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00:00Well, Colt, hey, coming up next, folks, it's Hiroshi Tanahashi, Zack Sabre Jr.,
00:06the undisputed British Heavyweight Championship on the line.
00:11Kevin, this match is one that we've been looking forward to for quite some time.
00:17And you know, Zack Sabre Jr., three times over the Rev Pro, British Heavyweight Champion,
00:21undisputed British Heavyweight Champion, of course, that championship.
00:26Colt, you've held that championship.
00:28Shao Sambles, of course, put it on the map.
00:31We've seen athletes from all over the world.
00:34Shibata, he's held that title.
00:37And it's Zack Sabre Jr. who heads to the Garden.
00:40Championship in hand, match of a lifetime.
00:44Colt, let me ask you, as a former champion,
00:47Zack now three-time reign, picking up the victory over Ishii back at WrestleKingdom 13.
00:53Is he truly the greatest fan to have ever held that title?
00:57Yeah, you ask him if he's the greatest man ever.
00:59I'll tell you right now, he's the greatest man to represent the British championship,
01:04the British style of wrestling.
01:05And I know we shall not talk of what is going to be.
01:10Zack Sabre Jr. represents that style so well, and he is so amazing,
01:14and he's going to prove it tonight against the Ace, the Ace of New Japan.
01:18Yeah, we talked earlier about wanting the best opponent for the biggest night in the context of Dalton Cashel and Roosh.
01:26But here tonight, Zack Sabre Jr., who's known the world over,
01:30has a chance to put a stamp on history by facing the greatest IWGP champion, in my opinion, Hiroshi Tanahashi.
01:36And, of course, they just had a recent meeting in the quarterfinals of the New Japan Cup.
01:41Zack Sabre Jr.'s hubris cost him the win.
01:44So confident that Tanahashi's knees were already shot, he chose not to target them, going after the arms instead.
01:51Tanahashi won.
01:52And, oh, by the way, Sonata in the next round, he went after the legs of Tana and was victorious.
02:00So, Zack, I have a feeling he won't make that mistake again.
02:03Yeah, Zack Sabre Jr. had won six matches in a row, I believe, Kevin, in the New Japan Cup.
02:07He was the winner in 2018, and he'd gone on and won two more in the biggest field ever in 2019.
02:14And defeated names like Naito, Ibushi, Sonata, Evil, the list went on and on and on.
02:20Our pal Colt was in the tournament.
02:22Yeah, he did a great job.
02:23Awesome.
02:24Thank you very much.
02:25I could only do so much, but, yes, it was Sonata who did beat me and went on.
02:29But you know what?
02:29I like to say this in front of everybody, man.
02:31I call myself the most versatile man in the sport, but you proved over and over and over again that you're one of the most versatile men in the sport.
02:38You're doing commentary, you're doing it very well, and you're representing wrestling very well.
02:43I'm proud of you.
02:44I appreciate that, but as a wrestler's wrestler, I'll tell you what, I do give that vote of confidence to Zack Sabre Jr.
02:52You know, he is the guy that Daniel Bryan, sorry, Bryan Danielson here in Ring of Honor, you know, he is the guy that said Zack Sabre Jr. is the one that he wants to wrestle like.
03:03He's the one that he looks up to.
03:04He sees him as the technical wizard and master that he is.
03:09Yes, indeed.
03:09And, of course, that British Heavyweight Championship, that's what we've been talking about, the Rev Pro Championship.
03:17There is some action going on over here.
03:19You wonder what our attention is going towards.
03:21Yeah, we, unfortunately, things, uh, well, you know what's crazy?
03:25People try to make a name for themselves, and they don't make TV, so let's keep going.
03:29Yeah, let's just keep going with this British Heavyweight Championship on the line.
03:33I imagine I'm looking forward to this was the one when you talk about commentary dreamless.
03:37And without further ado, let's introduce everyone to the ace of New Japan.
03:51Go, Ed.
04:11Go, Ed.
04:13Go, Ed.
04:16Go, Ed.
04:20The British heavy-Q選手権試合, one win 60 minutes.
04:36The red corner challenger is 181cm and 101kg.
04:40Go!
04:41Thank you!
04:42Go!
04:43Go!
04:44Go!
04:45Go!
04:46Go!
04:47Go!
