[2022-03-23-CAPTURE International] Fuminori Abe & Sanshu Tsubakichi vs Jota & Keisuke Goto

[corwo]

This match takes place in a dimly-lit basement in front of approximately 20 people, to give you the vibe. The ring consists of a mat surrounded by guard rails on each side. Using an escape or getting a down results in a yellow card, a second one gets a red card, and a third means you lose the match. Tsubakichi and Jota kick things off, lighting each other up with slaps and kicks to the leg. Tsubakichi grounds Jota and starts pummeling him with punches to the mid-section and knees to the head. Every time Jota gains the advantage, Tsubakichi swings frantically, looking for any strike that will land. The violence is off the charts even in the early stages of the match. Jota forces Tsubakichi into the corner, and in comes Abe.

Abe's the perfect wrestler for this sort of environment, bringing focused, gritty mat work and stiff strikes. I'm a big fan of Tsubakichi slapping Abe and immediately making the tag to Goto. Goto and Abe struggle over control of a knee bar, slapping each other silly in the process. Tag to Tsubakichi, and Goto overpowers him and immediately locks in a Boston Crab. The grappling exchanges between Goto and Tsubakichi are equally as gripping as the previous ones, as they weave in and out of holds seamlessly with gorgeous transitions.

Jota comes back in and fells Tsubakichi with a quick blow to the head. Tsubakichi grabs an armbar and mounts Jota, but Jota makes him scratch and claw for control. Abe breaking up a Cross Face attempt from Jota by running in and kicking him in the back as hard as possible ruled. This cost the team of Tsubakichi and Abe their yellow card but gave them the upper hand briefly. Tsubakichi got caught in an Ankle Lock, forcing him to use an escape, and quickly tagged out to Goto.

Jota, wanting some payback from earlier, broke up a submission attempt on Goto. You could feel the tension between Jota and Abe, and when Jota came back in shortly afterwards, things really started to get chippy. Jota and Abe went blow-for-blow, trading headbutts, kicks, and knee strikes, but it was Jota who came out on top. Goto came in to finish things off with two sentons, but Abe caught him in a submission for the win.

This match had a little bit of everything. Shoot headbutts, kicks to the head, unrelenting strikes and thoughtful, determined mat work. Of the three wrestlers I was unfamiliar with, Jota impressed me the most. He's got an attitude to his work and elevated things to another level once he got in there with Abe. If you're in the mood to watch a bunch of wrestlers you've probably never heard of slug it out in a basement in Tokyo, give this one a whirl.