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00:00Godo, I challenge you for the Never Open Championship.
00:14Hey man, a few words. Newcomer Jeff Cobb will be going for his first New Japan Championship in his career here and now. And this kid is something special.
00:26Man, he was an Olympic wrestler. He has taken that amateur wrestling background, mixed it with a bit more weight and an incredible amount of athleticism.
00:41He kind of brings shades of Gary Albright.
00:45Into the blue corner, the challenger, Chef Cobb.
00:52He's a real talent. He won the All-Pro Wrestling Universal Championship in this very building, JR.
00:59Yeah, this kid's got a, what a great background. He's a classy kid. Very professional young man. He was raised right.
01:10I actually had the opportunity to face Jeff Cobb in the square circle. And he gave me all I could handle.
01:24And you think you have all these ways to stop from getting lifted off the floor and thrown on your head and then Jeff Cobb comes around.
01:31He can suplex any man alive pretty much anytime that he wants. Can Jeff Cobb.
01:39But this is going to be a tall order for him or anybody.
01:46Josh, I have immense respect for Hiroki Godo and the way he conducts his business, his approach to the game.
01:56He is a fighter through and through. Great storied amateur background. A very, very healthy entrance into that New Japan Dojo system.
02:08And starting out as a junior and working his way all up to the Bret Hart-esque man that we see all the time on New Japan Pro Wrestling and Access.
02:18Very well-rounded, great striking, great submission skills.
02:23Now the reigning champion in the red corner, the purest warrior, Hiroki Godo.
02:37Very colorful attire tonight is the champion.
02:41The man that won this title at Wrestle Kingdom 12 against Minoru Suzuki in what was a hair versus hair match.
02:53What an accomplishment that is.
02:55The issue is that Cobb is no stranger.
03:02But he's not been in New Japan long enough for a guy like Godo to get a great scouting report on.
03:09What's his strengths? His weaknesses? What can I do? What should I not try?
03:14Yeah, he's a new problem for Godo to try and figure out.
03:18The thing about Godo is he's been in so many matches against so many different guys.
03:22Cobb does necessarily. I really believe that he needs to try to surprise Godo and get him off on the wrong foot immediately.
03:30Keep him off balance. The one thing he doesn't want and I can attest from my match with Cobb as well,
03:36is Godo to get a striking offense going.
03:39Cobb's not really known as much of a striker and kicking game could really disrupt his ability to enforce those suplexes and wrestling ability.
03:46Great points and we'll keep our eye on that strategy.
03:49But Godo uses strikes, his elbows, his fists, his feet.
03:55Jeff Cobb certainly no stranger to the Bay Area as Josh Barnett alluded to moments ago.
04:04I don't know what to expect in this match. I would like to think it would be a very physical, more rules friendly matchup.
04:13I might be dead wrong, Josh, on that one.
04:15Well, knowing Godo, I have no doubt it's going to turn into a fight at some point.
04:20He loves going in there and leading with his heart.
04:23But I do expect it to stay quite technical.
04:26Both of these wrestlers have such great backgrounds.
04:30Very, very technical wrestlers in addition to being as tough and as athletic as they are.
04:36I don't expect any funny business.
04:38Cobb's left shoulder heavily taped.
04:41Let's see how that plays into this.
04:44And Godo stepped back.
04:46Got a quasi clean break, but not to the delight of this crowd here tonight in the Gap Battle.
04:51Hey, he's the champion, is Godo.
04:56He's got a lot to lose.
04:58Meaning everything professionally for him tonight.
05:01Come on!
05:06Big man Cobb.
05:16Oh, try that big time clothesline.
05:19A big shoulder tackle did Jeff Cobb.
05:23Shows his athleticism.
05:25Light on his feet for a man that thick, that strong.
05:29Shades of Scott Steiner there.
05:33You're right.
05:35There's some similar makings in both of how those wrestlers are put together.
05:40Look at that belly-to-belly set up.
05:42Oh!
05:43By Cobb launching Godo.
05:47And Godo's face showed almost shock and awe when he got wrapped up in those big arms.
05:56There's where you can really find out what this guy's got.
06:00He's got a hold of you.
06:02Oh, man.
06:03Yeah.
06:04Squeeze him.
06:05I can tell you, he gets that waist lock on you.
06:06He locks.
06:07He gets that pinch body lock.
06:09Once he starts getting those hips involved, you're going.
06:12You're going for a ride.
06:13It wouldn't matter if you didn't want to be on the Matterhorn or not.
06:16You're going.
06:21Retaliation.
06:23He goes from the chop to the forearm by Jeff Cobb.
06:31Missed with that lariat.
06:33Oh!
