(NOAH) HARDCORE MAGIC! MONDAY MAGIC brings to life the powerful hardcore match between Ishikawa and Tanaka!

Weekly Pro
11th December 2024 (Issue No. 2330)

In May, Shuji Ishikawa defeated Ninja Mac at the Ryogoku Kokugikan to become the third GHC Hardcore Champion, but no further matches for the title were scheduled after that. However, just as Ishikawa was getting impatient, the perfect opponent stepped up to the challenge. 

In ep2, Masato Tanaka appeared and declared war. He was the first GHC National champion, and is a world-renowned Japanese hardcore legend. The fact that the first single between these two has come true proves the power of MONDAY MAGIC. 

The confines of MONDAY MAGIC were somewhat reminiscent of the old ECW, but for fans who are not used to seeing hardcore, this match was probably too stimulating. 

Getting up from a big outside fight, Tanaka performed his signature table crash dive as a kind of calling card, but Ishikawa in no time returned the favor and dropped a cliff-style Fire Thunder, which was not countered! Tables, ladders and chairs flew everywhere as the battle unfolded in all directions, through the audience, the ramp and the apron. Eventually, barbed wire boards were even brought in, turning the match into a death match, and the powerful hardcore match reached its climax. Ishikawa used an Assam Bomb on the ladder, breaking it in half, before landing a Giant Slam on Tanaka, who was closing in with incredible toughness, to end the match, making his first defense after a back-and-forth of "Will they go that far?"

The gazes of both men met as they were drawn to the GHC Hardcore belt, whose value had yet to be fully determined. Ishikawa showed the utmost respect, and Tanaka responded in kind, but the battle between the two men will not end here. 

It was a night when extremely tough magic lit up the ring like flames.