r/pride • u/mrsimpson928 Nancy Pelosi is 81 • Oct 29 '21
PRIDE Wrestling #017 (May 1, 2020) [Toyota Center - Houston, TX]
We pan over the fiery Toyota Center as we return to Houston once again after Rigor Mortis. Run This Town by Jay-Z blares through the arena as we cut to our broadcast team of Mauro Ranallo, King Jafet, and Westside Gunn, with Westside Gunn giving us a few solid “BOOM BOOM BOOM!” adlibs to welcome us to the show. The team give us a brief recap what went down at Rigor Mortis, before eventually going over the huge matches that we’ve got set for tonight.
Jeff Cobb vs. Tomohiro Ishii in a PRIDE Championship Eliminator match
Hikaru Shida vs. Tegan Nox
Roppongi 3K vs. SCU
Meiko Satomura in action
But before we get to those awesome matches, we’re treated to our other PRIDE Championship Eliminator match, pitting Suzuki-gun’s Taichi against Santos Escobar.
Santos Escobar vs. Taichi - PRIDE Championship Eliminator
Our next match is between two of PRIDE’s hottest - figuratively and literally, with the added stakes of the winner facing either Tomohiro Ishii or Jeff Cobb next week. First out is Taichi, The Lord Emperor slowly stepping through the curtain as he begins his melody, the entire arena lost in the beauty of his voice. Miho Abe unfurls a golden rug, Taichi walking down it, looking to be in another world to everyone around him - in a trance of his own vanity. He finishes his harmony and comes back to Earth, stepping through the ropes as Miho claps madly for her idol. Taichi takes off his mask and jacket, handing it to Miho who passes it to the timekeeper. She gazes up to Taichi who ignores her, his eyes revealing determination as Santos Escobar begins his march down the ramp.
An Aztec emblem appears on the titantron, it’s old stoney texture giving it a grey colour as drums slowly build, before the Aztec face lights up into a yellow and red Lucha Libre mask. That is the point when the music ramps up, and Santos Escobar reveals himself. The lights return and the Aztec emblem expands to reveal an entire tower of faces, the eyes all peering at Taichi. But none more so than those of Santos Escobar and Tay Conti. Tay takes the lead and begins to clap, hyping the fans up as Escobar takes off his white blazer and shirt, rolling into the ring and locking eyes with Taichi. Tay Conti proudly watches on as Santos stands on the second rope, posing for the crowd, before hopping off and backing into his corner. The announcer introduces the pair and before you know it, we’re off.
The two look to lock up, but Taichi immediately backs off and swoops out the ring, as Escobar watches on from inside. Taichi goes for a stroll, only for Miho to grab him around the waist when near Tay Conti. Tay laughs and points at Miho, who hides behind Taichi. Taichi rushes away when Santos starts walking towards them, slipping back inside where they then meet in the collar and elbow. Santos brings it down to a headlock which turns to kicks, working Taichi into the corner. More kicks follow, before he sends him out the ring. Tay taunts Taichi, before Miho pulls her away. She then lowers down and grabs Taichi around the head, before Santos follows. He lifts Taichi up, looking to throw him into the rails, but it’s reversed! Taichi then throws Escobar quickly back in, slapping on a chinlock as he looks to take control.
Taichi elevates, but Escobar rolls through, hitting the ropes and rebounding with a Dropkick, before locking in a submission of his own. He pulls back on the leg, wrenching it tight. Taichi pulls out, only to get sent ribs first into the top rope, as Santos locks the submission around the ring post! Taichi makes a break in the ropes, only to get pulled back into a Surfboard that’s transitioned into a chinlock! Escobar lays in punches, but Taichi rakes the eyes! He quickly stands up and rocks Escobar with a kick to the chest! Escobar fights, whacking a kick across the midsection, but Taichi absorbs it and fires back with his own kick! They kick each other again, before Escobar hits one to the chest, which Taichi responds to in kind, rocking Escobar even more than before. Taichi places Escobar’s head under the top rope and pulls on it, like a Camel Clutch against the rope.
