The crowd buzzes with anticipation as the arena lights dim, signaling the arrival of the next match. The stakes couldn't be higher. The winner would earn the final spot in a triple-threat match for the JWF Supreme Championship against Roman Reigns and Jason Styles. The lights pulse to the rhythmic, haunting sound of Shinsuke Nakamura's theme as the King of Strong Style makes his entrance.

Samantha Irvin: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, from Kyoto, Japan, weighing in at 229 pounds, Shinsuke Nakamura!

Nakamura slithers down the ramp with his signature swagger, the crowd chanting along to his music. He strikes his signature pose on the apron before entering the ring, his face twisted with intensity. As his music fades, the lights dim again, and a different energy takes over.

The dark, ominous tones of Malakai Black's theme echo through the arena. Fog billows out onto the stage as the ominous figure of Malakai emerges from the shadows, his cold gaze locked on Nakamura.

Samantha Irvin: And his opponent, from Amsterdam, Netherlands, weighing in at 215 pounds, Malakai Black!

Malakai stalks down the ramp, his presence alone chilling the atmosphere. The fans sit on the edge of their seats, knowing that this battle is about to be a clash of calculated strikes, brute force, and technical mastery. He slowly enters the ring, never breaking his deathly stare from Nakamura, who smirks back in response.

Darby: This is going to be a barnburner, folks. Two of the deadliest strikers in the game, with a shot at the JWF Supreme Championship on the line. This one is gonna hurt!

The referee checks both men before calling for the bell.

DING DING DING!

Nakamura circles the ring, his movements loose and unpredictable. Malakai stands stoic, waiting for the right moment to strike. The two finally engage, locking up in the center of the ring. Nakamura quickly transitions into a side headlock, but Malakai slips out and counters with a stiff leg kick to Nakamura's thigh. Nakamura shakes it off and comes back with a spinning backfist, but Black ducks and fires off a roundhouse kick aimed at Nakamura's head.

Nakamura barely avoids it, backing away, a grin creeping across his face. Both men know this is a game of inches.

Nakamura charges in, looking for a knee strike, but Malakai sidesteps and grabs Nakamura in a waistlock. Malakai attempts a German suplex, but Nakamura rolls through and lands on his feet, spinning back around with a quick strike to Malakai's ribs. The shot staggers Black for a moment, giving Nakamura an opening. He follows up with a series of sharp, precision kicks to Malakai's chest, backing him into the corner.

Darby: Nakamura unleashing those stiff kicks we've come to expect. Malakai needs to find an answer here!

With Malakai trapped in the corner, Nakamura backs up, measuring him before rushing in for a running knee strike. But Malakai dodges at the last second, slipping out of the corner and catching Nakamura with a spinning back elbow to the jaw. Nakamura stumbles back, and Malakai immediately follows up with a running knee strike of his own, flooring Nakamura.

Darby: What a knee! Malakai Black turning the tide here, folks!

Malakai covers Nakamura.

1... 2...

Nakamura kicks out!

Malakai doesn't waste a moment, grabbing Nakamura by the wrist and yanking him to his feet. He whips Nakamura into the ropes and goes for a Black Mass, but Nakamura ducks under it, rebounding off the ropes with a flying knee that catches Malakai right on the chin. Both men collapse to the mat, the crowd on their feet.

Darby: Oh my God! Did you see that knee? Both men are down!

Both Nakamura and Malakai stir, slowly pulling themselves back to their feet. Nakamura, gritting his teeth, strikes first with another stiff kick to Malakai's chest. Malakai responds in kind, delivering a brutal kick to Nakamura's midsection. They trade blows in the center of the ring, neither man willing to back down.

Nakamura goes for another spinning backfist, but Malakai catches his arm, pulling him into a vicious knee strike to the gut. With Nakamura doubled over, Malakai capitalizes immediately, driving his elbow into the back of Nakamura's head. Nakamura stumbles forward, but Malakai stays on him, wrapping his arm around Nakamura's neck, pulling him into a standing guillotine. Nakamura, gasping for air, struggles to break free, but Malakai tightens the grip, his focus unrelenting.

