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00:01The junior heavyweight title on the line momentarily, and it's been a busy June, Josh, for Hiromu, without a doubt.
00:11What a big month.
00:12What a come around for him after suffering defeat after defeat.
00:19Now to...
00:20That was a nice win over El Desperado from Kizuna Road.
00:26This guy has been a longtime rival, as we have mentioned, of Hiromu for years, to the point
00:36when they were young wrestlers just getting started, and they were booked in wrestling
00:41in Mexico.
00:41This is the I-WGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
00:45That won the Masters in Mass.
00:48And it's not...
00:49It's kind of obvious he won the match.
00:51He's still got his match.
00:52Hiromu does not.
00:54Dragon Lee!
00:58Dragon Lee!
01:02What a killer athlete with some very high-powered offense.
01:08A very known commodity in the world is the I-WGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Hiromu Takahashi.
01:15That tape is a little troubling, though.
01:17Not sure exactly what kind of injury that's there to support, but it's a good spell disaster
01:25if Hiromu is able to successfully target it.
01:29This was a match that the champion requested.
01:32I'm not sure the fans will thank you the champion for, because it should be a classic.
01:38It should be a nice feather in his mask to take that title back to Mexico City.
01:55100%.
01:56And Nino Maravé Villa would be incredibly happy to have such a title in his possession.
02:05Some tell me Hiromu is not willing to let it go yet.
02:08The ticking time bomb, Mr. Personality.
02:19In the red corner, he's the reigning champion and the best of super genius, 2018, the winner!
02:40Well, this just in, ladies and gentlemen, this news brief is breaking news.
02:44Hiromu Takahashi!
02:46This kid, Daryl, is now married to his wife, Carol.
02:50Oh, Daryl and Carol.
02:51Carol and Daryl, of course.
02:53And they have a son named Daryl Jr., who is currently in the arms of Hiromu.
03:00They've been on an excursion together.
03:02Well, he's got a mask on, and one has to wonder if Hiromu loses tonight,
03:07does Daryl Jr. get unmasked as well?
03:10I don't know, but I read my copy, and I'm done with Daryl for the night.
03:13Thank you very much.
03:16But I'm not done with Hiromu, who I personally believe is as talented a junior heavyweight as I've ever seen.
03:24And I was raised in Oklahoma in a junior heavyweight territory for all the matches a junior heavyweight man.
03:32This kid is fantastic.
03:34He is absolutely fantastic.
03:36The only knock I can say against him sometimes actually works as his strength is his inconsistency, just being all over the place.
03:48Sometimes that wild streak, that chaotic streak within him works to his benefit.
03:53Sometimes it works to his downfall.
03:55As that trophy continues to deteriorate in the pieces.
03:59Yeah!
04:00If Hiromu keeps bringing this thing out, it's just going to eventually fall apart.
04:15That's all yours, Josh.
04:16We got that.
04:16We'll keep it in one place.
04:17Oh, yeah.
04:17The best super junior.
04:18Look at that.
04:19We got you.
04:20Very nice.
04:20We got you, DJ.
04:21Yeah, good.
04:23Well, I was near the end of my run anyway, so it doesn't matter.
04:27Just an honor to be a part of this matchup because these are two of the very best you will ever see in the junior heavyweight category.
04:40Ever seen.
04:42With some serious ferocity, Dragon Lee is getting right started in here.
04:46A hot start for the masked man, Dragon Lee.
04:50Man, what a suicide dive.
04:52Head and shoulders first through the second and third rope.
04:57With no fear of gravity or your own personal safety.
05:01Like a tomahawk missile, Dragon Lee just absolutely spearing through.
05:08Hiromu Takahashi as we see it right here.
05:13A fearless dive.
05:15Man, it's surprising to me that it just wrecked the guy.
05:18Yes, it's just these guys just have no fear.
05:22You know, you maybe try that once in a match.
05:24I assure you, that's not the last time we're going to see guys on the outside of the ring.
05:27Now, if you guys are new to Dragon Lee and Hiromu Takahashi, expect much more of that, to be honest.
05:34You make offense innovative.
05:39A variant there, mocking Naito.
05:42Yeah.
05:44Hiromu's leader getting mocked.
05:47Listen to the crowd, is booing him as well.
05:52Naito showing some popularity here in the States for sure.
05:55Short, stiff, precise forearms.
06:00Here comes Dragon Lee.
06:02Hang time.
06:04Big time drop kick.
06:05They were drop kicked down, cover, and a kick out by Hiromu Takahashi.
06:10Oh, okay.
06:17Dragon Lee slowing it up a little bit.