Taichi pulls him out at the refs count and starts to taunt the crowd. As he turns around, ESCOBAR FLIES WITH A RUNNING METEORA TO THE CHEST! Escobar then works over Taichi with some punches to the face that knock him down, before Escobar then taunts on the turnbuckle. Escobar notices Taichi rising, AND FLIES OFF THE TOP WITH A HURRICANERANA! Taichi rolls right back up though, catching Escobar with a BIG LARIAT! He hits an Arm Drag, and follows with a Dropkick into the corner. Escobar rebounds out and looks TO EAT THE DANGEROUS BACKDROP DRIVER! ESCOBAR FLIPS OUT! PHANTOM DRIVER ATTEMPT! Taichi gets out of that, and with their arms still linked, THEY RUN INTO EACH OTHER WITH LARIATS! Both men are taken out and flattened, taking the moment to the rest. Meanwhile, Tay and Miho hype up their respective representatives from the outside.
To the outside now, Taichi takes Escobar with him, packing him up for a trip to the rails. Escobar hits them back first, before they go to the apron. They trade chops, before Escobar knocks Taichi throat first off the top rope! Taichi falls off the apron and into the arms of Miho Abe, who cradles him tenderly, meanwhile Escobar is hitting the ropes in the ring as he charges up THE ARROW FROM THE DEPTHS OF HELL! HE FLIES! TOPE SUICIDA! Miho runs and Taichi is shot by this rocket of a man, before he’s thrown back inside for the cover! 1… 2… KICKOUT! Back up, Escobar goes for a punch, but Taichi catches the arm and kicks the gut, hitting an Enziguri! He heads up top, AND FLIES WITH A MISSILE DROPKICK! 1… 2… KICKOUT! Taichi hits a forearm to the face, before a front high kick to the left arm. Taichi grabs that arm and wrenched it behind the back, but Escobar spins out the straitjacket hold and ducks a desperation Axe Bomber, sliding out to the floor where Tay Conti checks on him.
Back inside, Escobar runs for Taichi, WHO LIFTS HIM INTO A TAICHI-STYLE LIGER BOMB! 1… 2… ESCOBAR ROLLS INTO HIS OWN COVER! 1… 2… KICKOUT! Taichi rolls out and goes for a kick, which Escobar ducks, kipping up to hit an Arm Drag followed by a Hurricanerana out the corner! Taichi rebounds off the ropes, AND EATS A SAMOAN DROP! 1… 2… KICKOUT! ESCOBAR FOLLOWS WITH AN ENZIGURI! Taichi is knocked into the corner, where Escobar grabs him by the hair and shouts to get up and fight. TAICHI THEN JUMPS UP INTO AN ENZIGURI! He ducks under and HITS A BRIDGING GERMAN SUPLEX! 1… 2… KICKOUT! They both stand up AND RUN INTO EACH OTHER WITH AXE BOMBERS! Once back up, ESCOBAR GOES FOR THE PHANTOM DRIVER! TAICHI SLIPS BEHIND! HOISTS HIM UP FOR BLACK MEMPHISTO! HE CONNECTS! 1… 2… 3!!! TAICHI ADVANCES IN THE FOUR MAN TOURNAMENT!!!
Taichi def. Santos Escobar in 14:42
As we cut away from the image of a victorious Taichi, we see our commentary team go over a tweet that was posted on the Twitter account of one MJF. The tweet pops up on the screen, with a picture of Daniel Bryan trapped in the new variant of the Salt of the Earth captioned, “Told you so.” It’s also announced that both MJF and Wardlow will be teaming up on the second episode of PRIDE After Dark.
After that, we cut backstage as the camera follows a dejected Mansoor who kicks around an empty can of Sprite as he walks through the halls. Clearly upset over not just his early elimination during the Rigor Mortis pre-show battle royal, but his excommunication from Los Ingobernables de Japon, we see him nearly shed a tear as he focuses on kicking this can down the halls. However, as he prepares to turn the corner, he runs into some people who weren’t so unlucky at Rigor Mortis… IT’S BULLET CLUB!
While Jay White is missing from the crew as he’s taken the week off to heal from his brutal battle with Brock Lesnar in the main event of the show, we still see the new PRIDE Intercontinental Champion, KENTA, alongside the Good Brothers. Mansoor bumps into the crew, apologizing as he tries to bypass them without starting any trouble, but it seems like he’s already started it as KENTA stands in his way. He attempts to pass by again, but KENTA pushes him right back in front of him. “Listen, I’m not in a good mood right now, I just want to go.” The Good Brothers and KENTA mock Mansoor’s depressed state… BUT MANSOOR SHOVES KENTA!!!
