Both men get the crowd chanting as they make their way to the ring and both shake hands prior to the match. Although there’s a glint in Jones’ eye, like he feels he should have been in that title match earlier tonight. Like he shouldn’t be made to face Kenchi to show that he’s challenger material.
But, whatever AJ thinks, this is going to be one hell of a match for us fans. Jones starts the match with some knife edge chops but Yamamoto doesn’t seem to be affected at all! Jones hits three stiff kicks before Yamamoto finally goes down. Jones teases rolling him into the AJ Lock but drives him into the mat for a 1 count.
The two brawl through the ropes and Jones goes for a German suplex on the apron but Yamamoto clubs him off and to the floor. Jones tries an AJ-guri but Kenchi ducks and then sends Jones into the barricade. Yamamoto gets in the ring and Jones tries getting on the apron as Yamamoto clotheslines him back to the floor. Yamamoto waffles him with a clubbing blow across the back. Yamamoto hits the Running Body Block and sends Jones into the ring-post. Yamamoto kicks him around with some STIFF stuff and Jones tries to recover on the floor. Yamamoto picks him up only to club him back to the floor. Yamamoto with a big running clothesline in the corner. Yamamoto goes for the missile dropkick but Jones avoids and hits some forearms. Yamamoto comes back with his own forearm. Jones is sent into the corner but does the flip up and over and hits a running hip check on Yamamoto. Yamamoto rolls to the floor. Jones gets a head of steam and hits a somersault plancha that sends him into the crowd!
What a turnaround, Yamamoto was dominating AJ up til this point but Jones spotted an opportunity and took it! Back in the ring, Jones hits the missile dropkick right on Yamamoto’s leg to clip the knee. Jones kips up and gives Yamamoto about a dozen or so front kicks before he goes down. Cover gets 2.
Yamamoto back up and hits a Grand Crash for 2. Yamamoto shouts in Japanese, loosens up his neck and casually hits a Lariat for 2. Yamamoto goes for the Giant Driver but Jones flips out and gets a small package for 2. Jones gets a bridged German suplex for another close 2. Jones rolls him over and hooks in the AJ Lock. Yamamoto powers up but Jones switches to martial arts kicks. He hits about a dozen before Yamamoto shrugs them off and swats Jones down with a forearm. Jones hits the Xtreme Combo but Yamamoto gets right back up. Jones gets a head of steam but runs into another huge lariat!
I got to say, I thought the plancha was a turning point. But Yamamoto is a MONSTER! He seems to get up from everything and keeps on smashing Alex. But Jones is a tough cookie and despite all these big moves he’s still got enough about him to keep going!
Jones finally takes Yamamoto down with a big dropkick. Jones goes for a sunset flip. Yamamoto tries to sit down but Jones escapes and kicks him in the chest. Jones ascends to the top rope but is caught coming off and slammed down. Jones cinches in a triangle choke on the big man but Yamamoto gets his leg under the rope.
Jones goes for a Mexican surfboard but can’t get his opponent over, so he instead drives the champion’s knees into the canvas then locks on a sideways surfboard. Yamamoto rolls over and nearly smothers Jones for a pin. Yamamoto comes back with several moves but Jones tries to cut him off with a sleeper, climbing on Yamamoto’s back. Yamamoto falls down to his knees and collapses on the mat. The referee picks up his arm and it drops twice but he begins to fight back before it can collapse downwards a third time.
Yamamoto fights to his feet and goes for a backdrop. Jones escapes and lands on his feet, attempting a small package. Yamamoto escapes. Jones battles him and places him on the top rope. Jones nails a belly-to-back superplex but is only able to get a two count. Jones began beating the Japanese star with repeated bows to the side of the head. Jones nails a suplex but only gets a two count. Jones turns the pin into an AJ Lock attempt but Yamamoto again gets his leg to the ropes.
Jones begins kicking Yamamoto in the face and applies a triangle choke, but is picked up and powerbombed down to the mat. Jones nails a series of forearm strikes, but Yamamoto drills him with a lariat for a two count. Yamamoto nails his finisher, the Grand Impact, but Jones puts his leg on the bottom rope to break the pinfall.
Yamamoto shakes his head and pulls Jones back to his feet, he nails another clothesline and pulls Jones up for the Giant Driver. Out of nowhere Jones spins his way out of the move, grabbing the head of Yamamoto as he does so. One Time to Burn later and this match was all over!
Your winner: Alex Jones
Jones celebrates in the ring and Yamamoto offers him a handshake. After a moment to think about it Jones does shake the hand of his opponent.