06:21Simple toehold.
06:24Trying to roll through and just getting a boot for his troubles.
06:28Nothing wrong with simplicity when it works, JR.
06:30Absolutely not.
06:32Chin lock.
06:33At Takahashi, he's not used to being on this end of the offense.
06:39Especially when it's, I don't want to say sedentary, but it's very deliberate.
06:45I like the deliberate offense because the guy that's delivering the offense
06:49has a chance to make fewer mistakes.
06:51True enough.
06:52You don't beat yourself.
06:54Keep everything in front of you.
06:55Keep your eyes on it.
06:58Wow.
06:58Perfect execution.
07:01But look at how the guy counters.
07:05Almost countered again.
07:07Bit of a shoulder roll, kind of a somersault out of it,
07:10taking some of the impact off of that.
07:14Running clothesline.
07:16Pretty about low drop kick.
07:18He's safe at second.
07:21Dragon Lee's on the outside.
07:24Goes to the apron.
07:28Lord, what a drop kick.
07:30Right off the apron.
07:31Full head of steam.
07:33Man, if that's not Meredith's another look, what is?
07:35Good grief.
07:36Hellacious drop kick there from Hiromu.
07:39Yeah.
07:40Turns on a move that is considered ordinary into something extraordinary.
07:45Yeah, look at the way he just boots him straight through the chest.
07:48Sends him tumbling about like a bunch of broken toys.
07:54Now up Hiromu goes.
07:57Hiromu flies.
08:01Both men landing on the, ironically, on the unprotected aspect of the ring.
08:06That's concrete there.
08:10There ain't no name for this other than insanity, JR.
08:14Both men taking a massive chance.
08:19I mean, just feast or famine with that.
08:22And now who's going to come out of it on the other side?
08:26Better to burn out than to fade away, I'm guessing Hiromu feels.
08:29No concern for his own safety, let alone that of his opponents.
08:34Hiromu was on his second reign as the junior heavyweight champion.
08:39I remember when he hit the scene, he just out of nowhere, like a time bomb indeed.
08:44He beat Kushida at Wrestle Kingdom 11, 2017, which was an astonishing performance.
08:51It was quick too, like a handful of minutes at best.
08:57Well, you don't work by the hour, they say.
08:59I'm waiting for that move.
09:03They're exchanging those forms, and finally, Hiromu figures out,
09:06my kit may work better, but they're on that damn apron.
09:11I hate it.
09:13And the apron owes you money, doesn't it?
09:14It owes me money.
09:16Like Barneke, owes me money.
09:20Right hand, Hiromu Takahashi.
09:25Man, he's, he is up in a dangerous,
09:29place here for both guys.
09:32It's dangerous for both men.
09:33Dragon Lee chops out that knee in the base of Takahashi.
09:38Now they're sitting up top, trading blows.
09:40If you're heirs of Takahashi or Dragon Lee, you're saying,
09:45get your ass back in the ring.
09:47That's sitting on top of the turnbuckle, the head bullet, because he's up this much.
09:56Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
10:04Stomp to the heart.
10:05The heart, the solar plexus, the chest, the tip and we caved in by Dragon Lee on Hiromu Takahashi.
10:15Take a look, Jerry, just takes him like a goddamn vampire.
10:19Wow, punctures his chest with these brutal stomps.
10:25Yeah, if you're sitting home, you're damn right it hurts.
10:28You're damn right it hurts.
10:30And how these two are still even breathing, I didn't even prophesize that,
10:34but this is taking a very violent and physical toll on both these junior heavyweights.
10:45I was told yesterday that Takahashi's female fan base is growing by leaps and bounds.
10:54West sunset flip, a little modified version from the apron to the floor,
10:59and there's pieces of DNA laying all over the place.
11:04We got close to a 20 count here.
11:0717.
11:08Someone better think about something.
11:10You got to call somebody.
11:1119.
11:12Oh my god, they're both back in.
11:16Photo finish.
11:19Remember, Hiromu asked for this.
11:22He called for this match specifically.
11:24He did, you're right.
11:25I think he wanted to prove himself as not a fluke.
11:29He wanted to prove himself that the junior heavyweight title
11:32can and will mean as much as any other title in this country.
11:38And what better to do it than against your greatest rival?
11:41That's exactly right.
11:42It shows you the competitive nature of Takahashi,
11:46and why you're such a valuable member of Lawson Gober Knowledge.
11:50Running clothesline.
11:52Reverse now by Dragon Lee.
11:55Oh, wheelbarrow.
11:57Caught.
11:58Suplex.
11:59Dragon Lee's head bouncing off the canvas.
