- 2025/5/18
カテゴリ
🥇
スポーツトランスクリプション
00:00Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes.
00:25It is a match of Francesco Akira and Master Watto that we have seen once before.
00:37We're going to get into that a little bit as this match rolls on, but Akira coming in at four points.
00:42Master Watto will be doing the same, and one of these men will be doing, as we've said all throughout the evening, splitting the difference, one on top and one on bottom.
00:51Francesco Akira hopes to top Watto here tonight.
00:55In 2004, United Empire, crown of FUKAIA, Francisco Akira!
01:14Akira, a bit of a humbling experience yesterday, he opposite Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
01:19And certainly Francesco Akira wants to keep burning, doesn't want to blow hot and cold.
01:27Akira, a bit of a humbling experience today.
01:28So, let's go.
01:29Let's go.
01:30Let's go.
01:31Let's go.
01:32Let's go.
01:33Let's go.
01:34Let's go.
01:35Let's go.
01:36Let's go.
01:37Let's go.
01:38Let's go.
01:39Let's go.
01:40Let's go.
01:41Let's go.
01:42Let's go.
01:43Let's go.
01:44Let's go.
01:45Let's go.
01:46Let's go.
01:47Let's go.
01:48Let's go.
01:49Let's go.
01:50Let's go.
01:51Let's go.
01:52Let's go.
01:53Let's go.
01:54Let's go.
01:55Let's go.
01:56Let's go.
01:57Let's go.
01:58Let's go.
01:59Let's go.
02:00It was the last time Master Watto and Francesco Akira faced off a singles competition where a win would come the way not of the Crown of Fire, but of Master Watto.
02:11And it was night one of Best of the Super Junior 30, otherwise known as the match that kicked off the winning campaign for Master Watto in that year's Best of the Super Junior.
02:23And that has long sat on the mind of Francesco Akira heading into this rematch here tonight.
02:30Yeah, I mean, certainly nobody that first night in MESA Super Junior 30 anticipated Watto would have won the whole thing.
02:40IWGP Junior Tag Champion, Osaka-Fu, Ikeda-Sports, Shinzen Taishi, way to the Grand Master, Master Watto!
02:57And no doubt Akira kind of thought that, well, if things had started different, then that could have been me in that spot, I'm sure.
03:06Here we are two years later on, Master Watto has spoken in the past of wanting himself, wanting Francesco Akira to beat these young guys still in their mid-20s to lead Junior Heavyweight Wrestling into a new era.
03:24And I think we have definitely seen that over the course of this tournament, you know, with the impressive performances of guys like Kosei Fujito from the outside, Dragon Dire, Mau.
03:34All of these guys in their 20s doing exceptionally well in this tournament, but who is doing the best out of all of them?
03:41We're going to find out perhaps in this matchup here.
03:43You know, as we get into talking once again from Block B to the Block A side, I think it's still very congested within Block A.
03:52And Master Watto and Francesco Akira are two victims of that congestion, but only one of them will set themselves apart.
03:59The winner of this match will meet yet again a very congested side at the top of the mountain in Block A.
04:05Yeah, I mean, it's pretty much even between the haves and have-nots or the haves and have-lesses.
04:11Six points, four guys at the top right now.
04:14We're going to have one person, unless there's a draw, one of Fujito or Watto, Akira and Watto rather, will be joining that pile at the top.
04:23And Watto, taking the grappling approach in the early goings of this matchup, can you talk to me a little bit?
04:32Well, Master Watto wrestled a little bit in college, and, you know, I think if you are coming through the Nogue Dojo environment,
04:40you're going to have more of a grounding in amateur mat wrestling than, I would say, Francesco Akira does.
04:47You don't get anywhere in that dojo system without being able to handle yourself in a grappling environment.
05:01Well, Francesco Akira may not have come through the dojo system, but he learned from an incredible grappler in his own right.
05:08The Japanese buzzsaw Tajiri teaching a couple new tricks of the trade to Akira, and we had seen those bust out.
05:15Here's a trick in Watto's trade, and Akira knew it, Akira knew it.
05:19Nice.
05:20He's kind of a Vendival there.
05:24Yeah, that ground tarantula that Akira used to put away Hiromi Takahashi.
