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11/28/98 ARENA REPORT: Super Hyper Visual Fighting "Strong Style Evolution" VENUE: Tokyo Dome CORRESPONDENT: Hideo Demura (PN Magazine) Super Hyper Visual Fighting held its second show tonight in front of 58,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome. Strong Style Evolution was billed as the biggest show this year and it didn't disappoint from a quality or financial standpoint. The sellout crowd (Promoter Moditian opted not to use the largest setup possible which would have allowed 70,000 fans to attend) witnessed the crowning of the first SHVF World Heavyweight Champion in the most dramatic match on the card. There wasn't any one clear cut favorite going into the card due to the very evenly matched first round fights. The consensus opinion in the media and among fighting experts was that the tournament was wide open and would be a hotly contested event and that certainly proved true. Before the fights began Hayashi and Moditian came out and address the crowd. Moditian welcomed the crowd, thanked them for supporting SHVF, and promised them a great night of action before turning the microphone over the Head Referee, Tajiri Hayashi. Hayashi went over the rules for the fights (same as last show) and explained that first round matches would be contested under 15 minute time limits with one 5 minute overtime period if needed. The semi-finals and final would be fought under 20 minute time limits with two 5 minute overtime periods if necessary. After Hayashi finished it was fight time. The action opened strong with the first fight on the card pitting the legendary Keiji Asamiya against the arrogant, but technically gifted rising star, Sunjinski, in a first round tournament match. Asamiya got a deafening response as he made his way to the ring, quickly establishing him as the crowd's favorite. Sunjinski entered through the crowd to "Song 2" by Blur and made his way slowly to the ring ignoring everything around him and focusing on Asamiya. The crowd also gave Sunjinski a very warm response which is something of a mystery since from his interviews he comes off as an arrogant heel. The feeling is he gets the big pops because he comes off as very "cool." Asamiya's comments about the tournament aired on the TV broadcast before the match: [open camera shot on Keiji Asamiya sitting calmly at office desk with in the Steel Wind Dojo. His fingertips push firmly against each other as his gaze falls on the camera] Keiji: So the tournament comes at last... First Fukada proves that he is a coward and now I will demonstrate to everyone that Keiji Asamiya has not lost a step after all these years. [pauses as he gently lays his hands on his desk] There many young hopefuls that will step forward to answer the call of Strong Style. I have a great task ahead of me by beating as many men in one night as I can... by showing them that this "old man" of a mere 28 years has just as much, if not more courage now than he did all those many years ago... To my best student Junji, I wish you the best, my friend and apprentice, this tournament will be a true test of your skills. As for Fukada... Why is it that I hear destiny calling to us? Why is it you once again haunt me when I think of unfinished matters? Fukada, once and for all I will end your little game of pain... My fighting spirit is still strong, my desire to win even stronger and my thirst for the title is yet again STRONGER!! Will you be a man and choose to fight? Or will skulk in the shadows, landing pitiful blow after pitiful blow, relying on the cowards way out? There is no shame in losing, only shame in losing without honor... [Keiji slowly stands and walks to a display case, in it is a white Gi with several patches from several different dojo's and fighting organizations] Keiji: [laying his hand on the glass case, looking at the Gi with a sad smile] More fights fought than I can remember... and even more blood spilled... This tournament will prove what I have said for the last 10 years, The people want a FIGHT!! Not some man in a mask or fancy robe with blond hair... they want their fighting real and they want their fighting stiff [cracks a thin smile] I showed them all how real and stiff a fight could be... The tournament calls me, to the others I wish you all... Dean, Mayashi, Shirow and even Fukada... The best of luck... let the evolution BEGIN!! [raises hand over his head, his index finger pointing to the sky... one can almost hear cheering] [fade out] *SHVF World Heavyweight Title Tournament Quarter-Final Match* Fight #1 - Keiji Asamiya versus Sunjinski Asamiya shot off the ropes looking for a lariat to open things up but Sunjinski caught him with a text book overhead release belly to belly suplex. Asamiya ducked his head in and landed square on his back, minimizing the damage and was able to roll back to his feet rather quickly. After stretching his back out Asamiya came back to center ring to face of with Sunjinski. They locked up with Asamiya controlling with a fireman's carry takedown and attempting to lock on the katahajime, which drew a big pop from the crowd, but Sunjinski fought the hold off long enough to make the ropes and force the stand-up. They faced off center ring again exchanging leg kicks with Asamiya getting the better of the exchange and backing 'Jinski up to the ropes. Asamiya landed a knee to the stomach and followed up with an Oklahoma sideroll (abdominal stretch takedown) attempt that Sunjinski escaped with a hip toss. Sunjinski hung on to an arm after the toss and brought Asamiya back to his feet almost as quickly as he hit the mat. Sunjinski landed a two knees to the Asamiya's back before scooping him up onto his shoulder and hitting a running powerslam to the 'ahs' of the crowd. At this point both men's strategies were clear. Both were looking for quick submission wins, with Asamiya targeting the arm and Sunjinski the back. Asamiya sat up in pain but had little chance to lick his wounds as Sunjinski approached from behind and pulled him to his feet with a waist lock followed by a released German suplex dropping Asamiya hard on his back. Sunjinski brought Asamiya back to his feet yet again and attempted to lift him up in the torture rack but Asamiya grabbed the ropes to prevent the hold and the crowd 'ah'ed. Sunjinski landed three hard forearms to the back of the head, breaking Asamiya's grip, enabling him to get Asamiya up in the torture rack to a big pop from the crowd. Sunjinski wrenched down on Asamiya's back as Referee Hayashi looked on. Asamiya locked a leg scissor onto Sunjinski's left shoulder, forcing him to break the hold. Asamiya rolled off 'Jinski's shoulders, grabbed Sunjinski's left arm and shoulder and dropped down to his knees with shoulder/arm breaker, but was unable to capitalize due to his back pain. At the 9:25 mark Hayashi administered a standing 10 count to both men as they lay on the mat nursing there respective injuries. Sunjinski seemed to be in more pain that Asamiya perhaps due to a previous injury in his left shoulder which he sustained in a bar fight several years ago. Asamiya made it to his feet at 5, Sunjinski at 8 with the help of the ropes. Asamiya grimaced as he stretched his back out preparing for battle. Sunjinski attempted to loosen up his shoulder by rotating it but was in clear pain with every motion. Just as they were approaching center ring to continue the fight, Hayashi intervened to check on Sunjinski's left shoulder. As Hayashi was checking the shoulder Asamiya continued stretching back and Sunjinski was telling Hayashi he was fine and attempting to go to center ring. Hayashi agreed that he was good to continue and restarted the fight at 10:09. They came to center ring again and circled one another. Asamiya made first contact with a side kick that landed solid on Sunjinski's injured shoulder. 'Jinski doubled over holding his shoulder and arm and attempted to get to the ropes but Asamiya grabbed him and pulled him to center ring. Asamiya landed two elbows to the injured shoulder before hitting the Fujiwara arm driver and holding onto the Fujiwara arm bar on the mat to gain the victory via submission to a big crowd pop. Winner - Keiji Asamiya at 10:58 After the match, when Asamiya's hand was raised, the crowd began chanting 'Asamiya'. Ringside trainers attended to Sunjinski's shoulder but after a few seconds he came to his feet, on his own power, and shoved them away to a big pop from the crowd. The Asamiya/Sunjinski match really got the crowd energized and they were hot for the rest of the night. The next match, pitting Ed Dean against Eiji Miyazaki, was the most anticipated first round match due the bad blood involved. The interest level in the match rose even higher after news leaked out that the two were involved in a pull apart brawl in the locker room earlier in the day. Due to all the animosity nobody expected a technical master piece, but instead looked for the affair to be a smash mouth in your face wild brawl. I'm not sure if anyone realized just how accurate the prediction of a wild brawl would be. The history between these two is just amazing