Williams out first to a chorus of boos, not surprising after the way he brutally assaulted the champ at the conclusion of their previous meeting back in St. Ives. Kenchi, however, gets a riotous welcome from The Regal complete with streamers and chants of “Yamamoto, Yamamoto!”
Referee Ed Watling takes the GFC Heavyweight Title from Kenchi and shows it to Cody before raising it into the air for all to see, the usual signal that the belt is on the line here tonight. Watling calls for the two men to follow the Code of Respect and shake hands but Williams rushes Kenchi and starts to throw in some big kicks to the legs.
The ref calls for the bell to officially start the match and we’re off. Kenchi seems to just take the first set of kicks from Williams before pushing him away. But “The Reflection of Perfection” just comes back with more kicks. This time Kenchi nails a massive forearm that rocks the challenger and then nails a big set of kicks that drops Williams to the mat. Williams pops back up and bounces off the ropes with a dropkick to the knee of the Champ. Yamamoto drops to a knee and Cody gets a DDT in and covers, only getting a one count.
Kenchi forces his way back to his feet, albeit a little slowly, and grabs Williams. He whips him into the ropes but Williams ducks a lariat, kicking the back of Kenchi’s legs before nailing a neckbreaker. Kenchi goes down and Williams quickly follows up with stomps to the legs of the Champ. I gotta admit, this is good strategy from Cody Williams, keeping the big man off his feet and trying to slow him down.
The crowd notice this is what Cody’s trying to do and are trying to get Kenchi back into it as they chant out his name. Kenchi is back up again, Williams slides between his legs and takes him down with a chop block to the right leg. He grabs the legs, lifts it up and smashes his knee into the canvas. He heads to the corner, connecting with senton to the back of Yamamoto’s legs.
Kenchi is getting frustrated and grabs Williams. He connects with some open palm strikes before grabbing the arms of Williams and taking him over and down with a belly to belly suplex. Kenchi is slow to get to his feet though so cannot follow up. Williams leaps back to his feet and looks for a clothesline but Kenchi catches him with a spinning side slam, covering for a two count.
Yamamoto again gets up, but again his speed is impaired due to the early attacks on his legs. He tries to shake them out, walking off the effects. Williams is up and charges in again, Kenchi ducks a clothesline and turns to try and nail one of his own but Williams catches him with a Superkick! It rocks Kenchi but doesn’t send him down, Williams follows up with a kick to the gut and a Blowout, covering for a two count.
Again Kenchi is slow to get back up, fending off some forearms from Williams as he gets back to a vertical base. Williams steps back and rushes in with a Yakuza kick which again rocks the Champ. He then connects with the PERFECT rush, multiple slaps, spinning chop, roundhouse kick to the head, and a running single leg dropkick that sends Yamamoto to the canvas. He quickly runs to the corner, jumps up to the top rope and connects with a high angle Frog Splash, hooking the leg afterwards for another two count!
Williams can’t believe that Kenchi’s not staying down and is arguing with referee Ed Watling as Kenchi slowly gets back to his feet. Williams turns back to Kenchi who yells at him and invites him on. This man has taken everything Williams has thrown at him so far and keeps getting back up. Williams charges again, ducking a clothesline and bouncing back off the ropes with a springboard DDT. Yamamoto gets right back up and Williams nails a discuss clothesline before locking in a Figure Four!
Yamamoto will not tap, he’s aiming for the ropes and uses his strength advantage to pull Williams across the canvas with him until he can reach them. Watling forces Cody to release the hold and Yamamoto uses the ropes to help him to his feet. Cody charges in, Kenchi lifts him up over the ropes dropping him to the ring apron. Williams lands on his feet and catches the Champ with a big forearm, then an elbow. Yamamoto is staggered and Williams leaps up, SPRINGBOARD CROSS BODY IS CAUGHT BY YAMAMOTO!!!! FALL AWAY SLAM!!! Two count only!!
Both men up again and Kenchi storms in for a lariat, but Williams ducks and catches him with a rolling elbow this time, again the Champ is staggered. Cody locks in a wrist clutch, could he be going for the Picture Perfect? He starts lifting Kenchi up, but Yamamoto rolls over and catches him in a SUNSET FLIP!! Two count only! Kenchi avoided certain defeat with that reversal and the crowd are eating this up. Last time he had a title defence he destroyed Josh Hawhtorne, this time he’s taking EVERYTHING Williams is throwing at him and he’s still alive in this one. Credit to Williams, he’s brought his A game tonight!
The men slowly get back to their feet, Cody’s energetic plan tonight has started to take its toll on him as well as his opponent. Kenchi tries to play this to his advantage as he shoots Cody into the ropes and nails a powerslam, taking the wind out of the challenger and getting a two count. He pulls Williams to his feet and WILLIAMS CATCHES HIM WITH A JAWBREAKER!! He pulls Yamamoto up… PURE PERFECTION!!! TWO COUNT ONLY!!!
“THIS IS WRESTLING” scream the crowd as Williams cannot believe Kenchi kicked out again. Kenchi is up, Williams is up too. Williams charges in for a clothesline but Kenchi stands firm and doesn’t budge. He screams something in Cody’s face, Williams bounces off the ropes and goes for another clothesline but GRAND IMPACT FROM THE CHAMP!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!!
Your winner, and STILL GFC Heavyweight Champion, Kenchi Yamamoto!
What a stunning match that was, Cody threw everything at Yamamoto and somehow he came through it and retains the title. A great display of resilience from the Champ, up against his toughest challenger yet but he still lives to defend another day with that belt around his waist. And while many don’t like Williams’ attitude you have to applaud the effort he put into this one!
Kenchi celebrated and Cody didn’t follow up on his chair attack from St Ives, instead leaving the ring with a touch of class. Yes he was visibly disappointed but credit to him for being man enough to accept this defeat, I have a feeling it will spur him on to come back stronger next time!