NJPW crowns Best of the Super Juniors 28 winner

Hiromu Takahashi has won the Best of the Super Juniors tournament for the third time. 

Hiromu defeated YOH in 38:30 in today’s tournament finals at Sumo Hall in Ryogoku to capture his second consecutive BOSJ and his third in four years. While not yet official, Hiromu is next in line to challenge IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado, most likely at Wrestle Kingdom 16.

YOH’s former Roppongi 3K tag partner SHO from Bullet Club’s House of Torture interfered in today’s bout by attacking both competitors, which could lead to future bouts with either YOH or Hiromu. 

SHO grabbed the house mic and declared the bout a no contest after leaving both laying, but referee Red Shoes Unno refused to call the match. World Tag League winners Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI chased SHO away from the ring, then tended to YOH. Hiromu’s LIJ stablemates Tetsuya Naito and Shingo Takagi came to ringside as well to encourage Hiromu to continue on. 

NJPW World Tag League & Best of the Super Juniors finals lineup set

NJPW has revealed the full lineup for the Wednesday, December 15 World Tag League and Best of the Super Juniors 28 finals. 

The BOSJ finals will main event, as Hiromu Takahashi takes on YOH. Hiromu will be trying for his third overall BOSJ crown, and his second consecutive. A win for YOH would be the first of his career. 

In the semi-main event, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI of CHAOS will face EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi from Bullet Club House of Torture to decide the 2021 World Tag League winner. Both Goto and EVIL have won the tournament twice before with different partners. 

Also announced for Wednesday, Katsuyori Shibata is scheduled to make a “major announcement.”

A Wrestle Kingdom night one preview will take place in the sixth match of the night. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi will team with BUSHI against his Wrestle Kingdom challenger Kazuchika Okada and Robbie Eagles. Okada and Shingo will main event on January 4, 2022, with the winner defending the IWGP title against Will Ospreay the next night. 

A hodgepodge of tag matches will fill out Wednesday’s undercard. 

Here is the lineup: 

NJPW World Tag League & Best of the Super Juniors finals, Wednesday, December 15, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Best of the Super Juniors 28 finals: Hiromu Takahashi vs. YOH
  • World Tag League 2021 finals: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Kazuchika Okada & Robbie Eagles
  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
  • Toru Yano, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Master Wato vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Tiger Mask & Ryohei Oiwa vs. Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
  • Ryusuke Taguchi, Yuto Nakashima & Kosei Fujita vs. Minoru Suzuki, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku
  • Katsuyori Shibata announcement

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 28 updated standings

Block action in NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors 28 concluded today in Hyogo and the finals are set. 

Hiromu Takahashi and YOH will battle on Wednesday, December 15 to determine the tournament winner. 

With a win, Hiromu would join Koji Kanemoto as the only three-time winners of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. Jushin Liger won BOSJ twice, and also won a prior iteration of the tournament when it was known as Top of the Super Juniors. 

Seven of the twelve competitors in this year’s tournament finished with a winning record. 

Wednesday’s show will also include the finals of World Tag League. The full card for the show will be announced at a later date. 

Here are the final BOSJ block standings: 

Standings —

  • Hiromu Takahashi 15 points (7-3-1)
  • YOH 14 points (7-4)
  • El Desperado 13 points (6-4-1)
  • Robbie Eagles 12 points (6-5)
  • El Phantasmo 12 points (6-5)
  • Taiji Ishimori 12 points (6-5)
  • SHO 12 points (6-5)
  • Ryusuke Taguchi 10 points (5-6)
  • BUSHI 10 points (5-6)
  • Master Wato 8 points (4-7)
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru 8 points (4-7)
  • DOUKI 6 points (3-8)

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 28 & World Tag League 2021 finals, Wednesday, December 15, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • BOSJ finals: Hiromu Takahashi vs. YOH
  • World Tag League finals

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 28 finals set

NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors 28 finals are set following the final block action today in Hyogo. 

Hiromu Takahashi and YOH finished atop the block and will face off in the finals on Wednesday, December 15 to determine the winner. 

