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00:00Probably my most favorite time of the night.
00:30And we talked about the defiance of Naito, but certainly one of the most rebellious members
00:51of the New Japan roster, roster you could say about Shibata.
00:57What you're alluding to, we'll touch on in a moment.
00:59But for me, I love the song, I love the entrance, I love the simplicity of the man known as
01:05the wrestler, Katsuyori Shibata.
01:07Six feet tall, comes in and is listed at 210 pounds, as hard a hitter as you'll see and
01:14hear.
01:14A technical brawler, very apt with the strikes, very efficient.
01:18To your point, Yoshi as well, you can talk on this.
01:23There was a period of time where that man there, Shibata, was part of the Three Musketeers.
01:27Many people thought the future of New Japan Pro Wrestling, he had his destiny laid out
01:31in front of him.
01:33And then, Shibata just walked away from the promotion.
01:35Yoshi, what was that like internally for New Japan, when Shibata left?
01:40That was very, that error was very cold news in New Japan.
01:48So, yeah, that's why many wrestlers left, not only Shibata, that error.
01:56So, well, Shibata walking away from what seemed to be a predetermined destiny, when we find
02:03out later on that Shibata comes back and wants to earn his right, not just be handed to him,
02:10then you respect the decision.
02:12Yes.
02:12And I know there was a gleam in your eye, Matt.
02:18We reviewed the rundown of the show tonight.
02:21We talked about the matches, and there was something that was special to you upcoming about
02:27this match.
02:27What is it that speaks to you as a fan and as a broadcaster?
02:31I mean, straight up, in my heart, I'm a fighter.
02:34It always happened when Goto just hit the Shotenkai.
02:40Things like that, I like.
02:41I like destruction.
02:43I like violence.
02:44I like hard hitting.
02:46That's why this match, for me, is the one I'm looking forward to here.
02:50As 5'5", 200 and says 25 pounds, the ninth ever never open weight champion, Tomohiro Ishii
03:03makes his way into the arena.
03:05The only way I can describe this fighter is the Norris division for my hockey fans.
03:11Smash mouth, strikes, head busts, throws, suplexes, things of this nature, as the stone pit bull
03:18Tomohiro Ishii makes his way to the ring.
03:21The champion in the red corner is winning the president, 220 now.
03:27You're not a violence guy, are you, Kevin?
03:29You're a pacifist.
03:30I mean, look at what's going on in the world today.
03:34Everyone wants to use diplomacy and talking, but you know what works?
03:38Dropping bombs, and that's what's going to happen right here.
03:41Well, Shibata seems to have the best of Ishii right now.
03:48Got a victory on him on the opening day, World Tag League.
03:52And then at the last event of the calendar year, 2015, as well.
03:59Well, the very esteemed Wrestling Observer Newsletter in 2013 gave the match that these
04:06two had five stars.
04:09And that is speaking volumes.
04:12It's one of the most accredited newsletters, very credited journalists that are able to
04:16give this match five stars.
04:18Can only imagine what this one's going to bring us.
04:20The Never Openweight Championship is on the line.
04:24You know, you're looking for a backstory here.
04:26You're looking as to why this match is happening.
04:28There's an author named Zach Dominello who said, why is this match happening?
04:31Shut up.
04:32That's why.
04:33And here we go.
04:3460-minute time limit.
04:45It ain't going that long.
04:52What a furious opening exchange from both men.
05:04Javada Darin.
05:10Japanese oldest style.
05:14It's a style that you gravitated towards.
05:18I mean, look, I'm not saying I'm a tough guy, but this is how I was trained.
05:22Guys like Loki and Homicide used to beat the crap out of me.
05:24I know that man, Masahiro Chono, right there in the middle, appreciates this strong style.
05:29I know it was a great moment earlier on when he came over and said hello and shook hands.
05:45I know both you guys have been really taken by that.
05:47Absolutely.
05:56This will be one of those matches where the sounds will tell the story.
06:10Oh, rich of teeth and hope for the best.
06:13Ishii inviting.
