This year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament is the latest professional wrestling event to be affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
NJPW announced tonight that all 19 shows that were scheduled for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tour have been canceled. NJPW wrote that the decision was made in response to the pandemic and in light of the extension of state of emergency measures in Japan.
The Best of the Super Junior tour was set to kick off at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on May 12 and conclude at Tokyo’s Ota City General Gymnasium on June 6. Refund information for the canceled shows will be announced soon.
In their statement about the cancellation of the tour, NJPW noted that they will make announcements regarding events that are scheduled for after June 6 upon careful monitoring of the developing situation with the pandemic. NJPW also wrote that they’re “continuing to explore the possibility of presenting matches without fans in attendance if staff and wrestler health and safety can be protected to the highest possible standard.”
Will Ospreay won last year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament by defeating Shingo Takagi in the finals. That match was voted Match of the Year in the 2019 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards.
Ospreay went on to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship from Dragon Lee at Dominion 2019. At Wrestle Kingdom 14 night one this January, Ospreay lost the title to Hiromu Takahashi.
Here’s NJPW’s full statement on the cancellation of this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tour:
In response to the continuing Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, and in light of the extension of state of emergency measures across Japan, New Japan Pro-Wrestling has arrived at the decision to cancel all events on the Best of the Super Junior 27 tour that was scheduled between May 12 and June 6.
We deeply apologise to fans who were looking forward to these events. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the disease. As eager as everyone at New Japan Pro-Wrestling is to return to the ring as soon as possible, the health and safety of our fans, wrestlers and staff, as well as society at large is our utmost concern.
We will make announcements about events scheduled after June 6 upon careful monitoring of this developing situation. We will soon announce refund procedures for the affected events.
NJPW is continuing to explore the possibility of presenting matches without fans in attendance if staff and wrestler health and safety can be protected to the highest possible standard.
Meanwhile, programs like the NJPW Together Project will continue to see wrestlers and staff come together to bring the best possible content to fans while we eagerly await the opportunity to entertain live crowds once more.
The following events are covered by today’s cancellations:
Tuesday, May 12: Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Wednesday, May 13: Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Thursday, May 14: Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Saturday, May 16: Yamagata Big Wing, Yamagata
Sunday, May 17: Morioka Takaya Arena, Iwate
Monday, May 18: Iwaki City Gymnasium, Fukushima
Tuesday, May 19: Sendai Sun Plaza Hall, Miyagi
Thursday, May 21: Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Friday, May 22: Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Saturday, May 23: Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Sunday, May 24: Kamisu Bousai Arena, Ibaraki
Wednesday, May 27: Saku City General Gymnasium, Nagano
Thursday, May 28: Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall, Aichi
Friday, May 29: Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium Sub Arena
Saturday, May 30: Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium Sub Arena
Monday, June 1: Item Ehime
Tuesday, June 2: Takamatsu City General Gymnasium #1, Kagawa
Thursday, June 4: Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Saturday, June 6: Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo
The opening round matches of the 2019 Super J-Cup have been set.
NJPW has rounded out the list of participants for the tournament, with Will Ospreay, Robbie Eagles, and El Phantasmo officially set to take part.
The main event of the first round will pit Ospreay against Amazing Red. Another interesting matchup has Eagles, who left Bullet Club for CHAOS, taking on Phantasmo, one of the newest members of the Bullet Club.
Here’s the full list of tournament matches for the opening round, which takes place on August 22 in Tacoma, Washington:
Left side of the bracket —
Will Ospreay vs. Amazing Red
SHO vs. Taiji Ishimori
Clark Connors vs. TJP
Robbie Eagles vs. El Phantasmo
Right side of the bracket —
Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Jonathan Gresham
YOH vs. Dragon Lee
Caristico vs. BUSHI
Rocky Romero vs. Soberano Jr.
Jushin Thunder Liger will also team with Karl Fredericks against Shota Umino & Ren Narita in non-tournament action on night one. Liger will be wrestling at all three Super J-Cup shows.
The second round will take place on August 24 in San Francisco, California. The semifinals and the finals will then be held on August 25 at Walter Pyramid in Long Beach. The three events will be made available on New Japan World via VOD.
Will Ospreay became the winner of this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament by ending Shingo Takagi’s undefeated streak this morning.
In a 30-plus minute match, Ospreay defeated Takagi in the Best of the Super Juniors finals at Sumo Hall in Tokyo. Ospreay will now challenge for Dragon Lee’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Dominion on Sunday (June 9).
Ospreay hit an OsCutter on Takagi from the top rope at the end of the match. He held on, then hit the Storm Breaker to get the win.
Ospreay announced after the match that he’s moving to Japan. Ospreay said he’s going to take NJPW worldwide as a junior heavyweight, and he wants to face both junior heavyweights and heavyweights.
This is the second time that Ospreay has won the Best of the Super Juniors. He also won the tournament in 2016.
Dominion is taking place at Osaka-jo Hall in Osaka on Sunday. Kazuchika Okada will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Chris Jericho, Kota Ibushi will defend his IWGP Intercontinental title against Tetsuya Naito, and Tomohiro Ishii will challenge for Taichi’s NEVER Openweight Championship.
The Best of the Super Juniors finals will take place tonight at Sumo Hall, with Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi deciding the tournament winner.
Both men have had spectacular performances throughout the last month, with Shingo winning all of his A Block matches while Ospreay only lost to El Phantasmo and Robbie Eagles in the B Block. The two will be clashing for the first time ever, and given their performances on this tour both men will go all out to win the tournament.
Jon Moxley, who has been making waves in the last couple of weeks, will make his debut for NJPW tonight, his first match since leaving WWE in April. He will take on Juice Robinson, who has met Moxley before during their time in FCW.
Hiroshi Tanahashi will return to the ring for the first time since recovering from an elbow injury, taking on rival Jay White.
Gresham and Umino started off, exchanging headlock takeovers. Gresham offered a handshake after the exchange, and Umino reluctantly slapped his hand.
Titan and Bandido were in next. Titan hit a flying headscissors, but Bandido countered with a pop-up cutter. Narita briefly entered, but tagged Bandido again, who went to work on Titan’s left arm.
Titan avoided a charge into the corner, and tagged Dragon. Dragon hit a delayed dropkick in the corner. Bandido and Dragon exchanged strikes. Both teased their finishers. Bandido hit a GTS, and Dragon countered with a snap German. They hit a simultaneous crossbody, into a double down.
Bandido was able to tag Narita, who hit Dragon with a vertical suplex. Gresham and Bandido cleared the apron of their opponents, then tripled up on Dragon. Bandido hit a 450, while Gresham landed a shooting star press. Narita used a suplex for a nearfall, before Dragon’s team jumped in for the save.
Now it was Dragon’s team that tripled up on Narita. Everyone jumped in as the match broke down. Titan hit an Asai moonsault. Dragon and Narita were left the legal men. Narita hit a belly-to-belly for a nearfall. Dragon hit a pair of knee strikes, then pinned Narita. A fast and furious opener.
The post-match here was newsworthy. They continue to tease dissension between Eagles and ELP, and they established Ishimori and ELP as future challengers to SHO and YOH.
Bullet Club used an attack before the bell to gain the early edge. ELP and Eagles did some comedy with Taguchi’s rugby ball and helmet. Their advantage was short-lived, as Taguchi and company did their forever clothesline spot.
ELP avoided a hip attack, then stuck his thumb in Taguchi’s butt. He put the thumb in Eagles’s face, and Eagles took a bump. Ishimori avoided the thumb. ELP then gave the thumb to Taguchi, who took a bump.
ELP used his rope-walk , avoided an attack from YOH, and hit a springboard rana for a two count. Eagles and Ishimori hit Taguchi with double knees in the corner. ELP stood on Taguchi’s crotch. Eagles avoided a hip attack, then hit an atomic drop. Eagles hit his own hip attack, then Taguchi countered with another one.
YOH got a tag, running wild with dropkicks, then a flying forearm to Eagles. SHO tagged in for some tandem offense with YOH, using a tandem slam for a nearfall. ELP jumped in and ate stereo knee strikes.
Eagles avoided a 3K, and hit a Turbo Backpack on YOH. He landed a superkick combination to SHO, but got cut off with a lariat. Eagles came back with Turbo Backpack on SHO for a nearfall.
Eagles hit a 450 and went for a cover, but ELP tagged himself in, much to Eagles’s chagrin. ELP hit a CR2 on SHO for the pin.
After the bell, Ishimori and ELP held up SHO and YOH’s tag titles. Eagles shoved ELP, then left on his own.
Liger and DOUKI kicked things off. Liger hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, then used a Romero Special. Kanemaru broke up the hold.
Things broke down into a chaotic brawl around ringside. DOUKI went to the top for a seated senton to the floor. He was supposed to land on all nine other guys, but no one caught him. He barely caught some of Liger’s shoulder, on his way to landing on the floor. That looked painful.
Liger and Suzuki exchanged strikes, and Liger dropped Suzuki with a clothesline. Taichi and Ishii tagged in, ahead of their NEVER Openweight title match on Sunday. Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick, then removed his pants.
Ishii ducked an axe bomber, then hit a release German. YH and Sabre tagged in. This was the Zack Sabre show, as he used a kimura, hit a PK, then used another wacky submission hold, climbing on YH’s back.
Suzuki-gun went five-on-one against YH. Suzuki landed a PK, while DOUKI hit a double stomp. DOUKI picked up a nearfall, before the match broke down. Taichi hit Ishii with a low blow. Sabre and Suzuki used dueling Cobra Twists on YH and Liger.
YH hit a lariat, then used Karma on DOUKI for the pin. Some good action here. I’d be surprised if DOUKI is back in NJPW any time soon.
Liger and Suzuki brawled to the back after the match ended, so they are continuing to tease a showdown between those two at some point.
TETSUYA NAITO, EVIL, SANADA, & BUSHI DEFEATED KOTA IBUSHI, TOGI MAKABE, TOMOAKI HONMA & TOA HENARE
Naito and Ibushi began with a nice sequence. Both hit a series of counters and teases, ending with both posing.
BUSHI and Honma were in next. Honma hit a tackle, then called Henare in for the double team. Honma missed a kokeshi, and LIJ took over.
After a brief brawl around the ring, EVIL and Honma traded chops. SANADA tagged in, and Honma hit a kokeshi. Makabe got a tag, and hit some trademark spots on SANADA, including a northern lights suplex.
Makabe went for a German, but SANADA blocked it. SANADA tried for the Paradise Lock, but Makabe kicked him off. SANADA took a turnbuckle flip, then ate a lariat, into a double down.
Naito and Ibushi were back in. Ibushi hit a moonsault for a two count, then hit a mid kick. He tried for a standing moonsault, but Naito got his knees up. Naito hit a dropkick, then a tornado DDT.
EVIL tagged in, and got nailed with a dropkick. Ibushi tagged Henare. Henare ducked a pair of clotheslines, and hit a shoulder tackle. He hit a big vertical suplex. Henare and Honma hit a double kokeshi on EVIL. Henare covered, but LIJ broke up the pin.
LIJ took out Henare’s teammates on the floor, then went four-on-one against Henare. BUSHI hit a suicide dive to the floor, again taking out Henare’s teammates. EVIL and SANADA hit the Magic Killer on Henare for the pin.
Naito attacked Ibushi on the floor after the match, sending him into the barricade. They will face off on Sunday for the Intercontinental title.
Okada and King locked up at the outset. Okada broke cleanly against the ropes. King hit a shoulder tackle, then a big chop. Okada used a trip takedown, then hit a basement dropkick.
Rocky tagged in, and King dropped him with a right hand. Scurll tagged in, and went to work on Rocky’s left arm. Rocky came back with a pair of ranas. King jumped in. Rocky went for a rana on King, but King blocked it. Okada jumped in, and King hit both with a springboard armdrag.
Scurll hit a superkick on the apron to Rocky. Back in the ring, Scurll used the Romero Special. He used the hold to lay back into a bridge for a nearfall. King got a tag, and hit Rocky with a splash for a two count.
Scurll tagged back in. He sold his right knee going out while stomping on Rocky’s arm, allowing Rocky to tag Okada. Okada hit a back elbow, and a DDT. King jumped in, and Okada slammed him on top of Scurll.
Okada went to the top. Scurll dodged the diving attack, then hit a DDT of his own. Scurll and King hit a double German on Okada. They teased doing Rocky’s forever clotheslines, but Rocky cut them off. He hit forever clotheslines, then jumped right into a black hole slam from King.
King hit Okada with a piledriver for a two count. Okada and King traded strikes. Okada hit a dropkick, then a top rope elbow. He hit his Rainmaker pose, then used the Rainmaker on King for the pin. This was a lot of fun.
The lights went out after the match. A message played from Chris Jericho. There was a dark carnival theme to the video. Jericho asked Okada to come out and play. He said it’s going to be Rainmaker vs. Painmaker on Sunday.
Okada cut a promo. He asked what a Painmaker was, then said that the title is not a toy, and that all NJPW needs is a Rainmaker.
SWITCHBLADE JAY WHITE DEFEATED HIROSHI TANAHASHI
White attacked Tana as he was posing on the turnbuckle before the bell. Gedo provided a distraction on the floor, and White whipped Tana into the barricade. White raked Tana’s eyes, then stomped away at his surgically-repaired left arm.
Tana tried to send White off the ropes, but sold as though his arm gave out. White suplexed Tana over the top to the floor. He went out after Tana, hammerlocked his arm, then sent him arm-first into the barricade and the ring frame.
