NOAH N-1 Victory 2024 Night 4 B-Block Ulka Sasaki vs Alpha Wolf
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00:00We are live and direct on Wrestle Universe from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
00:22This is Pro Wrestling NOAH.
00:24You're listening to Stu Fulton and Mark Pickering. Day 4 of N1 Victory 2024 today, Mark.
00:31Yep, we're all set for the last night of our Korakuen Hall Tripleheader here.
00:35The tournament is a crucial juncture today.
00:38There's been so many twists and turns and we can expect more of the same tonight.
00:42Three nights in a row here at the Mecca of Martial Arts.
00:46We're off to Kawasaki tomorrow, but right now we're kicking off in the B Block.
00:49Alpha Wolf, one half of Los Golpiadores already in the ring.
00:55Yeah, worth mentioning as well that tomorrow's start time will be different to the three days here at Korakuen Hall.
00:59We'll be kicking off at 4 p.m. in Kawasaki, local Japan time.
01:04And we have an announcement about Wagner.
01:06Yeah, he's unfortunately withdrawn from the competition due to injury.
01:10Will not be competing any further matches.
01:12So all his opponents who are due to face him will be receiving two additional points.
01:16And we are hoping that the remainder of the tournament continues.
01:20Fingers crossed.
01:21As planned with no more upsets.
01:24Speaking of upsets, this man has come into pro wrestling.
01:28Noah on board the Ark this year.
01:30Debuted on January the 2nd and has upset the whole ship.
01:35Yeah, he's made a habit of upsets, hasn't he?
01:36He's turned things upside down ever since he joined the Ark.
01:39Already he's clutching that coveted GHE National Championship as well.
01:44Just seven months into his pro wrestling career.
01:48Yeah, and we often talk about it, but this man has been able to translate his MMA and grappling skills.
01:54That background, he has the professional background and knows arts incredibly well to the pro wrestling arena.
02:01Yeah, such an accelerated ascension.
02:03Rarely do you see someone cross over from MMA and achieve such success.
02:09The reigning GHC National Champion, Uka Sasaki.
02:12There's the red belt which he covets very dearly after winning it just last month.
02:20In his entrance theme, I'm seeing shades of Shinsuke Nakamura's theme.
02:23And it was when Sasaki watched Nakamura vs. Great Muta that day, he decided to become a professional wrestler.
02:29Yep.
02:31There he is, the modern day Tengu, Uka Sasaki.
02:37Before we get underway, I'll give you a rundown for the stand-ins in the B block.
02:40So out in front is Keno on eight points.
02:44And then all tied on four points, we've got Manabu Sawyer, Titus Alexander, Tavian Heights and Yoshiki Inamura.
02:50And then on two points, we've got both competitors here, Alka Sasaki and Uka Sasaki and Alpha Wolf.
02:56And of course, here Dr. Wagner Jr. has withdrawn, he was on two points.
03:00So let's take a look at both of these men.
03:02Got here to these points, standings in the B block table.
03:07Uka Sasaki beat Yoshiki Inamura on day one by referee stoppage due to choked sleeper hold.
03:14He put the big man to sleep.
03:16Yeah, that was quite an achievement, wasn't it? On day one as well.
03:22And then he went on to face Keno.
03:28Yep, Sasaki was unsuccessful in his last two outings.
03:32Night two against Wagner, night three against Keno.
03:38Listen to that, they love him.
03:41Very vocal crowd here across the hall, third installment.
03:46Alpha Wolf himself, he beat Wagner on day one via crossfix.
03:51Absolutely amazing match, we talked about this on the broadcast yesterday.
03:55It was the first match of the show, the first match to kick off N1 Victory 2024 and it was something else.
04:00Yeah, tremendous showdown between the luchados.
04:02And then Alpha Wolf lost to Yoshiki Inamura on day two.
04:07And that's where we have these men standing right now.
04:10Yeah, they matched on two points, but also they've got the same record.
04:13They both lost their opening contest day one.
04:17Both lost their contest in the previous two days here at Cork and Hall, having started with victory on night one.
04:23Alpha Wolf has had nearly 60 singles matches in his career so far.
04:28Much more known as a tag team wrestler with his brother, of course, Uka Sasaki.
04:33Only 12 singles matches so far in his career.
04:37But he is so very used to the one-on-one action, of course, from his previous professional career.
04:42Absolutely, it's unheard of for someone who has had so few singles matches to be thrust into this tournament.