06:25The master of the PK can certainly lay those kicks in, talking about Shibata.
06:29Do you know, Ishii's mentor is one of the Japanese legend wrestlers, Ricky Choshu.
06:39That's why he's strong style.
06:43Oh, my goodness.
06:45Notice how Shibata arches his back.
06:56That way his vertebrae aren't exposed to the kicks.
07:00Shibata watching with the brace.
07:06That one might have ended this exchange.
07:11Not just about trying to physically hurt your opponent, but also the pride of getting back up.
07:26The pride of absorbing your opponent's best shot.
07:29Ishii did not have time to clench his jaw, and that forearm caught him.
07:55Red shoes down.
08:03Just looking for any sign.
08:05Ready, she's able to continue or not.
08:13This is a different match.
08:17Yes.
08:17Yes.
08:18It's definitely different than everything that we've seen.
08:20Does this type of match make you want to stay on the outside of the ring to commentary,
08:25or do you still want to get back in in 2016?
08:29I want to go back.
08:30Yes.
08:31Yes.
08:31Good answer, my man.
08:33Don't let the fire die.
08:34Do you know, in this match, they use only kick, elbow, and the clothesline.
08:55That's it.
08:55And a suplex here and there.
08:57That's a great observation there.
09:00The way wrestling is evolving these days, it still goes to show you that this stuff works.
09:04Go!
09:05Go!
09:05Go!
09:06Go!
09:06Go!
09:07Go!
09:07Go!
09:08Go!
09:08Go!
09:09Go!
09:09Go!
09:10Go!
09:10Go!
09:11Go!
09:12Go!
09:13Go!
09:14Go!
09:15Go!
09:16Go!
09:17Go!
09:18Go!
09:19Go!
09:20Go!
09:21Go!
09:22Go!
09:23Go!
09:24Soccer kick right to the chest.
09:30Now, Shibata trying to wear down the cheek in the heart.
09:35Normally part of Shibata's strategy, after exchanging the strikes, now he tries to wear
09:39down his stronger opponent.
09:43Shibata very rare in Japanese wrestling that he is a second generation athlete.
09:49Father was a referee for over two decades in the company.
09:52Nice transition there.
09:53Nice!
09:54Oh, he's so good.
09:55Modifying octopus spider hold there.
09:56Modifying octopus spider hold there.
09:57Gah!
09:58Gah!
09:59Gah!
10:00Gah!
10:01Gah!
10:02Gah!
10:03Gah!
10:04Gah!
10:04Gah!
10:05Gah!
10:06Gah!
10:07Gah!
10:08Gah!
10:09Gah!
10:10Gah!
10:11Gah!
10:12Gah!
10:13Gah!
10:13Gah!
10:14Gah!
10:15Gah!
10:16Gah!
10:17Gah!
10:17Gah!
10:18Gah!
10:19Gah!
10:20Gah!
10:20Gah!
10:21Gah!
10:22Gah!
10:23Gah!
10:23Gah!
10:24Gah!
10:25Gah!
10:26Now the boot scrapes.
10:27Yep.
10:28His dad was active in the 60s and 70s.
10:32Reminds me of Shinjiro Otani.
10:38You know, what that does is it creates like these open, almost like rashes on your face,
10:42but as the match goes on, the sweat gets into those rashes and it starts to burn.
10:46That's what that move is designed to do.
10:48Jab, chop.
10:51Over and over again.
11:04Hooray!
11:05Hooray!
11:06Hooray!
11:07Hooray!
11:08Hooray!
11:10Hooray!
11:12Hooray!
11:13Hooray!
11:14Hooray!
11:14Hooray!
11:14Hooray!
11:14Hooray!
11:15Hooray!
11:16Hooray!
11:16I love it.
11:19They say, he said, come on, come on, come on, in Japanese.
11:23No room for pacifists, no room for tree huggers here.
11:28But an opportunity for a little receipt.
11:37Whoa.
11:39We're showing that.
11:41They are doing the same thing with each other.
11:46Come on.