06:34While the veteran Godo low-bridge Jeff Cobb.
06:38And now look, can he cap the line above the Cobb!
06:43It's a bit unusual to see Godo.
06:45Very much unusual.
06:46Take to the sky like that.
06:48Cobb got hit right across the ridge of the nose.
06:51We'll take a look here.
06:52Watch this.
06:53Yeah.
06:54Godo was able to at least land on his feet.
06:56If you're a Godo fan, but it just really seemed to club him right in the face with his elbow and his body there.
07:02That may be an indicator of...
07:06That ping was the skull of Jeff Cobb bouncing off the steel ring post.
07:11That's what that was.
07:13Well, Godo using the ring post, pointing himself over the ropes onto Cobb on the outside.
07:19Like I said, unusual tactics from Hiroki Godo.
07:23Maybe there's something about Cobb that has him nervous.
07:26Has him a little worried.
07:27I would think.
07:28Godo's a smart man.
07:30He should be concerned.
07:33Any time his title's on the line, but travel this far in Cobb's home, not to say his own territory, but he's a lot more local than his Godo to San Francisco.
07:43And I think it goes to say to your comment earlier about Cobb being more of an unknown factor to Godo.
07:50Maybe that unknown is where that change in tactics that maybe potential fear exists.
07:58Fear of the unknown.
08:00And the elbow dropped very sternly, very strong, stylish.
08:09And Godo looking at the crowd for some sort of acclamation, not finding it.
08:16Got a near fall.
08:17Didn't find that fall either.
08:19I'm sure they have plenty of respect for Godo as an athlete, as the wrestler, but this is going to be a markedly Cobb house, I think.
08:27Using that, the point of the elbow, into the neck, going to the head scissor.
08:39Not a bad idea if you're Godo.
08:41We're down to the big, thick, anvil, Jeff Cobb.
08:46Clock head scissor.
08:48It's going to be a submission here.
08:51Cobb is really trying to find a way to get some air.
08:57Cobb does have some submission talents.
09:00I can attest to.
09:01And he's got legs just long enough to get him to the bottom rope.
09:07I don't know if Jeff, Jeff Cobb has ever considered his legs long in any sort.
09:12As I said, they're just long enough.
09:16But it did get him out of that, that crooked head scissor.
09:20You think of all these amateurs like Cobb, the thick body, the low center of gravity.
09:27I can't even think of my late friend Steve, Dr. Death Williams, who's a big star in Japan as well.
09:32Four-time All-American wrestler at Oakland University.
09:36And Cobb has some of the same thick centers.
09:40Dr. 6'1", maybe.
09:42They are, they're absolutely, they're similar.
09:46Hey, look at that drop kick.
09:48A standing drop kick from a heavyweight with ease.
09:53A 265-pound man has taken flight.
09:58Right in the solar plexus in the chest.
10:01Cotto's just lucky he did hit him right in the face.
10:04Yes, sure enough.
10:06And you know, if you're Jeff Cobb, do a little studying of old Dr. Death Steve Jobs.
10:11The old Dr. Death Steve Williams tapes would do you good.
10:14I think there'd be a lot he could glean from it.
10:16Doc had that suplex-oriented gain.
10:19Yes, he did.
10:20So Cobb could certainly do that.
10:22And boy, this guy strikes that upper body, man.
10:24He'd bring something.
10:27And that backdrop driver failed many a wrestler over in Japan for Dr. Death.
10:34That running form shot, leaping.
10:38And Cobb now is really a serpent.
10:42Spinning backdrop suplex, got the leg up.
10:47Man, that was close.
10:48Good pressure on the upper body when he had that leg elevated.
10:51Come on, go. Come on.
10:55Don't wait on him.
10:57You don't give a man like Godot a second chance.
11:01It will not bear fruit.
11:06The referee warning Cobb about using the hair.
11:14Cobb looking for an Olympic slam, I think.
11:19No, just straight to the point.
11:22Man.
11:23A lot of impact.
11:24Driving the air.
11:27Out of the rookie Godot, the champion.
11:29Follow the line.
11:31Nobody there but canvas.
11:34Impressive to see a man like that just hit a standing moonsault,
11:37but Cobb paying the price for it.
11:41Maybe one too many chances, maybe?
11:44Could be.
11:45I mean, that's still a bit of a high-risk maneuver.
11:49And, you know, you're back to your opponent doing that move.
11:52You don't know you're in trouble until it's too late.
11:55Agreed, JR.
11:57You never want to take your eyes on a warrior life here, Okigoto.
12:01That's the point.
12:02Oh, the head of steam.
12:04A lot of power that kick, the heel kick right to the face.
12:10The side slam, and Cobb able to power out.