as they're paths have crossed several times in there professional careers. But there history is an article within itself. The crowd was very enthusiastic after the opening match and took it up a notch for this match. The lights dimmed and smoke filled the arena as Eiji Miyazki entered to "Painkiller" by Angra to a huge pop. There were very audible chants of 'Miyazaki' as he entered the ring, probably due to his strong and exciting showing at the Free Fight Gala. The crowd gave a very mixed response to Ed Dean has he made his way to the ring with his eyes focused on the ring. *SHVF World Heavyweight Title Tournament Quarter-Final Match* Fight #2 - Eiji Miyazaki versus Ed Dean As soon as Dean hit the ring he charged Miyazaki, who was standing in the corner with his back to him, and nailed him with a running knee to the back followed by several hard forearms to the back of the head. Hayashi grabbed Dean and tried to pull him off but was threw to the mat for his efforts. The arena was filled with deafening boos as Dean went back to work on Miyazaki. Dean grabbed a waist lock on the dazed Miyazaki and paused to yell to the crowd before hitting a release German suplex and dropping Miyazaki directly on his head. As Dean moved in for the kill, Hayashi called for security who hit the ring and restrained Dean in the corner. Trainers entered the ring and checked Miyazaki's condition along with Hayashi as security fought to hold Dean in the corner. It looked like Hayashi was about to throw the match and award it to Miyazaki, but Miyazaki made it to his feet and stopped him, asking for the match to continue (or start depending on how you look at it). By this time Hadi Moditian had made his way to ringside and after consulting with Moditian and Hayashi, the ring announcer announced that the match would continue but Dean had been issued two red cards for his post match attack. That meant that one more rules infraction would result in a DQ. Security left the ring and Hayashi gave Dean stern instructions before the match was officially started. Dean charged at the bell looking for a takedown but Miyazaki caught him coming in with a hard side kick to the chest that took him down to a big pop from the crowd. Dean rolled back to his feet but was took down quickly again with an Iron Broom spinning leg sweep. Miyazaki followed up with a leglock grapevine submission hold, on the right leg, at the 0:29 mark to big a pop from the crowd. The crowd heat for this match was absolutely tremendous and everyone in the place was standing and going crazy as Dean was grimacing in pain. Dean made the ropes at 0:47 to force the stand up. Miyazaki reluctantly released the hold due to Dean landing several kicks to his head with his free foot after he'd made the ropes. Hayashi forced Miyazaki to his feet and backed him away from Dean. He gave both men a warning about breaking on the ropes and keeping it clean as the break is happening. The action resumed at 1:07 with both men coming to center ring and circling one another. Miyazaki threw a series of kicks to Dean's right leg that backed him into the corner. Miyazaki followed him in with a series of elbows to the knee and neck. Miyazaki grabbed Dean's right leg and pulled him out of the corner looking for a dragon screw leg whip but Dean countered with an enzuiguri that sent Miyazaki to the mat hard and drew an 'ah' from the crowd. Dean dropped down in a mount position on Miyazaki, who was face down, and drew his fist back, pausing for dramatic effect to strike him in the back of the head but Hayashi grabbed his arm from behind and pulled him off to administer a standing ten count to Miyazaki. Dean was none to pleased with Hayashi touching him and let him know about. Hayashi warned him yet again, this time about putting his hands on the him. Miyazaki began stirring and answered the count at 4 with the help of the ropes. Hayashi ordered the fight to continue at the 2:45 mark. Dean charged from the cornered looking for a double leg takedown on Miyazaki, but Miyazaki spun around stopping Deans momentum and locking on a front face lock. Miyazaki landed several knees to Deans face before Dean powered Miyazaki off his feet and to the mat in the center of the ring. Dean mounted Miyazaki and landed three forearms to his face before locking on arm bar out of the mount at the 3:02 mark. Miyazaki attempted to counter unsuccessfully but was able to make the ropes at 3:29. Before Hayashi had a chance to order the stand-up, Dean released the hold, drug Miyazaki to center ring by the arm, turned him over and locked