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SJPW, 05/03/97 ER: So Kabuki and Killcannon advance to the next round. Next up, the third in our first round Cruiserweight tournament match-ups. J.T. Ruckus, the newcomer from the US, battles the legend, Tiger Kikuchi. AO: Ruckus is good, but Kikuchi is a tough veteran, even if he lost to Super Tengu last week. ER: Absolutely. Tengu is a talented wrestler, and Kikuchi really took it to him! AO: I've just been informed that Sharon Akiyama is backstage, and is going to try and get some words with Ruckus before the match starts! (Sharon Akiyama is standing in the locker room area, and J.T. Ruckus walks by. She grabs him by the shoulder and he stops to give her an interview. He's in his wrestling gear and looks ready to wrestle.) Sharon Akiyama: JT, no one has heard from you since your stellar debut last week. Any comments? J.T. Ruckus: Not really. I'm not happy with my performance last week. Sure, I won, but I could have done better. Sharon Akiyama: Your opponent has 10 years experience on you! Beating a seasoned veteran, you have proven yourself as a future superstar in Super Japan. J.T. Ruckus: I hope to be one of the Americans that the Japanese have a great respect for. I've been training most of my life for a chance to excel and I plan on taking advantage of it. Sharon Akiyama: Well, you take on Tiger Kikuchi tonight. He's a legend in Japan. How have you prepared for your first round match with him? J.T. Ruckus: I know all about his exploits. Mr. Kikuchi has won numerous titles and he's not over the hill yet. He has a lot of experience and I could learn from him, but tonight I plan on advancing in the Cruiserweight tournament. My opponents have made a mistake in not mentioning me as a top contender to the Cruiserweight crown, but I have to take it one step at a time. Excuse me, I must prepare to my match. (Ruckus politely nods his head to Ms. Akiyama and walks toward the ring area.) ER: That's one determined man! AO: Shhhh! The ring announcer is back in the ring! Ring Announcer: This match is a first round match-up in the SJPW Cruiserweight tournament! Introducing first, from Catskills, NY, USA, weighing 225lbs, J T RUCKUS!!!!!!! (As "Sacred Ground" by Living Color plays over the loudspeaker, J.T. Ruckus walks slowly to the ring with the hood on his sweatshirt over his head. Even from the front camera angle you can hardly see anything, but his hair and a little of his face. When he hits the ring he slowly takes the hood off and the hair out of his face. He unzips his sweatshirt, hands it to the ring attendant, and prepares for battle. He has shoulder length, braided black hair, and brown eyes. He is an African-American male with the skin color of Halle Berry. He wears full length tights with the image of a flame on each leg.) ER: J.T. looks confident tonight. AO: He should. He's 1-0, and Kikuchi is 0-1 in SJPW. I'd say that gives him the edge. Ring Announcer: His opponent, from Okinawa, weighing 235lbs, TI-GER KI-KU-CHI!!! (The fans go nuts, and streamers fly into the ring) ER: The fans still love Kikuchi! AO: He is a legend here. Many great battles were fought by him in this arena. Some even against me. ER: There's the bell. Both men lock up, and Kikuchi locks a headlock on Ruckus, who whips him to the ropes... Kikuchi comes off the ropes, and Ruckus takes him down with a shoulderblock. Kikuchi gets to his feet, and Ruckus takes him down again with a dropkick. AO: Ruckus drags Kikuchi to his feet... sets him up... Snap suplex. he drags him up again, and nails Kikuchi with a reverse knife edge chop... another... another... another. Ruckus now with a spinwheel kick on Kikuchi. Ruckus is really taking it to him! ER: Kikuchi staggers back, and Ruckus locks on another headlock. He's signaling for a bulldog... He's moving... Kikuchi throws him off! AO: Both men are down in the ring, but Kikuchi is all ready getting to his feet. Ruckus is getting up now... Kikuchi sends him back down with an enzuigiri kick to the side of his head. ER: Kikuchi now dragging him up from behind... German suplex. He's gets up... another... another! Kikuchi whips Ruckus to the ropes... flying headscissors takes Ruckus down, and he slides out of the ring. AO: Kikuchi now coming off the ropes... cross body block over the ropes to the floor! Ruckus hits the railing, and both men fall over the railing into the crowd! (fans applaud) ER: Security and the ring attendants move in, and help the wrestlers over the railing back to ringside. The ref starts his count... Ref: One! AO: Kikuchi whips Ruckus into the railing! Ref: Two! ER: Kikuchi rolls Ruckus into the ring, and rolls in himself. He drags Ruckus to his feet, and whips him to the ropes... he goes for a hiptoss, but Ruckus counters with a bulldog. (fans applaud) AO: Ruckus now with a Swinging Neckbreaker... cover... one... tw-kickout by Kikuchi. Ruckus now drops the leg across Kikuchi's chest... cover... one,... two... kickout! Ruckus can't put him down! ER: Ruckus