TJPW Princess Cup 2021 Final Maki Itoh vs Shoko Nakajima
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00:00I'll put it up for a moment.
00:30Ito Deluxe! Ito Deluxe! Ito Deluxe!
00:32Ito Deluxe has won! Ito Deluxe has won!
00:38The two have fought their own battles and come out on top.
00:43I'm scared that my juniors are right behind me.
00:49I've won a match like this, so I definitely want to win this year.
00:55The current Nakajima Shoko is the strongest Nakajima Shoko in the history of Nakajima Shoko.
01:02So I'm definitely going to win.
01:05As for Ito...
01:06It was a close call.
01:09I lost.
01:10I felt a little lonely when I was about to win.
01:14But the moment I got up, I was crying.
01:17I think I'm going to get stronger.
01:22I'll do my best to keep my feet on the ground.
01:28If I can prove that I have a happy ending like this,
01:32I think I'll be more confident.
01:35I think the audience will think that I have a good life.
01:42I'll do my best tomorrow, too.
01:46The final match of the summer.
01:48The 8th Tokyo Princess Cup.
01:51Who will win this battle and take the throne of the strongest queen?
01:58The 8th Tokyo Princess Cup Finals.
02:04Nakajima Shoko vs. Ito Maki.
02:15Today's main event.
02:17The 8th Tokyo Princess Cup Finals.
02:24We'll have a one-on-one match.
02:28The finals of the Tokyo Princess Cup 8.
02:32I will hush for the song of Maki Ito.
02:39Next to me is Maki Ito.
02:42He's wearing a Maki Ito T-shirt.
03:08Maki Ito.
03:11Maki Ito.
03:14Maki Ito.
03:17Maki Ito.
03:20Maki Ito.
03:23Maki Ito.
03:26Maki Ito.
03:30There is a completely unique and different air of seriousness about Maki Ito.
03:38Here today, Aki, for this main event match.
03:41The finals of the Tokyo Princess Cup 8.
03:44She looks focused.
03:48She absolutely does look focused.
03:50But as you know very well, I've said it yesterday, too.
03:55Everything seems to be going Maki Ito's way.
03:58But I still believe...
04:01Nakajima will be the winner.
04:28Nakajima is always in perfect condition.
04:31When have we ever seen her not only at the top of her game.
04:34You can see even the face of Shoko Nakajima, though, today.
04:41She feels the stakes. She feels the pressure. They both do.
04:45Go, go, go!
04:53You can root for whoever you choose in this match.
04:56But one thing that is certain,
04:59this is going to be something special, Aki.
05:02It is going to be something special. I am hyped.
05:05Referee Daisuke Kiso.
05:08Very, very clean.
05:11Very rare for Maki Ito to accept a handshake.
05:15That actually tells you how important this moment is.
05:19How serious it is, how much is on the line when this is happening.
05:27There was much talk about yesterday, but for anyone unaware,
05:30Maki Ito currently still nursing the recovery of a fractured cheekbone
05:35that she picked up a couple of weeks back.
05:38Two weeks back at Shinjuku Phase when she faced Suzume
05:41in what would have been the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Princess Cup.
05:45Ate a crossbody to the outside.
05:47Absolutely crushed the face of Maki Ito.
05:50And a doctor diagnosed it as a fractured cheekbone.
05:54Spent two weeks trying to recover it, I believe with electrotherapy.
05:57It's still not completely healed.
05:59She said after the match yesterday it's still in a lot of pain.
06:02Obviously a lot of Ito's offense relies upon headbutts,
06:05using her own head and face as a weapon,
06:08which perhaps could work against her when you pick up such an injury.
06:12Nakajima.
06:13Also just even small things like a headlock,
06:16which normally you can kind of get away with.
06:19Sure, normally a side headlock is the feeling out process of a match,
06:23but if someone gets the point, the bone of that forearm across the cheek of Maki Ito,
06:27she's going to be in a lot of pain from the get-go.
