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Jill Lockhart made her long-awaited return to Japan to answer the challenge from Sakura Sanada, who after coming up short in her three-way bout for the ROH Womenβs World Championship, kept her sights set on gold in this match for Lockhartβs NJPW STRONG Womenβs Title. Both women had made their entrance to the ring, challenger then champion, and the match was moments away from beginning.
When the bell sounded, Sakura stepped out from her corner and tied up with Jill in the center of the ring. The two competitors were evenly matched in size, but Jill had the experience edge and pushed Sakura to the ropes. She allowed for a clean break at the officialβs count of three, before jerking Sanadaβs wrist and whipping her to the opposite set of ropes, until Sakura turned the momentum against her and sent Lockhart to the ropes instead. Jill rebounded into Sakura leapfrogging over her, then doing the same on her second rebound in a page out of her fatherβs playbook.
But Jill had seen it before, and she got out of the ring before Sakura could hit her with a Dropkick. Lockhart found safety for the moment until Sanada began climbing the corner post, but Jill got back up to the apron to fight her off. She hit a few forearms into Sanadaβs chest to stagger her, before she shoved her down from the top rope into the ring. Jill climbed up to the top herself, catching Sanada with a Missile Dropkick as soon as she got back to her feet, then going straight for a cover but Sakura kicked out just after two.
Jill controlled the match for a few moments, wearing her challenger down with working holds and basic yet effective slams. Sakura was unable to mount much offence outside of a few weak strikes to the chest, but would eventually turn the tide on Lockhart as she countered an early finisher attempt into a stiff Lariat across the chest. It didnβt take Jill off of her feet, but Sakura held the wrist and delivered a second, before lifting Lockhart up onto her shoulders.
She went for a TKO but Jill slipped behind, going for a German Suplex. Sakura kicked her feet down to the mat then spun behind the champion, going for a German Suplex of her own. Lockhart also tried to stay on the mat, but Sakura used the German Suplex as bait and quickly shifted into a Juji Gatame instead, finally having the champion in jeopardy for a moment! Jill tried to crawl toward the ropes while Sakura kept the submission in tight, but Lockhart eventually reached the bottom rope and forced a break.
She rolled out to the floor and Sakura Sanada was ready to take a chance, as she rushed toward the far set of ropes and built up a full head of steam. Jill was too slow to realize what was happening before she was sent into the guardrail with a big Suicide Dive from her challenger. Sanada picked her up and sent her into the ring, wasting as little time as possible as she climbed up onto the apron. She rolled through the middle rope and into the ring, connecting with her signature Rolling Thunder Lariat before going into a cover on Lockhart.
Jill was able to kick out after two, sitting up in the center of the ring which prompted Sanada to run to the ropes and hit a Basement Dropkick into her spine. She watched as Jill turned over to her elbows and knees, where Sakura then hit the ropes again and connected with a Sliding Single Leg Dropkick to the side of her head, before going for another cover that would see Jill kick out at two again. She had to go for something bigger, and she began picking Lockhart up to her feet and trying to cinch in Skull End.
She couldnβt get Jill down on the mat, the champion was fighting hard and eventually lifted Sakura up onto her shoulder. She charged forward and slammed Sakura into the corner padding, but the resilient challenger held on tight and was able to return to her feet, then scissor her legs around Jillβs body and fully cinch the submission in. Lockhart was trapped, trying to fight free from the challengerβs hold but wearing out fast. Sakura however would let go from the hold, rolling her opponent into position before she climbed up to the top rope. Sanada left her feet to go for the Rounding Body Press, only for Lockhart to roll toward the corner and for Sakura to hit nothing but the mat.
Both women got to their feet as quick as possible, but Jill was a bit quicker on the jump and took Sanada down with a Lariat. She picked Sakuraβs weakened body up from the mat, holding her wrist from behind and spinning her out into The Devilβs Kiss, knocking her down to the canvas again. She went for a cover on Sakura but the challenger was able to kick out once more, and Jill was beginning to show her frustration. She pulled Sanada to the center of the ring and got her up on her knees, hitting the ropes to look for the Chelsea Dagger, but Sakura was just able to duck the incoming strike to the back of her head.
Jill got up and turned around, but was met with a stiff Roundhouse Kick to the side of her head. Lockhart went weak in the knees and nearly fell, but showed life as Sanada tried to run to the ropes, but she caught her by the wrist and stopped her from going far. Sakura fought back with a Thrust Kick from the wrist-clutch position, forcing Jill a step back before hitting a second Thrust Kick. With Lockhart rocked again, Sanada hit the ropes and connected with a Slingblade. She got up to her feet, riling up the crowd as she climbed up top once again.
Sanada took a few moments to set up the Rounding Body Press, allowing Jill to get behind her and keep her from going. A fight on the middle and top ropes ensued, before Lockhart took a big risk and hooked her arms around Sanada, sending her from the top with an Avalanche German Suplex! Sanada was nearly lifeless, and Jill got up as quick as she could to hit the ropes again, and catch Sakura just as she got to her knees with the Chelsea Dagger she missed moments ago.
Lockhart signalled for the end, and lifted Sakuraβs head between her legs as she hooked her arms. She raised Sanada up for the Ultima Weapon, but Sakura purposely over-rotated and pushed herself up and over Jill, landing behind her. This allowed for Sakura to hook her arms around Lockhartβs neck from behind, kicking her foot forward and dropping to her front to spike the champion on the top of her head with Koi River! The crowd were in complete awe as Sakura rolled the champion over, covering Jill as the referee went in for the count!
One . . . Two . . . Thrβ NO! Jillβs foot had just made it to the bottom rope, as Sakuraβs inexperience made her fail to check her opponentβs positioning.
She punched the mat in frustration, but couldnβt get in her own head about it. She picked Jill up to her feet again and this time hooked her by the arms from behind, going for the Cherry Blossom Driver. Jill kicked her feet and stayed on the canvas, fighting free and spinning behind Sakura where she gained wrist control again. She spun Sakura out to go for a second Devilβs Kiss, but would be popped up from the mat and caught out of midair with a TKO! She once again riled up the crowd with a battle cry, before she hooked her arms around Jillβs waist and slowly lifted her from the canvas, nailing her on the back of her neck with a German Suplex, bridging into the cover!
But once again, she would only score a two count. She kept her arms wrapped around Lockhart, picking her up to her feet and clutching her by the wrist. In a page from Jillβs own playbook now, she went for a Ripcord Lariat but would be caught straight from the attack into The Devilβs Landing, as Lockhart lifted her and spiked her down on the back of her head and neck!
Sakura rolled over to her stomach from the impact, as Jill picked her up and hooked her by the arms again, successfully hitting her with Ultima Weapon and spiking her on her head once again. The referee got into position, Jill pinning Sakuraβs shoulders to the mat as he counted: One! Two! Three! The bell sounded, and Jillβs hand was raised in victory as she made another successful defence of the gold.