11:53Shibata said, come on, in Japanese.
11:57Whoop, whoop, whoop.
12:03Ishii's down.
12:06Almost.
12:12Classic Shibata there.
12:14Oh, but look at Ishii get back to his feet.
12:16Clothesline, dropkick, both men down.
12:20Yeah.
12:41Great float over and a near fall.
12:44Quick transition.
12:46This is a first time cover in this match.
12:49And now the first submission hold attempt.
12:53Look at that.
12:54Way to transition there from trying to go for the cross arm break.
12:57Are you sure that Ishii was using the grip to block it?
12:59Rolled over now, trying to go for the triangle,
13:01grabbing his own foot in Shibata.
13:03But Ishii way too strong there.
13:05But left the arm out.
13:07It's hyperextended here.
13:08We could get a submission.
13:11This is a triangle.
13:12Oh, no.
13:13To the ropes.
13:14To force the break.
13:16Almost saw shades of Enoki and Bob Backlund there.
13:19But boy, oh boy.
13:21We saw what the submission holds, the damage that they could do
13:26earlier in the night.
13:28And the strikes and kicks earlier on, of course, to the jaw,
13:31the neck, the face.
13:32But now going right after the left arm.
13:34He said, come on again.
13:47So many times they're doing it.
13:49Seriously, a hematoma for your throat.
13:52But this is a great challenge.
13:56So many times they're doing it.
14:01Seriously, a hematoma for your throat.
14:09Wobbly but refusing to go down.
14:11Moving forward.
14:13Shibata not wanting to give an inch either.
14:21How did they do it?
14:22Whoa!
14:27God, this is great.
14:31Oh, down.
14:37Both men down.
14:40They are Superman.
14:44The crowd appreciates the effort.
14:58You'll notice here that there is no standing 10 count.
15:01From the referee.
15:06I would never, ever like to see a match of this magnitude end if both wrestlers flat on their backs.
15:12And just as both men had fallen to the mat, both virtually get up at the exact same time.
15:21Oh, caught him in the throat.
15:22Again.
15:23Powerbomb stacks him up.
15:24Shibata kicks out.
15:24Shibata kicks out.
15:25Shibata kicks out.
15:27Shibata kicks out.
15:28Shibata kicks out.
15:29Shibata kicks out.
15:32Shibata kicks out.
15:33Shibata kicks out.
15:34Shibata kicks out.
15:35Powerbomb stacks him up.
15:36Shibata kicks out.
15:37Shibata kicks out.
15:38Shibata kicks out.
15:41Shibata kicks out.
15:45Shibata kicks out.
15:47Shibata kicks out.
15:48Ishii went to look for his move instead now.
16:05We saw this in the Kushida-Kenny Omega match, but Ishii's arm is way too strong for Shibata
16:12to put behind the back to get the submission hold the way he wants it.
16:18Red Shoes and Koring, both men to come back in.
16:24Shibata desperately trying to maintain wrist control.
16:29Nice.
16:34Back of the neck.
16:37Right at the base of the skull.
16:42Dropkick right to the same area, zeroes in and Shibata gets back on his feet.
16:47Crushed by a clothesline.
16:53The leg hooks.
16:54Shibata kicks out in line.
16:55Down the line?
16:56Adrenaline is an amazing thing.
17:01Up, up, up, up.
17:07And after that, sliding there, it's a near fall!
17:10Oh!
17:11Yeah!
17:12Yeah!
17:13Yeah!
17:14Yeah!
17:15Yeah!
17:16Yeah!
17:17Yeah!
17:18Yeah!
17:19Yeah!
17:20Yeah!
17:21Yeah!
