Time Scale: 19 Days After Hell In A Cell 2019, and 6 Days Before Crown Jewel 2019 - Location: WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live - Backstage.

Destroyer's Personal Observation:

This was a day I was looking forward to. "The King of Destruction" defending a championship - or, in this case, 'championships' - against "The King of Strong Style", Shinsuke Nakamura. Didn't matter to me what company that this would be in...though a part of me wishes it was in New Japan Pro-Wrestling...

I arrived to the venue early with both Billie and Peyton, and it was clear to anyone passing me that I was laser focused on the match. All day this day - from the moment that I'd gotten into the gym and after I had arrived into the arena for Smackdown - I was busy training and preparing myself both mentally and physically for whatever the hell this match with Nakamura would put me through.

Hell, I even ended up putting up a punching bag in a quiet, unused corner at one point and started beating, kicking and smashing my elbows into the punching bag, even when it seemed like it might be worn out - only stopping when either Jess and Cassie took a picture and/or gave me something to drink, or when Hunter came over and talked about the plan for tonight, or hell when somebody else like Joe (Roman Reigns), Alexis (Alexa Bliss), or one of the backstage crew took a picture. 

If you think that was a bit excessive, well my answer is "Maybe it is, but wouldn't you if you were facing one of New Japan's greatest?" 

I know what fans are expecting with this match: they are most likely expecting for a slow-paced match with a more...sedated version of Nakamura's in-ring style...but, from what I've heard, Hunter will be having a word with Nakamura to hold nothing back in the match, and go full Strong Style on me in the match. 

If that's true, then I look forward to the beating that will be given in the match. Nothing is better than feeling so close to losing or winning a match, whilst you are getting beaten down so hard that you might not get up for the final, killing blow! 

What? You think that's weird? It's wrestling, it's not supposed to make complete sense all of the time.

Even as I was training for the match: I couldn't help but think of, what I hoped, was going to be a good match between me and Nakamura...providing that his manager/cheerleader, Sami Zayn, didn't interfere with the match...

https://youtu.be/S-VyG3V-l2I

As the main event came: Nakamura made his way out to the ring first as his music began to play, flanked as usual this year by his little cheerleader, Sami Zayn, and wearing the Intercontinental Championship around his waist. 

Once he got into the ring, and everything had died down a bit, the lights went out completely...then the red mist began to appear around the arena...all before the gong that symbolised my theme song was playing began to go off...and then, I began to make my way out to the ring as the music played, followed by Billie and Peyton as this went on as the lights began to slowly go back on, and the mist slowly lifted!

https://youtu.be/hqzKjPn7YSY

[Note: Just imagine that he also has the Blueniversal Championship around his waist too, alongside his other Universal Championship].

As I made my way into the ring, I silently and briefly glanced between both Billie and Peyton - both of whom nodded to me before getting on the apron and opening up the ropes for me with no prompting. 

Not something I suggested they do, by the way, and no idea what prompted them to do that, but I wasn't about to refuse the offer as I jumped up onto the apron and got into the ring, before holding the ropes myself and letting my "IIconic" girlfriends in as well. 

When we got to the center of the ring, I held up my Winged Eagle-like Universal Championship above my head, whilst keeping the Blueniversal Championship around my waist and whilst both Billie and Peyton did their signature poses as well, before making my way into my corner as the introductions were made.

When the introductions were done: Destroyer handed both of his Universal Championships over to the referee as "The IIconics" got down off the apron and stood at ringside. And, as soon as the ref had held up both belts up to the crowd, the bell rang...the match was now underway!

End of pov.

Soon the bell rang, and they slowly began to pace around one another - each one of them attempting to hit stiff kicks onto one-another only for the other to dodge it - before Destroyer feigned another kick attempt before decking Nakamura with a stiff forearm, sending him straight to the ground before attempting to go for a cover - which naturally didn't succeed as Nakamura immediately kicked out before the ref could even get in position for a pin - before pushing "The King of Destruction" away and leaning against a turnbuckle as both stared at each other.

Destroyer slowly made his way up to his feet as Nakamura slowly paced a bit around "The King of Destruction" in a manner akin to that of a predator stalking prey, and then Nakamura attempted to hit some shoot kicks onto Destroyer - which he either batted away with his fists (not the smartest thing to do, admittedly) or responded in kind with his own shoot kicks too. 