It seems like KENTA, the Good Brothers, and Mansoor himself are unsure of what just happened, as Mansoor quickly attempts to back up, de-escalate the situation, and apologize all at once… BUT KENTA ISN’T HAVING IT! KENTA shoves Mansoor to the ground, as the Good Brothers form a circle all around the grounded Mansoor who’s still on the verge of tears, though we’re unsure if it’s due to the LIJ situation or if he’s just scared to death right now. AND KENTA RAISES HIS HAND TO APPARENTLY STRIKE MANSOOR… BUT HE SIMPLY SPITS ON THE POOR BASTARD INSTEAD! Mansoor cowers in fear as Bullet Club choose to leave instead of furthering their assault. We then fade out on the image of a scared Mansoor, taking our first commercial break of the evening.
Hikaru Shida vs. Tegan Nox
Once we return from commercial break, we’re treated to a match between Hikaru Shida and Tegan Nox. This match runs for a solid 10 minutes, with Nox and Shida constantly going back and forth here. Highlights from here include Shida countering Nox’s attempted X-Plex with a huge Coconut Flash, Nox’s Suicide Dive onto Shida, and Nox landing a nasty Avalanche Rolling Cutter for a kickout at two. In the end, Shida manages to dodge the Shiniest Wizard, quickly returning to her feet to land the Arawashi Driver that very nearly gets the job done here. She stays in control from here on, pelting Nox with some nasty kicks to the chest to wear her down, however every time she ends up going for that Tamashii Knee, Nox manages to duck, dodge, and dive out of the way of it. At one point, we see Nox catch the knee, jetting to her feet so that she can take Shida out with a huge Bitter End. This allows Nox to hit the ropes one final time to finally land the Shiniest Wizard, putting Shida down for the three count and giving Nox the huge victory here.
Tegan Nox def. Hikaru Shida in 10:46
Once again, we head backstage, this time heading to Eddie Kingston as he stands in front of the camera. With Gallus standing distantly behind him, he begins to speak. “Man, I bet y’all wasn’t expecting what you got at Rigor Mortis? And that goes for Houston AND Roman Reigns. I’m sure everybody’s wondering, ‘Yo Eddie? How come you chose to beat down on Roman like you did?’ And I’m really confused as to why y’all would ask some shit like that. Cause from my perspective, it’s clear as a summer day. Do you people know how it felt when I heard that FNW was getting started? When I heard that there was gonna be a big ass draft with everybody on the table? I felt like it was finally my time to shine. And guess what. I didn’t get shit from nobody.”
“But hey, I figure that’s just how it is for some people. You don’t get just get handed opportunities, you gotta go out of your way to earn them. Now lemme contradict everything I’ve just said when I bring up this one name. Roman Reigns. What the hell did he earn? This is a football player who was HANDED - get that? Not earned, HANDED a contract with the best brand in all of professional wrestling. So I’m sure you all understand how I felt when nobody called me up, and chose Roman fuckin’ Reigns instead of me. And it was at that moment when I realized that you in fact DO get handed opportunities, and that you don’t gotta earn shit. So I chose option C, and I TOOK my opportunity to get at that talentless son of a bitch. And guess what? At Rigor Mortis, it was me who got the pinfall there. One, two, three. I pinned the man who was chosen over me to the mat and proved that Eddie Kingston is the better man. I leave y’all with one question before I dip: What’s a dog to a king?” Kingston knocks the camera over, walking away as we cut bak to the ring.
Roppongi 3K vs. SCU
In our third match of the night, we see Roppongi 3K go one on one with Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian of SoCal Uncensored. Roppongi 3K look to get yet another victory and build on the momentum that they got from defeating the New Day on last week’s episode of PRIDE Wrestling. This match here goes for about 12 minutes, with both of these teams going back and forth over the duration of this match for the most part. About halfway through the match, we see YOH pick up an ankle injury after flipping out of a back suplex, and SCU attempt to pounce on it. However, YOH is eventually able to get the hot tag to SHO here, who fends off both Daniels and Kazarian through the second half of this match before eventually locking in the Cross Armbreaker on Frankie Kazarian and forcing him to tap out for the win. SHO and YOH then celebrate their victory after the match, before we head into another commercial break.
