Takeshita survives in San Jose with NEVER gold

The fourth of five championship matches at Battle in the Valley saw KUSHIDA challenge NEVER Openweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita.

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Knowing he was giving up a lot in size and strength, KUSHIDA was tentative as he looked to find an opening on the Alpha to start. A Takeshita line would see the early advantage go to the champion though, and outside on the floor, that advantage was further pressed, but a counter armbar over the apron saw KUSHIDA create opportunity for himself. The Timesplitter continued to work over Takeshita’s damaged arm, but Takeshita’s power was sensational even on one wing.

A Blue Thunder Bomb scored as long two, but the Fable senton was caught into another cross armbreaker. With even more pain shooting down the arm, a Hitodenashi Driver was all the champion could summon. The apron was no solace for Takeshita either as KUSHIDA clipped the Alpha’s base and applied a figure four on the outside, and nearly got a countout title win. A surprise hurricanrana saw two for KUSHIDA, who landed Back to the Future for yet another nearfall.

With his good arm, Takeshita landed a World Class elbow, but KUSHIDA stayed on with the offensive advantage. Pushed to the very limit, Takeshita was still able to land a pair of right shots before Raging Fire landed for three, Takeshita barely surviving. Post match, the Alpha took the microphone and issued a challenge for Windy City Riot to Hiroshi Tanahashi for the Ace’s final ever match on American soil.