsection!
11:16You have to believe in this type of match, it'd be hard to lock a submission move in.
11:20Yeah, you're absolutely right, Caprice.
11:22Too many moving parts.
11:24So many men that could break it up, the third man that could break it up is Bandito.
11:28As Ishimori perched up top, delivers with a forearm.
11:32Action is so hot and heavy, so tough to call, especially with great athletes that move this
11:38quickly.
11:39Dragon Lee pulling Bandito out of the way.
11:41He's the one that wants to deliver the big offense.
11:43I was going to say, you could tell Dragon Lee and knew exactly where he wanted to go and
11:46what he wanted to do, but I don't know if I agree with asking someone to hit him.
11:51And they're both perched up in the wrong place.
11:54Like Bandito to join in the fun.
11:57Oh, I don't even want to know.
11:59Oh, God.
12:01What could come of this?
12:03Freshest real estate on the top rope.
12:05What in the world?
12:08No.
12:10You talked about being a powerhouse, Kevin.
12:12What?
12:14Oh, my God.
12:15That's not a real move.
12:18Oh, my God.
12:28Make your moment.
12:29Make your name, Bandito.
12:32Oh, two.
12:33And, oh, just a two count as we can take a look at the replay.
12:36As we're back to live action, a half a count away from a new champion.
12:42If there's any way to win these matches, you need both guys injured at the same time and
12:46capitalize it.
12:47That was the best opportunity.
12:49See, I thought this was over.
12:50This is awesome.
12:53This is awesome.
12:56This is awesome.
12:58Bandito loading up the gun as he brings his opponent back to his feet.
13:05Bandito.
13:06Cradle.
13:07Head to the knee.
13:09Cover.
13:10One.
13:11Two.
13:11But it's Dragon Lee breaking it up.
13:13Dragon Lee has him locked in.
13:17Has him set.
13:18Dragon Lee up and over Bandito.
13:20Back elbow.
13:21Pump knee.
13:23Rise and Rana.
13:24Oh, delivering the running knee.
13:29The champions out on the outside.
13:30Yeah, is that enough to get Ishimuri out for the match?
13:32This Dragon Lee's window, he has to capitalize right now.
13:36Here we go.
13:37Hooked up tight.
13:38That's it.
13:39Got him.
13:39One, two, three.
13:42Got a new champion.
13:43He has done it.
14:08Dragon Lee is the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
14:14He's taking the title here at G1 Supercard.
14:17We take a look now at the replay.
14:20Dragon Lee has Bandito up, down, driving him through the mat, hooking the leg.
14:29Taji Ishimuri, the 83rd man, 83rd champion.
14:33Dragon Lee becoming the 84th.
14:34And, of course, the key to that victory was that knee from Dragon Lee to Ishimuri,
14:39which drove him out of the ring and gave him the opportunity to pin Bandito.
14:44The lineage began with Shiroko Shinaka.
14:46It segued 11 different times to Jushin Thunder Liger.
14:50But now the title is around the waist of Dragon Lee.
14:53He will go in to Best of Super Junior coming up in the month of May
14:58with a huge target on his back.
15:01But that target is exactly what he wanted.
15:03You see a sign of respect, Dragon Lee and Bandito.
15:08And what another amazing moment here at Madison Square Garden with the history.
15:13We talked about Pujinami, Dynamite Kid, Tiger Mask, Cobra.
15:18Putting juniors on the map worldwide here.
15:20And look at this moment right here.
15:23So much respect.
15:24So much respect.
15:26So much sportsmanship.
15:30Dragon Lee.
15:31A high competitive athlete, but the respect is what comes first.