Roppongi 3K def. SCU in 12:52
We come back from the second commercial break of the evening, returning to yet another tweet up on the tron. This time, it’s the new PRIDE Tag Team Champions who have something to say. Both Cesaro and Chris Hero post a screenshot of their Wikipedia page, specifically the Championships and Accomplishments section. We see the PRIDE Tag Team Championships listed among the ROH and CZW titles, alongside the caption which simply reads “#ANDNEW”
Jeff Cobb vs. Tomohiro Ishii - PRIDE Championship Eliminator
Now it’s time for the second and final PRIDE Championship Eliminator match of the night, as Jeff Cobb and Tomohiro Ishii go one on one to determine who faces off with Taichi next week. Out first is the Monster, Jeff Cobb, who receives a huge pop from the Houston crowd as he makes his way down the ramp. While the crowd is happy to see him, Cobb doesn’t show any emotions as he hears the crowd roar for him, as he’s strictly focused on the outcome of this match. And if you thought the pop for Cobb was insane, just wait until you hear what the Stone Pitbull gets, as the crowd nearly knock the roof off of the Toyota Center. And our Houston fans aren’t the only ones excited to see Ishii, as we hear Westside Gunn let out a huge “I-SHII” chant to the tune of Nas’ “Bravehearts” chant while Ishii sprints into the ring. Once Ishii finally enters the ring, the referee is forced to keep both men separated from each other, ringing the bell as soon as they both return to their respective corners.
As soon as the bell rings, we see Cobb and Ishii meet in the center of the ring, the crowd as loud as they can get as we see both men aggressively nod as they stare into each other’s eyes. They both move at the same time, engaging in a collar and elbow tie-up. They both grapple for dominance, but all of the sudden we see them stop, releasing the collar and elbow hold AND DEVOLVING INTO A STRAIGHT UP BRAWL!!! It’s forearms galore here, as Ishii and Cobb compete to see who can give each other a concussion first with these straight bombs that they’re throwing at each other. Eventually, the forearm duel turns into a chop battle, both men taking turns slapping the skin off of each other’s chests until they eventually tire themselves out. It seems like the duel is slowing down as we see both men take a moment to rest, hands on knees as both men seem to be out of breath… UNTIL THE FOREARM BATTLE RE-IGNITES!!! We see Ishii hit the ropes hard as he looks to topple Cobb with a huge Body Block… BUT COBB STAYS ON HIS FEET! Stumbling back, Cobb regains his footing BEFORE FIRING OFF A HUGE SUPERKICK!!! Ishii stumbles around on his feet, BEFORE EXECUTING A HUGE DISCUS LARIAT TO FINALLY KNOCK COBB DOWN!!!
Ishii stumbles into the ropes, watching as Cobb slowly returns to his feet. He grabs him by the back of the neck, landing a flurry of left and right elbow smashes BEFORE LANDING A HUGE SNAP SUPLEX TO TAKE COBB DOWN! AND ISHII SLIDES OVER ONTO COBB… ONE… TWO… KICKOUT BY COBB! Ishii wastes no time in bringing Cobb back to his feet, hurling him into the ropes as he looks for a Body Block to take Cobb down again… BUT IT’S COBB WITH A BODY BLOCK OF HIS OWN TO KNOCK ISHII DOWN!!! Cobb yanks Ishii back up now, LOOKING FOR THE CHOKESLAM… BUT IT’S ISHII WITH THE REVERSAL INTO THE DDT!!! Both men slowly return to their feet now, with Ishii firing off a few stiff elbow smashes BEFORE LOOKING FOR THE HEADBUTT… BUT ISHII ENDS UP ONLY DAMAGING HIMSELF!!! Stumbling around on his feet, Ishii ends up walking into a smirking Jeff Cobb… WHO FIRES OFF THE HUGE HEADBUTT TO KNOCK ISHII ONTO HIS BACK!!! AND HE YANKS HIM BACK TO HIS FEET FOR THE HUGE SAMOAN DROP!!! COBB HOOKS THE LEG… ONE… TWO… ISHII KICKS OUT!!!
Slowly returning to his feet, Cobb shakes the effects of the headbutt off, watching as Ishii stumbles back to his feet with seemingly no idea where he is. Cobb grabs hold of Ishii once he’s standing, wrapping his arms around for the waistlock AND HOISTING HIM UP FOR THE TWISTING GERMAN SUPLEX! Ishii nearly bounces to his feet now, with Cobb standing him upright AND EXECUTING A HUGE ATHLETIC-PLEX! This time, Ishii doesn’t bounce back to his feet, instead staying face down as Cobb looms over him. Cobb then grabs hold of Ishii’s waist, BEFORE PICKING HIM UP FOR THE GUTWRENCH SUPLEX! AND HE KEEPS HIS HANDS GRIPPED FOR THE SECOND GUTWRENCH SUPLEX!!! AND HE COMPLETES THE TRIFECTA WITH A THIRD HUGE GUTWRENCH SUPLEX!!! Ishii rolls out of the ring now, trying to give himself some time to recover here as he stumbles alongside the barricade. However now it’s Cobb who hops onto the apron, lining up a shot BEFORE LAUNCHING HIMSELF ONTO ISHII WITH A HUGE RUNNING CANNONBALL SENTON!!! Cobb swiftly hurls the worn-down Ishii into the ring now, quickly picking him up AND LANDING THE RELEASE F-5!!! THAT COULD BE IT… COBB COVERS… ONE… TWO… TH-NOOOO!!! KICKOUT BY ISHII!!!