04:49The bitter taste of defeat from the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, leaving the waist of Tanahashi
04:58with zero reign, zero defenses in his eighth reign.
05:02That happened back in February.
05:04But that Kamen Rider inspired outfit will be made whole with Championship gold adorned
05:11And for the first time ever, Tanahashi will look to represent Great Britain
05:16as the undisputed heavyweight champion.
05:24A lot of question marks, though, remain, Kevin, around the health of Hiroshi Tanahashi.
05:28Yep. We talked about the New Japan Cup.
05:31The focus almost ignored by this great submission expert that we're about to see.
05:37During the New Japan Cup, Tanahashi won three matches.
05:41And at no time during the tournament did he use, or even attempt, a high fly flow.
05:48He submitted Shota Quino.
05:50He dragged Suplex Tsuguchi.
05:53Japanese leg roll punch on this fan.
05:56Oh! Look who he brought with him!
05:59He said he would never come back.
06:01And it's everybody's favorite time.
06:04It's a young age, British heavyweight champion Suzuki, 183.85kg.
06:11ZAKUSAIMON!
06:14Journey out!
06:19Flying proudly the flag of Suzuki-gun, Takuma Jinoku.
06:23One of the all-time greats.
06:25And many first-time fans watching us here tonight may remember.
06:29Oh!
06:30Amazing run in WWE, in Michinoku Pro, and one of the great junior heavyweights all across Japan.
06:37And the best hype man in the business.
06:39Absolutely.
06:43We see Kaka, but more importantly, the man with the gold.
06:46Welcome to Zack Sabre time.
06:57British Heavyweight Championship, Zack Sabre Jr. vs Hiroshi Tanahashi.
07:07What do you think about this match?
07:11I said, who's gonna win this match?
07:20Anytime, anywhere, anyone, all they can do is just turn out!
07:33Give up, R. Nomi.
07:35The winner of this match is submission master, Zack Sabre Jr.
07:46Start in this guy!
07:50Going up at 5, pacing him.
07:52Not the proper amount of respect that I would give.
07:55Absolutely very disrespectful for a man that has made a great name for himself.
07:59A literal walking legend.
08:02A man still at the top of his game, no less, in Hiroshi Tanahashi.
08:06I thought you were talking about Taka Machinoku.
08:08Well, I would agree there, he could still go.
08:10But Colt, you've been in the ring, I know, with Zack Sabre Jr. many times.
08:13What does Tanahashi have to look out for here tonight?
08:16He's just tricky.
08:17And I'll tell you what, in the past two or three years, his game has changed so much.
08:22There's the battle, big fight field.
08:24Alright, so here we go.
08:25It's Zack Sabre Jr., undisputed British Heavyweight title on the line.
08:28against Hiroshi Tanahashi.
08:30And the G1 Supercard hashtag trending worldwide.
08:34Two and two is the mark in the singles matches between Zack Sabre Jr. and Hiroshi Tanahashi.
08:41Zack winning the first in the G1 two years ago.
08:45Referee Chris Roberts, the third man in the ring.
08:50RevPro senior official.
08:53Wail's very own, representing the country of Wales.
08:59I do want to take note as this beautiful grappling contest will be going on.
09:02Look at the pads of the corner of the ring here.
09:05You see the traditional pads of the New Japan and the big pads and then the corner buckles for Ring of Honor.
09:12You know, it gives every match here a big match field.
09:15There's so much, when you hear the different translations that are here, the different stars that are here.
09:19We're in Madison Square Garden.
09:21We have over five countries represented.
09:23This is awesome.
09:24There's Andy Quilden, owner of RevPro, holding the title there.
09:29It's all on the line right now.
09:30Fans fully invested to see who will get the first leg up, the first.
09:40Yeah, and leg is the key word because we can anticipate, while Zack has control of Tanahashi's left arm, we can anticipate Zack going to the legs.
09:51And we talked about Tiger Mask being so great here.
09:56It's those junior championship belts in Madison Square Garden.
09:59You can't forget about guys like Rollerball Rocco wrestling here in Madison Square Garden.
10:05British greats, Zack Sabre carrying on the tradition.
10:08It is tough, I know.
10:09Grabbing the wrist, and now Hammerlock got out of it.
10:11That Sabre now with an European uppercut staggering Tanahashi.
10:14See, what you saw there was a game plan change because he's able to do that.
