There’s a great reception for Kenta Yamashita as he returns to FRONTIER – last time we saw him, he defeated Oliver Bernhardt in the main event of our first ever show. But the noise for Jay Pride is louder, which Yamashita doesn’t seem to appreciate. They shake hands nonetheless, and go into a clinch.
They push back and forth, similarly matched in strength and weight, until they fall against the ropes and the ref forces a break. Both men step apart, arms spread, then go back into a grapple on the referee’s mark. This time Yamashita finds the side headlock but Pride lifts him atomic drop style and Yamashita bails. He turns back, only to be knocked down with a lariat. Jay finds the kneeling armbar. Kenta starts rolling side to side to build up the momentum for an escape, but Pride hooks one of his ankles with his own. Yamashita manages to twist his free elbow up and clock Pride in the jaw, but as they roll apart and stand it’s clear that Yamashita’s shoulder took some damage from being contorted like that.
Jay spots it too, and picks the offensive back up with a hammerlock. A couple of arm-wrenches later he goes for a Japanese stranglehold but Yamashita rolls forward to dump Pride on his behind. Kenta lays in shoot kicks and a shining wizard and gets just a close two, much to his frustration. He lifts Jay to his feet and hits some big chops to the chest – sticking to one arm, though, so the shoulder of the other must still be causing trouble. Yamashita lifts Pride onto the top turnbuckle, then backs out. He runs back in for the Konichi-WAAH!… and misses as Pride leaps over him! Jay sprints into the ropes, pendulums back, and turns Yamashita inside out with the World of Sport Special! They both drop to the canvas, in need of recovery.
After a moment they’re both back up. Pride throws an open fist punch, but Yamashita blocks it. He goes for the Irish whip, but keeps ahold and pulls Jay back into the Lightning Speed inside cradle for a two count. I think Yamashita might’ve had a hold on Jay’s shorts there, but I couldn’t see properly.
Yamashita’s still looking angry. He drags Pride up, but Pride fights it with elbows to the gut. He grabs Kenta around the waist and finds a release northern lights suplex! Kenta pops up and charges, and Jay answers with an armdrag. Kenta winces and holds his shoulder for a second, but shakes the pain off and gets to his feet. Pride catches him with a back kick to the gut, and connects a side Russian legsweep. He keep the hold applied and uses the momentum to roll Yamashita back upright! Jay twists things into position for a shortarm clothesline, but Yamashita blocks it, dodges behind Pride and pulls out a lungblower to buy himself some time. He steps back, rotating his hurt upper arm. A fan in the front row yells something, and Kenta yells something back.
He scouts Jay as the Scotsman rises and lifts him over his shoulders, clearly looking for the Sayonara Driver. He throws Pride out – and somehow Pride manages to reverse it into a spinning armbreaker! He wastes no time in applying a bicep slicer, and with the extra pressure those two moves put on his already-weakened shoulder, Kenta taps almost immediately.
Your winner, Jay Pride!
They both stand up again to an ovation. Jay extends a hand to Kenta… who slaps him in the face and turns away! A shocking violation of The Code! Kenta totally ignores the fans as he walks to the back, a thunderous look on his face. Jay stares after him, not incensed enough to give chase but still visibly angry.