White hammerlocked the arm again, then posted Tana. The referee’s count made it to 17, then White pulled the referee to the floor, which stopped the count for some reason. He continued to attack the left arm, draping it over the barricade.
Back in the ring, Tana fired off some short strikes with his right arm. White hit a couple of chops in the corner, then went back to attacking the arm. White used a hammerlock into a Saito suplex for a two count.
White pulled the sleeve and pad off of Tana’s arm. He went back to the hammerlock, and used forearm strikes. Tana reversed the hammerlock, and hit some forearms of his own. Tana hit a dragon screw. He followed up with a flying forearm.
Tana hit a dropkick to White’s knees. He followed with a somersault senton off the second rope for a nearfall at the ten minute mark.
Tana no-sold a chop. He went for slingblade, but White blocked it. White blocked Twist and Shout, following up with a flatliner and a deadlift German.
White hit a DVDDT, but sold the leg that Tana worked on when landing. White blocked a slap, then hit a uranage for a two count. White went for a Kiwi Krusher, but Tana blocked it. Tana hit two Twist and Shouts. He went for a third, but White blocked it.
Tana hit a slap with his bad arm. He went for another Twist and Shout, but White reversed it into a Fujiwara armbar. They did a long submission tease, before Tana reached the bottom rope with his left foot.
Tana used his legs to aid him on hitting a dragon screw. That was very clever. Just an incredible attention to detail. Tana hit slingblade twice, earning a nearfall.
Tana went to the top. He kicked off Gedo. Before he could hit a High Fly Flow, White cut him off. White went for Blade Runner, but Tana reversed into a straightjacket German for a two count.
Tana went for a dragon suplex. Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles. Tana ducked the brass knuckles. While the referee attended to Gedo, White hit a low blow. Tana countered with a low blow.
Tana used a small package, but White reversed it, and got the pin. A strong outing for both men.
IWGP UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: JON MOXLEY DEFEATED JUICE ROBINSON TO WIN THE TITLE
Moxley entered through the crowd. His NJPW nickname is “Death Rider”. He wore black shorts, trimmed with a gold barbed wire design, and amateur wrestling shoes. Juice got a haircut.
Moxley flipped off Juice as they faced off before the bell. Moxley sent Juice outside with a lariat, then hit a suicide dive. Juice flipped over the barricade, and the fight spilled into the crowd. Moxley hit a headbutt, then bit Juice.
They continued to fight in the aisle. Moxley worked on Juice’s left eye. It looked like they were trying to get blood the hard way. They succeeded. Moxley went for a piledriver, but Juice hit a backdrop.
Juice went to the top of the entrance stage, and hit a flip dive. They had Moxley and a group of Young Lions there to catch him, and he mostly missed everyone. This was a bad night for guys catching on dives.
Juice sent Moxley into the barricade. He went for a cannonball, but Moxley moved, and Juice hit the barricade. They finally got back into the ring after the five minute mark. Moxley posted Juice’s legs.
Moxley went after the cut again, biting Juice’s forehead. He used a half crab, then transitioned to an STF. Juice bit Moxley’s fingers, forcing him to give up the hold. Juice was really bleeding now. Juice hit a spinebuster.
Juice hit a series of punches from the mount. He punched Moxley in the corner. He teased a cannonball, but Moxley rolled to the floor. Juice hit a plancha, then crotched Moxley on the barricade. He followed up with a lariat, dropping Moxley to the floor.
Back inside, Juice hit a lariat. Juice hit the Juice Box. He went to the top rope, but Moxley shoved him to the floor. Moxley pulled a table from under the ring. He set up the table, then hit Juice with a chair.
Moxley set Juice up on the table, then hit a running chair strike off the apron. Moxley suplexed Juice through the table, then rolled back inside. They teased a countout, but Juice made it back in at 19.
Moxley hit an X-plex, which got an insane reaction.
Moxley used a figure four around the post. Juice rolled outside. Moxley teased Pillman-izing Juice’s leg, but Juice popped up and threw a chair into Moxley. Back inside, Juice hit a lariat. Again he teased the cannonball, but Moxley hit a lariat.
After a double down, they exchanged strikes. Juice no-sold a strike. He went for the Left Hand of God, but Moxley blocked it. Moxley went for a double-arm DDT, but Juice pushed him into the ropes. They spilled over the top rope to the floor.
Moxley set up a table against the barricade. Juice hit the Left Hand of God, dropping Moxley against the table. Juice finally hit the cannonball into Moxley and the table, but the table refused to break, 20 minutes in.
Juice set the table up, then powerbombed Moxley through it. Juice used a Tenzan crab, but Moxley pulled out of it, hitting a dragon screw. Moxley used a cloverleaf. Juice bit Moxley, forcing a break. Moxley was bleeding from the shoulder.
Juice hit a Left Hand of God. They teased their finishers. Juice used a cradle for a nearfall. Juice hit a lariat.
Moxley hit a double-arm DDT, but Juice kicked out at two.
Moxley hit a second double-arm DDT, and got the pin.
This match was insane. Moxley is a huge star on his first night in. The crowd loved him. There was a buzz and a reaction for him different than anyone else in the company. He bowed to all four sides of the arena before leaving the ring.
Juice got a nice reaction while leaving, and refused any help walking to the back.
BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS 26 FINAL: WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED SHINGO TAKAGI
They locked up, and Ospreay broke cleanly against the ropes. They used a knuckle lock in the center of the ring, establishing that Shingo has superior power. Ospreay hit a couple of quick kicks, then grabbed a side headlock. Shingo hit a shoulder tackle, but Ospreay kipped up out of it.
They did a crazy sequence of counters and reversals. Shingo went for a German, but Ospreay blocked. Ospreay went for an Oscutter, but Shingo blocked. Shingo hit a chop, and Ospreay answered with some of his own.
Ospreay hit a headscissors and a dropkick. He teased a dive, but Shingo stepped away, so Ospreay hit a handspring into a pose instead. They traded strikes. Ospreay hit a dropkick, again sending Shingo outside. Ospreay hit a plancha.
On the floor, Ospreay hit a chop. Shingo raked the eyes. Shingo tried to send Ospreay into the barricade, but Ospreay jumped on top the barricade. Shingo pulled Ospreay off and dropped him on the apron, face-first. Shingo hit a DDT on the floor.
Shingo teased a Last of the Dragon from the apron to the floor. Ospreay blocked it. Shingo hit a tope con hilo, getting hung up in the barricade on the landing. Back inside, Shingo hit a shoulder tackle.
Ospreay connected with a couple of strikes, but Shingo no-sold them. Shingo hit a backdrop and a clothesline in the corner. Shingo hit some strikes in the corner, then a pop-up DVD for a two count.
The pace briefly slowed, as Shingo used a chinlock. Ospreay bounced out of a double sledge, then hit a handspring kick. Ospreay hit a 619. He teased Pip Pip Cheerio, but Shingo blocked it. Ospreay hit a delayed dropkick in the corner, then used a standing shooting star press for a nearfall.
Shingo rolled outside. Ospreay hit a Sasuke Special, then Pip Pip Cheerio, for another nearfall. Ospreay tried for Storm Breaker, but Shingo hit a backdrop. Ospreay hit a thrust kick. Shingo countered with a slap, then a jab.
Ospreay got knocked out of the air on a flip, and landed awkwardly on his left shoulder. Shingo hit a sliding lariat for a two count. Ospreay flipped out of a noshigami attempt. He hit a series of strikes, then stepped up into a cutter.
Ospreay hit a yakuza kick, then a cheeky nandos kick. Shingo was still standing on the second rope. Ospreay teased a Storm Breaker off the top, but Shingo knocked him to the apron with strikes. Shingo hit a DVD off the second rope for a nearfall.
They traded lariats. Shingo went for Last of the Dragon. Ospreay flipped out, and peppered Shingo with strikes. Shingo hit a noshigami. He went for a Pumping Bomber, but Ospreay somehow countered it into a sit-out powerbomb for a great nearfall.
Ospreay missed with a Robinson Special. Shingo hit a wheelbarrow suplex into the turnbuckle. They rolled to the apron. Shingo tried for a noshigami on the apron, but Ospreay cut him off with a hook kick. Ospreay hit an Oscutter off the post to the apron. They teased a countout, but both made it back in.
As Shingo crawled back in, Ospreay nailed him with a springboard dropkick. Ospreay hit a 630 to a standing Shingo, then followed with a shooting star press for a nearfall.
Ospreay hit the Robinson Special, then connected with an Oscutter for a crazy nearfall. Ospreay hit a series of short kicks and knee strikes. Shingo came back with a headbutt. They exchanged forearm strikes.
Shingo hit a series of hard forearms to the neck, and a jab. Ospreay hit a series of kicks. He went for a Storm Breaker, but Shingo reversed it into a Last of the Dragon. He covered, but Ospreay kicked out at two.
At the 30 minute mark, Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber. He connected with a second Pumping Bomber. He covered, and Ospreay kicked out at two.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but Ospreay reversed it into a poison rana. Shingo landed awkwardly on his head. Terrifying.
They traded headbutts on the mat. Back on their feet, Shingo connected with three lariats. He went for a fourth. Ospreay escaped and ran the ropes. Shingo followed him into the ropes. Ospreay hit a Spanish Fly for a two count.
Ospreay hit a Hidden Blade, then a top rope Oscutter. He maintained head and neck control on the landing, then hit a Storm Breaker. 1-2-3.
Ospreay ends Shingo’s unbeaten streak, and wins Best of the Super Juniors for the second time in his career.
They showed some crowd shots. People were crying. What a match. What a performance.
Ospreay cut a promo after the match. He said this tour was the best tour of the year. He shouted out Hiromu Takahashi, and told him to come back soon so they can fight.
Ospreay said he’s moving to Japan full-time. He said he’s going to wrestle at junior heavyweight, and also at heavyweight.
If there was any doubt coming in to this tournament whether or not Ospreay had slipped, he put that to rest. Not just today, but throughout the entire tournament, he turned in incredible performances. If he isn’t the best wrestler in the world, I don’t know who is.
The finals are set for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
Shingo Takagi will face Will Ospreay this Wednesday (June 5) to determine this year’s Best of the Super Juniors winner. That was confirmed today, with Ospreay defeating Ryusuke Taguchi to win the B Block.
Takagi defeated Taiji Ishimori last Friday to win the A Block.
Takagi remained undefeated throughout his A Block matches, finishing with a 9-0 record and 18 points. In the B Block, Ospreay had a 7-2 record and 14 points. Ospreay’s losses were against El Phantasmo and Robbie Eagles.
The winner of Takagi vs. Ospreay will challenge for Dragon Lee’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Dominion on Sunday (June 9).
Sumo Hall in Tokyo is hosting Wednesday’s Best of the Super Juniors finals, which will air live on New Japan World starting at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time. Jon Moxley will make his NJPW debut at the show and challenge for Juice Robinson’s IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. Hiroshi Tanahashi will also take on Jay White.
Okayama was home to the finals of the B Block for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
Conveniently, the main event of this morning’s show determines the winner of the block. Either Will Ospreay or Ryusuke Taguchi will face off against A Block winner Shingo Takagi on 6/5 at Sumo Hall. The winner of that match will likely challenge Dragon Lee for the IWGP Jr. title at Dominion this weekend.
Here are prelim results from tonight’s show. Taiji Ishimori is suffering from a shoulder injury, so he is out of tonight’s prelims:
– SHO and Jonathan Gresham defeated Tiger Mask and Yuya Uemura
SHO submitted Uemura with a Boston crab.
– Juice Robinson and Toa Henare defeated Marty Scurll and Brody King
Robinson pinned King following the Pulp Friction.
– Taichi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Tomohiro Ishii and Shota Umino
Kanemaru defeated Umino with the Deep Impact DDT. Taichi jumped Ishii after the match and cut a short promo, standing over him.
– Tetsuya Naito and Shingo Takagi defeated Dragon Lee and Titan
Takagi pinned Titan with the Last of the Dragon.
Block B matches:
BUSHI defeated Ren Narita
BUSHI dominated the match early, grinding Narita to the ground. Narita tried for the overhead belly-to-belly, but BUSHI blocked it. Narita instead worked for the cloverleaf and got it. BUSHI made it to the ropes, and fought back after Narita tried for the overhead again.
BUSHI applies a Boston Crab of his own. Narita tries to make it to the ropes, but BUSHI drags him back in the middle. BUSHI then hits the MX and that is it, Narita ends the tournament with zero wins. A solid bout.
Bandido defeated Rocky Romero
The two started off with some simple offense. Romero went for the armbar, but Bandido quickly made it to the ropes. Romero worked over the arm, dropping the knee on the injured arm. Bandido regains control for a bit, but Romero fights back, taking him down with a clothesline.
Bandido drops Romero on his knee then launches himself in the air, planting Romero with a one man spanish fly. He goes for the 21 plex and connects, giving him one final win. This was a fun match.
YOH defeated Robbie Eagles
After a couple of minutes of action, YOH wiped out Eagles on the outside with a dive. Eagles made a comeback, dropkicking YOH in his knee. Eagles continues to work on YOH’s knees, but YOH comes back with a dragon screw. Eagles is undeterred, taking YOH to the corner and hitting running knees for a nearfall.
The two countered one another until YOH attacked, blocking a kick and hitting a dragon suplex for the win. This ended kind of suddenly, but this was a nice, fast-paced match.
El Phantasmo defeated DOUKI
DOUKI charged at ELP before the bell, but ELP threw a chair at DOUKI as he went for a suicide dive. ELP then flew off the ring to the floor, attacking DOUKI and choking him with his shirt. After some time in the ring, ELP falls to the floor and DOUKI responds by hitting a suicide dive of his own, then hit a giant senton that took both him and ELP out.