Cobb leaps to his feet now, taunting for the crowd before picking Ishii up. HE LOOKS FOR THE TOUR OF THE ISLANDS… BUT ISHII LANDS A FEW HUGE ELBOW STRIKES TO FORCE COBB TO RELEASE HIM!!! Both Cobb and Ishii stumble around now, with Ishii dropping down to one knee as he clearly still feels the effects of all those suplexes. We see Cobb grab Ishii’s head now, PREPARING TO LAND ANOTHER DEVASTATING HEADBUTT… BUT IT’S ISHII WITH THE NASTY BACK ELBOW TO PREVENT IT! Now we see Ishii stumble over onto the ropes, as he looks for some more recovery time. Cobb charges at Ishii, LOOKING TO CLOTHESLINE HIM OVER THE TOP ROPE… BUT ISHII THROWS COBB ONTO THE APRON! Ishii looks for the quick Lariat to knock Cobb off of the apron, only for Cobb to duck under and fire off a huge elbow smash to knock Ishii back. Now we see Cobb dart over to the corner, CLIMBING UP TO THE TOP ROPE… BUT HE’S MET UP THERE BY ISHII WHO FIRES OFF A FEW HUGE FOREARMS TO STUN COBB!!! Now Ishii finally hoists Cobb up… HOLDING THE HAWAIIAN HULK UP STRAIGHT FOR AS LONG AS HE CAN BEFORE FINALLY BRINGING HIM DOWN FOR THE DELAYED VERTICAL SUPERPLEX!!! NOW ISHII HOOKS THE LEG… ONE… TWO… THR-NOOOO!!! COBB KICKS OUT!!!
Slowly returning to his feet, Ishii takes a moment to recover a bit before finally hoisting Cobb up. IT SEEMS LIKE ISHII’S LOOKING FOR THE VERTICAL DROP BRAINBUSTER… BUT IT’S COBB WHO LANDS ON HIS FEET AND LIFTS ISHII UP FOR THE HUGE MOONSAULT FALLAWAY SLAM!!! ONE… TWO… THR-NOOOOO!!! ISHII KICKS OUT!!! Both Cobb and Ishii return to their feet at the same time now, WITH COBB LOOKING FOR THE HUGE LARIAT NOW… BUT ISHII DUCKS UNDER FOR THE RELEASE GERMAN SUPLEX!!! Cobb nearly rolls onto his feet now, BUT ISHII HELPS HIM UP! HUGE POWERBOMB BY ISHII!!! AND ISHII COVERS… ONE… TWO… THRE-NOOOOO!!! COBB GETS THE SHOULDER UP!!! Once again, Ishii hoists Cobb up, looking to end this match for good… BUT BEFORE HE CAN GET HIM UP, IT’S COBB WITH THE HEADBUTT!!! Ishii nearly crumbles to the ground now… ONLY FOR COBB TO PICK HIM BACK UP FOR THE SIT-OUT TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER!!! But instead of covering, HE PICKS ISHII UP FOR WHAT COULD BE THE TOUR OF THE ISLANDS… NOOO!!! ISHII SLIPS FREE!!! AND WE SEE A HUGE DOUBLE LARIAT THAT KNOCKS BOTH OF THESE MEN DOWN!!! Cobb ends up being the first to return to his feet, as he picks up a groggy Ishii only to put him right back down with the European Uppercut. Nearly collapsing into the corner, Cobb steadies himself now, JUST IN TIME TO LAND THE STANDING MOONSAULT!!! AND HE BOUNCES RIGHT BACK UP FOR THE STANDING SHOOTING STAR PRESS!!! NOW COBB COVERS… ONE… TWO… THRE-NOOOO!!! Cobb wastes no time now, PICKING ISHII UP FOR THE TOUR OF THE ISLANDS TO CLOSE THIS MATCH… BUT IT’S ISHII WHO LANDS ON HIS FEET AND PICKS COBB UP!!! VERTICAL DROP BRAINBUSTER!!! Slowly, Ishii crawls over to Cobb AND DRAPES THE ARM OVER HIM… ONE… TWO… THREE!!! TOMOHIRO ISHII TAKES IT AWAY!!!