on a hammer lock to an 'oh' from the crowd. There was some debate after the show as to whether Hayashi should broken the hold and forced the stand up or even DQ'ed Dean. The general feeling is that nobody, the fans, fighters, or SHVF officials, wanted to see a DQ so Hayashi was giving both men a lot of leeway. At 4:13 Miyazaki fought to his knees, rolled out of the hammerlock, and to his feet. With Dean still sitting on the mat Miyazaki shot off the ropes and landed a stiff lariat sending the American to the mat. Miyazaki followed up fast bringing Dean to his feet and landing a short-arm knee to the gut, followed by an elbowsmash to the back of the neck, and a European uppercut that sent Dean staggering back into the corner. A groggy Dean lunged out of the corner towards Miyazaki but and got caught by a round house kick to the right leg, then the left, then a jumping front kick to the stomach that doubled Dean over, capped off with a rocker dropper to a huge pop from the crowd. At this point the bleachers were literally shaking due to the enthusiasm of the crowd. Miyazaki pumped his fists, playing to the crowd before attempting to bring Dean to his feet, but Dean looked out of it and didn't move, prompting Hayashi to back Miyazaki off so he could check him and administer the standing ten count. As soon as Miyazaki was backed off, Dean rolled to his knees but didn't stand up until the count of 9 taking the opportunity to catch his breath. While some people may consider it to be an unsportsmanslike or even cowardly move, its actually very smart for a man of Dean's size with limited stamina. They came to center ring to resume the fight at the 6:17. Miyazaki partially landed several ridgehands and Shotay palm strikes that bloodied Deans nose, before Dean dropped his hands from his face, prompting Miyazaki to look for a spinning back fist but dean ducked the strike, grabbed the arm and hit his Ipponzei Judo Throw into jujigatame. Looking back it appears that Dean dropped his hands to tempt Miyazaki into going for a big strike which he was waiting for so that he could hit the throw and lock on the arm bar, which was very effective due to the work he had done on it earlier in the match. Miyazaki struggled to the ropes at the 7:12 mark to break the hold. A bloody Dean refused to release the hold until the 4 count, flirting with disqualification yet again. Hayashi stood them up and warned Dean yet again. They came to center ring and circled one another with Miyazaki heavily favoring the left arm and shoulder which Dean had been working on the whole match. As they circled Dean paused, whipped some of the blood from his nose and flicked it onto Miyazaki to taunt him. Miyazaki charged, Dean ducked his head and hit a belly to belly suplex, slinging Miyazaki to mat with his left leg hanging out of the ring. Miyazaki attempted to sit up but Dean mounted him and began throwing punches down from the mount before Hayashi could break it up. Miyazaki reversed the mount and they rolled through the ropes and lay on the apron with Miyazaki throwing punches down from the mount. Hayashi reached through the ropes and tried to pull Miyazaki off but he was pie faced backwards to the mat. The crowd was in a frenzy as Miyazaki pounded on Dean on the apron. Dean reached up with his legs and hooked Miyazaki under each arm and drove him backwards to the floor. Miyazaki came to his feet quickly but was taken back down when Dean dove off the apron with a flying forearm. A groggy Hayashi made it to his feet and called for security and the bell. No Winner - Double Disqualification at 8:20 It took the entire security force to separate Dean and Miyazaki and restore order. In the end Dean was bleeding from his ear and nose, Miyazaki from his mouth and upper lip. The rivalry between these two brings new meaning to the words intense and hatred. There will be a lot of money made from Miyazaki/Dean matches down the road. Dean who debuted in Japan several years ago and earned the nickname "Ugly American" from the media due to his vicious style had mellowed somewhat, and lost his edge before entering SHVF. After this match I'm sure many newspaper will revive Dean's old tag of "Ugly American", and hopefully find something similar to suit Miyazaki because he deserves it as well. The crowd was emotionally drained after the last fight and looked pretty dead. Luckily the next match featured the man they now love to hate, Takashi Fukada, taking on former UFC star, Doug Thomas. Fukada has been silent since he got himself intentionally disqualified at the Free Fight