After trading some offense back in the ring, ELP kicked DOUKI as he was on the top rope and looked like he was going for a springboard hurricanrana, but DOUKI instead landed on his throat on the ropes, falling to the floor. ELP threw him back in the ring and hit a big splash for a nearfall.
ELP hit the airplane spin, but DOUKI kicked out. ELP ripped off DOUKI’s face mask then hit the VR2 for the win. This was pretty wild, another good match.
Will Ospreay defeated Ryusuke Taguchi to win the B Block
Things start off pretty slow, just some back and forth teasing, some slow work. Ospreay seems to have control early, working over Taguchi with a cloverleaf. Taguchi finally comes alive with a hip attack then the three amigos. Ospreay blocked the third suplex, but Taguchi sent him to the outside then flung off with a crossbody to the floor.
Ospreay mounted a comeback, taking out Taguchi on the outside with a corkscrew press. The two exchanged some great, fast-paced offense, ending when Taguchi with another hip attack. Ospreay went for and Ozcutter but Taguchi blocked it and hit Ospreay low, then followed with a tiger suplex into a bridge.
Ospreay hit a superkick then tried for the stormbreaker but Taguchi countered, fell to the floor and grabbed the leg for an ankle lock. Ospreay somehow escaped then countered with a power bomb. Ospreay hit the Robinson Special and went for the Ozcutter but Taguchi grabbed the ankle lock then hit the dodon for a nearfall. Taguchi continues to hold on with the ankle lock, but Ospreay escapes and hits a spanish fly.
Going to the top rope, Ospreay hit a shooting star press but Taguchi kicked out. Ospreay tried for the Oscutter again but Taguchi countered with a backslide. Ospreay escaped, cut off Taguchi then hit the stormbreaker for the win. This was one hell of a match, Taguchi kept up with Ospreay’s pace and they had an excellent bout filled with some great drama.
Will Ospreay is the winner of the B Block. This means he will face the winner of the A Block, Shingo Takagi, this Wednesday at the Best of the Super Juniors finals.
Shingo Takagi came out after the match and congratulated Ospreay on the win. He said Ospreay was strong, but he was stronger.
Ospreay took the mic and said he’s not scared of Shingo. He’s scared of one thing, failure. He says it’s the worst year of his personal life but he is happy when he enters the ring. He thinks with his heart because he loves this, he loves being a junior heavyweight. He is going to be the man to beat his streak. He’s not going to just beat him, he is going to slay the dragon.
Takagi leaves as Ospreay reiterates what he said earlier. Will Ospreay, Shingo Takagi, he says he will win Best of the Super Juniors.
Shingo Takagi punched his ticket to Ryogoku and the Best of the Super Juniors 26 Final, defeating Taiji Ishimori today in Ehime.
Takagi wrapped up A Block action with a perfect 9-0 record, and remains unbeaten in NJPW singles competition. He has also yet to be pinned or submitted in any tag match in which his team lost.
He will face the winner of Monday’s Will Ospreay vs. Ryusuke Taguchi B Block Final, with the BOSJ Final set for June 5. That show will also feature the debuting Jon Moxley, who will challenge Juice Robinson for the IWGP U.S. title.
Here are the full results and match recaps from today’s show:
We saw a brief preview of the B Block final here as Ospreay and Taguchi traded a few spots. Tsuji called for Ishii and paid for it as he got worked over in the blue corner with chops. The crowd was hot and the wrestlers responded by working hard.
Everyone jumped in for a big move, and Ospreay and Romero hit stereo planchas to the floor. Uemura and Umino were the only two left in the ring. Umino hit a spinebuster, and used a fisherman’s suplex to pin Uemura.
After the bell, Taguchi went after Ospreay on the floor and put him in an ankle lock. Tsuji again went after Ishii, but they were quickly pulled apart. Ospreay limped to the back after, so they laid the groundwork for the story of their match next week.
JUICE ROBINSON & YOH DEFEATED ROBBIE EAGLES & JADO
They built the match around YOH selling his legs. He finally rolled under a double lariat attempt and hit a double dropkick to Eagles and Jado. Juice got a hot tag and ran wild. Eagles took the referee, allowing Jado to use a kendo stick shot to turn the tide back in the Bullet Club’s favor.
Jado used a crossface, but Juice forced a break. Eagles again took the referee, but YOH made the save for Juice. Juice used a series of jabs. Jado used a rollup for a nearfall. Juice countered with the Left Hand of God and hit Pulp Friction for the pin in a very formulaic tag match.
DOUKI & TAICHI DEFEATED EL PHANTASMO & GEDO
Representatives from two heel factions virtually promised a crowd brawl, and that’s what we got. It wasn’t a particularly inspired meeting.
Gedo and Taichi traded Gedo Clutches for nearfalls. They did a fun comedy spot where Taichi grabbed his mic stand while Gedo got his brass knuckles out. Taichi dropped his weapon, but Gedo kept his. Gedo took a swing, but Taichi ducked, and used the stretch plum for the submission win.
TETSUYA NAITO & BUSHI DEFEATED TOA HENARE & REN NARITA
Narita continues to shine on this tour and held his own against BUSHI at the outset. Naito and BUSHI used an illegal double team to take control once Henare tagged in. Narita got back in and used his Narita Special, but Naito saved for BUSHI.
Narita hit Naito with a dropkick. Henare got a tag and used a spear for a nearfall. BUSHI tried to save, but Narita hit him with a belly-to-belly. Naito made his own comeback, hitting a neckbreaker and a one-legged dropkick for a nearfall. He followed with a Destino on Henare for the win. It was fun seeing Naito sell for Narita.
BUSHI jumped Narita after the match. They will face off on June 3.
A BLOCK MATCH: YOSHINOBU KANEMARU DEFEATED TAKA MICHINOKU BY FORFEIT
TAKA’s tournament saw an early exit as an ankle injury forced him to forfeit his last three matches.
A BLOCK MATCH: TITAN DEFEATED TIGER MASK
They shook hands before the bell. Tiger took the first several minutes of the match, landing a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, followed by a series of mid kicks. Titan made a comeback, hitting a headscissors. He sent Tiger outside and teased a dive, but Tiger stepped aside. Titan followed with a backbreaker on the floor.
Back inside, Titan went for a moonsault, but Tiger got his feet up. Tiger hit a double underhook knee strike, then followed with a Tiger Driver for a nearfall. Tiger immediately transitioned from the cover to a cross armbreaker and then an armbar, but Titan forced a rope break. Tiger hit a series of kicks. Titan used an armdrag. He made a cover, and got the pin…off an armdrag.
Tiger protested the finish, and it certainly didn’t appear that it was supposed to be the end of the match, but he didn’t kick out of the cover. This was very strange.
A BLOCK MATCH: SHO DEFEATED JONATHAN GRESHAM
Gresham had his ribs taped up, and entered selling the injury. They started off with a mat sequence, ending in a stalemate. SHO got a series of waistlock takedowns and dropped into a cross armbreaker, but Gresham quickly reached the ropes.
Gresham rolled to the apron and SHO hit a low dropkick, sending him to the floor. SHO went after Gresham’s left arm. Back in the ring, Gresham attacked SHO’s left leg. He tried for a spinning toe hold, but SHO kicked him off. Gresham hit a chop to the leg, and again tried for the toe hold, but SHO kicked him off.
SHO hit a hip toss into a cross armbreaker, but Gresham again reached the ropes. Gresham hit a quebrada, and SHO rolled outside. Gresham hit a suicide dive and followed with a shooting star press for a nearfall.
Gresham used a figure four, but SHO rolled to the bottom rope. They rolled to the apron, still in the hold. Gresham kept the hold applied as they rolled to the floor. They teased a countout, but SHO made it back inside at 19.
They traded forearm strikes which really got the crowd into the match. SHO hit a German, but Gresham landed on his feet. SHO used a cradle for a nearfall, then hit a jumping knee strike. SHO hit a deadlift German into a bridge for a two count.
SHO hit a clothesline and Gresham took a flip bump. SHO hit a powerbomb onto his knees for a two count. He followed with Shock Arrow for the pin in a great match. They shook hands after the bell and SHO raised Gresham’s hand.
A BLOCK MATCH: DRAGON LEE DEFEATED MARTY SCURLL
They began with a very nice exchange of holds. Scurll went after Dragon’s arms with stomps. Dragon hit a headscissors and Scurll rolled outside. Dragon teased a dive, but Brody King tripped him. Scurll used the distraction to hit a superkick on the apron and then tossed Dragon into the crowd.
Scurll used a cloverleaf and hit a series of chops. Dragon fired back with strikes and hit a headscissors. He sent Scurll to the floor, then hit a dive onto Scurll, finishing with a rana. Dragon hit a shotgun dropkick and then hit another dropkick in the corner.
Dragon hit a backbreaker and then used a knee strike for a nearfall. He went for Desnucadora, but Scurll slipped into a chicken wing attempt. Dragon fought it off, but Scurll hit a half-and-half suplex.
They exchanged forearms on the top rope. Scurll used his finger break spot. Dragon teased his foot stomp off the ropes, but King interfered. Scurll hit a superplex for a nearfall. He followed with a series of strikes in the corner, but Dragon answered with a dropkick in the opposite corner.
They had a fast and furious exchange of big moves, including a snap German and a DDT. Dragon hit Desnucadora, but King pulled the referee out of the ring, stopping the count. Dragon hit a suicide dive onto King and threw the ref back in.
Dragon went for Desnucadora again, but Scurll rolled through into a DDT. Scurll used a chicken wing, but Dragon bridged into a cover for a nearfall. Scurll hit a pair of lariats, picking up a nearfall. He then hit the Scurll Driver for another two count.
Dragon hit a snap suplex and a running knee for a nearfall. He pulled his knee pad down, hit another strike, then followed with Desnucadora for the pin in a good match.
SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED TAIJI ISHIMORI TO WIN THE A BLOCK
After an exchange on the mat, Shingo missed with a senton. Ishimori grabbed a hold, but Shingo used a headscissors escape. Ishimori tried for a leapfrog, but Shingo snatched him out of the air and sent him into the corner. Ishimori tried for a springboard attack, but Shingo caught him and hit a DDT.
Shingo used a chinlock and then dropped a knee on Ishimori’s head. Ishimori was selling his neck which was damaged early in the tournament. Shingo hit a series of elbows to the neck. Ishimori hit a handstand into a headscissors and torqued on Shingo’s neck with his legs.
Ishimori caught Shingo in the ropes and hit a sliding German to the floor. They exchanged strikes on the floor and Ishimori sent Shingo into the post. Back inside, Ishimori hit a springboard senton. He followed with a series of short knee strikes to the shoulder area, setting up for a Yes Lock later on.
Shingo countered a series of strikes to his neck with a jab and then a clothesline. Ishimori hit a backdrop out of a powerbomb attempt. Ishimori hit a handspring kick and Shingo rolled to the outside. Ishimori teased a Golden Triangle, but Shingo cut him off.
Shingo hit a pop-up DVD on the apron, dropping Ishimori to the floor. Back in the ring, Shingo used a sliding lariat for a two count. Ishimori hit a DDT, but Shingo answered immediately with a vertical suplex.
Ishimori hit double knees in the corner. They hit simultaneous lariats. Ishimori hit a Canadian Destroyer, but Shingo popped right up and hit a Pumping Bomber. The crowd had been quiet, but that spot woke them up.
Shingo hit a Noshigami for a nearfall. Shingo hit a lariat and then another Pumping Bomber. He covered, but Ishimori kicked out at two and a half. He went for Last of the Dragon at the 15 minute mark, but Ishimori turned it into a crucifix bomb.
Ishimori hit a big rana and got a very close nearfall. Ishimori went for a lungblower, but Shingo blocked it and hit a wheelbarrow suplex. Ishimori used a misdirection spot and then flew into the Yes Lock. They did a long submission tease, but Shingo dragged his way to the bottom rope, forcing a break.
Ishimori hit a series of knees to the neck. He followed up with a series of punches to the neck. Shingo countered with a headbutt and a big jab. Ishimori hit a jumping knee and then hit his own Pumping Bomber.
Ishimori hit a Woo dropkick followed by double knees in the corner. He hit a lungblower, and Shingo kicked out at two. Shingo blocked a Bloody Cross attempt, and deadlifted Ishimori into Last of the Dragon for the pin.
This was a great main event, ranking right up there with some of the best matches of the tournament.
One match will decide the 2019 Best of the Super Juniors B Block winner.
Will Ospreay and Ryusuke Taguchi earned their sixth wins of this year’s tournament today in Osaka, assuring that their match on Monday (June 3) will have a spot in the final at stake.
Both will be gunning for a chance to win BOSJ for the second time. Ospreay won the tournament in 2016, while Taguchi claimed victory in 2012.
Here are full results and match recaps from today’s show:
TITAN, JONATHAN GRESHAM & TOA HENARE DEFEATED SHO, TIGER MASK IV & YOTA TSUJI
The bulk of the match was spent working over Titan, who may have a legitimate knee injury. SHO and Gresham had an intense striking exchange, which the crowd loved. SHO went for a cross-armed piledriver, but Gresham got the octopus applied. SHO broke the hold.
Henare and Tsuji exchanged tackles. Tsuji hit a dropkick and a powerslam. The match broke down. Tiger hit a Tiger Driver, and the ring cleared, again leaving Henare and Tsuji. Henare hit a lariat for a near fall, then a massive headbutt. He followed with a uranage for the pin. A good opener, with good crowd response.