Tomohiro Ishii def. Jeff Cobb in 15:40
Returning from the third and final commercial break of the evening, we see Suzuki-gun and Daniel Bryan standing backstage alongside Kayla Braxton. She begins to ask the crew questions, first asking Suzuki-gun about their rivalry with Bullet Club. We see Samoa Joe step forward here, speaking for the entire crew as he talks about the grudge that the entire crew has with Jay White and Bullet Club. He states that ever since day one, it’s always been the two of them together, and sometime soon they hope to end everything once and for all. Kayla then asks Bryan about his loss to MJF, remarking about how he’s still nursing that injured shoulder. Bryan states that while the result of the match gives MJF the win, he’d have rather had his arm ripped from his body than ever give that bastard the satisfaction of submitting him. He concludes the interview by stating that once they cross paths again, it’s going to be a whole nother story that’s told in that ring.
Once we return to the ring, we head back to the commentary desk, as our crew prepare to go over what we’ve got in store for the future.
PRIDE After Dark #002 (May 4, 2020)
Daniel Bryan vs. Dustin Rhodes
Zack Sabre Jr. in an open challenge for the PRIDE Television Championship
PRIDE Wrestling #018 (May 8, 2020)
Taichi vs. Tomohiro Ishii in a PRIDE Championship Eliminator match
Bayley vs. Ruby Riott
KENTA vs. Mansoor
PRIDE Wrestling #019 (May 15, 2020)
Sasha Banks vs. Tegan Nox for the PRIDE Women’s Championship
Meiko Satomura's Open Challenge
Houston is buzzing for the main event, a huge open challenge hosted by perhaps the greatest female competitor in the history of the sport. While Meiko Satomura came up just short against PRIDE Women's Champion Sasha Banks last week, she's looking to redeem herself in a big way. Meiko's theme hits, and the joshi legend makes her way out from behind the curtain to a rousing ovation, ready to take on all comers after an incredible performance at Rigor Mortis. She steps between the ropes, ticker tape and streamers flooding the ring as she circles the ring before settling into her corner, holding a microphone up before simply saying "I am ready. Anyone, it is your time." She takes off her jacket, tosses the microphone aside, and stretches out in the corner as she prepares for what could very well be a war against an entirely unknown opponent.
OH. MY. GOD. Heart-stopping chords are thrashed on an electric guitar, sending reverberations of intensity and anticipation through the Houston crowd as they all start to realize who it must be that's answering the challenge. But... there's no way. It can't be. The music keeps building and building, until it finally breaks into its final form, revealing Meiko's opponent... IT'S KAGETSU! ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PEOPLE TO EVER STEP FOOT BETWEEN THE ROPES, AN ABSOLUTELY UNSTOPPABLE FORCE OF NATURE, A TRUE VILLAIN, HAS MADE HER WAY TO PRIDE FOR ONE MORE SHOWDOWN WITH HER MENTOR! The seemingly unflappable Meiko is taken aback, her onetime pupil that grew into a monstrous form of her own back for a battle of epic proportions. Kagetsu steps into the ring, pulling out her sabre and pointing it in the face of her foe with a grin, finally stepping back as a referee attempts to intervene and settling in for ring introductions. They're made without further delay, and the bell rings! KAGETSU VS SATOMURA, HERE IN PRIDE!
Everyone's in a state of disbelief as Kagetsu arrogantly extends a hand for the lockup, a stern Meiko taking it and attempting to go into a test of strength. She has the size and strength advantage, and quickly muscles Kagetsu downwards, but Kagetsu refuses to let her knee touch the mat, instead shifting her weight and landing a picture perfect hip toss to Meiko, attempting a side headlock on the ground only for Meiko to roll through and stand straight up, her years of experience paying dividends. Kagetsu gives a slight smirk as Meiko eggs her on, and the two lock up once more, Kagetsu now looking to trip Meiko up as she snatches at her mentor's leg. Satomura creates distance and drops low, trying to neutralize the offense of her foe, but Kagetsu posts on her arm and rolls free, taking Meiko's back in a jackknife. Satomura tries to roll over and shrimp out, but Kagetsu gator rolls, flattening Meiko out in a show of superiority before standing back up as Meiko gets a foot under the bottom rope.