Hiromu defeated former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles in the main event of today’s show to get to 15 points and secure his spot in the finals. Earlier in the night, YOH defeated his former Roppongi 3K tag team partner SHO to get to 14 points.

YOH defeated Eagles in their head-to-head matchup in the tournament, so he held the tiebreaker over Eagles. El Desperado could have gone to 14 or 15 points with a draw or win against El Phantasmo, but ELP defeated Desperado with his loaded boot Sudden Death superkick to eliminate him. That left Hiromu needing a win or draw in the main event to advance, while Eagles could have advanced with a victory.

Hiromu and YOH had a brief promo exchange after the main event to set up Wednesday’s match. 

Hiromu will be going for his third career BOSJ tournament win and his second in a row. He defeated Taiji Ishimori in the 2018 finals, then defeated El Desperado in the 2020 edition. 

NJPW BOSJ 28 night 11 results: Final block matches

The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament wrapped up its block action today in Hyogo. 

Six competitors were still mathematically alive heading into the night, but no tiebreakers were needed as the block leaders finished ahead of the field. 

Hiromu Takahashi finished with 15 points to lead the block. YOH finished in second with 14 points. They will face off in Wednesday’s finals to determine the winner of the Best of the Super Juniors 28. 

Here are today’s results: 

Yuto Nakashima drew with Ryohei Oiwa (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

Best of the Super Juniors: DOUKI defeated Master Wato (11:50)

DOUKI wrapped up his tournament with a pinfall win with Suplex de la Luna.

Best of the Super Juniors: BUSHI defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (9:10)

BUSHI won with the MX, finishing at 10 points. 

Best of the Super Juniors: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Taiji Ishimori (12:45)

Taguchi won by pinfall with Dodon. 

Best of the Super Juniors: YOH defeated SHO (15:31)

YOH won by pinfall with Direct Drive to stay alive at 14 points. 

Best of the Super Juniors: El Phantasmo defeated El Desperado (21:11)

ELP eliminated Desperado from contention with Sudden Death. 

Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Robbie Eagles (27:07)

Hiromu got the pin after hitting Time Bomb II to advance to the finals, eliminate Eagles and guarantee YOH’s spot in the finals. 

NJPW BOSJ 28 night 10 results: Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI

The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Ehime.

Hiromu Takahashi took on DOUKI in the main event, while IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado faced Ryusuke Taguchi in the semi-main. 

The other tournament action was comprised of SHO vs. Taiji Ishimori, YOH vs. El Phantasmo, Robbie Eagles vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and Master Wato vs. BUSHI.

Young Lions Kosei Fujita and Ryohei Oiwa faced off in the non-tournament opener. 

Here are today’s results: 

Kosei Fujita drew with Ryohei Oiwa (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

Best of the Super Juniors: Master Wato defeated BUSHI (11:15)

Ishimori used the Bone Lock to pick up the submission win.

Best of the Super Juniors: Robbie Eagles defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (12:23)

Eagles used the Ron Miller Special to get the submission victory.

Best of the Super Juniors: YOH defeated El Phantasmo (14:32)

YOH got the pin with the Five Star Clutch.

Best of the Super Juniors: Taiji Ishimori defeated SHO (13:30)

Ishimori won by pinfall with a backslide after a low blow.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Desperado defeated Ryusuke Taguchi (18:11)

Desperado used Numero Dos for the submission. 

Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi defeated DOUKI (20:34)

Hiromu got the pin after hitting Time Bomb.

NJPW BOSJ 28 night nine results: El Desperado vs. BUSHI

The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Shizuoka.

El Desperado faced BUSHI in the main event, and Hiromu Takahashi took on Master Wato in the semi-main. 

The other tournament action was comprised of Robbie Eagles vs. SHO, El Phantasmo vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, YOH vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, plus Taiji Ishimori vs. DOUKI.

Young Lions Yuto Nakashima and Ryohei Oiwa faced off in the non-tournament opener. 

