World Japan 10/01/2004 results

The first tournament match of the night pitted shooter Alexander Otsuka against “Wild Heart” Takao Omori. Otsuka took advantage early on when they brawled out onto the floor and he whipped Omori into the steel guard rails. Back in the ring, Omori came back avoiding Otsuka’s attempts to shoot in for submissions. Otsuka would then shock everyone at the six minute mark when he kicked out of Omori’s Guillotine Axe Driver! But three Axe Bombers later and Omori would score the win to advance to the semi-finals. The next tournament match was a back and forth battle of two veterans. Choshu and Animal matched power, though Animal seemed to have the advantage for most part. Animal would score a big powerslam off the ropes and a superplex but get 2s for both pin efforts. Choshu would rally back and knock Animal through the ropes to the outside with a Riki Lariat. Choshu followed out but would end up getting powerbombed on the floor! Back in the ring, Choshu managed to strike back hitting a big back suplex followed by a spinebuster before finally putting Animal away with his patented Scorpion Death Lock. The next tournament match was surprisingly one of the best of the night, as young WJ Dojo graduate Tomohiro Ishii faced WMF veteran Mr. Gannosuke! Gannosuke quickly hit a vitals kick at the start of the match to floor Ishii, but Ishii brought the crowed to their feet when he would then absorb one of Gannosuke’s signature lariat! Ishii would be on fire as he attacked Gannosuke with hard shots and big suplexes! Gannosuke tried to steal the win with another vitals shot, but Ishii would kick out. Ishii came back hitting a big powerbomb for a two count, then a missile dropkick and a brainbuster for another 2 count! TWO more brainbusters followed by a high-angle crab hold would score the upset victory for young Ishii! Backstage, young Ishii said it would only be right for a World Japan true born to be WMG champion, and hopes to face his mentor Choshu in the finals. Dr. Death Steve Williams made a triumphant return to the ring as he beat Hakushi in the final opening round match of the tournament. Hakushi used his speed to avoid Williams’ power, and even hit a big dive to the floor from the apron on Dr. Death! Back in the ring, Williams fought back and scored the Doctor-bomb for a two count. Hakushi would escape a second Doctor-Bomb attempt and hit a superkick taking down Dr. Death. Hakushi went up top, but missed a diving headbutt! Williams capitalized with an avalanche falling powerslam, but only scored a 2.9! Williams then whipped Hakushi into the corner and charged in but ate a foot to the face and went down. Hakushi immediately went up to and again missed the diving headbutt! Williams quickly picked up the White Angel and scored the win with a big dangerous backdrop hold for the three count! If Choshu was exhausted after a long opening round match, he sure didn’t show it here! He quickly took it to Omori and almost immediately busted him open with some hard strikes to the head! Omori came back and scored the Axe Bomber, but Choshu immediately got up! Choshu would score a piledriver, and try for another, but Omori powered out and hit several big European uppercuts and a piledriver of his own. Choshu would rally back, but out of nowhere Omori hit a big thrust kick and scored the upset of sorts three count! The second semi final saw Williams take it straight to young Ishii at the start of the bell, almost immediately hitting the Oklahoma Stampede and the Doctor-Bomb for near falls! Ishii would pop up and charge right at Williams with a running elbow, but Dr. Death ducked it and scored the dangerous backdrop hold for a 2.9! Ishii would somehow muster the strength to comeback and hit a big vertical suplex on Williams, but Dr. Death quickly recovered and planted Ishii with a release dragon suplex! Another dangerous backdrop hold later, and Williams claimed his place in the finals! Next up before the finals was a special tag match featuring tow of Zero-One’s up and comers in Kohei Sato and Hirotaka Yokoi taking on World Japan Dojo graduates Takashi Uwano and Kunioshi Wada. The Zero1 duo seriously underestimated their opponents here! They dominated early on, but the WJ youngsters rallied back and almost scored upsets several times! Wada was busted open by Yokoi’s hard strikes, and it was another of these straight shots to the face that put him down for the count. Backstage, the young WJ team invited Sato and Yokoi back to World Japan to face them again when the WMG tag title tournament takes place in a few weeks. The finals of the tournament saw the young a determined Takao Omori face veteran Dr. Death Steve Williams. Williams sent straight to work attacking Omori with hard strikes. Omori battled back with a flurry of European uppercuts, but Williams managed to hit the Oklahoma Stampede out of nowhere for a near fall! Williams then hit a big release tiger suplex and tried for another, but Omori broke free and hit a sit out full nelson slam! Omori would then go up top and miss the Diving Knee Bomb! Williams capitalized on the mistake and hit the Homicide Backdrop Driver! He was too tired to make the pin, which gave Omori the chance to recover. Omori would score the Guillotine Axe Driver TWICE in succession, but only get very near 2.9s! Williams would somehow recover from the two dangerous head drops and reverse an Irish whip, catching Omori in a spinebuster pin for the win to become the NEW WMG Heavyweight Champion! Backstage, Williams celebrated his victorious return to the ring and promised to be a fighting champion and take on all comers! Which brought in Tomohiro Ishii, who instantly appealed to be the first challenger after the fluke tonight where he lost to Williams in under three minutes! Williams said to go ahead, cause he'll beat him again in under TWO minutes to show the young punk to respect his seniors! World Japan “World’s Strongest” Tournament 10/01/04 Tokyo Korakuen Hall - 900 Fans Round 1 – Takao Omori beat Alexander Otsuka in 8:40 with the Axe Bomber Round 1 – Riki Choshu beat Animal Warrior in 21:00 with a Scorpion Death Lock Round 1 – Tomohiro Ishii beat Mr. Gannosuke in 14:18 with a high angle crab hold. 79% Round 1 – Steve Williams beat Hakushi in 15:01 with a dangerous backdrop hold. 60% Semi Final – Takao Omori beat Riki Choshu in 7:26 with a thrust kick. 58% Semi Final – Steve Williams beat Tomohiro Ishii in 2:56 with a dangerous backdrop hold. 53% Kohei Sato & Hirotaka Yokoi beat Takashi Uwano & Kuniyoshi Wada in 24:29 when Yokoi pinned Wada after a straight punch. 72% WMG Tournament Finals – Steve Williams beat Takao Omori in 14:45 with a spinebuster hold. 73%