12:15Quickly rolled to his stomach, which is a smart move.
12:19Not a lot of elevation on that backdrop suplex from Godot,
12:22but, you know, showing the difference between when,
12:25when, when Cobb gets ahold of you and snaps those hips.
12:28And Godot is a strong man too, but it's a lot to get that anchor,
12:34Jeff Cobb up.
12:35Cobb trying to sprawl, so to speak,
12:38and block the fireman carry attempt.
12:44Downstairs.
12:45Oh, God almighty.
12:47Oh.
12:48That was downtown.
12:50Picking him right up his Cobb.
12:52Scoop.
12:53Not wasting any time.
12:55Speaking of Dr. Death, Steve Williams.
12:57There you go.
12:58There's the version of an Oklahoma stampede.
13:01Oh.
13:03Tiger Torrey's hand was coming down, man.
13:05It was close.
13:06Very close.
13:07And I could see from, from this angle that Cobb was kind of struggling to get
13:10that leg up, to get in position, to, to get chest to chest on Godot
13:14after that big slam.
13:15And perhaps if he'd been able to set himself with just a, a hair sooner, he'd be walking
13:21out of here.
13:22That never open way title.
13:24So either Cobb has found a way to beat Godot, or Cobb has thrown his A-game at Godot
13:31and can't close the deal.
13:33Seems like that may be where we are.
13:36Oh!
13:37Oh!
13:38Come on!
13:39It's hilarious.
13:40It's hilarious.
13:41Go!
13:42Oh!
13:43Oh!
13:44Oh!
13:45And Cobb.
13:46Oh!
13:47He's out of time!
13:48Cover!
13:49Did he get him?
13:50Oh!
13:51You gotta be kidding me!
13:53Kidding me!
13:54Kidding me!
13:55Ten minutes.
13:56Ten minutes past.
13:57Wow.
13:58It's incredible.
13:59Just the power and the base of Cobb wins out.
14:02A photo finish there, but he gotta hand it to the referee.
14:06He was in great position.
14:07It was just that close.
14:09Snaps him in.
14:10Catches a note.
14:11Countered.
14:12Sleeper.
14:13Goto with the advantage.
14:15Goto trying to defend his title.
14:19A sleeper hold.
14:21Very basic.
14:22Big neck.
14:23The big neck's gonna work for Cobb.
14:26Thick neck, Josh.
14:28Cobb dropping to his knees.
14:34A bit of a shoulder throw to take Goto off his back.
14:38I'm surprised that Goto has not focused more on the left shoulder of Jeff Cobb as heavily
14:46bandages as it is, unless it's a subterfuge of some kind.
14:51Yeah, maybe.
14:52Goto might just be caught.
14:57Caught.
14:58Oh, the headbutt.
14:59Might just be caught in sort of a one-set mind.
15:03He's got him up in that fireman's carry.
15:05He's got him up in that fireman's carry.
15:06Hits that netbreaker, JR.
15:10He's got the roll-up.
15:11The netbreaker.
15:12The shoulders are down.
15:13And again, the official got a great look, but no three count.
15:20Very close.
15:21There's it.
15:22Excellently executed.
15:23Yeah.
15:24Great neckbreaker.
15:25Very uniquely done.
15:27Perfectly done by Goto.
15:29The GTR's Goto.
15:31Reversed by Cobb.
15:33Goto, the knee to the head.
15:36Got himself back down on the canvas, thanks to that timely knee to Cobb's head.
15:41Goto's down.
15:42He's found his groove, I think.
15:44Oh, GTR.
15:45GTR.
15:46Far leg is hooked.
15:47And that's it.
15:48Here's your winner.
15:50Hirohoki Goto.
15:51A very physical, slumber knocker-like match.
15:52And he's still never-openweight-class champion.
15:57Goto uses the reverse GTR to set up into the GTR itself.
16:15I was thinking, you know, probably would have served Goto to use more kicks, more strikes,
16:22especially on the legs of Cobb.
16:24But still imagine to put Cobb away with that GTR and retain his title here tonight, JR.
16:32As a learning moment for the fans here that don't know Jeff Cobb as well as many of us do,
16:40they will get to know him much better in time in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
16:45But for this night, this night it was all about Irohoki Goto coming to America and defending his coveted never-openweight title.
16:55And what a standout performance from Jeff Cobb.
16:58I really felt like it could have been his title tonight.
17:01A very physical contest.
17:06The Canyon would like to watch.
17:08And ladies and gentlemen, you're not going to want to miss this one.
17:11Because the young bucks come home to California to defend their newly won tag titles against the former champs.
17:18It's next.
17:19Let's go!
17:44Go, go, it goes!