Here are today’s results: 

Yuto Nakashima drew with Ryohei Oiwa (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

Best of the Super Juniors: Taiji Ishimori defeated DOUKI (10:23)

Ishimori used the Bone Lock to pick up the submission win.

Best of the Super Juniors: YOH defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (12:11)

YOH got the pin with the Five Star Clutch.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Phantasmo defeated Ryusuke Taguchi (15:12)

This was a comedy master class. ELP won by submission with a wrist lock after hitting a low blow. 

Best of the Super Juniors: Robbie Eagles defeated SHO (14:06)

Eagles used the Ron Miller Special to get the submission victory.

Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Master Wato (16:30)

Hiromu got the pin after hitting Time Bomb II.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Desperado defeated BUSHI (21:08)

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion won by pinfall after hitting Pinche Loco.

NJPW BOSJ 28 night eight results: El Desperado vs. YOH

The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Saitama.

YOH faced El Desperado in the main event, and Hiromu Takahashi took on Ryusuke Taguchi in the semi-main. 

The other tournament action was comprised of El Phantasmo vs. SHO, BUSHI vs. Taiji Ishimori, Robbie Eagles vs. DOUKI, plus Master Wato vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru.

Kosei Fujita and Ryohei Oiwa faced off in the non-tournament opener. 

Here are today’s results: 

Kosei Fujita drew with Ryohei Oiwa (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

Best of the Super Juniors: Master Wato defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (10:17)

Wato won by pinfall after an RPP.

Best of the Super Juniors: Robbie Eagles defeated DOUKI (11:53)

Eagles used the Ron Miller Special to pick up the submission win. 

Best of the Super Juniors: BUSHI defeated Taiji Ishimori (13:35)

BUSHI won by pinfall after an MX.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Phantasmo defeated SHO (11:47)

ELP got the win after SHO tapped out following a Sudden Death low blow.

Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Ryusuke Taguchi (8:56)

Hiromu used the “Nameless Hiromroll” rollup to score the pinfall. 

Best of the Super Juniors: YOH defeated El Desperado (18:26)

YOH pinned the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion after hitting Direct Drive.

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 28 updated standings and schedule

Here are the Best of the Super Juniors 28 standings after night seven, plus the upcoming schedule for the tournament: 

Standings —

  • SHO 12 points (6-1)
  • El Desperado 9 points (4-2-1)
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru 8 points (4-3)
  • Taiji Ishimori 8 points (4-3)
  • Ryusuke Taguchi 8 points (4-3)
  • Hiromu Takahashi 7 points (3-3-1)
  • BUSHI 6 points (3-4)
  • Robbie Eagles 6 points (3-4)
  • El Phantasmo 6 points (3-4)
  • YOH 6 points (3-4)
  • DOUKI 4 points (2-5)
  • Master Wato 4 points (2-5)

Schedule —

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 28 night eight, Friday, December 3, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Best of the Super Juniors: YOH vs. El Desperado
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
  • Best of the Super Juniors: SHO vs. El Phantasmo
  • Best of the Super Juniors: BUSHI vs. Taiji Ishimori
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Robbie Eagles vs. DOUKI
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Master Wato vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Ryohei Oiwa vs. Kosei Fujita

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 28 night nine, Sunday, December 5, 1 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Best of the Super Juniors: BUSHI vs. El Desperado
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi vs. Master Wato
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Robbie Eagles vs. SHO
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. El Phantasmo
  • Best of the Super Juniors: YOH vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Taiji Ishimori vs. DOUKI
  • Yuto Nakashima vs. Ryohei Oiwa

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 28 night 10, Wednesday, December 8, 1 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. El Desperado
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Taiji Ishimori vs. SHO
  • Best of the Super Juniors: YOH vs. El Phantasmo
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Robbie Eagles vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Master Wato vs. BUSHI
  • Ryohei Oiwa vs. Kosei Fujita

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 28 night 11, Saturday, December 11, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Best of the Super Juniors: SHO vs. YOH
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi vs. Robbie Eagles
  • Best of the Super Juniors: El Desperado vs. El Phantasmo
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Taiji Ishimori
  • Best of the Super Juniors: Master Wato vs. DOUKI
  • Best of the Super Juniors: BUSHI vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Yuto Nakashima vs. Ryohei Oiwa

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 28 & World Tag League 2021 finals, Wednesday, December 15, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • World Tag League finals
  • BOSJ finals

NJPW BOSJ 28 night seven results: Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Phantasmo

The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Korakuen Hall.

