TOURNAMENT MATCH
Katsuyori Shibata vs. Satoshi Kojima
They start trading punches as soon as the bell rings; Kojima wins the exchange and pops his pecks. They throw elbow shots on the floor as the referee counts, which rises the crowd, rolling back in at 19. The stiff exchanges continue for several minutes, until Shibata hits a missile dropkick for two. They kill each other for several minutes until Kojima hits a lariat on the apron. The referee gets to 19 and Kojima stops him from counting, rolling outside and throwing his opponent back in – lots of respect from the crowd there. Shibata comes back with lariats and both guys go down. Kojima tries for a lariat, Shibata blocks it so he turns around and hits him with the other arm. Shibata puts him in a sleeper hold, but lets him go before the referee calls for the bell. He hits a GTS and a running kick for the win.
Winner: Katsuyori Shibata
TOURNAMENT MATCH
Hirooki Goto vs. Yuji Nagata
Goto in control early with a standing armbar. Nagata with some big kicks; he tries for the cross armbar but they roll into the ropes. Nagata’s turn to take over, working the arm with rest holds and kicks. Eventually Goto comes back with chops and a spinning wheel kick, followed up by a side suplex for two. He runs into a t-bone suplex and the kitchen sink knee lift. They trade elbows until Nagata slaps the **** out of him. Goto responds with a big headbutt. Yuji locks in an armbar out of nowhere and goes into his “zone” where his eyes roll back. Goto slowly fights out of the hold but takes a German suplex and a brainbuster for two. Nagata tries everything to put him away, but Goto keeps kicking out. Goto with a lariat and a brainbuster for the win.
Winner: Hirooki Goto
