Both men get amazing receptions from the Oxford crowd here at The Regal, especially Hardaway who is one of the top guys in the eyes of the fans. Lots of streamers for him when he comes out. But Kane also gets a great reception, especially from his old friend Hardaway who leads the crowd in a chant of “Let’s go Spike, Let’s go Spike!” After the introductions from Jenni Starr we have the Code of Respect followed and then the bell sounds.
As the match starts Kane and Hardaway circle each other and Hardaway takes control with an arm wringer. Kane reverses into an arm wringer of his own, but Hardaway rolls out of it and creates distance. Hardaway once again goes to work with the arm wringer. Kane again reverses, Hardaway reverses, and we’re at a stalemate. Kane calls for a test of strength in the middle of the ring but then kicks Hardaway in the gut.
Kane wrenches Hardaway’s arm around the top rope, but Hardaway breaks free and levels Kane with a kick to the gut. Hardaway hits a snap suplex for a two count and locks in a chin lock. Hardaway maintains the hold and pushes Kane down into a pinning predicament for a two count. Hardaway hits a body slam and locks in an inverted Figure Four Leg Lock, but Kane makes it to the bottom rope to break the hold.
Hardaway hits a back breaker, calls for the Lionstomp and heads to the ropes, but Kane has enough time to get back to his feet and kick Hardaway off the top rope and all the way down to the arena floor! Kane heads to the outside and beats Hardaway all the way around the ring. Kane traps Hardaway in the corner and stands on his throat. Kane connects with a snap suplex and a volley of punches for a two count. Kane locks in a seated abdominal stretch, but Hardaway fights back to his feet. Hardaway hits the ropes, but Kane catches him with a knee to the gut for another two count.
Kane goes back to the seated abdominal stretch and adds a key lock. Kane transitions to a rear chin lock and grapevines the body. Hardaway finally escapes, but Kane kicks him to the corner. Hardaway rolls to the outside, but Kane follows and drops him throat-first onto the guard rail. Kane hits Hardaway with a body slam on the outside that sends him back-first into the ring apron. Kane rolls back into the ring and seems to be looking for a count-out victory. Hardaway rolls back in the ring to break the count and goes to work with chops and kicks to Kane’s chest.
Kane traps Hardaway in the corner and repeatedly drives his shoulder into Hardaway’s gut. Kane stomps on Hardaway in the corner and then hits a back breaker onto his knee for a two count. Kane connects with a back suplex for another two count and then locks in a front face lock. Hardaway fights back to his feet, but Kane maintains the hold. Hardaway finally breaks free and connects with a series of shoulder shots to Kane’s gut. Hardaway hits a kick to the side of Kane’s head the sends Kane to the outside. Hardaway his a GTFO~! that sends both men crashing into the guard rail.
Hardaway rolls Kane back into the ring and hits him with a missile drop kick from the top rope. Hardaway and Kane exchange forearm shots in the middle of the ring, but Hardaway regains control with a neckbreaker for another two count. Kane goes for a back breaker, but Hardaway counters into a crucifix hold for a two count. Hardaway hits a bridging German Suplex for another two count. Hardaway locks in the Ankle Lock, but Kane counters into a crossface!
Hardaway shifts his weight and rolls Kane into a pinning predicament for a two count. Both men head up to the top turnbuckle, and Kane hits Hardaway with a back breaker onto the top turnbuckle for a two count. Kane locks in the All Hope is Lost but can’t get the submission. Hardaway has only ever lost by submission here in FRONTIER, and to Alex Jones. Maybe Kane is utilising that to his advantage.
Hardaway traps Kane in the corner and repeatedly kicks the chest. Kane reverses into a volley of chops to the chest. More kicks from Hardaway and more chops from Kane. Hardaway eats a boot from Kane but fight back with the KTFO~! We’ve got forearms and kicks in the middle of the ring, but Kane finally levels Hardaway with a knee strike to the head. “This is AWESOME” chant from the crowd, and I certainly can’t argue with that!
Both men get back to their feet on the ring apron, and their battle of chops and kicks continues. Kane sets Hardaway on the top turnbuckle and hits an elevated back breaker off the top turnbuckle onto the ring apron. Yeah, that looked like it hurt. A lot. Hardaway bounces to the outside as Kane rolls back into the ring. Kane is praying for a count-out at this point, and Hardaway is damn near motionless on the outside. Hardaway slowly fights back to his feet and rolls back in at 8.
Kane unloads with forearms and chops followed by the SUPER FAST SUPERKICK for a LONG two count. Kane hits a back breaker followed immediately but a brainbuster for an ever LONGER two count. Hardaway WILL NOT DIE! “K-Hard, K-Hard, K-Hard!” chant from the crowd. Kane sets up for the Wings of Liberty but Hardaway tries to counter, Kane tries to float over into sunset flip, but Hardaway escapes. Hardaway turns Kane inside out with the decap lariat for at two count. Strikes and kicks from Hardaway to Kane. Hardaway goes back to the Ankle Lock, but Kane escapes and regains control with an enzigiri and follows up with the WINGS OF LIBERTY INTO THE ALL HOPE IS LOST!! “Please don’t tap! Please don’t tap! Please don’t tap!” chant from the crowd.
Hardaway escapes and gets Kane into the Ankle Lock, and suddenly the crowd re-starts the “Please don’t tap! Please don’t tap! Please don’t tap!” chant. They’re really into this match, they don’t want to see it end! Hardaway releases the hold and takes Kane up to the top turnbuckle and hits a top rope SUPERPLEX INTO A WILLIAMS DRIVER INTO THE ANKLE LOCK!!!!! Insane series of moves from K-Hard and the crowd are on their feet! Hardaway grapevines the leg, and that’s enough to finally make Kane tap!
Your winner, Kevin Hardaway!
After the match is over Hardaway goes over to Spike and offers him his hand. The two shake hands and then embrace in the middle of the ring. Spike raises K-Hard’s hand in a show of respect as the crowd are on their feet for both men.
It was one hell of a match and could easily have gone either way, but it’s Hardaway that bests another challenger and takes the momentum going into Croydon where he’ll face MWA Hall of Famer, Tim Worthington.