Gala. Before the infamous low blow, while not the most honorable or popular man, he was respected and cheered by many. But not tonight. Doug Thomas made his way to the ring to "Fall" by Click receiving a louder pop than usual, most likely due to his opponent. Fukada entered to the beat of drums, marching to the ring. The crowd booed loudly with only scattered cheers. Fukada stood in the entranceway, smiling and gave the crowd a round of applause. He then turned around and used his thumb to point to the back of his ring jacket which read "Takashi Fukada: Man of Honor". This only served to further incite the crowd. After his loss at the Gala, especially the manner in which he lost, many people were saying that Fukada was all washed up and couldn't hang with the competition in SHVF. Hadi Moditian told a crowded room of reporters earlier in the week that he had talked with Fukada and said that he was told he didn't mean to kick Asamiya low, but was just stretching his leg so that he could swing it forward to make the ropes and break the hold. Whatever -- video tape doesn't lie. Normally Doug Thomas would be a heavy underdog in a fight with Fukada. But with questions surrounding his abilities, this match was somewhat of a mystery. *SHVF World Heavyweight Title Tournament Quarter-Final Match* Fight #3 - Takashi Fukada versus Doug Thomas They locked up center ring with Fukada controlling with a waist lock go behind takedown. Fukada hung on to the waist lock but Thomas sat up and countered with a go behind of his own into a hammer lock. Fukada made it to his feet, landed a back elbow to Thomas's jaw to break the hammer lock, and took him to the mat with a head lock takedown. Thomas quickly countered with a head scissors forcing Fukada to the mat. Fukada fought the hold and was able to turn himself around to get his knees on each side of Thomas's chest while still in the scissors. Fukada slipped head out of the scissors and got to his feet holding Thomas's feet. Fukada raised his fist in the air and held Thomas's legs open, teasing a low blow but instead brought his arm down, stepped though to a grapevine of the left leg, and fell backwards with a reverse kneebar at 1:55. The crowd 'ah'ed and then a small round of applause broke out when Fukada locked on the knee bar as opposed to landing a low blow. Thomas reached for the ropes unsuccessfully, but was able to roll over and reverse the hold with a knee bar of his own at the 3:55 mark. Fukada looked to be in trouble as he was nowhere near the ropes and Thomas blocked his attempts to turn the hold back over. Fukada sat up and pounded on Thomas's left knee cap with several hard elbows forcing him to break the hold at 5:15. Fukada rolled to his feet and waited on Thomas to make it to his feet. Thomas made it to his feet slowly, favoring his left knee. As soon as he stood up Fukada charged and landed a running dropkick, taking out Thomas's injured knee. As Thomas lay on the mat holding his knee, Fukada mounted him and threw a series of stiff, quick forearms down into his face before standing up, grabbing his left leg, and locking on a rolling kneebar. Thomas was nowhere near the ropes and with Fukada wrenching down on the knee he was forced to tap out to the dismay of the crowd. After the match the crowd wildly booed Fukada with some beginning a chant of 'Asamiya'. Fukada came to his feet and bowed to the crowd as well as standing on the second turnbuckle and blowing kisses to the crowd and waving. The ring announcer announced Takashi Fukada as the winner of the match to a chorus of boos and chants of washed up. Fukada grabbed ring announcer Kiato Toyota and screamed instructions at him. Seconds latter Toyota announced the winner of the match as "Man of Honor" Takashi Fukada to even more boos from the crowd. In a rare scene in Japan, the ring was littered with some trash directed at Fukada. Winner - "Man of Honor" Takashi Fukada at 6:44 Next it was time for the final first round tournament fight as Shiro Mayashi was set to square off with Junji Shirow. This match was very interesting for many reasons. The main reason for interest was that Shirow and Mayashi are two of the finest fighters in the world and some say the best fighters in SHVF, even better then there masters. The fight was also very intriguing due to the rivalry between there masters, Keiji Asamiya and Takashi Fukada respectively, although Mayashi has distanced himself somewhat from Fukada in media interviews. In a pre-fight interview with TV-Tokyo, Mayashi said that he'd been training alone this week because he