Darby: Malakai's got that guillotine locked in tight! Nakamura's fading!

Nakamura's knees begin to buckle as he reaches out for the ropes, the crowd rallying behind him. In a last-ditch effort, Nakamura powers through, driving Malakai backward into the corner, smashing him against the turnbuckle to break the hold.

Malakai releases the hold but quickly counters with a back elbow to Nakamura's temple. Nakamura staggers back, shaking his head to clear the cobwebs, but Malakai charges out of the corner with a devastating knee strike to Nakamura's jaw, sending him crashing to the mat.

Darby: That knee nearly took Nakamura's head off!

Malakai immediately hooks the leg for the cover.

1... 2...

Nakamura kicks out!

Malakai Black shoots a glare at the referee after Nakamura's kickout, frustration momentarily creeping into his expression. He wipes the sweat from his brow and turns back to Nakamura, determined to finish the job. Pulling Nakamura to his feet, Malakai whips him into the ropes, preparing for a vicious spinning heel kick. But Nakamura ducks under it at the last second, bouncing off the opposite ropes and charging toward Black.

Malakai spins around just in time for Nakamura to leap into the air and nail him with a flying knee strike to the chest. Black staggers back, clutching his ribs in pain, as Nakamura lands on his feet, the crowd roaring in excitement. He rushes forward with another knee strike aimed at Black's midsection, this one with more force, but Malakai sidesteps it, grabbing Nakamura by the arm and yanking him into a ripcord knee to the face.

Darby: Nakamura just ate that knee! Malakai Black is in full control now!

Malakai takes a moment to catch his breath, knowing he's close to putting Nakamura away. He pulls Nakamura up once again, methodically setting him up for Black Mass, but Nakamura somehow dodges the deadly spinning kick. Seizing the opportunity, Nakamura counters with a hard forearm to the side of Malakai's head, sending him stumbling backward into the ropes.

Sensing his chance, Nakamura charges forward with another running knee, but Malakai sidesteps, and in the process, Nakamura accidentally crashes into the referee, sending him sprawling to the canvas.

Darby: The ref is down! Oh no, here we go!

With the referee out cold, Nakamura glances around, a devilish smirk spreading across his face. He quickly rolls out of the ring, reaching under the apron and pulling out a pair of brass knuckles. The crowd buzzes, unsure of what's about to happen next.

Darby: What is Nakamura thinking here? This isn't like him!

Nakamura slips the brass knuckles onto his hand and rolls back into the ring, stalking Malakai as he starts to rise. As Malakai turns around, Nakamura strikes, delivering a brutal right hand to Malakai's jaw, the brass knuckles adding extra force. Malakai drops like a stone, his body hitting the mat hard as the crowd lets out a collective gasp.

Nakamura tosses the brass knuckles out of the ring just as the referee begins to stir. The official shakes his head, trying to regain his bearings, unaware of what just transpired. Nakamura stands over Malakai, waiting for the ref to get back to his feet.

Darby: The ref didn't see a thing! Nakamura just laid out Malakai Black with those brass knuckles!

As soon as the referee is on his feet, Nakamura backs into the corner, sizing Malakai up for his finishing move. Malakai struggles to push himself off the mat, dazed and unaware of what's coming next. Nakamura charges forward with a roar, connecting with a brutal Kinshasa right to Malakai's head, the impact echoing throughout the arena.

Darby: Kinshasa! Nakamura with the Kinshasa!

The referee drops to the mat for the count as Nakamura hooks Malakai's leg.

1... 2... 3!

The bell rings as Nakamura raises his arms in victory, the crowd divided between boos and cheers.

Darby: Shinsuke Nakamura has done it! He's going on to face Roman Reigns and Jason Styles for the JWF Supreme Championship!

Samantha Irvin: Here is your winner, and the new number one contender... Shinsuke Nakamura!

Nakamura climbs the turnbuckle, looking out into the crowd with a sinister grin as he motions around his waist, signaling that the Supreme Championship will soon be his. Meanwhile, Malakai Black lies motionless in the ring, unaware of the cheating that sealed his defeat.