Suzuki-gun did not use an attack before the bell. Rather, as soon as the bell rang, Taichi jumped in for an illegal double team on Umino. Taichi beat Umino around ringside and dragged him into the crowd.
Kanemaru and Taichi cut the ring in half, working over Umino. Umino finally hit a dropkick, then tagged Ishii. Ishii kicked out of a buzzsaw kick from Taichi, but fell to an enzuigiri. After a double down, Kanemaru and Umino got tags.
Umino missed a dropkick, but connected with a vertical suplex. Umino used an armbar, but Taichi jumped in to break the hold. Ishii came in for the save, but got sent outside by Taichi.
Umino hit a dropkick, sending Taichi to the floor. Kanemaru hit a dropkick, then used an inverted DDT for a near fall. Kanemaru hit Deep Impact and got the pin.
After the bell, Taichi used a camera cable to choke Ishii, and put him in the stretch plum on the floor. Those two will face off for the NEVER Openweight title at Dominion on June 9. Taichi started to cut a promo on Ishii, but Ishii chased him from the ring with a chair.
The post-match was effective, but the match itself was just sort of there.
JUICE ROBINSON & DRAGON LEE DEFEATED MARTY SCURLL & BRODY KING
Scurll and King worked over Dragon, focusing on his right arm. Dragon made a comeback, hitting Scurll with a knee strike, a thrust kick, and an STO. Juice and King got tags and exchanged chops. King hit a flying headscissors, then a cannonball as Juice was kneeling against the ropes.
Juice went for Pulp Friction, but King countered with a Bossman Slam. Scurll and Dragon brawled to the floor, while Juice hit the Left Hand of God twice. He followed with Pulp Friction for the pin. Good work from all involved, but they didn’t get a lot of time.
Ishimori and Shingo started off, ahead of their big match tomorrow. Ishimori showed off his speed, while Shingo countered with his power. Naito got a tag and things quickly devolved into a brawl around ringside. Ishimori posted Shingo, while Gedo did the same to Naito.
Back inside, Ishimori and Gedo worked over Naito. They used a series of eye rakes and closed fists. Naito made his own comeback, hitting a hip toss and a dropkick to Ishimori. Shingo got a tag, then landed a vertical suplex for a near fall.
Shingo and Ishimori exchanged strikes. Shingo blocked a handspring kick. Ishimori blocked a Last of the Dragon attempt and ducked a Pumping Bomber, before hitting a handspring kick.
Naito and Gedo got tags, and Naito hit some trademark spots. Gedo and Ishimori used an illegal double team to regain the advantage. Naito ducked a brass knuckles shot from Gedo, while Shingo hit a DVD on Ishimori.
With Ishimori taken out, Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber on Gedo, and Naito picked up the pin. This was all action, and a very good undercard tag match.
B BLOCK MATCH: YOH DEFEATED REN NARITA
Narita held his own in the opening mat wrestling sequence. After another exchange of holds on the mat, Narita scored a knockdown with a shoulder tackle. YOH countered by attacking Narita’s right leg, softening it up for the Calf Crusher.
Narita fired off some palm strikes, but YOH went back to the leg, using kicks and a kneebar. Narita landed a dropkick, then hit a forearm strike for another knockdown. Narita hit a vertical suplex for a near fall.
Narita went for a belly-to-belly, but YOH blocked it. YOH went for a dragon screw, but Narita fought it off. YOH hit a flying forearm, then a dragon screw. YOH went for the Calf Crusher, but Narita cradled him for a near fall.
Narita blocked a falcon arrow, then rolled out of a Calf Crusher, and used his Narita Special leg lace. After a fight, YOH reached the ropes. YOH hit a superkick, then hit the falcon arrow for a near fall. He followed up with a dragon suplex attempt, but Narita blocked it.
They traded cradles, and Narita used a backslide for a near fall. Narita hit a belly-to-belly, but could not get the bridge. He followed with a bridging German for an awesome near fall. Narita went for another belly-to-belly, but YOH rolled through to the Calf Crusher for the submission.
YOH offered a handshake after the match, and Narita slapped his hand. A good match with some awesome near falls.
B BLOCK MATCH: BANDIDO DEFEATED ROBBIE EAGLES
They stormed out of the gate, trading dropkick attempts and backflips. Bandido hit a dropkick, but Eagles countered with a suicide dive. They continued to fight on the floor, where Eagles hit a backdrop on the ramp. They teased a countout, but Bandido made it back in at 19.
Bandido avoided a 450 attempt, then hit a tornillo. Bandido hit a jumping knee strike, but Eagles quickly countered with a series of kicks. Bandido hit a pop-up cutter, an inverted suplex, and used a shining wizard for a near fall.
Eagles slipped going for a springboard dropkick, but still connected with it. He rolled into the Miller Special, but Bandido reached the ropes. Eagles hit a DDT for a near fall. Eagles teased Turbo Backpack, but Bandido slipped out. Eagles hit a series of kicks, but Bandido countered with a snap suplex for a near fall.
Bandido hit a GTS. He went for the 21 Plex, but Eagles reversed into a poison rana for a close near fall. Eagles went for a 450, but Bandido got his knees up, and used a cradle for a two count. Eagles hit a thrust kick to retain the advantage.
They exchanged kicks. Eagles went for Sliced Bread, but Bandido cut him off. They fought on the top rope, and Bandido hit an avalanche moonsault slam for the pin. Awesome match.
B BLOCK MATCH: BUSHI DEFEATED ROCKY ROMERO
Rocky entered wearing his Black Tiger mask. He spit mist in BUSHI’s eyes, but BUSHI countered the sneak attack with a suicide dive. BUSHI choked Rocky with his t-shirt, then went after the left leg. Rocky went after BUSHI’s left arm, snapping it over the top rope.
Rocky used an arm wringer, then hit a series of chops. He hit a flying headscissors, then a knee strike to the arm off the middle rope. Rocky sent BUSHI into the corner, but sold his leg, and could not hit forever clotheslines.
Rocky hit a double stomp to BUSHI’s back as he was draped over the ropes. BUSHI hit an Eat Defeat, then a missile dropkick. They exchanged chops, then traded rewind kicks. After an exchange of strikes, BUSHI hit a dropkick, then a DDT on the apron.
BUSHI went for a neckbreaker, but Rocky countered with a knee strike. Rocky hit a falcon arrow into a cross armbreaker, but BUSHI bit Rocky’s leg, forcing him to give up the hold. Rocky hit a series of kicks to the left arm. He went for Sliced Bread, but his knee buckled on the landing.
BUSHI hit a codebreaker in the ropes for a near fall. He then hit the MX to pick up the win. A technically sound match, and they told a good story.
B BLOCK MATCH: WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED DOUKI
DOUKI swung a pipe at Ospreay before the opening bell, but Ospreay ducked it. Ospreay hit a plancha. Taichi provided a distraction from the commentary table. DOUKI tried another sneak attack, but Ospreay whipped him into the crowd, then launched himself at Taichi over the commentary table.
In the ring, Ospreay went for a diving attack, but DOUKI ducked and Ospreay spilled outside. DOUKI hit a seated senton off the post to the floor. DOUKI took the referee, allowing Taichi to hit Ospreay with a chair. Ospreay beat the count back inside at 15.
DOUKI hit a double stomp and picked up a two count. DOUKI used a body triangle over Ospreay’s arms, then rolled to a cradle for a near fall. Ospreay hit a handspring kick, then a kick to the body. Ospreay hit a dropkick in the corner, then a standing Shooting Star Press for a two count.
Ospreay hit a 619. He went for a second Shooting Star, but DOUKI caught him in a triangle choke. Ospreay made the ropes, forcing a break. DOUKI hit a northern lights suplex for a near fall. He went for Suplex de la Luna, but Ospreay escaped and trapped him in a cradle for a near fall. They traded strikes, into a double down.
DOUKI was first up and landed a series of strikes. Ospreay made it to his feet, and they continued to trade. Ospreay ended the sequence with a kick. Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio. He went for a Storm Breaker, but DOUKI blocked it, then used a backslide for a two count.
DOUKI teased a springboard DDT, but Ospreay caught him with a kick. Ospreay hit a Shooting Star Press as DOUKI was draped over the ropes, picking up a near fall. Ospreay hit a hook kick. DOUKI hit a snap rana, then pulled Ospreay into a pin, getting a two count.
Ospreay hit a powerbomb for a two count. DOUKI made a cover, but pulled Ospreay up. He went for Suplex de la Luna, but Ospreay countered. Taichi jumped on the apron and took the ref. He slid DOUKI a pipe. DOUKI hit Ospreay with the pipe for a near fall.
Ospreay hit the Hidden Blade, then used the Storm Breaker for the pin. This was just another day at the office for Ospreay, but he probably gave DOUKI the best match of his life.
B BLOCK MATCH: RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED EL PHANTASMO
ELP punted Taguchi’s rugby ball towards the stage before the opening bell. Taguchi quickly got an ankle lock applied, but ELP reached the ropes. ELP grabbed a headscissors on the mat, but Taguchi used a handstand to escape. Taguchi used a headscissors, and ELP used a handstand to escape.
They did a rope-running comedy spot, ending with Taguchi collapsing from exhaustion. ELP did his ropewalk spot, into a flying headscissors for a near fall. ELP hit a series of hip attacks, mocking Taguchi. Taguchi used a roll-up for a quick two count.
Taguchi tried to do the rope-walk spot, but ended up crotched on the top rope. Taguchi rolled to the floor, and ELP hit knee strikes to the groin. ELP tied Taguchi to the tree of woe and continued his assault on Taguchi’s personal area.
Taguchi tried for a hip attack, but ELP hit an atomic drop. They repeated the spot, and ELP spanked Taguchi. Taguchi hit a hip attack, then a series of hip attacks in the ropes. Taguchi landed a springboard hip attack for a two count.
Taguchi went for Three Amigos, but ended up trading rolling suplexes with ELP. They each hit two, before Taguchi hit the third amigo. Taguchi sent ELP to the floor with a hip attack, then hit a tope con hilo.
On the floor, ELP posted Taguchi. He went to the top, then landed a moonsault off the post to the floor. ELP sold his left leg on the landing. Robbie Eagles came to ringside under the guise of checking on ELP. ELP was not pleased that Eagles showed up.
Back in the ring, Taguchi hit a hip attack and picked up a near fall. Taguchi went for Dodon, but Eagles grabbed the referee and hit a low blow. ELP used an airplane spin, then got a two count. ELP went for a frog splash, still selling his leg. He missed, and Taguchi grabbed an ankle lock. ELP immediately rolled to the ropes.
Taguchi hit a Bomaye, but ELP kicked out at two. Taguchi hit Dodon onto his knees, but ELP again kicked out. Taguchi went to the top rope, but ELP cut him off. ELP went for an enzuigiri on the top, but Taguchi caught his leg and got the ankle lock. ELP rolled through into a cradle for a two count.
Taguchi again got the ankle lock, then pulled ELP up into a suplex for a two count. Taguchi hit Dodon for a near fall, then pulled ELP into the ankle lock. ELP tapped out. A fun main event, but not as good as the semifinal.
The winner of the A Block in the 2019 Best of the Super Juniors will be decided on Friday, with Taiji Ishimori set to face the unbeaten Shingo Takagi.
Ishimori sealed the deal with a win over Tiger Mask IV today in Aichi. They had a tense, psychologically sound match on what was one of the weaker shows of the tournament so far.
Dragon Lee and Yoshinobu Kanemaru had a solid main event outing, but with their tournament fate already decided, it lacked something.
Here are the full results and match recaps from today’s show:
YOH and Narita exchanged holds and escapes. Ishii and Tsuji tagged in and traded shoulder tackles. Ishii scored the first knockdown. YOH and Ishii used a series of tags, working over Tsuji in the red corner.
Tsuji hit a back body drop and managed a tag to Narita. Narita hit a pair of tackles and a vertical suplex. He tried for a belly-to-belly, but YOH blocked it. Narita used his crab with a sharpshooter grip, but YOH rolled to the ropes.
YOH hit a flying forearm. Ishii made a tag and ate a dropkick from Narita. Tsuji tagged in and traded strikes with Ishii. Tsuji scored a shoulder tackle knockdown. He hit a dropkick, but Ishii no-sold it. Ishii applied a full crab, but Tsuji made it to the bottom rope.
Tsuji and Narita doubled up on Ishii, and Tsuji hit a spear for a near fall. YOH jumped in to even the odds. Ishii hit a back suplex for a near fall, then used a crab on Tsuji for the submission. A solid opener.
RYUSUKE TAGUCHI, BANDIDO, JUICE ROBINSON & YUYA UEMURA DEFEATED EL PHANTASMO, ROBBIE EAGLES, GEDO & JADO
Bandido and Eagles started off with some crowd work. They did a series of flips, counters, and reversals. It started off a little clunky, but it was very crisp by the end. Jado and Uemura tagged in, and the pace slowed to a crawl. Jado has balance issues and really shouldn’t be in the ring.
Bullet Club worked Uemura over in the blue corner. Taguchi got a tag and ran wild with hip attacks. ELP avoided Three Amigos, then hit an enzuigiri. Both tagged out.
Juice avoided a kendo stick shot from Jado and a brass knuckles shot from Gedo. Juice hit Gedo with Pulp Friction for the pin. Not much to this one.
TAICHI & DOUKI DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY & SHOTA UMINO
Suzuki-gun attacked before the opening bell. They used the jumpstart and a ringside brawl to take the early advantage. They worked over Umino. Ospreay tagged in, and he went one-on-one with DOUKI. Ospreay gave DOUKI the bulk of the offense.