05:29I think Akira had visions of applying that same move to Yoshinovu Kanemaru.
05:33Such was not the case yesterday.
05:34Very little vision from Francesco Akira coming out of that whiskey mist in the eyes from Yoshinovu Kanemaru.
05:46Couldn't even find the camera in post-match comments.
05:48It's going to work with Largo League, and Watto out over the top.
05:52Boom!
05:53That's Watto out of the corner, had Francesco Akira.
06:00No!
06:01Shot the dropkick on the rebound.
06:03Great side of the leg there.
06:06Nice dropkick with his feet.
06:08He was a leg lariat that took Watto out to the apron, and now to the floor.
06:15And Akira plunged to the outside.
06:18Same way, Akira delivers a plancha, very similar to the way Will Osprey will deliver a plancha.
06:27It's less about hang time, it's more of an aggressive angle of attack.
06:31And driving all of his upper body into Masuato there.
06:35Yeah, that Will Osprey influence continuing to be felt in United Empire.
06:39It's Francesco Akira that talked after his victory over Hiromi Takahashi back in Corken Hall.
06:45Konnichiwa!
06:46今!
06:47Shashin Tai!
06:48This is all the Italian attitude of Francesco Akira.
06:55You know, I mean, it's such a far cry walker from the polite 21, 22-year-old kid that Akira was when I first met him.
07:06You know, when he came into Best of the Super Juniors in 2022.
07:09It was all, as Akira has gone on to say, the first time you're here, I mean, you fight so hard to be here.
07:20And then after that, you have to fight to stay here.
07:24And you have to fight to be successful here.
07:26And it's a different form, a different drive.
07:28You know, it's something that Francesco Akira has talked a little bit about when it comes to representing United Empire in this tournament.
07:36The only member of UE in Best of the Super Junior this year.
07:41And this is coming off of a lot of exits.
07:44Oh, nice.
07:46Just going to relax.
07:47Oh!
07:48And someone's got to throw those crowns up.
07:52And those crowns are on the ground right now.
07:54Yeah, and as his lounge in back, the agony on the shoulder.
08:00Oh!
08:02Wasto, wasto.
08:07I got to tell you, Chris, I really love the wrinkle to the game of grounded technicality from Francesco Akira.
08:13I mean, that Nova fireball that we had seen before that just wants to run and gun every single chance he gets.
08:19Akira's not that same kid.
08:20Well, I think by the same token, you can say Masto Ato.
08:25I think even though a 2-2 record, I would say wrestling with more maturity than he did when he won Best of the Super Juniors in 2023.
08:35He's not someone that's got a shot.
08:38He's coming in with a game plan, Masto Ato.
08:40Not working out so far for him, though.
08:43And one of these men will separate from the other.
08:45Here tonight, 4-4, we'll turn to 6, as it is Akira off the ropes.
08:51And shot with the leg for Master Wasto.
08:53And shot with the leg for Master Wasto.
09:23And maybe Wasto's going to go for a dive of his own.
09:27And it could be inbound.
09:29Wasto!
09:32Wasto Peconhilo to the outside.
09:37Wasto, Maneuver, Walker.
09:39Oh, give me a break.
09:42Wasto.
09:43Man, oh my.
09:44That is your IWGP Junior Tag Team Champion.
09:47And look, not just one move for the sake of one move.
09:57He's sizing him up.
09:58What's that springboard?
10:00You're a uppercut.
10:01And gets it.
10:02Got it.
10:06Wasto on the cover here.
10:08And it's Francesco Akira, the kick out at 2.
10:18You continue to see the effects that the past four singles matches these two men have had in this tournament are having on the body.
10:26Everybody, we've been talking about it all night.
10:31Everybody feeling the effects of this tournament.
10:35And Fantasmo joined me on color commentary on night one.
10:41Night two, rather.
10:42No, he made the point.
10:44He felt that this is harder than a G1 Climax.
10:47As someone who's experienced both.
10:49Because of the more condensed schedule.
10:51And nights like today, where we have ten singles matches on one block.
10:55Come on, give up.
11:13Wasto now up, down, and delivered Francesco Akira on the platter.
11:18Here's a cover.
11:20Two only.
11:22And Wasto going to grasp the back of that neck.