12:02Oh, so does Hiromu, who got suplexed.
12:07Another suplex.
12:10Good god almighty.
12:13These guys are going to be suplexed drunk before tonight's over.
12:16Hiromu going after one more time and folding Dragon Lee up like that recording we mentioned earlier.
12:23And it's a violent world here in New Japan Pro Wrestling JR.
12:28Boy, those are restaurant-quality suplexes.
12:32I will assure you, they're punishing.
12:36They drive the air out of you.
12:38Just when you think you get more oxygen, you get it knocked out of you again.
12:44Not a single one of these guys are going to be able to look left or right.
12:48Dragon Lee land on his neck and head.
12:51And I'm so sure that Takahashi understands how much damage you just did that last video.
13:00And he may never know.
13:01Yeah.
13:03Might not even remember his own phone number at this point.
13:06Junior heavyweight title is on the line.
13:09IWGP Championship.
13:12Both men thinking alike, but then the knee comes to play.
13:16Hiromu rolls through, comes back with a superkick.
13:19Nice suplex.
13:24The first Frankensteiner.
13:26Yeah.
13:27It's like watching the Atlanta Falcons know what to offer.
13:33I'm very appreciative of the effort, the spirit of competition.
13:37Here tonight, the G1 San Francisco.
13:44I feel like covering up Darryl Jr.'s eyes though.
13:46It's been a lot for him to see his dad go through such.
13:49Well, you are the guardian.
13:51It's all up to you, buddy.
13:52G1 San Francisco.
13:56Uncle Josh taking care of Darryl Jr.
13:59Plus, we all know, we've already mentioned Darryl and Carol got married.
14:03Right.
14:03Hence, Darryl Jr.
14:05Who's now on excursion with Hiromu.
14:08Just so you'll know.
14:09Well, Hiromu went on an excursion in New Mexico, which is where he's inherited this
14:13incredible rivalry with Dragon Lee.
14:15So, I guess you never know how they'll turn out.
14:20I'll tell you, I've seen so many great junior heavyweights.
14:23I love the division.
14:24I love the athleticism.
14:25But these two, I've just never seen anybody better.
14:30I really haven't seen anybody better than Hiromu Takahashi and Dragon Lee.
14:39These guys, they just don't stop.
14:44Just when you think you've seen everything, all of a sudden, they turn it up to 11.
14:48And when you think they ran out of things to do,
14:51they just continue to beat the hell out of each other.
14:55Well, it hurts.
14:59It didn't make a lot of noise.
15:00It hurts.
15:03That made a lot of noise and it hurt it as well.
15:05It hurt it.
15:05Oh, this ain't no fun.
15:06I'm not going on to fourth grade now.
15:08Oh, this ain't no fun at all.
15:12Now it gets a little mono-a-mono.
15:13It's not about winning a match now.
15:15It's about, I think I can take more than you can.
15:18And then I'm going to outsmart you.
15:22Who's going to strike with the first non-hand?
15:25They have an advantage, believe it or not.
15:39Oh, ask and you shall receive, my friend.
15:41Oh, that's smart.
15:46If you had a chest cold, man, you're clearing up all the congestion here.
15:53The hell with Mucinex?
15:54Yeah.
15:54To have Dragon Lee knock the phlegm right out your chest.
15:58Exactly.
16:01This is physical.
16:03These are hard strikes, folks.
16:05They're palm strikes now.
16:09And they're not letting up.
16:11Something's got to give here.
16:17Shoulders ain't getting tired yet.
16:19Oh, it's slowing down.
16:20Oh, hard face.
16:21Yeah.
16:23Ooh, that's a knife edge chop.
16:28Uh-oh.
16:29Super kick blocked.
16:30Knee blocked.
16:31Getting blocked again.
16:33The knee, this time, got through.
16:36Bicycle knee lands solid.
16:37Oh!
16:38Oh!
16:38Down to the belly over and throw.
16:40And Dragon Lee got compacted in that corner.
16:47That's a little unsettling.
16:58Most likely, Hiromu said in the press conference or in a backstage situation,
17:04he's going to take on Dragon Lee here tonight.
17:06Come play with me.
17:08That's it.
17:10Damn.
17:11That's beautiful.
17:12There you go.
17:13The cover.
17:14And you notice that when Hiromu made the cover, Dragon Lee found the referee.
17:19Yeah.
17:19So he could see the hand.
17:22And get his shoulders up before three.
17:24Really simple, but a nice little subtlety by Dragon Lee.
17:28Finding the referee when he got on his back.
17:30Well, I know it doesn't seem like much, but if you can get that one extra second of rest,
17:33possibly, it's a benefit.