Taichi and Umino tagged back in. Taichi used an Axe Bomber for a near fall, then won after a superkick.
After the match, DOUKI and Taichi beat down Ospreay. Taichi hit him with his microphone stand, and DOUKI used a pipe to attack Ospreay’s ribs. This was the weakest match on the show to this point.
TETSUYA NAITO & BUSHI DEFEATED ROCKY ROMERO & TOA HENARE
Rocky and BUSHI kicked things off. BUSHI teased a dive, but Rocky cut him off, hitting a dropkick. Henare made a tag and started to work on BUSHI. Naito jumped in illegally to even the odds and turn the tide in BUSHI’s favor.
Naito tagged in and landed a one-legged dropkick. BUSHI and Naito made quick tags, working over Henare. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick and choked Henare with his T-shirt. Henare hit a big boot and tagged Rocky.
Rocky hit a dropkick on BUSHI and a rana on an interfering Naito. Rocky hit forever clotheslines and a rewind kick, getting a near fall. Rocky got a cross armbreaker applied, but BUSHI reached the bottom rope. BUSHI hit an enzuigiri, and both tagged out.
Henare landed a Samoan Drop for a nearfall. Naito hit a hip toss, a dropkick, a neckbreaker, and a second dropkick. All four men jumped in. BUSHI sent Rocky to the apron, then hit a codebreaker. Naito hit Henare with Destino and got the pin. Just a basic undercard tag match.
A BLOCK MATCH: MARTY SCURLL DEFEATED TAKA MICHINOKU BY FORFEIT
A BLOCK MATCH: SHO DEFEATED TITAN
Titan had his right knee taped up. That played into the story of the match. Titan would tease a flying move, hesitate, then SHO would hit him with a power strike. SHO went to work on the right arm. Titan landed a tope con hilo. The arena was deathly quiet.
Back in the ring, Titan hit a springboard crossbody, then used a kneebar. SHO reached the bottom rope, forcing a break. SHO blocked a flying headscissors, then hit a powerbomb. They traded strikes.
They exchanged corner clotheslines. Titan hit a slingshot dropkick in the corner. SHO countered with a pair of lariats. Titan used a victory roll for a near fall. He applied an armbar, but SHO managed to get to the ropes.
SHO hit a piledriver for a near fall, then used Shock Arrow for the pin. Decent work, but the crowd wasn’t into this at all.
A BLOCK MATCH: TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED TIGER MASK
Ishimori attacked before the bell, but Tiger Mask was able to counter with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Tiger hit a double underhook knee strike, then landed a kick for a near fall. Tiger hit a Tiger Driver for a near fall, then transitioned to a cross armbreaker. Tiger then slipped to an armbar, but Ishimori reached the ropes.
Tiger hit a series of kicks to Ishimori’s arms. Ishimori countered with a jumping knee strike and hit double knees in the corner for a near fall. Tiger used a crucifix for a one count, then blocked a handspring kick. Ishimori hit a running knee for a near fall.
Ishimori used a Yes Lock, and Tiger tapped out. The psychology of this match was excellent. Ishimori needed a win to stay alive, and Tiger knew that, and threw everything he had at him.
A BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED JONATHAN GRESHAM
Gresham was selling his ribs as he entered. They locked up, but Shingo had no desire to trade holds. He used some strikes, a shoulder tackle, and clotheslined Gresham over the top to the floor. Shingo dropped Gresham on the apron. Gresham avoided a chop and made it back inside.
Shingo climbed to the apron, but Gresham dropkicked him to the floor. He went out after him, but Shingo dropped the injured ribs on the apron, then hit a knee drop to the ribs.
Back inside, Shingo hit a vertical suplex for a near fall. Gresham managed to pull back on Shingo’s left leg, then hit a dropkick in the corner. Shingo rolled to the floor, no-sold a knee strike, and hit a jab.
Back inside, Gresham hit a dropkick, sending Shingo back to the floor. Gresham hit a suicide dive, then used a rear naked choke on the floor. They teased a countout, but Shingo made it back in at 19.
Gresham hit a Shooting Star Press, but he could not follow up. Gresham hit a series of hard strikes and got a couple of quick near falls. Gresham tried for the octopus, but Shingo blocked it. Gresham hit the ropes, but Shingo hit him with a pop-up DVD.
Shingo hit Noshigami for a near fall, then a Pumping Bomber for another two count. Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but Gresham blocked it and used a bridge for a near fall. Gresham got the Octopus, but Shingo reversed into Last of the Dragon for the pin. A very good match.
A BLOCK MATCH: DRAGON LEE DEFEATED YOSHINOBU KANEMARU
Kanemaru attacked before the bell. Dragon countered. He went for a tope con hilo, but changed his mind and used a handstand to flip off the apron. Kanemaru used a strike, then choked Dragon with a chair.
Back in the ring, Kanemaru went for Dragon’s mask. He tied Dragon to the tree of woe and landed a dropkick. Kanemaru hit a backdrop and used a full crab, but Dragon reached the ropes. Kanemaru used a vertical suplex for a near fall, then sent Dragon back outside.
Kanemaru hit a snap suplex on the concrete floor in the aisle. Kanemaru shoved a Young Lion in Dragon’s way as he tried to get back inside, but Dragon made it in at 18. Dragon hit a dropkick, then a tope con hilo.
Back inside, Dragon hit a rolling dropkick, then a backbreaker. He hit a one-legged dropkick for a one count, then a dropkick in the corner. He teased a second dropkick in the corner, but Kanemaru cut him off with his own dropkick.
Dragon hit a snap German, a jumping knee strike, and a DDT. They rolled to the apron, where Kanemaru hit an inverted DDT. Back inside, Kanemaru went for Deep Impact. Dragon caught him coming in with a jumping knee.
Dragon went for Desnucadora. Kanemaru grabbed Red Shoes, and Taichi jumped in from the commentary table and pulled Red Shoes to the floor. Kanemaru ripped off Dragon’s mask. Kanemaru tried to spit whiskey, but Dragon hit a dropkick.
Shota Umino gave Dragon his mask back. Kanemaru hit a low blow, and a moonsault for a near fall, as Red Shoes was revived. Dragon hit Desnucadora, but could not follow up with a cover.
They traded roll-ups for near falls. Dragon pulled down a kneepad and hit a running knee strike. He followed with Desnucadora for the pin. Another solid match, but this was one of the weaker shows of the tournament.
A BLOCK STANDINGS
Shingo Takagi: 16
Taiji Ishimori: 14
Dragon Lee: 12 (Out of contention)
Marty Scurll: 10 (Out of contention)
Jonathan Gresham: 8 (Out of contention)
SHO: 8 (Out of contention)
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 4 (Out of contention)
Tiger Mask: 4 (Out of contention)
Titan: 4 (Out of contention)
TAKA Michinoku: 0 (Out of contention)
B BLOCK STANDINGS
El Phantasmo: 10 (Holds tiebreaker over Eagles, Ospreay)
Robbie Eagles: 10 (Holds tiebreaker over Ospreay, Taguchi)
TAKA Michinoku’s injury will cause him to miss the remainder of NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors tour.
NJPW has announced that Michinoku is off the rest of the tour and will forfeit the two remaining tournament matches he has left. Michinoku was scheduled to face Marty Scurll and Yoshinobu Kanemaru in those matches.
Michinoku also missed Sunday’s Best of the Super Juniors show and forfeited his tournament match against Dragon Lee.
NJPW noted that Michinoku suffered a right foot injury at their show this past Friday.
Michinoku was part of the B Block in the Best of the Super Juniors and went winless in his tournament matches.
There are four shows left until the Best of the Super Juniors finals, which will take place at Sumo Hall in Tokyo on Wednesday, June 5. Shingo Takagi and Taiji Ishimori are still in contention in the A Block, while El Phantasmo, Robbie Eagles, Will Ospreay, and Ryusuke Taguchi are in contention in the B Block.
The 2019 Best of the Super Juniors finals picture became much clearer after Sunday’s show in Chiba.
With four shows and two tournament matches remaining for each wrestler before the finals, the field of 20 has been narrowed to six possible winners.
In the A Block, only Shingo Takagi and Taiji Ishimori have a chance to go to the final. They will meet on Friday, May 31. If Ishimori wins his match against Tiger Mask IV on Wednesday, the match on the 31st will decide the A Block winner.
The B Block is more complicated.
El Phantasmo is in the driver’s seat, by virtue of his wins over Will Ospreay and Robbie Eagles.
ELP has yet to face Ryusuke Taguchi, who still has an outside chance to win the block, along with Ospreay.
Eagles holds a tiebreaker over Ospreay and Taguchi, but his loss to ELP looms large.
Neither Ospreay nor Taguchi currently has a tiebreaker advantage.
Got it?
Here are full results and match recaps from Sunday’s show:
B BLOCK MATCH: RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED REN NARITA
They kicked off the show with a lengthy mat wrestling sequence. Narita got some takedowns and worked on Taguchi’s right leg. Taguchi tried for an ankle lock, but Narita reached the ropes. Taguchi sent Narita outside with a hip attack. He teased a dive, but Narita cut him off with a dropkick to the left leg.
Narita tried for a cloverleaf, but Taguchi got the ankle lock. Narita slipped out. Taguchi went for Dodon, but Narita escaped and applied a full crab. Taguchi rolled through the crab, then got the ankle lock. Narita used an inside cradle for a near fall.
Taguchi used the threat of a magistral cradle to work his way back to the ankle lock, and Narita tapped out. This lacked sizzle, but it was a technically sound opener.
– They announced that Dragon Lee won his scheduled match over TAKA Michinoku by forfeit. TAKA has a leg injury, and could not compete.
A BLOCK MATCH: JONATHAN GRESHAM DEFEATED YOSHINOBU KANEMARU
Kanemaru scored an early takedown, but Gresham excels on the mat and used a series of headscissors to maintain the advantage. Kanemaru hit a dropkick to the head from the floor, while Gresham was draped over the edge of the apron. Kanemaru then used a headscissors on the mat.
They exchanged strikes. Gresham came back with an arm drag, but Kanemaru hit a DDT. Kanemaru hit a top rope moonsault for a two count. Gresham hit a rana, but Kanemaru rolled through into an attempted pinfall. They traded rolling cradles for a series of near falls.
Gresham hit a bridging German for a two count. Kanemaru threw the referee into Gresham and grabbed his whiskey bottle. Gresham ducked a swing with the bottle, then locked on the octopus. Kanemaru tapped out.
B BLOCK MATCH: ROCKY ROMERO DEFEATED DOUKI
DOUKI attacked Rocky as he posed on the ropes before the bell. DOUKI posted Rocky’s knee. DOUKI continued to go after the left leg. Rocky hit an enzuigiri with the right leg, but could not follow up. DOUKI worked on the left leg, then hit a double stomp.
DOUKI untied a corner pad, exposing the buckles. Rocky avoided the buckle and sent DOUKI shoulder-first into the post. Rocky fired up and hit a series of palm strikes. He landed a springboard rana, then hit forever clotheslines. They collided on a criss-cross spot, into a double down.
Rocky blocked a springboard DDT attempt. He hit a tornado DDT, into a falcon arrow, into a cross armbreaker. DOUKI stood up out of the hold and got a near fall. DOUKI used a kneebar, but Rocky rolled to the ropes.
They traded quick near falls, then exchanged strikes. Rocky used a kimura, then rolled through into a cross armbreaker, and DOUKI tapped out. This was probably DOUKI’s best match in NJPW so far.
A BLOCK MATCH: MARTY SCURLL DEFEATED TITAN
Titan used a series of headscissors on the mat, then bridged out of them, which was impressive as hell. Scurll rolled outside, and Titan landed on his feet on a dive to the floor. He followed with a flying headscissors on the floor.
Back inside, Scurll used a Romero Special. He went for Titan’s mask, then went after his legs. Titan hit a clothesline in the corner and flew outside. Brody King threatened to interfere, but Titan took him out with a dive. He followed with a springboard attack back into the ring, then hit a top rope rana for a two count.
Scurll used an eye poke, then hit a tornado DDT. Titan countered with a wheel kick, into a double down. They exchanged strikes. Scurll hit a half-and-half suplex, but Titan no-sold it. Titan used an inverted figure four, but Scurll made it to the ropes.
Scurll hit a pair of lariats, then used a package DDT for a near fall. He followed with Black Plague and got the pin. Another solid match. Scurll gave Titan a ton of offense.
B BLOCK MATCH: BUSHI DEFEATED BANDIDO
BUSHI offered a handshake. Bandido hesitated, and BUSHI kicked him. They did a series of flying counters and reversals. Bandido hit a jumping knee. BUSHI countered by sending Bandido to the floor, then hitting a pescado into a rana on the floor.
Back inside, BUSHI used an STF, but Bandido made the ropes. BUSHI tried for a DDT on the apron, but Bandido escaped, sent BUSHI to the floor, then hit a gigantic tope con hilo. Back inside, Bandido hit a press slam for a near fall.
They traded enzuigiris. Bandido hit a tornillo off the top, an inverted suplex, and a shining wizard, picking up a near fall. BUSHI escaped a 21 Plex and hit a dropkick. He followed up with a DDT on the apron, then hit a neckbreaker for a near fall.
BUSHI teased a codebreaker, but Bandido blocked it. BUSHI hit a Canadian Destroyer, then hit an MX for the pin. Good stuff, and it could have been even better if they had more time.
A BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED TIGER MASK IV
Tiger used a side headlock, but Shingo pushed off, into a shoulder tackle. Tiger dropped to the mat and lured Shingo in. Tiger tried for an armbar, but Shingo rolled to the floor. Tiger targeted Shingo’s right arm with kicks, and Shingo again rolled outside.
