In a rematch from Raw, Akira Tozawa fights through the pain of a shoulder injury in a highly-competitive contest against Ariya Daivari.

During the battle between Akira Tozawa and Ariya Daivari on Raw, Titus O’Neil forfeited the match on behalf of Tozawa, who was attempting to fight through the immense pain of a shoulder injury. Irate over O’Neil’s decision and intent on proving he was still capable of competing, Tozawa demanded a rematch against The Persian Lion.

Before the bout got underway, Daivari dedicated the match to Iranian 1956 Melbourne Olympic Gold Medalist Emam-Ali Habibi, declaring he would follow in Habibi’s footsteps as a great Iranian champion. Tozawa then made his way to the ring with a giant target – a heavily taped shoulder.

With the WWE Universe fueling him, Tozawa struck with determination, taking down Daivari with a flurry of strikes and counters all the while protecting his shoulder. However, after escaping a high-risk maneuver, Daivari found an opening to attack his opponent’s injury. Advancing aggressively, The Persian Lion focused his attacks on Tozawa’s shoulder, inflicting as much pain as he could.

Tozawa battled through the agony, fending off a potentially devastating attack with his arm caught in the steel steps. Throwing caution to the wind, Tozawa charged through the ropes, taking down Daivari on the outside. However, it may not have been worth the risk, as Daivari continued to go after the shoulder and quell any signs of offense from Tozawa.

After Daivari came within an eyelash of earning the win with a series of near-falls, the Japanese Superstar managed to counter with a pinfall of his own to secure the victory. Despite the loss, Daivari launched Tozawa into the ring post to inflict maximum damage.