Razor Dethrones Matsumoto in a Brutal Hardcore War on IWRA Storm
The IWRA Hardcore Championship is never defended without blood, sweat, and carnage, and Monday night’s showdown between Matsumoto and Razor was no exception. With the mysterious reformation of Doom under Lady Death, Razor had re-emerged as a dominant force, seeking vengeance and championship gold. After ambushing Matsumoto in the weeks leading up to this match, Razor entered the ring with a clear objective: reclaim the Hardcore Title. With his stablemate Scorpion by his side, Razor made his intentions known in one of the most violent battles of the night.
Razor’s Early Dominance
From the opening bell, Razor took control, unloading heavy-hitting combos and thunderous slams to keep Matsumoto on the back foot. Wasting little time, he dragged the fight outside the ring, where the true brutality of the Hardcore Division came into play. The crowd erupted as each man armed themselves—Razor wielding a sledgehammer, Matsumoto gripping a barbed-wire-wrapped baseball bat.
Weapons of Destruction
The clash of steel and flesh was brutal, but it was Razor who gained the upper hand, delivering a vicious low blow with the hammer before slamming Matsumoto onto his own barbed-wire weapon. Matsumoto writhed in pain as Razor capitalized, pressing his advantage with unrelenting aggression.
Meanwhile, Scorpion sought to tip the scales further in Doom’s favor, removing a turnbuckle pad to expose the steel beneath. However, the move backfired as Matsumoto reversed Razor’s Irish whip, sending the challenger crashing face-first into the exposed turnbuckle. The shift in momentum was immediate—Matsumoto grabbed a chair thrown by Scorpion and turned it into a weapon of his own, battering Razor into the mat before going for a pin. But Razor, ever resilient, refused to stay down.
Razor’s Relentless Comeback
Wounded but undeterred, Razor fought his way back into the match. A burst of energy saw him level Matsumoto with a series of brutal clotheslines before planting him into the mat with a massive power slam. The Hardcore Champion kicked out, but the damage had been done—Razor smelled blood. With the crowd watching in stunned anticipation, Razor delivered a devastating DDT and then grabbed a steel chair, slamming it across Matsumoto’s already battered body. The chair bent under the impact, leaving Matsumoto gasping on the mat.
A New Hardcore Champion is Crowned
Sensing the end, Razor hoisted Matsumoto up and delivered his crushing finisher, the Doom Bringer, lifting the champion by the face before slamming him viciously into the canvas. Matsumoto was motionless as referee John Cole counted—1…2…3! Razor had done it. For the second time in his career, he was the IWRA Hardcore Champion.
A New Challenger Emerges
The post-match scene turned chaotic as Scorpion entered the ring, handing Razor a chair. The crowd booed, anticipating further destruction at the hands of Doom. But before Razor and Scorpion could continue their assault on the fallen Matsumoto, a familiar figure stormed the ring—Luke Austin.
Austin, who had suffered at the hands of Doom when Scorpion sprayed acid in his eyes, costing him the IWRA Forge Men’s Title, was out for revenge. The arena exploded as he charged toward his long-time enemies, setting the stage for the next chapter in the war between Austin and Doom.
Razor may have claimed the Hardcore Championship, but with Luke Austin now in the mix, his reign could be more dangerous than ever.