Shingo pulled Tiger into the post and posted both of his legs. Shingo hit a vertical suplex for a two count. Shingo hit a dragon screw. He went for a figure four, but Tiger kicked him off. He followed with a series of kicks to the neck for a near fall of his own.
Tiger got double underhooks, looking for the Tiger Driver. Shingo backdropped out, then hit a slam. They fought on the top rope, and Tiger hit a double underhook superplex. Shingo blocked a Tiger Suplex attempt, then they exchanged strikes.
Tiger hit a Tiger Driver for a near fall. He locked on an armbar, then slipped to a triangle, but Shingo powered out. Tiger blocked a Pumping Bomber, but Shingo hit a DVD. Tiger avoided another Pumping Bomber and used a crucifix for a near fall.
Tiger used an armbar, but Shingo reached the ropes. Tiger hit the ropes, right into a Pumping Bomber. Tiger kicked out at one. Shingo hit a second Pumping Bomber, but Tiger kicked out at two. Shingo hit Last of the Dragon, and got the pin.
I don’t think that anyone bought that Tiger had a chance, but they had a good match, and the last couple of near falls were great.
B BLOCK MATCH: YOH DEFEATED EL PHANTASMO
ELP attacked before the bell. He hit a suplex on the floor, then sent YOH into the crowd, wiping out several rows of chairs. They teased a countout, but YOH made it back in at 19. YOH used a quick roll-up for a near fall, then a backslide for another.
YOH went after ELP’s left arm, which was heavily taped. ELP clotheslined YOH on the top rope, then hit a quebrada for a near fall. ELP made another cover and used the ropes for leverage. Red Shoes refused to count the pin.
ELP used a choke, then hit a chop. ELP tied YOH to the tree of woe and stomped on his groin. YOH hit a spider German and followed up with a flying forearm. YOH hit a bridging belly-to-belly with a high grip for a two count.
ELP hit a top rope rana. He went for a frog splash, but YOH got his knees up. YOH used a cradle for a near fall, then got an armbar, but ELP reached the ropes. They traded cradles, with both scoring a near fall.
ELP hit a superkick, then used an airplane spin for a near fall. ELP tried for CR2, but YOH sent him to the floor. YOH teased a dive, but ELP cut him off with a kick. ELP sent YOH into Red Shoes, who took a bump.
ELP grabbed his belt, but Red Shoes woke up and took it away. YOH used an O’Connor roll for the upset. Good action, but it felt like the crowd wasn’t into it.
B BLOCK MATCH: ROBBIE EAGLES DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY
They locked up. Ospreay pushed Eagles to the ropes, then broke cleanly. They locked up again, then broke cleanly again. They engaged in a knuckle lock. Eagles covered, but Ospreay bridged. Ospreay monkey flipped out, then hit a dropkick to the knees.
Eagles offered a handshake. Ospreay went to accept it, but Eagles slapped him. Ospreay used a monkey flip to send Eagles outside, then hit a handspring into a pose. He followed with a plancha.
Back in the ring, they exchanged chops. Eagles hit an arm drag and a flying headscissors. Eagles hit a running knee for a near fall. Ospreay rolled to the ropes, and Eagles went after his left leg. They traded chops. Ospreay hit a handspring kick.
Ospreay hit a 619. He teased Pip Pip Cheerio, but Eagles escaped. Ospreay hit a dropkick in the corner, then used a standing Shooting Star Press for a two count. Ospreay then hit Pip Pip Cheerio, scoring a two count.
Eagles rolled outside, and Ospreay hit a Space Flying Tiger Drop. Back inside, Eagles recovered and hit a low dropkick, followed by a strike to the neck. Eagles sent Ospreay outside, then hit a flip dive through the ropes to the floor.
Back in the ring, Eagles used double knees in the corner, a 619 to the legs, and another double knees. Eagles hit a kneebreaker. He hit another, but Ospreay countered with an enzuigiri. They did an intricate series of reversals, ending with Eagles dumping Ospreay on his head with a poison rana.
From their knees, they exchanged forearm shots. Both men got to their feet, and they continued to trade. Eagles broke the exchange with a low dropkick, then hit a series of short kicks. Ospreay hit an enzuigiri. Eagles went for Turbo Backpack, but Ospreay escaped. Eagles hit a crossbody as Ospreay was up against the ropes, and they spilled to the floor.
They exchanged strikes on the apron. Ospreay tried for a Storm Breaker, but Eagles countered with a Sliced Bread on the apron. Eagles made it back inside. They teased a countout on Ospreay, but he made it back in at 19.
Eagles hit a dragon rana for a near fall. He missed a 450 as Ospreay rolled out of the way. Ospreay hit a hook kick. He teased the Hidden Blade, but Eagles dropped to the mat to avoid it.
ELP came to ringside, distracting Ospreay. Eagles applied the Miller Special. Ospreay teased tapping out, but finally reached the bottom rope. Eagles hit a dragon screw. He tried for a springboard move, but Ospreay dropkicked him out of the sky.
Eagles went for a reverse rana off the top, but Ospreay landed on his feet. Eagles got the Miller Special locked on, but Ospreay reversed into a cradle for a near fall. Eagles hit Turbo Backpack, but Ospreay kicked out at the 25-minute mark.
Ospreay hit a buckle bomb, then followed up with a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. ELP jumped on the apron, distracting Ospreay as he went to the top rope. Ospreay hit a 450, but Eagles got his knees up. Red Shoes took a bump.
Ospreay used a standing Spanish Fly. He got a visual pinfall, but with Red Shoes out, ELP hit Ospreay with a chair. Eagles hit a 450, then used the Miller Special for the submission at 28 minutes.
ELP tried to celebrate with Eagles after the match, but Eagles wanted nothing to do with him, teasing dissension in Bullet Club.
If you know the story of Ospreay and Eagles, and how Ospreay got Eagles into NJPW, then this probably meant more to you than if you were watching without that backstory. If you watched the last match these two had in Australia, even more so.
A BLOCK MATCH: TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED SHO
SHO missed a dropkick out of the opening sequence. He quickly recovered, sending Ishimori to the apron. SHO connected with a dropkick, sending Ishimori to the floor. Back inside, Ishimori established the early advantage, stomping away at SHO’s arms.
Ishimori cranked on SHO’s neck. SHO fired back with shots to Ishimori’s neck. Ishimori went for a handspring kick, but SHO caught him. Ishimori blocked a suplex attempt, but SHO hit a spear. SHO landed a vertical suplex for a near fall. He fought for a cross armbreaker, but Ishimori rolled to the ropes.
Ishimori rolled through another suplex attempt, landing a double stomp. Ishimori missed with double knees in the corner, but connected on a handspring kick. SHO rolled outside, and Ishimori hit a golden triangle.
Back inside, SHO hit an inverted suplex, dropping Ishimori on his knees. SHO hit two rolling Germans, then bridged on the third into a near fall. SHO blocked a knee strike, and Ishimori jumped over a spear attempt. SHO hit a clothesline, into a double down.
They had a long striking exchange. They traded jumping knees. SHO landed a pair of lariats, then hit a backbreaker across his knees. He hit a second, but Ishimori kicked out.
SHO went for Shock Arrow. Ishimori powered out, but SHO eventually landed a piledriver. SHO used a sunset flip for a two count. He tried for a cross armbreaker, but Ishimori transitioned to the Yes Lock. After a long battle, SHO made the ropes.
Ishimori hit a Woo dropkick, then followed up with double knees in the corner. Ishimori hit a lungblower, but SHO kicked out at two.
SHO blocked a Bloody Cross and hit a knee strike. SHO went for Shock Arrow, but Ishimori countered into the Bloody Cross for the pin. Not a bad match by any means, but they couldn’t follow Ospreay and Eagles.
A BLOCK STANDINGS
Shingo Takagi: 14
Taiji Ishimori: 12
Dragon Lee: 10 (Out of contention)
Marty Scurll: 8 (Out of contention)
Jonathan Gresham: 8 (Out of contention)
SHO: 6 (Out of contention)
Titan: 4 (Out of contention)
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 4 (Out of contention)
Tiger Mask: 4 (Out of contention)
TAKA Michinoku: 0 (Out of contention)
B BLOCK STANDINGS
El Phantasmo: 10 (Holds tiebreaker over Eagles, Ospreay)
Robbie Eagles: 10 (Holds tiebreaker over Ospreay, Taguchi)
Due to injury, TAKA Michinoku has been pulled from his match at Sunday’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors show.
NJPW has announced that Michinoku is unable to compete at night 10 of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament due to a right leg injury. The show is taking place in Chiba tomorrow (May 26).
Michinoku was scheduled to face IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Dragon Lee in a tournament match on the show. Michinoku will instead forfeit the match, with Lee receiving two points.
With their match being canceled, Lee also won’t be wrestling at tomorrow’s show. It will proceed with nine matches instead of the scheduled 10. NJPW noted that Lee will still be taking part in his autograph session.
Michinoku has lost all six of his tournament matches thus far and is already out of contention in the A Block. Lee is third in the block with eight points (not counting the two he’ll get for Michinoku forfeiting their match), coming in behind Shingo Takagi and Taiji Ishimori. Takagi has 12 points, while Ishimori has 10.
There are five shows remaining before the Best of the Super Juniors finals take place on June 5.
Rocky Romero’s first singles main event in Korakuen Hall was a memorable one.
Romero defeated El Phantasmo in a fantastic main event, which nearly went to the 30-minute time limit.
ELP took his first loss of the Best of the Super Juniors, but remains atop the B Block, by virtue of his win over Will Ospreay. Shingo Takagi remains undefeated atop the A Block.
Here are full results and match recaps from Friday’s show:
A BLOCK MATCH: SHO DEFEATED TIGER MASK IV
They started the show with a grappling battle. SHO pulled guard, while Tiger tried to throw some shots from top position. Tiger hit a series of kicks to SHO’s arms. SHO came back with a spear, then used a cross armbreaker. Tiger rolled to the ropes for a break.
SHO went for a powerbomb, but Tiger slipped out and hit a couple of jumping knee strikes. Tiger hit a knee strike, then hit a Tiger Bomb for a near fall. Tiger tried for a Tiger Suplex, but SHO turned it into a Shock Arrow. SHO could not capitalize.
Tiger used a crucifix for a near fall. SHO hit a lariat, then a powerbomb on the knees for a near fall. SHO hit a second Shock Arrow to get the pin. Solid opener.
B BLOCK MATCH: WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED REN NARITA
Narita hit an arm drag and a shoulder tackle. Ospreay came back with a 619 and a knee drop. Ospreay hit a handspring, but bounced right into a German from Narita. Narita used a vertical suplex for a two count.
Ospreay hit a dropkick in the corner, then a standing Shooting Star Press for a near fall. Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio, and Narita rolled to the floor. Ospreay teased a plancha, but Narita stepped out of the way. Ospreay landed on his feet, and Narita hit a belly-to-belly on the floor. They teased a countout, but Ospreay made it back in at 19.
Ospreay hit a Robinson Special. He went for an OsCutter, but Narita caught him coming in. Narita used a modified cloverleaf. Ospreay teased tapping out, but made the bottom rope for a break. Narita tried for another belly-to-belly, but Ospreay landed on his feet.
Ospreay went for a Storm Breaker, but Narita turned it into a backslide for an awesome near fall. Ospreay popped up, hit an OsCutter, and got the pin. This was tremendous.
A BLOCK MATCH: MARTY SCURLL DEFEATED YOSHINOBU KANEMARU
This was a lot of fun. They had an intense comedy brawl.
They started with some ha ha. Scurll swung his umbrella, while Kanemaru threatened to attack with his whiskey bottle. They had a long crowd brawl. They teased a double countout, but both made it back in at 19.
Back inside, the ref took a bump. Kanemaru used a tornado DDT and had a visual pinfall. Kanemaru spit whiskey, but Scurll used his umbrella to block it.
Kanemaru grabbed the umbrella, and Scurll grabbed the whiskey. Scurll spit whiskey in Kanemaru’s face for a near fall. Scurll then hit Black Plague for the pin.
B BLOCK MATCH: ROBBIE EAGLES DEFEATED DOUKI
The Robbie Eagles entrance song is an absolute banger.
Eagles hit a series of knee strikes. DOUKI avoided a charge by doing the splits, and Eagles fell outside. DOUKI posted Eagles, then hit him with a chair. The chair caught Eagles on the top of his head and split him open.
Eagles was bleeding profusely. They continued with the match, but the nasty cut was the only thing I could focus on. DOUKI went for his modified triangle, but Eagles reversed it into a Miller Special. DOUKI rolled to the ropes.
DOUKI hit a springboard DDT for a near fall. DOUKI used a series of cradles for near falls. Eagles hit an enzuigiri. DOUKI hit a lariat. Eagles blocked a Suplex de la Luna and hit a Turbo Backpack for a near fall.
Eagles hit a 450, then used the Miller Special for the submission.
A BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED TAKA MICHINOKU
TAKA used an eye poke, followed by a headscissors. Shingo rolled outside, and TAKA posted him. Shingo clotheslined the post. TAKA used a figure four around the post. TAKA hit a thrust kick on the apron and followed with a moonsault off the post to the floor. Turn back the clock night for TAKA.
TAKA took the fight into the crowd and used a Just Facelock. Shingo beat the count back inside. TAKA used a roll-up and a magistral cradle for a pair of near falls. TAKA hit a knee strike for a two count, then went back to the Just Facelock. Shingo rolled to the ropes.