06:29Shoko Nakajima, pretty fresh in the tournament.
06:32Not, as far as I'm aware, nursing any injuries in particular.
06:36Yes, and also like, as of right now,
06:39Maki Ito's trying to go hole to hole with Nakajima,
06:42trying to play the game.
06:44But, no matter, like, if we really think about it,
06:47Maki Ito's strength comes from brawling, from being chaotic, from being unpredictable.
06:52But if she goes after Nakajima on her own game,
06:56we might see quite a difficult time for Maki Ito in the early going of this match.
07:01Perhaps, perhaps.
07:02We saw, obviously, yesterday, Shoko faced Miyawatanabe in her semi-final.
07:06Miyawatanabe likes to use the Canadian backbreaker, the teardrop,
07:09and a lot of her back-based offense.
07:12Shoko, not today, showing any signs of fatigue in the lumbar region.
07:16But if she does have some, however, that she's not letting on to right now,
07:20that would be beneficial to Maki Ito, of course,
07:22likes to utilize the Ito special and the Boston Crab.
07:27Also, a lot of back-based offense.
07:30Forces Nakajima to display a middle finger.
07:33And now into control.
07:35As we said, looking to dig in her head into the shoulder blades of Shoko Nakajima.
07:43She's got double wrist control on the back.
07:45Shoko trying to fight out of it.
07:47Manages to spin her around, but Ito keeps a hold of it.
07:51Fluid wrestling here from Maki Ito.
07:53Just a moment ago, Aki, you said perhaps not wanting to play this game with Shoko Nakajima.
07:57But right now, in full control.
08:01Shoko, though, spoke too soon.
08:03Perhaps can't fight, breaks it away.
08:05Side headlock take over.
08:06And you can really tell, like, Shoko Nakajima is really focusing on headlocks.
08:10She has been going, every transition they go through,
08:12it always ends up Shoko Nakajima having a headlock on Maki Ito.
08:17And that's what I was talking about playing the game.
08:19Absolutely.
08:20Nakajima is focused.
08:22Talk about the experience of Shoko, I'm sure it's not a coincidence.
08:25Nice lucha evade over the back.
08:26Goes up to the middle.
08:28Beautiful arm drag.
08:30And a dropkick.
08:32Shoko Nakajima is all over Maki Ito right now.
08:35Like, the quickness of Nakajima.
08:42The big kaiju.
08:43The counters are nice.
08:44Up and over evade from Shoko in the corner.
08:46Runs across the length of the apron to the blue.
08:49But Ito meets her up there and catches her with a big elbow.
08:53This is where Maki Ito shines.
08:55When it comes to these chaotic moments.
08:57Oh, we saw this yesterday.
08:59Ito once again hooking her over the turnbuckle.
09:02Dripping DDT across the apron.
09:05Maki Ito fired up.
09:07And I'm actually happy that Maki Ito chose to bring that fight outside.
09:13To bring it in the domain of herself.
09:15Where she shines.
09:17This is her place.
09:21That's where her strengths are.
09:23Maki slam on the floor.
09:26There is about an inch.
09:29Three quarter inch padding on that floor.
09:32And I can tell you from experience.
09:34When you get slammed down on hard concrete.
09:35It does nothing.
09:37The three quarter inch foam does nothing.
09:41And there's certainly no foam there on that steel barricade.
09:45I was perhaps right in my assumption.
09:47Maki Ito will try and isolate the back of Shoko Nakajima.
09:49Look to loosen her up for the Ito special.
09:51And even the Ito deluxe.
09:53Reverie Kiso issuing the count now.
09:55This plan has worked incredibly well for her yesterday.
09:59She brought Mizuki outside.
10:02Roto in the back.
10:03And really got in the last nick.
10:06Oh!
10:07Nakajima don't count her out just yet.
10:10I'm going to see.
10:12Lopez!
10:14Ito hits the rail too.
10:17No care for limb or injury.
10:21Shoko Nakajima is batting everything.