And then...things got a bit crazy...

Nakamura was able to hit a shoot kick onto Destroyer's arm, and then Destroyer shook his arm a bit and shouted at Nakamura: "Come on! You can kick me harder than that!" And just to show how serious he was in wanting - rather crazily - for Nakamura to kick harder: he took his jacket off and threw it out of the ring (which Billie and Peyton both then grabbed), and he sat right in the center of the ring with his back, legs crossed, and basically dared "The King of Strong Style" to hit him.

Nakamura, naturally rather confused yet intrigued by this request, soon attempted a really stiff shoot kick onto Destroyer's back - which he did flinch a bit at, before standing up slowly and shouting "Are you even trying!?" and he then he slapped Nakamura around the face - one that could could heard right far off at the end of a stadium, if they were performing in one - and he sat down again with his back to Nakamura again, daring him again to hit him.

This time he didn't hold back his kick - if he was at all - and you could hear it going off my back like a rocket - and a bruise mark could be seen on my back as well from the kicks. If that wasn't enough, "The King of Destruction" appeared to double-over a bit from the shoot kick, and took some time sitting back up even vaguely straight - which possibly sent a feeling of concern into some fans, and definitely into Billie and Peyton.

Nakamura, seeing this, got more annoyed by this: and once again hit Destroyer with a trio of stiff as hell shoot kicks to "The King of Destructions" body - one two to the back, and one to the gut by accident, the latter of which winds Destroyer - and all of which causing "The King of Destruction" trouble in getting back up to his feet!

Nakamura attempted to go for another shoot kick when he did though, but this time Destroyer caught his leg and quickly drove his elbow into the knee of Nakamura's caught leg - and the immediate pain was etched onto Nakamura's face - before further damaging his leg by hitting a Dragon Screw onto the caught leg!

But Destroyer didn't stop there: as he then began hitting downright stiff as hell shoot kicks onto Nakamura at the exact moment Nakamura fell to the mat once "The King of Destruction" had released his leg, and then he followed with a bicycle knee to the face of "The King of Strong Style", all the while selling the stiff shoot kicks he egged Nakamura to give him like he'd been hit in the liver.

As the match went on, Nakamura and Destroyer laid into each other like it was a New Japan NEVER Openweight Championship match between Katsuyori Shibata against Tomohiro Ishii: they kept hitting each other very stiffly - leaving welts and bruises along their body in the process, and even causing Destroyer to bleed from the mouth as well - though whether that was from the gut shot or not is anybodies guess - as well as many a load of dangerous risks as well that only further did damage to Nakamura's leg, and even doing some damage to Destroyer's and one of his arms as well.

Here were some of the highlights from the match:

1. Destroyer locking Nakamura in a Heel Hook on Nakamura's worked on leg, only breaking the submission when Nakamura managed, somehow, to get his fingertips touching the bottom rope as he dragged "The King of Destruction".

2. Destroyer locking in an inverted version of the 'Figure 4-Leg Lock' onto Nakamura's legs via the ring post...twice!

3. Nakamura continuously working on Destroyer's left shoulder after "The King of Destruction's" shoulder crashed into the ring post on a 'Figure 4' attempt, including successfully locking Destroyer in both a rope-assisted 'Cross Armbreaker' for a 4 count and then once again in a regular 'Cross Armbreaker' in the center of the ring.

4. Destroyer attempted to go for a Goldberg-like 'Jackhammer' like move (an actual one, not that Suplex/Brainbuster looking attempt of a Jackhammer from the 2019 and 2020 Super ShowDown's), but Nakamura managing to get free through a combination of Destroyer's worked on left arm giving out on him, and Nakamura driving his injured knee into the face of Destroyer at the same time.

5. Destroyer managing to counter an attempted 'Kinshasa' off the ropes with an open palmed chop on Nakamura's bad leg with his bad arm before "The King of Strong Style" could launch himself, and then managing to hit a 'Single-Arm Superplex' off the ropes to the outside with a sickening thud, and all whilst not being able to use his damaged arm properly due to the damaged sustained throughout the match!