10:19He's one guy that's able to change his game plan in midstream, and that's what makes Sabre so dangerous.
10:26Tanahashi now.
10:28But it's Sabre right back to his feet with a big European uppercut against staggering Tanahashi.
10:35If Tanahashi is able to take the title as Zack sends him corner to corner, Tanahashi with the elbow.
10:41Now he'll go to the second.
10:42Ooh!
10:43The crossbody and a little air guitar.
10:46A little.
10:47The title.
10:48Tanahashi wins.
10:49He'll join Shibata, Ishii, and Minoru Suzuki as Japanese competitors that have held the British heavyweight title.
10:58And an amazing list of names.
11:00That also includes Colt.
11:02Oh!
11:03Oh, wait a minute.
11:04He's caught him.
11:05Cross arm breaker.
11:06Has it in.
11:07It's dead.
11:08To the stack.
11:09Has it back.
11:10Can he get it hyperextended here, Caprice?
11:12You're an MMA expert indeed.
11:14You know how dangerous this is when that arm goes straight.
11:16The only thing that he has, he has his feet crossed.
11:18He has to have his feet straight before he can lock it in.
11:21But he has it.
11:22And there you go.
11:23His feet is straight right there.
11:24That's what I'm saying.
11:25And you see the transitions from Zack Sabre Jr.
11:28Well, that's what I was talking about.
11:30With him able to change game plans mainstream in a match, it makes them very different.
11:34Kevin, I'm going to put you on the spot.
11:36You've seen Zack Sabre more than anybody.
11:37Right now, he's targeting that arm when the knee has been issued.
11:42We take a look there at the Rev Pro Championship.
11:45Yeah.
11:46I don't know.
11:47I think I've seen him a little more than Kevin, but go on.
11:49Well, when you look at what Zack has done, it's what Tanahashi, for me, hasn't done.
11:57Has he completely rewritten his own game plan?
12:00And will he avoid any aerial moves?
12:04Will he avoid the high fly flow and look to win with some Fujinami-esque offense?
12:09Oh, look at that.
12:10And this game plan is all Zack Sabre Jr.
12:13The manipulation, the pretzels.
12:18And so many times, Colt, he'll go from the arm to the leg, to the head.
12:22He floats like water.
12:23He's a spider crawling all over the body.
12:29And cocky enough to back it up, man.
12:32Yes.
12:33So cocky.
12:34He's got that almost like a kicker attitude.
12:36Well, he has an infinity book inside of him of the moves that he's able to do to change his game plans.
12:43And he makes you mad because he can back up everything that he says.
12:46European Uppercut.
12:47Now Tanahashi empowered by this huge capacity crowd, nearly 20,000, here at Madison Square Garden.
12:56Now thrown over the top rope, Tanahashi puts the brakes on.
13:00Does he have the power in his arm to skin the cat?
13:03No.
13:05Oh, look at that.
13:06Look at that.
13:07So smart.
13:08So smart.
13:09With a bullseye now on that arm.
13:11He's feisty and he's dirty, but he is great, Zack Sabre Jr.
13:15Fuck five minutes.
13:16Five minutes pass.
13:17Hollybit.
13:18Who's going to take up?
13:19Well, you hear the five minute call.
13:20Jack Sabre Jr.
13:21Capturing the title on the line here for the third time at Wrestle Kingdom 13.
13:26Avenging the loss toishi that he had suffered one year ago today.