has Kikuchi up... backbreaker. He drags him back to his feet, and whips him to the ropes... Running clothesline by Ruckus sends Kikuchi back to the mat. Ruckus runs to the ropes, bounces off, and nails Kikuchi with an elbowdrop! Cover... one... two... thr-kickout! (fans applaud) Ruckus looks a little frustrated now! AO: He does; if he lets his temper get the best of him, Kikuchi will beat him. Ruckus is lifting him up... Kikuchi grabs Ruckus' head, and drops down with a jawbreaker. Kikuchi is trying to get to his feet (fans start chanting "Tiger! Tiger!"). He's almost there... He's on his feet! ER: Kikuchi nails Ruckus with a spinwheel kick... Ruckus staggers back to the ropes, and as he bounces off, Kikuchi catches him... Belly to belly suplex! Kikuchi back up... somersault splash! (fans clap) Cover... one... two... th-kickout! AO: Kikuchi drags Ruckus to his feet, and sets him up... running powerbomb by Kikuchi! Cover... one... two... kickout! (fans clap) Kikuchi is signaling the crowd; he's going to go for the Tiger Driver! ER: He sets Ruckus up... He's got him up... He nailed it! Ruckus is finished! Cover... one... two... thre-kickout! (fans applaud) Ruckus kicked out of the Tiger Driver! That's the second time this has ever happened! AO: Kikuchi can't believe it! He has Ruckus up, and lays a chop on his chest... another... Ruckus blocks a third, and kicks him in the gut... Kikuchi doubles over... Face first piledriver by Ruckus drives Kikuchi to the mat hard! ER: Ruckus is signaling for the JT Tie-up! He's putting on the cross face sleeper! He's got the legs wrapped around his arms! He has him! AO: No. Kikuchi got one arm free. He's reaching for the ropes, while telling the ref he doesn't give up. He's inching closer to the ropes... he's almost there... He made it! (fans applaud) Both men have survived the other's finishing hold! This is a great match! ER: Ruckus looks pretty peeved. He has Kikuchi up, and drags him to the corner. He sits him on the top rope, then starts to mount the ropes himself. He has Kikuchi up on the top... Superplex! AO: Both men are down! Ruckus could have had him there, but he landed wrong! The ref is starting to count... One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight! (fans applaud) ER: Both men are up! Ruckus goes for a clothesline, but Kikuchi ducks under, and grabs Ruckus from behind... he pushes him to the ropes... Reverse tumble roll up! One... two... thr-kickout! Time's running out! AO: Kikuchi now with a small package! One... two... th-kickout! Kikuchi now with a sunset flip... one... two... th-kickout again! (fans clap) He can't keep Ruckus down! ER: Kikuchi whips Ruckus to the ropes... crucifix by Kikuchi... one... two... kickout! (fans clap) Kikuchi is getting frustrated. He whips Ruckus to the ropes... Ruckus ducks the cross bodyblock attempt by Kikuchi. He drags Kikuchi to his feet, and whips him to the ropes... AO: Kikuchi bounces back... Thesz press by Ruckus! One... two... thr-kickout! (fans clap) Ruckus has him up... Fisherman Suplex; cover... one... two... thre-kickout! Less than a minute left! ER: Ruckus has him up again... He goes for a German Suplex... Kikuchi reverses... Back elbow by Ruckus... he goes behind, and nails the German suplex... one... two... thre-kickout! (fans applaud) AO: Ruckus whips him to the ropes... Abdominal stretch... he drops down into a pinning position... one... two... thr-kickout! (fans clap) DING! DING! DING! ER: Did he get him? AO: No. The time ran out. It's a draw! Ring Announcer: The referee informs me that the time limit has expired. This match is a DRAW!!! (fans applaud) ER: Ruckus is going to the announcer; it looks like he wants the mike! I wonder what he's going to say? (The announcer hands Ruckus the microphone) J.T. Ruckus: Tiger, you are as great a wrestler as the tapes I watched of you. Tonight, we wrestled to a draw, unfortunately. I don't want to sound disrespectful, but you are getting up there in age. I, however, am just beginning of what I hope to be a great career. We are at the crossroads of Super Japan: You, the aging veteran and me the youthful exuberance of myself. You won't be around forever, and I would like to continue your legacy. Teach me to become the greatest wrestler in the world, and you will leave a great legacy with me. You have my word. (Ruckus extends his hand in friendship; Kikuchi hesitates, and looks to the fans. The fans start chanting "Tiger! Tiger!" and then "JT! JT!". Kikuchi takes Ruckus' hand, and shakes it. The crowd applauds it's approval, and the ring is swarmed with streamers.) ER: It looks like Ruckus is going have Kikuchi as his mentor. AO: Smart move. He almost beat him. If Kikuchi were younger, he would have lost. If Kikuchi teaches him all he know, then Ruckus will hold a title in SJPW. I guarantee that! ER: Too bad they went to a draw; they both got eliminated from the tournament! AO: True, and someone will get a bye to the quarter finals! 
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