04:52Wolf also had a crack at the GHC Hardcore Openweight title back in April when Ninja Matt was holding it.
05:00And then he and his brother just fell short in a three-way eliminator bid to recapture the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles,
05:08which they held before, where they're trying to recapture them from Yohei and Taraski, who were the champs at the time.
05:15Yohei and Taraski on the card later today.
05:17Yep, got to look forward to coming up tonight.
05:20So these two men have faced only twice before this today, and it was in tag team matches.
05:27So this is their first singles match together.
05:30The first time they faced was in February.
05:32The second was in the Victory Challenge Tag League in March, where Los Corpiadores, Alpha Wolf and Dragon Bay beat Uka Sasaki.
05:41He was teaming up with Takeshi Sugiura at the time.
05:48Solid kick there from Sasaki.
05:50Really good shot.
05:52Witness the quickness of the Luchador Alpha Wolf, second generation wrestler.
05:57Now pretty much anyone Uka faces is a clash of styles, but this is a particularly fascinating one,
06:02because look at the speed of this Mexican Luchador running the ropes there and absolutely blasting Sasaki to the canvas.
06:10Sasaki can watch as much tight as he wants of Alpha Wolf, but you're not prepared for him until you get in there and you deal with his size, his aerial ability.
06:19Yeah, once the wolf gets his teeth into you, it's a different story altogether.
06:24Both men really need the victory here because they're both chasing down Keno.
06:27The four points behind him, Keno is the runaway leader on eight points in the B block.
06:32Speaking of sinking your teeth into things, the wolf has already got a hold of the fingers of Sasaki.
06:38Wolf has an insatiable appetite this evening.
06:40Yeah.
06:41An appetite for victory and two more points.
06:45He's already going to the outside.
06:47Thought he was going to opt for a splash then, but no.
06:49Yeah, that would not surprise me if he went flying early on.
06:53Look at that elbow from Sasaki, rocking Alpha Wolf by Alpha Wolf.
07:01Used the wrist control into the bite again, he's got him.
07:08Voodo tactics from Alpha Wolf, a croc and hawk.
07:13Interestingly enough, although he is the Alpha Wolf, the machine, we rarely see him bite.
07:21Yes, taking a chunk out of Oka Sasaki, the GHE National Champion.
07:27Yeah, he wants blood today and like you said, desperate for that win.
07:32Still biting him now.
07:33Yep, he's having a good go at him.
07:38Rips across into the guardrail.
07:40It'll be a full moon tonight, the wolf is out.
07:42Yep, howling.
07:43Chasing his blood, yeah.
07:46Howling at the moon.
07:51It's very, very unusual for the crowd to boo Alpha Wolf, but yeah,
07:55considering the biting tactics which are new to his game.
08:00I think both men are showing their frustrations, having received back-to-back losses.
08:04Yeah.
08:05Previous nights here at croc and hawk, great to see both men lose successive singles matches.
08:11Yeah, in a tournament like this, when you take a loss, you just can't wait to get back in there and get revenge.
08:16It's not even about the other guy, it's about picking up those points that you desperately need
08:20Yeah, it just illustrates the elite level of the 16-man tournament.
08:24Two points for a win, one point for a draw, zero for a loss.
08:33Sasaki finding himself locked down by the legs here.
08:39Sasaki's not intimidated at all though.
08:41Nope.
08:43Not a man that I have ever seen intimidated.
08:47That was an intimidating arm strike, bro.
08:52Yeah, you can hear it through all the corners of Korakuen Hall.
08:56He does have a menacing appearance, doesn't he, Alpha Wolf?
08:59He does, yeah.
09:00Combine the singlet and everything he's got there as part of his look and his presentation.
09:10Onto the apron.
09:11Blocked the strike.
09:12Sasaki by the hair.
09:14Yeah, pulled on the hair then.
09:15Kicked to the face.
09:17Yeah, yeah.
09:20That rope again.
09:21That was the same one as yesterday.
09:22Exactly.
09:23We were talking about that before the show, getting the tension of the ropes right.
09:26Exactly.
09:27The sweat was definitely a problem yesterday.
09:30Sweat on the bodies, the pouring down is getting onto the boots of the competitors.
09:37With a cut up.
09:39Another sun-soaked day in Tokyo.
09:41Even hotter than yesterday is today.
09:43You know, it's going to be trouble when the phone says it feels like 45 degrees.
09:46Yep.
09:52Stunner.
09:54Goes up off the ropes.
09:55Lion kick.
10:00Looking for the cover there.