17:22the strike turned things around shibata able to reposition and you'll notice how both wrestlers
17:32will roll over onto their front it goes to show you that they are aware of where they are
17:37in this match ishii's on his side but neither man have their shoulders flat on the mat until
17:43ishii rolled over right there ishii pardon me and so just as we started shibata ishii
17:56a flurry a furious flurry in exchange of chops slaps and then they traded it's a slugfest
18:07to the front face lock the front chancery there if the forearm slips underneath the chin it does
18:14become a choke he's really wise to get out of that position the kick found its mark but he
18:25ishii closes in shibata traps the leg close line unable to follow up though
18:31usually shibata use kick and she use close line but that was opposite oh death valley driver
18:46the never open win championship is on the line red shoes right there two and ishii kicks out you can
18:53notice there and yoshi you pointed at your monitor there that was a very lax cover by each by shibata
18:59there didn't hook a leg didn't hook an arm there now going back to a hole to try to wear down his
19:04opponent great point yes yes he may have put himself in more harm than good placement of he's left hand
19:19intelligent he's trying to get his hand in between his own jaw his own mandible and shibata's forearm but
19:26now look at that he looks like he's slowly fading but yet trying to get back to his feet
19:35shibata will look to choke him out to claim the crown to get to the ropes to force the break eats the
19:42boot and down goes the champion once again you know when you sit in those chokes it definitely takes a lot out of you
19:49oh no
19:56center his chest what a violent headbutt that was
20:00is this too chin or
20:02it looked like it might have caught him underneath the chin or maybe on the clavicle or on the throat
20:06right after almost choking him out shibata went for the pk he counters rising down the blunt force trauma of his own skull
20:18he's still a hot dog
20:20no wait
20:20no wait
20:21oh
20:27oh
20:28oh
20:29oh
20:30oh
20:32heard it
20:33oh
20:34oh
20:35oh
20:36oh
20:37oh
20:38oh
20:39oh
20:41oh
20:42oh
20:43oh
20:44oh
20:45oh
20:45oh
20:46oh
20:47oh
20:47What a drop-pick! What a drop-pick!
20:56Oh! What a lariat!
20:58Right under the jaw! Shibata kicks out at one!
21:01One!
21:07One! Two!
21:09And Shibata kicks out this time at two!
21:12My face hurts from smiling as much as people's ears hurt from my voice.
21:17Shibata, come on!
21:22The Throns of Faithful packed into Tokyo Dome here tonight for Wrestle Kingdom 10!
21:28Oh!
21:33Ooh!
21:38Yeah!
21:41Down goes Ishii!
21:44Shibata! Shibata!
21:46Shibata!
21:47He came!
21:48He came!
21:49Is this it?
21:50One!
21:51Two!
21:52Three!
21:53Wow!
21:54He's done it!
21:55A new champion!
21:56He's the champion!
21:57He's the champion!
21:58Shibata Katsuyori!
21:59He's the champion!
22:03Did I tell you what this was gonna be?
22:05Did I hit the nail on the head?
22:06Man, oh man!
22:08This for me is what wrestling is all about!
22:11And this also is becoming what the never open weight title seems to be about every time it's defended!
22:18Hard hitting!
22:20Stiff action!
22:22Undeniable!
22:24Awesome job!
22:25Congratulations to Shibata!
22:26Shibata!
22:27And as we see frequently in New Japan, these hard hitting matches, the ringside attendees, the
22:33Lions, they're there with ice packs to assist the referee, to assist the athletes as they can
22:39slowly make their way back to their feet.
22:41You know, the hardest part, and I'll tell you from experience, and Yoshi, you can talk on this too,
22:47it's not so much what goes on in the match, it's the hours after the match when you get back to the locker room,
22:52when you drag yourself to the shower, when you finally lay down on your bed, and all the adrenaline begins to subside,
22:58the swelling begins, the tremors begin, you really start to feel the effects of the match in the hours and days afterwards.
23:05You have to believe that Shibata, while right now is happy to be champion, he may be regretting this fight later on.
23:14Yoshi, you've had some terrible injuries, man, you can definitely talk about this.
23:18Yes.
23:19You know what?
23:21What's next now for Shibata?
23:23A lot of challengers on shore.
23:26Yeah, I think so.
23:27Well, if you enjoyed that, you are going to learn what's next.
23:41Former champion, VCE.
23:46The new champion, Shabbat.
23:49Congratulations.