felt that all the attention surrounding Fukada's questionable actions would distract him. When asked whether or not he still respected Fukada, Mayashi answered that yes he respected him and considered him a very honorable man, stating "You can't judge a man one mistake of judgement." When asked if that was an admission that Fukada intentionally got himself disqualified because he knew he couldn't win, Mayashi dodged the question responding: "I don't know whether it was intentional or not, I haven't gotten to talk with him about it." Mayashi further distanced himself from Fukada's behavior by saying: "I'm my own man, I stand along on my own beliefs and actions. Myself and Fukada are friends true, but that doesn't mean we think alike or share the same convictions." The fight was deemed too close to call by the editors of the American Fighting Sports Newsletter and that seemed to be the prevailing opinion of almost everyone. The one thing everyone did agree on was that the fight promised to be a great one. Mayashi entered to "Come with Me" by Puff Daddy featuring Jimmy Page. He was greeted by a very warm response, due his distancing from Fukada, with some scattered boos. Shirow entered not to ring music, but do a loud ovation from the crowd followed by several chants of 'Junji, Junji'. *SHVF World Heavyweight Title Tournament Quarter-Final Match* Fight #4 - Shiro Mayashi versus Junji Shirow They came to came to center ring and Mayashi extend his hand to Shirow. Shirow stepped back and put his hands on his hips, reluctant to accept. He looked to the crowd for approval and they provided it in the form of a round of applause. They shook hands and backed away and into fighting stances to begin there battle. They circled each other before Mayashi threw a spinning back kick that Shirow stepped back to avoid. The crowd 'ah'ed. Both men stepped back with Mayashi shaking out his arms and legs. They came to center ring again with Shirow throwing a side kick towards Mayashi's chest, that Mayashi caught. Mayashi took Shirow to the mat with a back heel trip and bridged over Mayashi's raised knees looking for a mount but Shirow took him over with his legs and floated over into a mount position of his own. Shirow threw a forearm down from the mount but Mayashi partially blocked it. Shirow tried to quickly follow up by grabbing Mayashi's right arm and floating over into a jujigatame arm bar but Mayashi locked his hands together for the triangle block and made the ropes with his feet to force the stand up. The crowd applauded the crisp mat work and rope escape. After the stand-up they came back to center ring and locked up. Shirow controlled the lock-up with a go behind waist lock into a hammer lock on the right arm. Shirow took Mayashi to the mat with a single leg takedown, holding onto the hammer lock, and hooking the other arm for a double hammer lock submission hold. Mayashi got his legs out from under Shirow and made it to a sitting position. Mayashi fought to his feet, but Shirow attempted to back suplex him while still hanging onto the double hammer lock. Shirow got him off the ground but Mayashi hooked his leg behind the inside of Shirow's knee to block the hold. Mayashi reached out with his leg and hooked the second rope with his foot to force the break at 3:05. Shirow and Mayashi locked up center ring with Mayashi controlling with a fireman's carry takedown into a full nelson/body scissors combination to a round of applause. This match had a lot of heat just like the others but it was a very different kind of heat or interest than the previous fights. The crowd was very quite through out, with most staying seated. The crowd pops were for crisp mat work, submission holds, reversals, and rope escapes. The crowd watched intently and when they popped it wasn't loud screams, cheers, or chants, it was polite rounds of applause or 'ohs' and 'ahs'. Shirow fought hard to roll to his stomach for a possible counter but Mayashi distributed his weight well to prevent it. Finally at the 4:28 mark Shirow landed a headbutt with the back of his head to Mayashi's forehead, stunning him enough to enable Shirow to roll to his stomach and break the body scissors. Shirow got his knees under him and fought to his feet to round of applause but Mayashi landed two knees to the back of his knees, knocking Shirow back down to his knees on the mat, prompting the crowd to 'ah'. Shirow fought back to his feet, got his right foot behind Mayashi's ankle enabling him to trip him, throwing him off balance, and allowing Shirow to drive himself and Mayashi