As the match began to come towards its end after over 20 minutes of putting their body through hell: 

Destroyer was currently stunned close to the ropes off of being hit by Nakamura's 'Inverted Exploder Suplex', and he turned at the wrong time upon getting up, as he was soon floored to the mat and into the turnbuckle with an incredibly stiff 'Kinshasa' from Nakamura - one that caused "The King of Destruction" to spit out a fair lot of blood from the jaw - before Nakamura pulled Destroyer away from the ropes and attempted to go for the pin!

1...2...Thre...!

At the last moment, Destroyer kicked out exhaustively, just lifting his shoulder up enough to break the count and annoying Sami at ringside, as well as worrying Nakamura, who was starting to look frustrated. 

Nakamura got up on the apron and started shouting and complaining towards the referee about the decision - protesting to no avail that it was 3 not whatever count it was - only to be brought down to Earth when both Billie and Peyton pulled down Sami from the apron - which he started shouting and complaining at them for - before "The IIconics" shut Sami by straight up punching him in the jaw to the ground at the same time, which the crowd popped loud for!

Meanwhile in the ring, Nakamura was attempting to go for another 'Kinshasa'...but as he was running to hit the move as soon as Destroyer managed to get to his feet via the ropes: Destroyer nailed Shinsuke with a 'Destruction Kick' out of nowhere to send Nakamura's attempts of winning crashing down! 

Both Billie and Peyton pounded the apron to rally their "King of Destruction", as did the crowd, as he begin to make it to his feet again - using the ropes to help him stand properly - before screaming in rage and adrenaline as he nailed a stunned Nakamura with his own 'Kinshasa', to the shock of the crowd - collapsing onto Nakamura in a pinning predicament in the process!

1...2...Thre...!

At the last possible moment, Nakamura weakly and exhaustively kicked out, but it was clear this time that this was on instinct alone, and the chances of it happening again were slim at best!

Destroyer - panting and sweating in exhaustion from this 20+ minute Puroesu strong style-like match - managed to make it up to his feet, and singled with his one-working arm in a throat slitting manner with his thumb that it was time to end the match: barely managing to lift up Nakamura's prone body up, before sealing "The King of Strong Style's" fate with the 'Brighter Side of Chaos"!

1...2...3!!!

The crowd was cheering like mad after seeing such a brutally stiff strong style-like match between the two champions - especially one that lasted for as long as it did - as Destroyer slowly made it to his feet and leaned against the ropes wiping the sweat from his brows with his one good arm, whilst Billie and Peyton ran into the ring hugging and checking on Destroyer as the referee brings in Destroyer's Universal Championships, and other refs checked on Nakamura. 

To say that Destroyer was exhausted would be an understatement, and both Peyton and Billie were concerned about all the blood from his mouth - though thankfully, unbeknownst to "The IIconics", it wasn't because he had a broken jaw. 

As Nakamura began to slowly stir and look in the direction of Destroyer, "The King of Destruction" nodded his head towards him in respect, before slowly making his way out of the ring with Billie and Peyton and, exhausted, walking back up the ramp with his titles in hand as his theme continued to play...until...

https://youtu.be/7VjWu8Uq9ck

Destroyer heard this, and the crowd gave a mixed reaction to "The New" Daniel Bryan making his way out into the arena - Daniel's gaze cold and serious, never once letting it falter from "The King of Destruction" or his championships, and vice-versa with Destroyer at, what he assumed anyway, was to be his next challenge.

Soon, Daniel and Destroyer were face-to-face with one another, glaring holes into one another's skulls, and soon "The King of Destroyer raised one of his Universal Championships up just enough and just for long enough for Daniel to see it, before beginning to walk away again back up the ramp.

It appears that a new challenger has already made his presence known to "The King of Destruction", trying to take his crown...and this might just be the challenger that knocks him from his throne...but Destroyer was damn well certain that he was going to enjoy the fight whilst it lasts, whatever the outcome!

'This is going to be fun!'

Author's Note: First match for this book of 2021, and I'm worried it's not my best. I was really struggling with this match, and that's because whilst I've been watching quite a lot of matches involving Shinsuke Nakamura over the years - especially when I was trying to do this match - it's surprisingly really tricky to plan out a match for Nakamura. 

I mean, I knew how I wanted the match to end, so there was that at the very least. However, it took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to do with this, hence the creation of the interview extra chapter prior to this one. So, if you don't like the match, then I'm sorry about that.

Anyway, I hope you are all doing well and staying safe, and I hope you all have an amazing day!