10:25Shoko Nakajima re-throwing caution to the wind.
10:27I can tell you from personal experience.
10:29Tope Suisei sometimes can often do as much damage to you as it does your opponent.
10:34It does.
10:35It's a desperation move.
10:36She sensed that the tide was turning too quickly.
10:38When Ito was working over that back on the outside.
10:40And she needed to equalize.
10:42Ito now up on the apron.
10:44Shoko now just driving her across the middle rope with a cutter.
10:47Taking off head of steam again now.
10:49Oh!
10:50619 to the back.
10:53Reverse style.
10:54Catching Ito in the back.
10:55Back of the head.
10:56Cover with the leg.
10:57Hooked.
10:58Only two.
10:59Two.
11:00Gets the 1.47m big kaiju.
11:03Ito!
11:04Once you get going, it's hard to stop her.
11:06There you go.
11:07The face driven into the corner buckle.
11:09Shooter across the ring.
11:11Oh!
11:12Big drop kick.
11:17Twisting her around and a neck breaker.
11:23Only two.
11:24Big kick out from Maki Ito.
11:26Big.
11:27Very defiant.
11:28Strong defiant kick out.
11:31But Nakajima has been so quick and decisive up until the point.
11:36Every time Ito seems to have a little bit of a momentum.
11:40She cuts her off right away.
11:41Nakajima always lightning fast.
11:46Clearly has chosen her body part from that 619 to the back of the head.
11:49Looks like she's going to try and work over the neck of Maki Ito.
11:54Rolls over.
11:58Oh!
11:59Now going to the leg.
12:04In the leg.
12:05Great find.
12:07And a reverse Indian deadlock, I think.
12:12Just by sitting, applying incredible pressure on hip bones and on knees.
12:17Yep.
12:18Very painful hold from personal experience.
12:22And now we see.
12:23Brings her over.
12:24Brings her over into a fall.
12:26Still got a hold of it though.
12:28No escape for Maki Ito there.
12:30Ito in a lot of trouble.
12:31Long way to go.
12:32Gets the rope.
12:34Shoko not letting go of the legs though.
12:36Still holding on.
12:37Driving underneath the bar.
12:38Oh!
12:39That face!
12:40That face!
12:42That cheekbone is still broken.
12:44Oh!
12:45Makes it two.
12:47You see Maki Ito holding the face, covering up.
12:53Still a defiant kick out.
12:54Shoko relentless in her assault right now.
12:57But compared to last time, less power on that kick up.
13:00Pure viciousness.
13:02Putting the knee right in the middle of the spine.
13:05Beating Maki Ito.
13:06Covering the face.
13:07Oh my god.
13:09That is driving the knee to the cheek.
13:13If that bone wasn't broken before, it's going to be broken now.
13:19Shoko Nakajima.
13:21They're vicious now.
13:23No escape for Maki Ito.
13:27If Maki Ito wants to have a moment in this match,
13:30she will have to work very hard to get it.
13:32Because Nakajima is not looking to make mistakes in this match.
13:37Shoko constantly going to the face,
13:38but also constantly making Ito get those rope breaks.
13:41Constantly making Maki Ito tire herself out.
13:44Shoko Nakajima.
13:45Shoko Nakajima.
13:46Shoko Nakajima.
13:47Shoko Nakajima.
13:48Shoko Nakajima.
13:49Shoko Nakajima.
13:50Shoko Nakajima.
13:51Shoko Nakajima.
13:52Shoko Nakajima.
13:53Shoko Nakajima.
13:54Maki Ito tire herself out.
13:57Just not even giving her enough space to breathe even.
14:00So, no breathing room whatsoever.
14:02Takes off.
14:04And brings in those...
14:05Seated neck breaker.
14:09Bring in those high impact moves in the middle of it as well.
14:14Really, really not letting Maki Ito breathe.
14:17Just constant pressure.
14:19Just almost like dragging her down to the deep end of the pool.
14:24And reaching straight around to a butterfly hold.