back into the ropes for the break. The crowd applauded the efforts of both men. The pace quickened after the break as Shirow ducked under Mayashi's attempted lock-up and charged the ropes, shooting off with a stiff lariat that sent Mayashi staggering backwards but not down. Shirow shot back off the ropes with another lariat attempt but Mayashi was ready for it and hit a beautiful over head, release belly-to-belly suplex to a good pop from the crowd. Mayashi pulled Shirow to his feet, shot him to the ropes, and caught him coming off with a stiff side kick to his right shoulder/chest that sent Shirow back to the mat holding his shoulder and chest. Mayashi went over to the prone Shirow and hit a knee drop to Shirow's right shoulder, before shooting off the ropes and landing a rolling senton splash to his right shoulder. Shirow sat up in pain nursing his shoulder. Mayashi paused momentarily to clap his hands towards the crowd and pump his arms up and down to encourage them to get on there feet. They answered with cheers and a small chant of 'Mayashi, Mayashi' broke out. As Mayashi approached to continue his attack, Hayashi intervened to check Shirow's shoulder and make sure he was fit to and want to continue. Hayashi ruled Shirow fit to continue and the action resumed at 7:33. Mayashi grabbed Shirow and landed two knees to his head before pulling him to his feet. Mayashi went for a German suplex but Shirow blocked it, landed an elbow to his head, and shot him to the ropes. Shirow caught Mayashi coming off the ropes with a knee to the stomach, followed by an exploder suplex which drew an 'oh' from the crowd . Mayashi landed hard on his shoulders and neck but Shirow collapsed to mat holding his injured shoulder after the hold and was unable to capitalize. Shirow came to his feet and looked to the crowd for encouragement throwing his head back and screaming. The crowd began to cheer and came to its feet in a fever pitch as Shirow held his shoulder while waiting for Mayashi to make it to his feet. Mayashi made it to his feet slowly using the ropes. Shirow shot off the ropes form the opposite side of the ring and caught Mayashi as he was turning around with a sick looking lariat that nearly took Mayashi's head off and drew a deafening pop from the crowd who were now standing. Mayashi lay face down on the mat, barely moving and holding his neck. Hayashi back Shirow off and administered a standing 10 count to Mayashi. Mayashi answered the count at 7 with the assistance of the ropes as the an announcement was made that 10 minutes had past in the match. Shirow charged center ring to the cheers of the crowd and attempted a lariat on a groggy Mayashi as he staggered to center ring, but ducked under, mounted Shirow's opposite shoulder (the injured right shoulder), and took him down with a rolling arm bar submission. The crowd went crazy and several ringside attendants climbed onto the apron of the ring anticipating the end of the fight. Shirow struggled wildly to make the ropes and did at 11:02 to force the break and stand-up. After the break Mayashi rolled to his knees and slapped the mat in frustration. Hayashi asked Shirow if he wanted to continue to which the answer was a resounding yes. 11:25 - Mayashi stretched out on the opposite side of the ring as Shirow came to his feet. They came to center ring with Mayashi quickly landing an axe kick to Shirow's injured shoulder, prompting him to fall backwards towards to the ropes. As Shirow turned around, Mayashi went for a front kick to the shoulder, but Shirow caught it with his left hand, spun around, and hit a quick dragon screw leg whip on Mayashi's right leg, which drew an enormous pop from the crowd. Shirow fell back into the corner, briefly nursing his shoulder, but came out of the corner and landed a hard side kick to Mayashi's right knee just as he made it to his feet. The kick, took Mayashi's knee out and he fell towards Shirow who speared him to the mat with his good shoulder to a big pop from the crowd who came to there feet. However, he was unable to capitalize due to pain in his right shoulder from it hitting the mat. Shirow rolled off of Mayashi and to his stomach nursing his shoulder, kicking the mat in pain. Mayashi rolled on the mat from side to side holding his knee. At the 12:48 mark Hayashi issued a standing 10 count to both men. Shirow came to his knees and then to his feet, still nursing his shoulder, at the count of 7. Mayashi, with the help of the ropes, made it to his feet and limped to the corner at the count of 9. Shirow charged Mayashi in the corner