Hiromu Takahashi faced El Phantasmo in the main event, and El Desperado took on tag team partner Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the semi-main. 

The other tournament action was comprised of Master Wato vs. SHO, YOH vs. Taiji Ishimori, Robbie Eagles vs. BUSHI, plus Ryusuke Taguchi vs. DOUKI.

Kosei Fujita and Ryohei Oiwa faced off in the non-tournament opener. 

Here are today’s results: 

Kosei Fujita drew with Ryohei Oiwa (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

Best of the Super Juniors: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated DOUKI (11:39)

Taguchi won by pinfall after trapping DOUKI’s shoulders while he was caught in DOUKI’s triangle choke. 

Best of the Super Juniors: Robbie Eagles defeated BUSHI (12:52)

Eagles won with his Ron Miller Special submission. 

Best of the Super Juniors: YOH defeated Taiji Ishimori (13:33)

YOH picked up the win with the Five Star Clutch.

Best of the Super Juniors: SHO defeated Master Wato (15:02)

SHO won by ref stoppage with the Snake Bite.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Desperado defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (15:10)

Desperado used the Pinche Loco to pin Kanemaru.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Phantasmo defeated Hiromu Takahashi (23:14)

ELP won with his loaded boot Sudden Death superkick. He then teased a match with Jay White at Wrestle Kingdom in his post-match promo. 

NJPW BOSJ 28 night six results: Hiromu Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori

The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Fujisawa.

Hiromu Takahashi faced Taiji Ishimori in the main event, and El Desperado took on Robbie Eagles in the semi-main. 

The other tournament action was comprised of BUSHI vs. El Phantasmo, YOH vs. Master Wato, SHO vs. DOUKI, plus Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru.

Yuto Nakashima and Ryohei Oiwa faced off in the non-tournament opener. 

Here are today’s results: 

Yuto Nakashima drew with Ryohei Oiwa (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

Best of the Super Juniors: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (10:13)

Taguchi won by pinfall after Dodon. 

Best of the Super Juniors: SHO defeated DOUKI (11:37)

SHO won by ref stoppage with his Snake Bite submission. 

Best of the Super Juniors: YOH defeated Master Wato (14:58)

YOH picked up the win with Direct Drive.

Best of the Super Juniors: BUSHI defeated El Phantasmo (13:45)

BUSHI pinned ELP After an MX.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Desperado defeated Robbie Eagles (18:25)

Desperado used the El Es Clero cradle for the pin. 

Best of the Super Juniors: Taiji Ishimori defeated Hiromu Takahashi (25:36)

Ishimori used the Bone Lock to submit Hiromu. 

NJPW BOSJ 28 night five results: Hiromu Takahashi vs. BUSHI

The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Korakuen Hall.

Hiromu Takahashi faced BUSHI in the main event, while tag partners Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo battled in the semi-main. 

The other tournament action was comprised of El Desperado vs. DOUKI, SHO vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Robbie Eagles vs. YOH, and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Master Wato.

Kosei Fujita and Ryohei Oiwa faced off in the non-tournament opener. 

Here are today’s results: 

Kosei Fujita drew with Ryohei Oiwa (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

Best of the Super Juniors: Master Wato defeated Ryusuke Taguchi (12:09)

Wato won by pinfall with the RPP.

Best of the Super Juniors: YOH defeated Robbie Eagles (13:48)

YOH got his first win of the tournament with the Five Star Clutch.

Best of the Super Juniors: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated SHO (8:08)

Kanemaru stole a win with a rollup and continues his improbably great tournament.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Desperado defeated DOUKI (15:08)

Desperado won by submission with Numero Dos.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Phantasmo defeated Taiji Ishimori (15:53)

ELP caught Ishimori in a cradle to steal the victory. 

Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi defeated BUSHI (21:16)

Hiromu won by pinfall after hitting Time Bomb II.

NJPW BOSJ 28 night four results: El Desperado vs. Hiromu Takahashi

The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Aichi.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado took on Hiromu Takahashi in the main event, while former champion Robbie Eagles faced El Phantasmo in the semi-main. 

The other tournament action was comprised of SHO vs. BUSHI, Ryusuke Taguchi vs. YOH, Master Wato vs. Taiji Ishimori, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. DOUKI.

Yuto Nakashima and Ryohei Oiwa faced off in the non-tournament opener. 

Here are today’s results: 

Yuto Nakashima drew with Ryohei Oiwa (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

Best of the Super Juniors: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated  DOUKI (10:35)

Kanemaru won by pinfall after a brainbuster.

Best of the Super Juniors: Taiji Ishimori defeated Master Wato (11:21)

Ishimori won by submission with the Bone Lock.

Best of the Super Juniors: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated YOH (14:36)

Taguchi won by pinfall after hitting Dodon. 

Best of the Super Juniors: SHO defeated BUSHI (12:58)

SHO won by referee stoppage with Snake Bite. 

Best of the Super Juniors: Robbie Eagles defeated El Phantasmo (19:03)

Eagles countered CR II into a hurricanrana for the pin. 

Best of the Super Juniors: El Desperado drew with Hiromu Takahashi (30:00)

Hiromu and Desperado went to a time limit draw. 

NJPW BOSJ 28 night three results: El Desperado vs. Master Wato

The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Nagano

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado took on Master Wato in the main event, while Hiromu Takahashi faced Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the semi-main. 

The other tournament action was comprised of El Phantasmo vs. DOUKI, Robbie Eagles vs. Taiji Ishimori, Ryusuke Taguchi vs. SHO, plus BUSHI vs. YOH.

Yuto Nakashima and Kosei Fujita faced off in the non-tournament opener. 

Here are today’s results: 

Yuto Nakashima drew with Kosei Fujita (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Phantasmo defeated  DOUKI (9:42)

ELP got a pinfall after a CR II.

Best of the Super Juniors: BUSHI defeated YOH (10:32)

BUSHI scored a win with the BUSHI roll.

Best of the Super Juniors: SHO defeated Ryusuke Taguchi (14:42)

SHO pinned Taguchi after a Shock Arrow.

Best of the Super Juniors: Taiji Ishimori defeated Robbie Eagles (13:26)

Ishimori won by submission with a Bone Lock.

Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (14:24)

Hiromu won with a rolling cradle.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Desperado defeated Master Wato (20:10)

Desperado won by submission with Numero Dos. 

NJPW BOSJ 28 night two results: El Desperado vs. Ishimori

The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. 

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado took on Taiji Ishimori in the main event, while Hiromu Takahashi faced SHO in the semi-main. 

The other tournament action was comprised of El Phantasmo vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Robbie Eagles vs. Master Wato , Ryusuke Taguchi vs. BUSHI, plus DOUKI vs. YOH

Ryohei Oiwa and Kosei Fujita faced off in the non-tournament opener. 

Here are today’s results: 

Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita went to a time limit draw (10:00)

Best of the Super Juniors: DOUKI defeated YOH (10:56)

DOUKI got the upset win by pinfall with Suplex De La Luna.

Best of the Super Juniors: BUSHI defeated Ryusuke Taguchi (13:59)

BUSHI won by pinfall with an MX.

Best of the Super Juniors: Robbie Eagles defeated Master Wato (13:30)

Eagles scored a flash pin with a cradle.

Best of the Super Juniors: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated El Phantasmo (12:40)

Kanemaru won by pinfall with a rollup.

Best of the Super Juniors: SHO defeated Hiromu Takahashi (17:37)

SHO won by referee stoppage after a triangle. 

Best of the Super Juniors: Taiji Ishimori defeated El Desperado (22:41)

Ishimori won by submission with the Bone Lock.