14:27Ito though, coming up to her feet.
14:30Feeling the energy of the fancier.
14:36Now, just clubbing away.
14:38Desperation with those elbows.
14:39This is the first hold Ito has been able to break from Nakajima.
14:46Ito, the midsection will stop all attempts.
14:49Oh, but counters out and around.
14:50Spins her all the way around.
14:51Nice.
14:52She gets the DDT.
14:54Nice DDT.
14:55Maki Ito has such a variety of DDTs.
14:58She can hit them from anywhere at any time.
15:00And scoops Shoko Nakajima around with that one.
15:02And drove her straight into the mat.
15:04The neck being compressed.
15:06Very much needed.
15:08Very, very much needed.
15:09Break for Maki Ito.
15:12She can finally breathe for a second.
15:14Because as we saw, the damage was too much.
15:16And Nakajima is up early.
15:17Says she can breathe for a second.
15:19Shoko Nakajima to her feet first.
15:21There's 10 minutes gone in this match.
15:24Shoko now goes over to the ropes.
15:29Got her all tied up in the ropes.
15:36We have been talking constantly, but just to take one second and appreciate
15:40how good is Shoko Nakajima.
15:44Absolutely the top of the game.
15:46Oh, but nice.
15:48Oh my god, Maki Ito with a perfect counter.
15:51And for that dropkick.
15:52And that was the moment that Maki Ito needed.
15:55Straight into the Boston Crab.
15:56And she's got it in deep.
16:02Shoko Nakajima doesn't have a particularly long reach.
16:05She's got a long way to go if she wants to get the rope escape.
16:12The big kaiju is in trouble for the first time in this match.
16:15Really in trouble.
16:18Maki Ito really sinking it down.
16:20Just sitting on it.
16:26And Shoko just about gets it.
16:32That could be the big break that Maki Ito needed.
16:35If there's damage done to the spine of Shoko Nakajima now.
16:38Both competitors up in the corners.
16:40Ito charges in.
16:42Big Marufuji-esque elbow in the corner.
16:44Shoots her across once again off the other ropes.
16:47From Naniwa Bulldog.
16:49We are finally seeing...
16:54We are finally seeing Maki Ito being able to string some offense together.
16:58And get some momentum going for her side.
17:00That's right. Ito finally being able to put something together.
17:02Defiant kick out from Shoko.
17:04They're looking for a DDT once more.
17:05Shoko shoots her into the corner buckle.
17:08Charges in.
17:09Now gets the boot to the face.
17:11Ito up to the middle.
17:14Going to look for the super Delphin-esque swing DDT.
17:20Gets it all. Nails it.
17:25Cover. Got the leg hooked.
17:27And big kick out by Nakajima.
17:30Another big kick out from Shoko.
17:34Maki Ito now those screams are coming.
17:37She's starting to feel it.
17:40Once again for the Boston Crab.
17:42But Shoko flying out of it.
17:45She's got the face again. The cheek.
17:52She drives her right into the corner buckle.
17:54Wheels her right into the corner.
17:58Up top fast. No wasted moments.
18:02Huge drop kick.
18:04Maki Ito turned inside out. Big cover.
18:07And only two.
18:09Not a strong kick out from Ito.
18:11There's no fat on Nakajima's game.
18:14There's no wasted moments.
18:18Once again.
18:19Got a fight in those arms.
18:21And here comes that pressure.
18:24That Ito has been dealing with all match.
18:30Really putting the torque and pressure on the neck of Maki Ito.
18:34Pushing that chin into the chest.
18:39Still got to cut off the airways somewhat.
18:41Yes. Nakajima seems to be almost wrestling a perfect match here.
18:45Oh nice. Rolls around.
18:50The same move she did on the top of the rope.
18:53Now perfectly executed in the middle of the ring.
18:56Maki Ito is very far from any rope.
18:59If she wants to break it.
19:01She's going to really, really, really have to work hard on this one.
19:04Shoko's position has changed.