TAKA hit another knee, and again used the Just Facelock. Shingo again reached the ropes. Shingo recovered and got his first meaningful offense of the match. He hit a pair of short lariats, then followed with a Pumping Bomber.
TAKA went for a cradle, but Shingo blocked it and hit Last of the Dragon for the win. This was an awesome sprint. TAKA had his best performance in years, and Shingo has been built up perfectly since his NJPW debut.
B BLOCK MATCH: BANDIDO DEFEATED RYUSUKE TAGUCHI
Bandido can do it all, including Taguchi comedy matches. They started off with some rope-running comedy before settling down into a more serious confrontation.
Bandido hit a sunset flip to the floor, then powerbombed Taguchi into the post. Bandido hit a suicide dive into the fourth row. Back inside, Bandido hit a springboard high cross, followed by a dropkick to the back.
Taguchi tried for a pair of hip attacks, but Bandido blocked both with atomic drops. Taguchi connected with a crossbody to the floor, a hip attack, and a tope con hilo. Taguchi hit Three Amigos for a near fall.
Bandido hit an inverted suplex and a hip attack of his own. He went for another, but Taguchi caught him in an ankle lock. They traded a series of victory rolls for near falls. Taguchi went for a hip attack off the second rope, but Bandido caught him. Bandido hit a bridging suplex for a two count.
Bandido teased the 21 Plex, but Taguchi cut him off. Bandido hit a GTS, then hit a 21 Plex for the pin.
A BLOCK MATCH: TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED JONATHAN GRESHAM
They spit on each other. Gresham took a chest-first turnbuckle, and Ishimori hit a sliding German. Gresham hit a flying headscissors, and Ishimori rolled outside. Gresham hit a knee strike off the apron to the floor.
Back inside, Gresham hit a high cross off the top. Ishimori hit a handspring kick. Gresham used a poison rana into a pinning combination for a near fall. Ishimori escaped a bridging clutch and used a Yes Lock, but Gresham reached the ropes.
Gresham used an octopus hold, but Ishimori broke it, then hit a shotgun dropkick. Ishimori hit double knees in the corner for a near fall, then hit a Bloody Cross for the pin. They did a lot of good stuff, but they didn’t get a lot of time.
B BLOCK MATCH: BUSHI DEFEATED YOH
BUSHI hit a dropkick before the opening bell and followed with a suicide dive. BUSHI used his belt to whip YOH on the floor. Back inside, BUSHI used an STF. YOH reached the ropes, but BUSHI raked his eyes on the break.
They exchanged chops. YOH missed a dropkick, but connected on a flying forearm. YOH hit a second dropkick, then a third to the legs. BUSHI hit his own dropkick, then teased a DDT on the apron. YOH hit a dropkick, and BUSHI rolled to the floor. YOH connected with a tope con hilo.
YOH hit a missile dropkick to the right knee, then used a Calf Crusher. After a struggle, BUSHI reached the ropes. YOH hit a superplex into a falcon arrow for a near fall. YOH hit a bridging suplex for another two count.
YOH tried for a dragon suplex, but BUSHI reversed into a swinging neckbreaker. They traded slaps to the face. BUSHI hit a rewind kick, then hit two codebreakers. BUSHI hit a Canadian Destroyer for a near fall, then hit an MX for the pin.
This was a good action match, but BUSHI’s selling was a little underwhelming and hurt the match.
A BLOCK MATCH: DRAGON LEE DEFEATED TITAN
Dragon gave Red Shoes a mask to wear, and he refereed the opening sequence while wearing it. Awesome.
They started with an awesome lucha sequence, ending in a stalemate. Dragon sent Titan to the floor, then hit a tope con hilo. Dragon hit a chop. Titan followed with a running clothesline in the corner and a slingshot dropkick.
Dragon hit a delayed dropkick in the corner, and Titan hit a dropkick to the legs. Titan hit a rana off the apron to the floor, then followed with an Asai moonsault. Back inside, Titan came off the top rope into a jumping knee strike from Dragon.
Titan hit a dragon screw, then used a figure four. They sat on the top rope, trading strikes. Titan teased hitting a double stomp, but Dragon threw him off. Titan hit a backflip kick. He tried for a top rope rana, but Dragon cut him off and hit a double stomp.
Dragon teased Desnucadora, but Titan reversed it into a tornado DDT. Dragon hit a knee strike. Titan hit a Canadian Destroyer, but Dragon no-sold and hit another knee. Dragon went for Desnucadora again, but Titan reversed into a falcon arrow.
Dragon hit a brainbuster for a near fall. He followed with a knee strike, a poison rana, and another knee. Dragon pulled down his knee pad and hit another knee, then followed with Desnucadora for the pin. Awesome match.
B BLOCK MATCH: ROCKY ROMERO DEFEATED EL PHANTASMO
Phantasmo ripped off Rocky’s entrance hat and threw it into the crowd. Rocky hit a dropkick, and Phantasmo rolled outside. Rocky hit a suicide dive. Phantasmo recovered quickly and landed a series of chops. They continued to fight on the floor, then into the crowd.
After a lengthy crowd brawl, Rocky hit a knee strike inside. Phantasmo came back with a quebrada, then hit a series of strikes. Rocky came back with strikes, but Phantasmo hit a dropkick to the knee.
The pace slowed significantly as Phantasmo landed some chops. Rocky tried for forever clotheslines, but Phantasmo tied him to the tree of woe and stomped on his groin. Phantasmo did his rope walk. Rocky pushed him off the ropes to the floor, then hit a pescado.
Rocky posted Phantasmo’s left arm. He tried for a knee strike, but posted himself. Phantasmo crotched Rocky on the post. Phantasmo ripped up some of the ringside padding. He teased a CR2 on the floor, but Rocky hit a backdrop. He followed up by using Phantasmo as a lawn dart, sending him into the post.
Rocky hit a flip dive off the post to the floor. Back in the ring, Rocky hit a series of kicks to the left arm. He hit a double stomp to the back as Phantasmo was draped across the ropes. Phantasmo teased a BME, but Rocky crotched him on the top, then tied him to the tree of woe. Rocky stomped on Phantasmo’s groin.
Rocky hit a tornado DDT, into a falcon arrow, into a cross armbreaker. Phantasmo transitioned to an ankle lock, but Rocky slipped to a triangle. Phantasmo hit a powerbomb, breaking the hold.
Phantasmo hit an enzuigiri. Rocky hit a rewind kick. Rocky went for Sliced Bread, but Phantasmo cut him off. After a fight, Rocky was able to land Sliced Bread for a near fall. Rocky tried for an armbreaker, but Phantasmo rolled to the ropes for a break.
Rocky hit a couple of forever clotheslines in the corner, but Phantasmo cut him off. Rocky tried for a backslide, but Phantasmo hit an airplane spin. He went for a cover, but Rocky rolled to the floor. They teased a countout, but Rocky made it back inside.
Phantasmo missed a frog splash. They exchanged strikes. Rocky hit a pair of lariats at the 25-minute mark for a near fall. Rocky hit a standing Sliced Bread, but Phantasmo kicked out at one and threw Rocky into Red Shoes. Red Shoes took a bump.
Phantasmo tried for a low blow, but Rocky caught it and used a cross armbreaker. He gave up the hold, and Phantasmo hit a low blow. Phantasmo used a cradle for a near fall, then landed on Red Shoes, who took another bump.
Phantasmo grabbed his belt, and he and Rocky did the Eddie Guerrero spot. Red Shoes teased a DQ, but Rocky used a roll-up for a near fall. Phantasmo tried for CR, but Rocky hit a rana for a near fall.
Rocky got the cross armbreaker — and Phantasmo tapped out. Amazing main event. SHO and YOH came in to celebrate with Rocky after the win.
Night eight of the Best of the Super Juniors delivered — and then some.
Three matches on the show are contenders for the best match of the tournament.
Dragon Lee and Shingo Takagi capped the night with a hard-hitting affair, Will Ospreay and Bandido did their best to steal the show in the semi-main event, and Marty Scurll and SHO tore the house down in their undercard battle.
Here are the full results and recaps from today’s show in Korakuen Hall:
B BLOCK MATCH: EL PHANTASMO DEFEATED REN NARITA
They did some mat work at the outset, with neither man gaining a clear advantage. The Korakuen crowd was clearly behind Narita. Phantasmo used a series of kicks to take control. He tied Narita to the tree of woe, then stomped on his groin.
Phantasmo did his rope walk around three quarters of the ring. He bounced off the ropes, right into a belly-to-belly from Narita. Narita followed with a second suplex for a near fall. Phantasmo hit a series of kicks and followed with an enzuigiri.
Narita used an inside cradle and a backslide for two near falls, and then hit his awesome bridging belly-to-belly for another. Phantasmo hit a kick and went for CR2, but Narita slapped on a full crab. Phantasmo hit a thumb to the eye and used a cradle for a two count.
Phantasmo hit an airplane spin, then a frog splash for the pin.
After the bell, Phantasmo hit CR2. Good opener.
A BLOCK MATCH: TITAN DEFEATED TAKA MICHINOKU
They exchanged arm drags. TAKA hit a PK, and Titan rolled to the floor. He teased a dive, but didn’t deliver. TAKA used an eye poke, then a bow and arrow. Titan rolled outside, and TAKA posted him.
Back inside, TAKA used a Fujiwara armbar. He hit a step-up knee in the corner, but couldn’t follow up. Titan started to fly, hitting a headscissors and then a tope con hilo. Back inside, TAKA applied the Just Facelock, but Titan made the ropes.
TAKA missed a moonsault, then used a magistral cradle to set up the Just Facelock again. Titan made the ropes. Titan attempted an O’Connor roll, but TAKA caught him in the Just Facelock a third time. Titan again reached the ropes.
TAKA went for the Michinoku Driver, but Titan reversed it into a DVD. He covered and got the pin. The ref’s count was weird, as if he was expecting TAKA to kick out, but he didn’t. Strange finish to an okay match.
B BLOCK MATCH: BUSHI DEFEATED ROBBIE EAGLES
BUSHI hit a missile dropkick before the bell, then landed a suicide dive. BUSHI took off his entrance attire, and used his belt to whip Eagles. Back inside, Eagles hit a chop block and an elbow to the back of the head.
Eagles focused his attack on BUSHI’s left leg. He used a series of stomps and holds to work over the leg. BUSHI hit a DDT, then used his T-shirt to choke Eagles. BUSHI hit an enzuigiri, followed by another DDT.
BUSHI teased a DDT on the apron, but Eagles took out his legs, then hit a crazy flip dive through the second rope to the floor. Back in the ring, Eagles continued to go after the left leg. He hit a Turbo Backpack for a near fall, then applied the Rod Miller Special. BUSHI forced a rope break.
Eagles hit double knees in the corner, twice. He went for a 450, but BUSHI rolled out of the way. BUSHI hit a codebreaker over the middle rope, then hit a neckbreaker for a near fall. BUSHI hit the MX and got the pin. Solid match with a cool dive, but not spectacular.
A BLOCK MATCH: JONATHAN GRESHAM DEFEATED TIGER MASK IV
They traded holds to a stalemate, then shook hands. Tiger landed some strikes, but Gresham fired back. Tiger hit a series of kicks to the stomach, then used a series of chinlocks. He transitioned to a headscissors, but Gresham rolled to the ropes for the break.
Tiger landed some more kicks, and Gresham sold them in a big way. The pace had slowed, but they picked it back up with a mat exchange, ending with Gresham hitting a dropkick. Gresham used a cobra twist, but Tiger broke the hold with a kick.
Tiger used a headscissors and an armbar, but Gresham reached the bottom rope. Tiger hit a double underhook knee strike, then another kick. Both men hit the ropes, and they both hit a crossbody, leading to a double down.
Tiger was up first and hit a kick. They exchanged strikes. Gresham used a headscissors before trapping Tiger in a cradle for the pin. Good match with a nice finish.
B BLOCK MATCH: YOH DEFEATED DOUKI
DOUKI hit a dropkick to the back as YOH was posing on the turnbuckle before the bell. He followed with a suicide dive, then took the fight into the crowd. He slammed YOH’s face into the famed East sign in Korakuen. The crowd chanted for DOUKI.
DOUKI continued his attack in the ring. He hit a double stomp and picked up a near fall. YOH blocked a suplex. He missed a basement dropkick, but successfully hit a dragon screw. YOH hit a flying forearm. He connected with a back elbow and hit a neckbreaker for a near fall.
YOH hit another dragon screw. YOH rolled into a Calf Crusher, but DOUKI reached the ropes. YOH hit a series of dropkicks to the right leg. DOUKI tried for a slingshot DDT, but YOH turned it into a falcon arrow for a two count.
DOUKI used a roll-up for a two count, then used a modified triangle. YOH rolled to the ropes, forcing a break. DOUKI hit an ugly-looking slingshot DDT for a two count. YOH hit a bridging German for a near fall.
YOH hit an enzuigiri, and DOUKI hit a big lariat for a two count. DOUKI went for the Suplex de la Luna, but YOH escaped. YOH hit a superkick, then hit a Dragon Suplex for the pin.
YOH is awesome. This was very good, but I think it would have worked even better as a sprint, with three or four minutes cut off.
A BLOCK MATCH: SHO DEFEATED MARTY SCURLL
Scurll came out limping. He had his head taped up, with Brody King holding an ice pack on his neck. SHO entered, and Scurll hit SHO with his umbrella, then ripped off the tape on his head. Scurll picked up a quick near fall.