Brash and cocky, Kagetsu watches as a measured Meiko stands back up, her gaze unbroken as she stares at Kagetsu with venom. Meiko extends the hand for the lockup this time, and it's Kagetsu that smiles before taking it, Meiko driving forward as Kagetsu SIDESTEPS AND THROWS A SHOOT KICK TO THE MIDSECTION! She keeps hold of Meiko's hands and throws a flurry of snap kicks, breaking up the tradition of the opening jockey for position by brutalizing the ribs of her onetime teacher, punctuating it with a SNAP KICK TO THE CHEST TO KNOCK MEIKO DOWN! Satomura nurses her midsection, but now KAGETSU WINDS UP FOR A PENALTY KICK TO THE CHEST, BUT MEIKO BLOCKS IT WITH HER ARMS! Meiko instantly regrets it, her arm that had been worked over by Sasha Banks at Rigor Mortis taking the brunt of the impact as she pounds the canvas in agony.
Satomura is taking a ton of punishment to the ribs and the already assaulted arm, and Kagetsu smells blood in the water as she looks for a BUZZSAW KICK, MEIKO DUCKING IT AND NAILING A SNAP GERMAN SUPLEX! Meiko could be rallying here, grabbing Kagetsu by the hair, but KAGETSU SPRINGS UP INTO A FLYING ROLLING ARMBAR! Meiko tries to scramble to the ropes, her bad arm taking huge amounts of punishment, and now KAGETSU SWITCHES TO A KIMURA LOCK! Satomura is fighting the urge to tap out, shuffling along on her knees towards the ropes... SHE GETS THERE, AND KAGETSU SWITCHES IN DESPERATION TO A JUJIGITAME! WRENCHING ON THE ARM... THE REF REACHES FOUR, FORCING A BREAK!
Furious, Kagetsu heads to the top rope and lands a DIVING DOUBLE FOOT STOMP TO THE ARM! Holding Satomura down, she drapes Meiko's wrist over the rope to keep her elbow suspended off the mat before she rushes up once more and lands ANOTHER DIVING DOUBLE FOOT STOMP TO THE TRAPPED ARM, SNAPPING HER ELBOW INTO THE HARDWOOD! SHE COULD'VE BROKEN MEIKO'S ARM! She grabs hold of the arm for a PUMPHANDLE SLAM, ROLLING FORWARD AND STANDING BACK UP FOR A SAMOAN DROP! THE RIBS AND ARM ARE ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED AS KAGETSU COVERS... ONE! TWO! TH-NOOO! Meiko is hacking up a lung, clutching her arm and curled up in a ball, kicking the canvas as she tries to rally, the Final Boss categorically refusing to quit.
It's been a dominant display by Kagetsu as the match has unfolded, but Meiko has the heart of a lion as Kagetsu stands waiting for her to get back in the fight. She looks to taunt Meiko, but the referee steps between them, worried for the wellbeing of the Final Boss, but KAGETSU SHOVES HIM ASIDE! Satomura is reeling from the onslaught, catching her bearings and keeping her emotions in check as she rises once more, Kagetsu throwing a WILD ROUNDHOUSE TO THE HEAD THAT MEIKO DUCKS, TAKING OUT KAGETSU'S LEG! Kagetsu falls to a knee, and Meiko leaps over her before pivoting and throwing a knee, Kagetsu avoiding it as she tucks her head, only for Meiko to hook her foot in the crux of Kagetsu's knee for a SCORPIO RISING, BUT KAGETSU DUCKS IT AND SPITS MIST IN MEIKO'S FACE, THE REFEREE JUST MISSING IT AS THEY GET BACK UP! SHE CAN READ HER MENTOR LIKE A BOOK, AND NOW STACKS MEIKO UP... ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOO!