19:06The angle of offense is the same.
19:08Driving that head forward, the chin into the chest.
19:11Pulling and wrenching on the muscles in the back of the neck and the bones.
19:15Maki Ito's close. She's close. She's close.
19:17She makes his toes on the ropes.
19:22In pure desperation.
19:24Maki Ito makes it to the rope.
19:29Shoko Nakajima.
19:30Oh nice. Slip around the back by Maki Ito.
19:34Not good.
19:35Oh the capitalizer drives the face into the mat again.
19:38The face and the neck.
19:40Every time Maki Ito tries to do something.
19:43Nakajima goes back to the face.
19:45Into that other leg suplex.
19:47Into the hold on. Runs around the ropes.
19:51Oh. I don't think I've ever seen that out of Maki Ito.
19:55Really digging deep.
19:57And now feeling it.
19:59Korakuen Hall coming alive.
20:04Once again for that Boston Crab.
20:07Gets it dead center once again.
20:09Oh sits down.
20:13Just brutal.
20:1915 minutes have passed in this match.
20:22In the blink of an eye.
20:2415 minutes have passed.
20:2615 minutes feels like honestly 50 seconds.
20:30This match is breezed by.
20:33And it could all be about to be over.
20:35And as we have seen from semifinals yesterday.
20:38A perfectly technically sound.
20:40Playing a perfect game is Nakajima.
20:43And all passion. All heart.
20:45Just pouring everything out is Maki Ito.
20:49Less about strategy.
20:51More about just pure emotion as you said Maki Ito.
20:54Takes it back to the center.
20:56Ah Shoko kicks her away.
20:58And catches the wall.
21:00Frankensteiner rolls through.
21:01She's got the legs hooked.
21:02Deep.
21:04Just the two.
21:07Oh.
21:08Out of nowhere the Northern Lights.
21:10The back.
21:11Damage to the back.
21:12She couldn't keep the bridge.
21:15This move.
21:16That might have cost Shoko the tournament.
21:20Nailed the Northern Lights suplex.
21:22But the back gave away under the pressure.
21:25This is the move that won her the ticket to the finals.
21:28Yesterday against Mio with Watanabe.
21:35Shoko turning her over.
21:36Perhaps changing strategy.
21:38Knows she can't keep that bridge hook.
21:40It took two of them to put Mio Watanabe away yesterday.
21:43But perhaps knows.
21:44She doesn't have another inner.
21:45Going to go for that backside.
21:46Up top.
21:47Oh no.
21:48This Kosa yesterday.
21:49Big time as well.
21:50And that back is already.
21:52Have seen quite a lot of damage.
21:54Maki Ito.
21:56Is really going to try to capitalize on this.
21:59Jumping.
22:00Snap DDT.
22:01Once again driving the head into the canvas.
22:03Feeling it now.
22:05And if that back was giving Shoko Nakajima trouble a moment ago.
22:08It certainly is going to be now.
22:10Maki Ito is looking for a happy ending.
22:13Ito dragging it to the center.
22:14She's going to look for that flying headbutt from the top rope.
22:17And she might find it right here.
22:19It disconnects.
22:20But if it doesn't pay off.
22:22Oh.
22:23Shoko.
22:24Back to her feet.
22:25Just barely.
22:26On one knee now.
22:28Nakajima.
22:29What could she be going for here?
22:31Going up to the top rope.
22:34Oh my god.
22:36Oh.
22:37Frankensteiner.
22:40Avalanche Frankensteiner from Shoko Nakajima.
22:43Nakajima.
22:45Holding nothing back.
22:47Maki Ito is out of it.
22:50And behind.
22:53Referee Kiso calling for a double down count.
22:56Count of two.
22:59Both competitors down.
23:01You can see the emotion on Maki Ito's face.
23:04As she feels this match and this win.
23:07And this tournament perhaps slipping away from her.
23:09She knows.
23:13This is the first time both competitors have come to an equal footing here.
23:19Oh.
23:20Shoko.