11:25Yeah, that was a hard, hard impact on the part of Masuato.
11:29I almost saw a board fly up underneath the ring there.
11:31I wouldn't be surprised if someone had.
11:35And now, I'm going to follow that up.
11:37Wanted Reciente Mente.
11:38Well, that German could be inbounds to Takaku.
11:42No, victory fall.
11:47And Francesco Akira, scramble on the cover.
11:52Whoa.
11:53Oh, Aloha Akira, cover again, two only.
12:00Many waves in Italy, Walker.
12:02Well.
12:14Certainly fire in the heart and passion, speed fire escape, though.
12:20No, no, Wato, Wato, Reciano, no, no, no.
12:23Got up in it.
12:24Super kick connects.
12:29And another.
12:31Whoa, and I think Wato out on his feet, but no, here we go.
12:36Got it.
12:37No, not enough, but is it?
12:41No.
12:42Yeah, didn't get enough of a lift on Akira there with Reciente Mente, and I think I can see the frustration on Wato's face.
12:50Damn it.
12:51If I'd have gotten all of it, that would have been through.
12:53Right.
12:53Master Wato just dropped Francesco Akira more on his own body than he did onto the canvas, and that might be some of the pain Wato's feeling right now.
13:06And some of the pain.
13:07Both of them are feeling for sure.
13:10And it could be inbound.
13:17That's Sutenkaku Tower a long way away from where we are in Hachioji tonight.
13:22Yeah!
13:23Yeah!
13:24Yeah!
13:25Yeah!
13:26And so are the ropes a long way away from Francesco Akira right now.
13:30That's...
13:30He's only salvation, and he finally gets hit.
13:32Oh, he got him.
13:35Oh, great separation, Wato!
13:38Oh!
13:39Oh!
13:40Oh!
13:41Yeah!
13:42Oh!
13:43No!
13:47Akira Poison Rana!
13:50Rana Bergamo!
13:54The momentum carried Wato onto his feet, but not for long.
13:58Here's the cover.
13:59And it is!
14:01No!
14:02No, no, no, no, mate!
14:03No, no, no, no, no!
14:21Oats up the sight of both men's proudest moments in their wrestling careers.
14:27And they want one more during the first.
14:32It might be the winner of this match that makes the final when it's all said and
14:36done.
14:39And Speedfire.
14:42Speedfire for Akira.
14:45Not content with going for a cover.
14:52Wants to hit this instead, here it comes from Wato's got an eye on Akira.
14:56Oh, and Wato underneath the fireball, denied.
15:00No, no, Akira.
15:03Oh, he got there, he got there.
15:05The cover, the cover.
15:07No, that was nasty, and that's how it should be.
15:10It's a scramble, and Akira's still alive in it.
15:15Popped up.
15:16Oh, and again.
15:20Ooh.
15:21This is a scrappy encounter for Akira and Wato.
15:26Whoever can hit one clean will win this match.
15:30Oh, Wato.
15:31Beautiful.
15:32Had it scouted.
15:33No, no, here it is.
15:35The sentiment tag.
15:38Part two, and gets it clean.
15:40And it is now Master Wato that will split out of the second-place point and blockade and
16:00find the mark at the top of blockade.
16:04But the top is not exactly so top, Chris Charlton.
16:08He's joined by Robby X, Dragon Dia, Kosei Fujita, and Kushida.
16:12Still an opportunity to be joined by a few more men later on in the evening.
16:17Coming up next for Francesco Akira will be Dragon Dia, but man, what a win for Wato here.
16:22Yeah, I mean, we said it was such a scrappy one through the middle stretch of that match.
16:28Whoever could get a clean hit finally in past the guard of their opponent would have won it.
16:33And it was that rest here, the Dementia part two.
16:40But Akira still is only one win off the pace, that's on Ninja Mac and Yoshinoba Kanemaru.
16:50So still, it's a long way from over and it's anybody's game in the A Block right now.
17:00Well, that's our Robby X main event in Kuma.
17:10Whoever wins that match will be at the top of the table.
17:23Well, folks, it's coming up next.
17:25There's no steel cage tonight, no title on the line.
17:27It's just two points up for El Desperado and Sho in our semi-main event.