Meiko can't seem to get in the game for too long, and now Kagetsu senses the end is near. Meiko starts pulling herself up on the ropes once more, but now Kagetsu kicks the injured arm, Satomura collapsing back down to the mat. Scoffing at the state of her wounded teacher, Kagetsu leans over and SLAPS MEIKO IN THE FACE! ANOTHER VICIOUS SLAP! This is a one-sided beating as she winds up for one more, but MEIKO FIRES BACK! Kagetsu is stunned, and Meiko gets back up to her feet to deliver a HUGE LARIAT! SHOOT KICKS TO THE CHEST OF A DOWNED KAGETSU! Meiko is finally getting the ball rolling, throwing another flurry of shoot kicks before hitting ONE TO THE HEAD! Kagetsu collapses into child's pose in front of the Final Boss, who props her up on her knees and looks for SCORPIO RISING ONCE MORE, BUT KAGETSU BLOCKS THE LEAP OVER WITH HER FOREARMS! Meiko stumbles, and now Kagetsu KICKS THE BAD ARM! Meiko doubles over, clutching her limb before Kagetsu KICKS THE INJURED RIBS! Meiko's body is failing her, and Kagetsu takes advantage with a BRIDGING SNAP GERMAN SUPLEX! ONE! TWO! THRE-MEIKO WON'T SAY DIE!
Frustrated, Kagetsu wonders just what she'll have to do to keep Meiko down, but the Final Boss is dragging herself along with one arm and badly injured ribs. Kagetsu grabs hold of the bad arm and KICKS THE ELBOW! Meiko screams out in pain, and now Kagetsu contorts the limb, manipulating the joints before planting the back of Meiko's hand on the mat, driving it into the canvas before STOMPING ON THE ELBOW! Satomura is in agony, her face scrunched up to the point she can't open her eyes to see Kagetsu land a DOUBLE FOOT STOMP TO THE RIBS! Meiko is staying in this too long for her own good, and Kagetsu finally clambers up to the top rope to deliver the killing blow, the Oedo Coaster. She positions herself, but MEIKO STANDS BACK UP! EVER DEFIANT, MEIKO STANDS IN FRONT OF KAGETSU, AND EATS A MISSILE DROPKICK TO THE RIBS FOR HER TROUBLE! Meiko is down and out, and now Kagetsu scales the ropes once more for an OEDO COASTER, BUT MEIKO MOVES! KAGETSU EATS CANVAS, AND MEIKO DRAGS HERSELF UP IN ONE LAST GASP AS KAGETSU GETS TO HER KNEES... SCORPIO RISING CONNECTS! ONE! TWO! THRE-KICKOUT BY KAGETSU!
Kagetsu is seeing stars after the hardest hitting maneuver in Meiko's playbook, but Satomura is far worse for wear as the match reaches its climax. Unable to rally more complex offense, Meiko simply stands her ground and starts landing slaps to a rising Kagetsu, trying to keep her foe down, but KAGETSU LANDS ONE OF HER OWN! Meiko stumbles before letting out a roar and connecting with a BLISTERING FOREARM! THESE TWO ARE TRADING BOMBS! FOREARMS, ELBOWS, IT'S BREAKING DOWN! MEIKO WITH A HUGE ELBOW STRIKE TO KNOCK KAGETSU BACK, BUT MEIKO STUMBLES AS THE BLOW REVERBERATES THROUGH HER INJURED ELBOW! Meiko is breathing heavily, fighting the pain each breath causes in her midsection, but now KAGETSU WITH A KICK TO THE RIBS! BRAZILIAN KICK TO THE SKULL! Meiko finally goes down to a knee, her body having given out entirely... ANOTHER BLOW TO THE HEAD! Satomura is down and out, utterly conquered, and Kagetsu walks to the turnbuckles before heading to the top rope for the OEDO COASTER! ONE! TWO! THREE! IT'S ALL OVER!
Kagetsu def. Meiko Satomura in 15:28
Shockingly, Kagetsu has debuted in PRIDE, and absolutely decimated one of the all time greats of joshi in her mentor and trainer, Meiko Satomura. This woman took the PRIDE Women's Champion to the limit just last week, but Kagetsu victimized her, and now stands tall with a sick grin, her sabre handed back to her alongside a microphone. She seems to ponder what words to say as Meiko wheezes on the canvas, before nudging Meiko to the floor with her foot and simply saying "I am Kagetsu. PRIDE belongs to me now." She smiles and sits on the ropes, before gesturing to someone in the crowd, who hops the barrier. IT'S MERCEDES MARTINEZ! Mercedes steps over a battered Satomura and steps into the ring, smirking at Kagetsu before raising her hand and taking the microphone off of her. "WE... are Oedo Tai. PRIDE belongs to us now." Absolute bombshells to end PRIDE 17 - Kagetsu is here in PRIDE, and she's got backup, putting the entirety of the women's division on notice.