MLW Anthology: Low Ki
June 6, 2020

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Transcription by Josh Lopez

Description: This week MLW Anthology chronicles the first World Heavyweight Champion of Major League Wrestling, Satoshi Kojima. Journeying for the first time from his native soil of Japan on a mission to define his place in the sport, Kojima entered MLW in 2002 and was welcomed with open arms by MLW fans, the sporting press and world of wrestling unlike few from Japan before him. The wrestler who defined what it meant to be Major League is the focus of this edition of Anthology as we look at Kojima’s MLW debut and some of his major defenses of the league’s crown in Japan.

Witness Kojima’s world showcase as he establishes MLW’s heavyweight title as a certified world championship with title defenses on multiple continents in several organizations. Whether it be against MLW’s top ranked technician Jerry Lynn, Mexico’s Vampiro, or All Japan Pro-Wrestling top ranked grappler Johnny Smith, this edition of Anthology celebrates Kojimania in Major League Wrestling.

Rich Bocchini: For nearly 20 years, Major League Wrestling has showcased some of the greatest athletes, legends, and classic title fights in our sport. This week, we look at the first man to ever be recognized as MLW World Heavyweight Champion, Satoshi Kojima. Inside the historic Manhattan Center in New York City, Satoshi Kojima’s legacy in MLW faced its first major roadblock, in a man with a well chronicled history inside that very building, Jerry Lynn. With the honor of being the first World’s Heavyweight Champion in MLW on the line, the man known for his lariat would have to go all out to stop The New F’ing Show.

First Match: Satoshi Kojima vs. Jerry Lynn For The Inaugural MLW World Heavyweight Championship – September 2002 – Manhattan Center – New York, New York 

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Kojima applies a wrist lock. Lynn reverses the hold. HammerLock Exchange. Lynn kicks out the legs of Kojima. Lynn floats over into a front face lock. Kojima applies a side wrist lock. Second HammerLock Exchange. Kojima with a side headlock takeover. Lynn answers with the headscissors escape. Kojima with a side headlock takedown. Lynn applies The Cross-Arm-Breaker. Kojima puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Back to the collar and elbow tie up. Kojima applies a side headlock. Kojima drops Lynn with a shoulder tackle. Lynn drops down on the canvas. Lynn with a Hip Toss. Lynn goes for a Running Leg Drop, but Kojima ducks out of the way. Lynn avoids The SomerSault Senton. Lynn miss fires on the elbow drop. That leads us to a quick standoff in the center of the ring.

Kojima kicks Lynn in the gut. Following a snap mare takeover, Kojima applies a rear chin lock. Lynn with elbows to the midsection of Kojima. Kojima with a drop toe hold. Kojima applies The STF. Kojima is putting the boots to Lynn. Kojima slams Lynn’s head on the top turnbuckle pad. Kojima is lighting up Lynn’s chest. Lynn reverses out of the irish whip from Kojima. Lynn kicks Kojima in the gut. Lynn gives Kojima a taste of his own medicine. Lynn with a straight right hand. Kojima kicks Lynn in the gut. Kojima rakes the eyes of Lynn. Kojima repeatedly stomps on Lynn’s chest. Kojima with a Side Walk Slam for a two count. Kojima follows that with two elbow drops. Kojima slams Lynn’s head on the top turnbuckle pad. Kojima with a chop/forearm combination. The referee admonishes Kojima. Kojima continues to stomp on Lynn’s chest.

Kojima with a Vertical Suplex for a two count. Kojima stomps on Lynn’s chest. Kojima goes for a Flying Elbow Drop, but Lynn ducks out of the way. Lynn is throwing haymakers at Kojima. Lynn delivers a chop/forearm combination of his own. Kojima reverses out of the irish whip from Lynn. Lynn kicks Kojima in the chest. Lynn with three running clotheslines, but Kojima refuses to go down. Kojima kicks Lynn in the gut. Kojima goes for a Bodyslam, but Lynn lands back on his feet. Lynn drops Kojima with The Reverse DDT for a two count. Lynn kicks Kojima in the gut. Kojima reverses out of the irish whip from Lynn. Kojima with a corner clothesline. Kojima with a Flying Forearm Smash. Kojima plays to the crowd. Kojima lands The Flying Elbow Drop for a two count. Lynn applies a waist lock.

Kojima with three sharp elbow strikes. Lynn punches Kojima in the back. Lynn with a Release German Suplex for a two count. Lynn is putting the boots to Kojima. Lynn with a straight right hand. Kojima reverses out of the irish whip from Lynn. Lynn kicks Kojima in the jaw. Lynn hits The Tornado DDT for a two count. Kojima goes for a Vertical Suplex, but Lynn lands back on his feet. Lynn with a waist lock go-behind. Kojima decks Lynn with a back elbow smash. Lynn negates The Koji Cutter. Kojima ducks a clothesline from Lynn. Kojima with The SitOut SpineBuster for a two count. Short-Arm Reversal by Lynn. Lynn drops Kojima with The TKO for a two count. Lynn goes for The Cradle PileDriver, but Kojima counters with a Back Body Drop. Kojima connects with The Falcon Arrow for a two count. Kojima plants Lynn with The Lariat to pickup the victory.

Winner: New MLW World Heavyweight Champion, Satoshi Kojima via Pinfall 

– Next week on MLW Anthology, the spotlight will be on The Lucha Brothers.

– Flashback clip of Kojima’s war with Vampiro.

Second Match: Satoshi Kojima (c) vs. Johnny Smith For The MLW World Heavyweight Championship – March 2003 – MLW Underground TV – Korakuen Hall – Tokyo Japan 

Feeling out process after the bell rings. Quick tie up. Kojima had complete control of the match during the commercial break. Kojima slams Smith’s head on the top turnbuckle pad. Kojima delivers Machine Gun Chops. Kojima with the irish whip. Kojima follows that with a Flying Forearm Smash. Kojima plays to the crowd. Kojima lands The Flying Elbow Drop for a two count. Kojima drops Smith with The Straight Jacket NeckBreaker for a two count. Smith negates The Koji Cutter. Smith ducks a clothesline from Kojima. Smith clotheslines Kojima for a two count. Kojima ducks a clothesline from Smith. Kojima connects with The Koji Cutter for a two count.

Kojima hits The Falcon Arrow. Smith rises back on his feet. Smith kicks Kojima in the gut. Smith with The Death Valley Driver. Smith buries his knee into the midsection of Kojima. Smith with The SitOut PowerBomb for a two count. Smith applies a waist lock. Smith with a Bridging German Suplex for a two count. Smith goes back to the waist lock. Kojima with three sharp elbow strikes. Kojima drops Smith with The Western Lariat for a two count. Smith HeadButts Kojima. Smith connects with The British Fall for a two count. Smith goes for a DDT, but Kojima counters with The Northern Lights Suplex. Smith denies The Lariat. Smith with a backslide cover for a two count. Smith runs into Kojima. Kojima plants Smith with The Lariat to pickup the victory.

Winner: Still MLW World Heavyweight Champion, Satoshi Kojima via Pinfall 

Checkout Episode 208 of The Hoots Podcast