with a running knee to the knee and inside thigh of his right leg. Mayashi doubled over in pain from his knee and Shirow slowly took advantage with a DDT with his good arm and shoulder. The contact with the mat once again did damage to Shirow's bad shoulder and prevented him from resuming his attack right away. He fought through the pain to make it to his feet still heavily favoring his right arm and shoulder just seconds after Kiato Toyota announced to the crowd that one minute remained. The crowd began to chant 'Shirow, Shirow' as he made his way over to Mayashi and drug him from the ropes to center ring. Shirow turned the dazed and barely moving Mayashi over to his stomach and dropped down clamping on an STF. The crowd came to its feet and cheered wildly, the building began to shake. Both Mayashi and Shirow grimaced in pain as Hayashi checked for Mayashi to submit. The bell rang signifying the end of regulation and Shirow released the hold, and rolled off of Mayashi raising his hands believing Mayashi had tapped out as did the crowd. Mayashi lay face down on the mat holding his right knee. Hayashi quickly came to his feet and jerked Shirow's hand down explaining to the shocked fighter that the regulation time limit had expired. Toyota soon made the situation clear to the crowd who groaned initially, until he announced that the match would resume with a five minute overtime period in three minutes. During the break before the overtime period ringside trainers attended to Shirow's shoulder and Mayashi's knee with numbing spray and ice. During the break the crowd was in a buzz discussing the wonderful action they'd seen thus far in this match and on the card as a whole. The overtime period opened slowly and tentatively with both men being very cautious and in obvious pain. Mayashi through a palm strike but ducked out of the way and landed a kick to the back of Mayashi injured knee which sent him to the mat. Hayashi check the knee and asked Mayashi if he was able to continue to which Mayashi responded by grabbing the ropes, pulling himself to his feet, and moving back towards Shirow which was all the answer Hayashi needed. After getting back to his feet Mayashi stayed near the ropes forcing Shirow to come to him. Mayashi grabbed the ropes for support and threw very weak and slow side kick with his good leg which Shirow caught. Before he had a chance to capitalize, Mayashi hit a reverse enzuigiri catching Shirow in the jaw hard with his heel. Shirow fell to his knees but didn't go all the way down and he fell draped across the second rope. Mayashi appeared to further injure his knee with the strike, possibly hyper-extending it and was unable to make it back to his feet to follow-up, instead he lay on the mat holding his knee. The crowd encouraged both men to come to there feet as some chanted for Mayashi, others for Shirow. Shirow made it to his feet, still groggy from the heel blow. As Mayashi lay on the mat holding his knee, Shirow grabbed his bad leg and drug him to center ring, applying a single leg Boston crap on his already injured knee at 3:26. Shirow was unable to get the maximum effect out of the move as he could only wrench back on the hold with one arm due to his injured right shoulder. The crowd came to its feet applauding and cheering, with some chanting 'Junji, Junji', in anticipation of a victory for Shirow. Mayashi held on, refusing to submit, and winning the crowd over as they begin chanting 'Mayashi, Mayashi' encouraging him to break the hold. At the 4:01 mark Mayashi made the ropes to a huge ovation from the crowd. After the break, Mayashi was unable to stand without assistance from the ropes which prompted Hayashi to stop the match to prevent any further injury to Mayashi's knee. Winner - Junji Shirow at 4:11 in overtime Trainers hit the ring to attend to both men directly following the match. The crowd gave both men a standing ovation for there effort. This match was probably the best and most exciting match in the short history of SHVF. The future certainly looks bright for SHVF if they can keep these two fighters in the promotion. At this point there was a 15 minute intermission. During this time it was confirmed on the television broadcast that Keiji Asamiya would indeed advance to the finals of the tournament due to the double DQ in the Dean/Miyazaki match. Due the condition of Shirow after his match, a Fukada/Asamiya re-match in the finals looked very possible and there was quite a buzz around the arena as a result. Continued in Part 2 
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