10:01Two counts.
10:02I think that Sasaki is still evolving as well.
10:04He's still putting all the pieces together.
10:06Yep.
10:07Getting better with every outing.
10:09He's keeping the pressure on the wolf here now.
10:13He's on the mask there.
10:15Oh no, he's going to get the booze.
10:21Shows how desperate both of these men are to get back in the winning column today.
10:24Yeah.
10:25Playing a psychological game as much as anything.
10:27Yeah, whatever it takes.
10:30High stakes on day four of this competition.
10:33It's certainly a lot of pressure.
10:34Yeah.
10:35High stakes on day four of this competition.
10:38It's certainly such a grueling competition.
10:40I mean, some of the guys, we were talking about this earlier.
10:42Wrestling four days in a row, you know, from Friday.
10:45So physically demanding.
10:46Sunday and tomorrow also.
10:47Yeah.
10:48At the top of the plancha.
10:49Arthur Wolfe catches him and runs him into the corner post.
10:57Arthur Wolfe's looking spent on the outside.
11:00Sasaki in trouble as well.
11:06Yeah.
11:08Yeah, the toll that the N1 Victory Tournament takes on the bodies of the competitors is...
11:15It's very difficult to translate in verbal terms.
11:18Certainly.
11:21Everyone's beating up, aren't they?
11:23Their bodies on the line every match.
11:27And he goes from the other side.
11:30Successful this time.
11:35Yeah.
11:39Arthur Wolfe tells the crowd that he is going up to the top of the moonsault.
11:43Picture perfect.
11:45Beautiful arc on that.
11:46And it's a near fall.
11:49Just floats through the air, doesn't he?
11:51A joy to watch.
11:53So graceful.
11:56I think, is he biting again?
11:58Definitely keeping his mouth and face close this second.
12:01Well, he's a man who is very careful about his dietary intake and protein is a big part of that.
12:07Yeah, for sure.
12:08And whether he gets his protein from Oka Sasaki or anywhere else, I guess it doesn't matter to the Wolfe.
12:14Oh, innovative there from Oka Sasaki.
12:19Kicks out on one.
12:20Shoulder came up.
12:23Sasaki going for his combinations, but beautiful.
12:26They're on the half-beat.
12:28Rolling elbow from Arthur Wolfe.
12:29German suplex.
12:31Oka's back on his feet.
12:32High kick.
12:34Roundhouse grip from this man.
12:40What a battle this has been already.
12:42Listen to that crowd.
12:43This is just the first match.
12:47When we get into the end one season, the opener could be the main event and vice versa.
12:51You know, you can take your pick with these matches.
12:53It's all main event worthy.
12:54Yeah, they're not your usual.
12:56No.
12:58We sport really, aren't we?
12:59We are.
13:05Next to the beginning of the year, January, this time of year in Japan is probably the best for pro wrestling.
13:11Yeah.
13:13Super kick.
13:16Wolfe off the ropes.
13:17Straight into a strike.
13:18That was a close fist strike.
13:20But Wolfe replies with a headbutt.
13:23Look at that though.
13:25He scouted it and escaped.
13:27He's been watching.
13:29Oka Sasaki.
13:30Yes, he has.
13:31He will jump on the back.
13:32If you show him, you're back at any time.
13:35Powerbomb.
13:36Powerbomb.
13:37And he's got there.
13:392.9.
13:41Sasaki left that very late.
13:48You can't let the Wolfe start firing off these headbutts though.
13:52That's what paved the way for his victory over Wagner on night one.
13:56That's right, yeah.
13:57And Wagner himself, he is known for his powerful headbutts.
14:00Yes.
14:01Got outmaneuvered by Alfa Wolfe on night one.
14:05Off again with a moonsault.
14:07No water in the pool.
14:08Sasaki immediately goes for the back.
14:12And a choke sleeper hold applied.
14:14Trying to put the luchador out now.
14:16It's deep.
14:18Yeah.
14:21The mask offers no protection there.
14:24Sasaki very close to putting the machine to sleep.
14:35Very little movement from Alfa Wolfe here.
14:42Oh, he's got the hand behind the head.
14:44This spells disaster.
14:45He's captured.
14:46Alfa Wolfe forced to give up at the hands of Uka Sasaki,
14:51who picks up another two points in the B block.
14:55A much needed victory for the GHE national champion.
15:00Back in the wing column tonight.
15:03The consecutive night here at Brockenhall.
15:07That puts Uka Sasaki on four points.