17:35Yeah.
17:35And psychologically, you don't do your opponent any favors.
17:39Oh, boy.
17:40That wasn't looking very good.
17:41Oh, God.
17:42Straight down the pike.
17:44That don't taste.
17:45That doesn't it.
17:48Look out here.
17:49Could be over.
17:54Good strong near fall earned by Dragon Lee, who's looking to leave here as the IWGP
18:02Junior Heavyweight Champion in this one fall 60-minute time limit affair.
18:06He catches Hiromu, takes the momentum all the way through, gets a two count out of it,
18:15and he gets up to his feet first.
18:16He's looking for what he calls Desnu Khodora, which is a vertical suplex powerball, but countered.
18:27Now into the triangle choke.
18:29Triangle choke by Hiromu.
18:32That submission here, quickly done, seamlessly countered.
18:35A beautiful counter by Hiromu Takahashi.
18:41I know the strength of Dragon Lee, but they're almost locking it up even tighter.
18:49Hiromu stays hooked, stays focused.
18:52He's pulling down on the head.
18:56He's got that arm across.
18:57One more time for Dragon Lee.
19:01That's a hell of an effort right there.
19:03Oh, he's packaged up.
19:06Hiromu bounced off the canvas on his head, for God's sake.
19:10Man!
19:12A release Dragon driver from Dragon Lee saved the day.
19:21Hiromu's head just bounced off the canvas.
19:27What a matchup.
19:3115 minutes, 15 minutes pass.
19:33Nobody has really gained any long-term advantage here.
19:37Been very evenly contested.
19:40Up he goes.
19:42There it is.
19:46I just don't have any confidence in it.
19:49Tending predicament.
19:50There's nothing on his shoulders.
19:52The powerbomb element is excellent, but you're right, JR.
19:56You got to pin those shoulders down if you could at least get the legs across.
20:03Dragon Lee frustrated, but really no one to blame but himself.
20:07I love his effort.
20:08He's an amazing competitor.
20:10Yeah.
20:11But you got to cover the shoulders up.
20:13I mean, hey, Masa Saito of the New Japan,
20:16obviously a New Japan legend and was the Oriental Express in WWE.
20:21He used it in his powerbomb.
20:23Put his legs across the shoulders.
20:24Look out here.
20:25Oh!
20:26He made it just for a counter!
20:27Oh, what a counter!
20:28What a counter by Hiromu!
20:31That's a roll-up.
20:31Takahashi gets a near fall.
20:34And his journey here tonight to regain or excuse me, retain the junior heavyweight title.
20:42Oh!
20:43Well, he doesn't get him completely spiked on his head.
20:46Oh!
20:47Time bomb!
20:48Time bomb by Hiromu!
20:51And that will do it!
20:52That will do it!
20:54When he got to win the match, you go to your A material.
20:57And what aggression between these two you had.
20:59And here's your winner, Hiromu Takahashi, and he's still IWGP junior heavyweight champion.
21:12And there you see the end.
21:14Good.
21:15Some of the shoulders have been pinned.
21:17The leg is hooked.
21:18Perfect execution.
21:19Well, I'm sure it was not only one of that Canadian destroyers, you know, deadly to the Dragon Lee,
21:25but even the kick out of that really high roll-up from Hiromu took its...
21:29It really took a toll on Dragon Lee.
21:32And you can see the fatigue in Hiromu when he's hitting that time bomb.
21:35But he has just that much more in his gas tank.
21:39He walks away retaining that belt.
21:42Two amazingly talented athletes laying on the line here.
21:48And Hiromu Takahashi representing Walsh and Gubernales successful.
21:53And his title defense here in the Cal Palace is San Brands.
22:06Josh, by the way, you have to give Daryl Jr. back.
22:10Oh, well, you know, kids are great when you don't have to keep them.
22:15You just mess with them, get them all wound up, pull them full of sugar and caffeine.
22:18That's it.
22:19They send them on their way.
22:20That's what I do to my granddaughter.
22:23That's the little chocolate, kids.
22:25Have a safe trip home.
22:29Oh, man.
22:29What a great match.
22:31Two of the best I've ever seen in this game.
22:34Two great junior heavyweights to get it on.
22:36Nobody better than Hiromu.
22:38And ladies and gentlemen, more titles at stake.
22:42Coming up next, United States titles on the line.
22:44Oh, yes.
22:45It's going to be special.
22:46Can the juice do it?
22:47We'll find out next.
23:00Today's IWGP Junior Heavy-Q選手権試合は王様防衛に成功.
23:05高橋博文選手の勝利です.