13:32today you know when you look at Sabre's game plan you have to think you know that
13:37his knees already messed up when you target an arm is almost like taking two
13:41legs out of a table you don't have to mess with the knee it's already hurt so
13:44take another leg out we're seeing that come to fruition right here just
13:48manipulating the wrist is high angle lock here with the fingers in toe grabbing
13:53his own wrist to get that extra leverage cool he knows all the pin points he
13:57knows how to do it all there's there's wrestling there's grappling but then
14:00there's this dark art form that he's perfected Colt where do you go to
14:04learn this style that's a perfect way to say the dark art form I mean he's from
14:09this tiny country town of the Isle of Sheffield but he has gone all over the
14:16world he has trained with some of the bests began his journey at 14 years old
14:20follows it no Tadahashi chops the legs out the dark art form I like that a lot
14:28of it's it's a sadistic style and only in New Japan do we see he and Minoru
14:34Suzuki as practitioners of it that's why they were drawn together when they both
14:39competed in Pro Wrestling NOAH you see now Zack Sabre trying to get some blood flow
14:45back into the knee that was targeted by Tadahashi Tadahashi holding on to that
14:49arm that that is attached to the shoulder by a string at this point whoa and a bunch of a very
14:56aggressive Tadahashi with the drop kick in the corner that might be a good sign of what to come
15:00with the knee Kevin absolutely second rope on the inside it's Tadahashi
15:05whoa
15:07somersault sent Todd from the ace of New Japan to the cover Chris Roberts there and two only two
15:14Tadahashi doing the right thing by staying on stable when he has cloverleaf yeah going for the cloverleaf here
15:22he won many matches with that when the knee was hurt Kevin yep submitted Naito to win the
15:28Intercontinental title submitted most recently Shota Umino the young lion in the first round of this
15:34year's New Japan Cup
15:35the ace of the ring blade no oh wait a minute one of the foundational moves in New Japan Pro Wrestling
15:48Cobra Twist Cobra Twist Antonio Inoki his specialty but Tadahashi a product of the New Japan Dojo and it
15:58only makes sense he's able to get that reversal he knows it well got to be making Tadahashi
16:04the crowd knowing carrying that tradition of Inoki who competed here as well as his idol Fujinami but
16:08right now Zack Sabre switching out of it able to grab the wrist
16:13legs locked
16:15physical chess happening right before our eyes
16:21yeah but I don't believe Sabre played his game long when Sabre gets out wrestled he goes to the
16:26strikes he goes to other stuff he won't play this game oh yeah we've seen a little petulant streak
16:31in him he gets a little temper and that flares a beautiful counter out of that Cobra he saw the pump
16:39handle grab the wrist fit into an offensive maneuver of his own to Tadahashi Tadahashi knows what this
16:45matchup means yes not just representing Red Pro and New Japan simultaneously but also capturing that victory
16:51here in Madison Square Garden and look at this the head scissors applied across the top rope Sabre baited
16:59him into the ropes he baited him in and that size of Sabre is to his advantage uh oh wait wait wait
17:04track caught dragon screw leg whip the pain radiating through the leg up the spine the nervous system rattle with the dragon screw leg whip
17:17well this is the window that Tanahashi needs if he's gonna open some doors now they're on even street
17:22well he's going to close it up here
17:25any door that may have been open for Sabre
17:27he's got to twist them right through his legs
17:29may slam shut look at the high angle
17:32yes the high angle on this cloverleaf
17:35yeah but look at the way Zack slithers around
17:37he wasn't up oh triangle choke
17:39Zack was not all the way through I know you called it high angle but I believe he wasn't through and he's able to put the triangle choke on Tanahashi
17:46does he have enough of it you see him such a master tactician
17:51he's pulling his own leg under his other kneecap
17:54and in that left shoulder strategically up so that the pinfall does not occur and he might tap Tanahashi out here Kevin
18:01it might not be a tap on it might just be out of verbal submission
18:04well the only way to stop this is to try to put Sabre's shoulders to the mat
18:08oh maybe not Caprice this is why this man is a former IWGP heavyweight champion one of the greatest of all time
18:18I don't know he's too hurt
18:19he's slipping it through
18:21oh back to the hole perfect go perfect perfect application and a transition into a cloverleaf and there is the sit through Sabre so quickly going to the ropes
18:35Sabre is one of the only men I know that can think under pressure he can think while he's moving and he can always change his game plan in midstream
18:46he knew he was hurt he knew where the ropes were he knew what he had to do the pain did not change his mindset
18:52very quickly the game plan of Tanahashi is unfolding before our eyes targeting that knee but it's Sabre with a big European uppercut open hand from Tanahashi
19:01Tanahashi
19:03yep forward facing sling blade driving Zack Sabre Jr. down
19:07four matches as single competitors against one another and neither has won two in a row
19:12Tanahashi won the most recent he looks like he's on his way and for the first time in well over a month
19:19maybe looking for that high-five flow instead Sabre cuts him down to size
19:24yeah Zack saw him going up there and give a big no no no oh no
19:30got this Camaro locked in
19:33now Chris Roberts is very much a no-nonsense referee
19:37sometimes Red Shoes will let the athletes fight their way through in holds like this but Chris is very quick to call for a break and to begin to apply to the count of five
19:47oh
19:49Sabre has a game plan he's staying on that target
19:51yeah he hasn't deviated and and I'm surprised he hasn't gone after the legs
19:56he doesn't have to it's already hurt
19:59oh kick caught
20:02kick caught by Tanahashi
20:04no
20:05oh
20:06you're wrong
20:07oh
20:08look at that
20:09two
20:10oh
20:11can't get any closer to three than that
20:15a PK into the chest
20:17Robert's there
20:18two
20:19oh
20:20so close
20:21cold you've been on the receiving end of that step over bridge
20:26that was cold
20:28yeah that beautiful counter to the dragon screw
20:31he's got a counter for everything to Zack Sabre
20:34the only we talk about the weight sometimes not enough to bring it all the way down
20:39Tanahashi able to escape
20:41calling for now the Zack driver
20:45Taka Michinoku handing down his Michinoku driver to ZSJ
20:49is that what Taka was saying out there?