23:21With a huge elbow.
23:23To the face of Maki Ito.
23:34Oh.
23:35Pure aggression.
23:37Pure emotion.
23:38Fights back.
23:42The concentration of the audience in the European Hall right now is incredible.
23:47You could hear a pin drop here.
23:49That's how aggressive everybody is.
23:51All these two warriors going at it in the middle of the ring.
24:06On top always but never been able to really hold the top position.
24:11Always good.
24:13Always incredible.
24:19Will Shoko Nakajima stand?
24:43Nakajima just beating Ito lifeless.
24:49Yes.
24:50Yes.
24:51Yes.
24:52Yes.
24:53Yes.
24:54Yes.
24:55Yes.
24:56Yes.
24:57Yes.
24:58Yes.
24:59Yes.
25:00Yes.
25:01Yes.
25:02Yes.
25:03Yes.
25:04Yes.
25:05Ito, though, counters the elbow with a headbutt.
25:06Corking hole waking up again.
25:07Big headbutt.
25:08And another DDT.
25:09This is the fourth one this match.
25:10Ito getting the better of the exchange.
25:11Finally.
25:1920 minutes gone, Maki Ito ascending to the top rope and look at that flying headbutt
25:29again.
25:30She goes for the, oh, Nakajima moves, she moved, that fist must go into the mat.
25:39Nakajima gets out of the way, Ito gets nothing and you almost heard the life come out of
25:44the crowd here in Korakuen as Ito missed that headbutt and perhaps her chances just slipped
25:51away.
25:52Drives ahead into the canvas and Nakajima now is going to look to put her away with
25:59a Northern Lights suplex.
26:00Keeps the bridge, this time this could be it.
26:01Oh, she kicked out, she kicked out.
26:02She did not kick out but the shoulder is up.
26:04It was, barely gets the shoulder up, barely, we are still in this, this has not been decided
26:24everybody.
26:25So Konakajima now, this is her match to finish if she can.
26:34Nakajima now looks almost on the verge of tears.
26:40Ito looks completely out of it.
26:42We might not have a suplex here everybody.
26:45Definitely not going to do it.
26:49Kiso getting in there and checking the dead weight of Maki Ito being brought up to her feet.
27:00Ito, resigned as her middle finger, she just punched her in the face.
27:04Wired on the jaw, punched her right in the cheekbone.
27:08Dragging her up, hooking her in there for the Northern Lights again.
27:11Ito though, backslides, rolls her through, turns her over.
27:16And there you go, busts her crotch with an AACG.
27:20Busts her crotch out of nowhere.
27:23She's got Shoko Nakajima bitten in half.
27:26She's about to touch her head.
27:29Nakajima though, crawling, crawling, crawling.
27:32Trying to get the rope, escape.
27:35Ito looking to rip her legs off.
27:38The line trimmer is basically killing the kaiju right now.
27:41Hope for Nakajima with her arm's reach of the rope.
27:44Will she get it, will she get it?
27:46Swipes and misses, and there she gets it, she gets it.
27:51Ito though, not letting go.
27:54Making sure to take full advantage of the hold count, Maki Ito.
27:58Ito showing frustration.
28:00Needs to keep her head in the game and stay on top of her.
28:03Hanging on with every thread she can hold on to.
28:07A year ago, if you'd have told anyone that Maki Ito would be hanging with one of the
28:11most senior members of Tokyo, Joshi Shoko Nakajima, the way she is,
28:15they'd have called you a liar.
28:17619, but Ito catches her again.
28:20Oh, straight to the center.
28:22Turns her legs over.
28:24Looking for the Ito special.
28:26Looking for the Ito deluxe.
28:28She's got it.
28:30Ito deluxe locked in.
28:33Shoko Nakajima doesn't know where to go.
28:38She's got it.
28:40She's got it.
28:42That is it.
28:49Unbelievable.
28:51That's your happy ending right there, everybody.
28:592021.
29:01They say dreams don't come true very...