JPN
Future of Stardom Champion Mitsuyoshi Amasaki will defend her title for the second time against challenger Azusa Inaba. Last year, on October 5th in Nagoya, Amasaki broke Rina's long reign and seized the coveted Future Championship. On December 28th at Korakuen Hall, she defeated Sayaka Kurei for her first successful defense. This time, her opponent is Azusa Inaba of JTO. Azusa and Rina became NEW BLOOD Tag Team Champions, but lost the belts at the end of the year to the team of Wakana Tsukiyama and HANAKO. This time, she will challenge for the title that her tag team partner Rina set a new record for. Champion Amasaki's reign is until March, and she is aiming to relinquish the title as per the regulations while still champion, so this is a fight she cannot afford to lose...
Azusa kicks Amasaki in the face, and Amasaki endures it and retaliates with a dropkick followed by an elbow attack. Azusa retaliates and slams Amasaki's head into the mat. Azusa delivered a series of hair whips, then hooked Amasaki's leg into the corner and applied a chokehold. She followed up with a series of elbow drops to Amasaki's left leg and a leg lock. When Amasaki escaped, Azusa delivered a body slam and went for a knee cover. Amasaki kicked out, but Azusa stomped on her face and taunted her, "Is that all you've got, champion?" Amasaki kicked out again and delivered a DDT. Azusa dodged the second one and delivered a face crusher. Azusa hit a middle kick, followed by a double kick in the corner and a series of middle kicks. Amasaki hit a DDT, a dropkick from behind, and a plancha to the outside. However, Azusa dodged and delivered a middle kick from the apron. She then used the ring post to apply a chokehold to Amasaki's leg. Back in the ring, she attacked with a chair between them, then applied an Achilles lock and a kneebar. When Amasaki escaped, Azusa taunted her, "Is that all you've got, fight back!" Amasaki landed an elbow, and Azusa said, "Fight back more." Amasaki landed a series of elbows, Azusa responded with a middle kick and a kneebar. Amasaki escaped, and Azusa prepared for a back drop. Amasaki countered and slammed her to the mat. Azusa kicked out, and Amasaki hit a Northern Lights suplex. Amasaki clutched her knee in agony after the counter. Azusa slammed her to the mat, leaving both down. Azusa got up and attempted a Sister Overture. Amasaki dodged, but Azusa stuck it in. Amasaki countered with an Amanohashidate. Azusa countered with a high kick. Amasaki crossed her arms and hit a DDT. Amasaki pulled Azusa up and went for the Tensei. Azusa countered and hit a series of knees to the face. 10 minutes had passed. Azusa ran in and hit a palm strike, but it was only a two count. Amasaki dodged Azusa's attempt at a Sister Overture, grabbed her, and hit a DDT followed by the Tensei. Azusa couldn't kick out, and the referee counted to three.
Amasaki: "I successfully defended my title for the second time! Now that I've succeeded, I can say this: Thank you for thinking of Future."
Azusa: "Shut up, you old hag! I'm going to take this belt and Future's belt in my own way. I haven't given up yet! You better raise your own value until I challenge you again!"
Amasaki: "You're similar to Rina. Inaba Azusa has incredible strength, but in a different way than me. But I have someone I made a promise to. HANAKO."
HANAKO comes out.
Amasaki: "HANAKO, you're battered and bruised, but you haven't broken your promise. You kept it."
HANAKO: "As I promised at Shin-Kiba on the 23rd, next time I'll challenge you for your Future. I'll take the Future, make new history, and in your place, I'll bloom at the top of Stardom!"
Amasaki: "That's some serious Kansai dialect! It's so thick, and we're from the same place, after all."
HANAKO: "Yeah, Kyoto."
Amasaki: "Let's show them a passionate fight between Kyoto women, Kyoto women. I'm looking forward to it."