20:51that's what he's calling for
20:52here we go
20:53here we go
20:54Zack driver no
20:55Tanahashi
20:56Okada roll
20:57has him with the bridge
21:00one
21:01two
21:02oh Sabre
21:03back to the arm
21:04I'm telling you he has a game plan that he's not EVA from
21:08oh
21:09nasty inverted dragon screw
21:13so beautiful back and forth
21:18and it's Tanahashi now
21:20back in control
21:21looking for the dragon suplex
21:23no
21:24Sabre
21:25catches him
21:26two
21:27three
21:28oh
21:29just a two count
21:30and there was the bridge
21:31but this time he had grabbed both wrists of Tanahashi
21:34the only thing Tanahashi could do would kind of roll his body
21:38able to escape and Zack Sabre Jr. jumps right on Tanahashi
21:42right on Tanahashi
21:43you have to believe the skate was there because of the injuries on the knee
21:47look at that
21:48and it's Tanahashi
21:50oh
21:51twist and shout
21:52he's not letting him go
21:54driving it home
21:56got him again
22:05sling blade
22:06got him
22:07delivers
22:08could it be
22:09to the cover
22:10to new
22:11no
22:12new champion
22:15maybe too deep of a count
22:17Zack Sabre able to flip his body through
22:20an untraditional kick out but it works
22:23we take a look here
22:2420,000 strong
22:26G1 Supercar
22:27the very best of New Japan in Ring of Honor
22:29here we go dragon suplex
22:30dragon suplex
22:31Sabre has a counter for everything
22:33an effortless counter
22:35like I said
22:37like a tarantula around the body
22:39has it locked in
22:40yes
22:41I'm a long way from home
22:42yeah
22:43the move
22:44he has it locked in
22:47Tanahashi now bleeding from the mouth
22:50driving it in
22:52he's driving it in
22:53he's breaking him down
22:54he's
22:56sending it
22:57cinching it
22:58it's dead
22:59now he transitions to something else
23:01this is what I'm talking about
23:02this is the setup for it
23:04can he lock it in
23:05can he lock it in
23:06can he lock it in
23:07fighting for it
23:08finishing out the game plan
23:10that's it
23:11got it got it got it got it
23:12got it
23:1815 minutes
23:1915 minutes
23:2015 minutes
23:2115 minutes
23:2215 minutes
23:23he's trapped
23:24he's trapped
23:25end
23:26he's
23:27still
23:28he's
23:29still
23:30a
23:33that make
23:34keep
23:35him
23:36the
23:37the
23:38the
23:39the
23:40the
23:42the
23:43the
23:44the
23:46the
23:47the
23:49the
23:51the
23:52the
23:53This is a champion belt.
24:00And there we see...
24:03Cole, you know that man very well.
24:06The President of the British Hedikay's competition is the winner of the 15-24.
24:10The Zaxxabar Jr. winner of the championship.
24:23and drives it to the mat and then when it's locked in there is nowhere to go
24:28Zack Sabre Jr. is your winner retaining the Rev Pro British Jr.
24:33Well he also says he's the future prime minister of Great Britain
24:37there isn't anything Zack Sabre Jr. could do
24:40can't do
24:43Zack Sabre Jr. has submitted Hiroshi Tanahashi to retain