WCA AA Evolution Cup: Night 5

The rookies of Anarchy and Ground Zero on excursion at Full Throttle have come under the watchful eye of dojo trainer, Meiko Satomura. Whilst it’s a positive sign that they have earned her attention enough to warrant a match, they might find the honor a little painful by the time Satomura is satisfied. It’s the turn of Anarchy’s Akira Sakazaki first in this opener to night 5 of the Atsushi Aoki Evolution Cup.

Akira is clearly keen to impress as he rushes in full force at the bell with a flurry of forearms. With Meiko staggering backwards, he runs for the ropes for a little more momentum but it proves a costly mistake when he runs straight into Satomura’s mid-kick. Sakazaki crumples to the mat. Satomura doesn’t even bother with a cover, pulling him by his hair back up to his knees and putting him in position for yet more kicks to the chest. Only when he folds backwards does she follow him down to the mat for a 2-count.

Clutching his ribs, he stumbles to his feet but his instincts kick in and he dodges a lariat from Satomura, springing off the ropes with a low dropkick to the back of Satomura’s right leg! As Satomura wobbles slightly, Sakazaki runs in, sliding his arms around Satomura in preparation for a dragon suplex. A quick kick backwards from Satomura puts an end to his attempt as she struggles free and an overhead kick has Akira sat back down on the mat. This time though, he falls to his back to dodge her kicks to the chest and manages to trip her into a roll-up as she follows through. The pin barely earns Sakazaki a 1-count but it gives him the momentum. Once Satomura is back on her feet, Sakazaki is ready with a kick of his own, with an enzuigiri swiftly followed by a jumping lariat! Meiko is knocked down flat and Akira clearly sees his chance, running for the ring post and climbing to execute the spiral tap!

Unfortunately for Sakazaki, it would take more than a couple of kicks from a rookie to keep Satomura down and she’s at his back by the time he’s barely got his feet on the second rope. She drags him down easily, wrapping her arms around his waist to throw him backwards into a bridging suplex. He kicks out at 2 but Satomura is on him before he can get up from the mat. She grabs his ankle to roll him over and locks in an STF. Akira struggles for a respectably long time but the tap is inevitable.

Meiko def Sakazaki (8:12)

It’s Kushida out first. Despite the spring in his step, it’s obvious he’s feeling the pressure of having had 3 nights of the tournament without a win. Abe, by contrast, looks fresh and confident, clapping and encouraging the crowd as he makes his way to the ring. He cocks an eyebrow at Kushida, offering a brief nod of the head by way of respect but no handshake.

The bell rings and the two circle slowly until, at an invisible signal, they lock up. Then it’s a fast and furious exchange of wrestling holds – Abe grabbing Kushida’s waist, Kushida with wrist control, then Abe twisting out and knocking Kushida down into a headlock, Kushida with the head scissors and a spring up from both and they are on their feet again! A couple more testing exchanges follow, first Kushida getting the upper hand, then Abe. By mutual agreement, they keep to their feet, exchanging headlocks until Abe pushes Kushida into the ropes, then Abe is forced to dodge a running Kushida. He’s successful until an armdrag from Kushida brings him down to the mat, Kushida hitting him with a handspring dropkick the moment he sits up! Kushida gets the first cover for 2.

Kushida makes the mistake of kicking Abe in the back as he sits up, which gets him into an exchange of kicks as Abe is determined to prove he can take it and give back more in return. He absolutely can and a weakened Kushida finds himself open to a sleeper hold. He scoots over to the ropes easily but Abe is still noticeably smug. Kushida is up on his feet quickly, ready to start throwing punches. They go back and forth with increasingly heavier strikes, turning into slaps at Abe’s prompting, matching each other blow for blow until Kushida adds a run-up to his forearm and knocks Abe on his back. Kushida dives in, going for an armbar, but Abe shuffles rapidly out of Kushida’s reach, wagging his finger from the safety of the corner.

They are back in the centre of the ring exchanging strikes, an enzuigiri from Abe sends Kushida back a step but he uses the momentum to drop Abe to the mat and go after his ankle. This time it’s Abe’s turn to scramble away but Kushida drags him back, twisting at his ankle. Abe rolls over, firing kicks at Kushida until he releases the ankle hold but it’s the perfect position for Kushida to drop down to the mat and get a choke hold whilst Abe is on his back. By the time Abe makes it to the ropes, both are noticeably worn down, looking a lot less fresh as they get to their feet.

It doesn’t take long until they are back to striking. A spinning back kick, followed by an overhead kick from Abe interrupts the flow and has Kushida staggering back into and off the ropes. It’s just disorienting enough for Abe to duck down, get Kushida on his shoulders and drop him into a death valley bomb! Kushida kicks out at 2.5! Abe goes for Kushida’s arm but he gets away, both back on their feet. A frankensteiner from Abe takes Kushida down for a roll up but he manages to roll Abe over to return the sneak pin. Abe springs out at 2, both up on their feet and running in. Some sneaky footwork from Abe and he has the worn down Kushida’s arms tied up and trips him into an Onryo clutch! The desperation from the slightly fresher Abe does the job and Kushida’s shoulders are down for 3.

Kushida desperately pleads with the referee before pounding the mat in frustration, finding himself tied for last position in the tournament.

Abe def. Kushida (19:11)