SHO fired right back with strikes and hit a suplex for his own near fall. Scurll went to the apron and hit a draping neckbreaker over the second rope. Back inside, Scurll hit another neckbreaker for a near fall. Scurll hit a series of chops, then a superkick to the back of the neck.
Scurll used a headscissors, continuing to work the neck of SHO. Scurll also trapped the left arm, but SHO reached the ropes. Scurll used a slingshot to send SHO’s neck into the bottom rope. Scurll hit his superkick on the apron. SHO fired up, so Scurll hit a second. SHO asked for a third, and he caught the kick.
They exchanged strikes on the apron. SHO jumped back inside, swept the legs, then sent Scurll to the floor with a dropkick. SHO hit a backstabber, then used a cross armbreaker. Scurll reached the bottom rope.
SHO hit a kick, then hit two rolling Germans. He went for a third, but Scurll escaped. Scurll hit a half-and-half suplex, but SHO countered with a third German. They exchanged strikes. SHO hit a Lumbar Check for a near fall.
SHO went for Shock Arrow, but Scurll blocked it and hit a DVD over his knee for a near fall. Scurll hit a tornado DDT. He rolled through into a chicken wing attempt, but SHO countered into Shock Arrow for a near fall.
SHO went for a powerbomb, but Scurll ripped the tape off SHO’s ear, and slipped out. Scurll hit a pair of lariats for a near fall. Scurll did the finger break spot. SHO countered with a lariat. He hit another lariat, then hit a Last Ride on the knees for a near fall.
SHO hit Shock Arrow for the pin. Awesome match. They tore the house down. Good luck to the guys who have to follow this.
B BLOCK MATCH: RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED ROCKY ROMERO
Rocky came out with a basketball, while Taguchi came out with his rugby ball. They did some comedy with the basketball. Rocky threw the ball at Taguchi’s head, then hit a crossbody off the post to the floor.
Taguchi sent Rocky to the floor with a hip attack, then hit a tope con hilo. Back inside, Rocky hit some chops. Taguchi came back with a series of hip attacks, and Rocky fired back with more chops. They traded forever clotheslines and hip attacks, then exchanged inverted atomic drops.
Taguchi missed with a hip attack. Rocky missed a rewind kick, and Taguchi applied an ankle lock. Rocky escaped and hit a rana. He followed with a springboard DDT for a two count. Rocky applied an armbar. Taguchi tried to muscle out and reached the ropes.
Rocky tried for Sliced Bread. Taguchi rolled through into a victory roll. They traded victory rolls, and Taguchi ended up getting the pin.
A BLOCK MATCH: YOSHINOBU KANEMARU DEFEATED TAIJI ISHIMORI
Kanemaru attacked before the bell, and they fought into the crowd. They teased a countout, but Ishimori beat the count. Ishimori used the Yes Lock, but Kanemaru reached the ropes. Ishimori used a lung blower for a two count.
Kanemaru blocked a Bloody Cross and sent Red Shoes into Ishimori. With the referee down, Kanemaru went for his whiskey. Ishimori got the whiskey bottle, but Red Shoes woke up, catching Ishimori with the bottle. Kanemaru spit whiskey in Ishimori’s eyes and rolled him up for the pin.
B BLOCK MATCH: WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED BANDIDO
They started with a crazy sequence. Ospreay ended it with a monkey flip, a dropkick, then a plancha. Bandido hit a one-armed press slam, then a dropkick to the back of the head for a near fall. Bandido used a Romero Special, but Ospreay reached the ropes.
They exchanged chops. Ospreay hit a handspring kick. He followed with a 619, then Pip Pip Cheerio for a near fall. Ospreay teased an inverted DDT, but Bandido slipped out and hit a dropkick.
Bandido hit an inverted suplex and a flying knee strike. They exchanged strikes. Ospreay caught Bandido off a rana. He went for a powerbomb, but Bandido flipped it into a poison rana. Ospreay rolled outside, and Bandido hit a springboard Shooting Star Press to the floor. Insane.
Back inside, Bandido hit a springboard DDT into a near fall. Ospreay hit a pop-up OsCutter into a double down. They exchanged strikes. Bandido hit a superkick. Ospreay hit a Canadian Destroyer for a near fall, then rolled into Cattle Mutilation. He followed with a powerbomb for a near fall.
Ospreay teased an OsCutter, but Bandido hit a Spanish Fly for a two count. Bandido went for the 21 Plex, but Ospreay avoided it. Bandido went for it again, and Ospreay flipped out of it, landing on his feet. Ospreay hit a Spanish Fly for a near fall.
Ospreay went to the top. Bandido cut him off and hit a fallaway slam off the top. He made a cover, but Ospreay grabbed the bottom rope, forcing a break. Bandido came off the second rope, but jumped right into a Storm Breaker for the pin. Fantastic match.
A BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED DRAGON LEE
Dragon offered a handshake at the outset. Shingo accepted, but held the grip and they began their opening sequence. Shingo missed a senton. He hit a shoulder block, but Dragon popped right up.
Dragon sent Shingo outside with a rana. He went for a dive. Shingo side-stepped. Dragon saved the dive with a handspring off the apron, but Shingo made him pay with strikes, then a DDT on the floor. Back in the ring, Shingo hit a series of strikes in the corner. He dropped Dragon with a double sledge to the chest, then hit a senton.
Shingo hit a vertical suplex for a two count. Shingo went for a Pumping Bomber, but Dragon countered with an STO. Shingo stepped to the apron. Dragon hit an enzuigiri. He teased a rana off the apron, but Shingo blocked it.
They continued to battle on the apron. Shingo hit a DVD on the apron, and Dragon fell to the floor. Back inside, Shingo hit a sliding lariat for a near fall. Shingo hit a series of punches and chops in the corner. Dragon followed with a dropkick into the opposite corner, then another.
They faced off in the center of the ring. They exchanged strikes. Dragon hit a jumping knee. Shingo hit a clothesline, but Dragon followed with his own, then hit a suicide dive into about the fifth row.
Dragon hit a straightjacket German into a bridge for a near fall. Dragon hit a superkick, but Shingo countered with a jab and a lariat. Shingo hit a slam and called for a back elbow off the ropes, but Dragon cut him off and hit his double stomp in the corner.
Dragon hit a PK for a near fall. He teased Desnucadora, but Shingo countered with a pop-up Samoan Drop. Shingo blocked a knee strike, then hit a Noshigami. He followed with a Pumping Bomber for a great near fall.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon. Dragon blocked it. He went for a second Noshigami, but Dragon blocked it and hit a knee strike. Dragon hit a knee strike, a poison rana, and went right into another knee strike. He covered, but Shingo kicked out at one. He hit another knee strike for a two count.
Dragon went for Desnucadora, but Shingo reversed it into Last of the Dragon for the pin. Another classic match.
NJPW returned to Korakuen Hall this morning for a big card headlined by a match that has been teased for the last few weeks, a bout between B Block participants El Phantasmo and Will Ospreay.
No prelim bouts today as both blocks will have matches here tonight.
A Block: Taiji Ishimori defeated Taka Michinoku
Michinoku got the heat quickly and took over. He, in fact, dominated this match for the most part. Ishimori freed himself from a headscissors submission, hit a springboard kick and went for the bloody cross. Michinoku avoided it and went for the Michinoku driver, but Ishimori connected with a knee and pinned Michinoku with the bloody cross, just like that. A good sprint of a match.
B Block: Bandido defeated Ren Narita
Things start off pretty even,. Bandido cut off Narita with a big dropkick to the chest then connected with a dropkick to the side of the head. Narita cut him off and went for a suplex, but Bandido escaped. He walked right into a Narita belly-to-belly overhead suplex.
Bandido went to the apron but Narita grabbed him by the waist. Bandido cut him off as the two fought on the apron. Narita responded with another big overhead belly-to-belly suplex. He followed with a tope, but Bandido grabbed him and powerbombed him on the apron.
Back in the ring, Bandido went for a shooting star press and but Narita rolled him up. The crowd went crazy over the near falls the two traded. Bandido finally cut him off with a version of the GTS then pinned him with a 21 plex. A crazy six minute match.
A Block: Jonathan Gresham defeated Titan
Some chain wrestling early, with both men looking strong in the department. After a great exchange, Titan extends his hand for a handshake. Gresham obliges, but Titan uses that to attack, working him over.
Gresham freed himself but Titan cut him off with a kick and went for a surfboard. Gresham willed himself out of the hold, kicked him in the arm and hit something that resembled la mistica, but without the submission hold. Titan countered with a O’Connor roll with a head bridge.
Titan cut off Gresham on the apron but Gresham grabbed his arm and wringed it on the ropes. Titan went to the top rope but Gresham worked the arm. Titan countered by grabbing Gresham and gut wrenching him on the apron.
After exchanging some near falls, Gresham went for the octopus stretch. Gresham managed to get him down then submitted him for the win. Really good match, these two have terrific chemistry and everything looked real crisp.
Block B: YOH defeated Rocky Romero
The two threw up the 3K sign before they locked up. YOH soon had Romero on the offensive. Romero finds an opening by grabbing YOH and yanking him in a cross armbreaker. YOH escapes, but Romero continued to target the arm.
YOH comes back by grabbing Romero’s leg on the apron and dragon whipped him to the floor, then followed with another one when Romero went to the top rope. He followed that with the calf crusher. Romero escaped as the two continued to trade back and forth offense. YOH went for the dragon suplex, but Romero countered with a package attempt.
Romero goes for the cross armbreaker again but YOH countered by cradling him for a nearfall. He then caught him with another calf crusher attempt. This time, Romero tapped. Another good match, and an interesting result as the student beat the mentor.
Block A: Dragon Lee defeated Tiger Mask
Lee went for a hurricanrana but Tiger Mask powerbombed him then followed with a big dive to the floor. He went for a crossbody off the top, but Lee floated over for a nearfall.
Lee hit a penalty kick and went for desucandora but Tiger Mask hit a scary looking tombstone for the counter then hit the tiger bomb for a near fall. He went for the tiger suplex, but Lee tried to package him. Tiger Mask keeps him down with an armbar.
A superkick takes down Tiger Mask as Lee applies an STF. Tiger Mask escapes, but then is hit with two knee strikes then a desucandora for the win. Another good match.
Block B: BUSHI defeated DOUKI
BUSHI waited no time in playing dirty by attacking DOUKI with a belt to kick things off. DOUKI countered by brawling with BUSHI into the crowd, throwing him into a pillar. Back in the ring, he hit a double foot stomp square in the stomach for a two count.
DOUKI held down BUSHI on the floor but got cut off big time with a dropkick as he tried to launch himself off the ropes. BUSHI fought back, hitting the rewind kick then DDT’d him on the apron.
BUSHI hit a lungblower then went for the MX. It connected, and just like that, BUSHI won. It was perfectly fine.
Block A: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated SHO by count out.
Kanemaru jumped SHO immediately and grabbed his ear, which was taped. He cut off Kanemaru on the apron and sent him to the floor with a running dropkick. Kanemaru dragged him into the crowd and went for a suplex, but SHO floated over and clotheslined him.
Kanemaru whipped SHO into the wall, then suplexed him on the concrete as he walked back to the ring. SHO was struggling to get to the ring, but as he made it back to ringside Kanemaru shoved young lion Yota Tsuji into SHO as he entered the ring and SHO was counted out. Definitely interesting while it lasted.
Block B: Robbie Eagles defeated Ryusuke Taguchi
After some technical mat wrestling, Eagles finds a leg and starts working on it. This doesn’t prevent Taguchi taking out Eagles with a plancha to the floor, then a hip attack off the top rope. Taguchi teased the bummer ye but Eagles dropkicked him into the ringpost then followed with sliced bread for a nearfall.
Eagles rolled Taguchi into an inverted leglock, then connected with a big knee to the corner. Eagles missed a 450 slam as Taguchi grabbed Eagles for the ankle lock. Eagles connected with the turbo backpack and some stiff strikes, but Taguchi cut him off and went for the dodon, but Eagles countered by hooking both shoulders and taking him down to the mat for the three count. Short, but also pretty good.
Block A: Shingo Takagi defeated Marty Scurll
Scurll honed in on Shingo’s elbow, perhaps looking to avoid the pumping bomber. Shingo fought back, and also fought back as Scurll met him on the top rope. He was unsuccessful, as Scurll hit a big superplex for a nearfall.
The two trade big offense as Scurll finally took down Shingo with a superkick. Brody King, who was seconding Scurll, tripped Shingo as Marty attacked him with the umbrella. Shingo tried to fight back, but Marty got the ref in the way and sure enough, there was a ref bump. King got back in and hit a giant spinning side slam as Scurll powerbombed Shingo, but he kicked out.
Another ref bump led King to come back in, but King accidently clotheslined Scurll as Shingo went him out of the ring with the pumping bomber. Shingo hit the noshigami then hit the pumping bomber, and then after Scurll kicked out hit the last of the dragon for the win. Too many ref bumps toward the end, but still a pretty damn great match.
Block B: El Phantasmo defeated Will Ospreay
Ospreay immediately blasted ELP with a shotgun dropkick and threw him into chairs outside of the ring. He followed that with a giant suicide dive that sent ELP into even more people ringside. Ospreay took him inside of the crowd where ELP finally managed to cut him off, walk across the arena entryway and launched off with a moonsault, landing right on his knees. Eesh.
ELP superkicked Ospreay as he was walking down the stairs, then gave him a superman punch as he hopped off a barricade. Back in the ring, ELP did the rope walk, springboarded off then did a big hurricanrana.
Ospreay came alive with a springboard attack as he started to build momentum. ELP fought back and escaped a stormbreaker attempt, instead drilling Ospreay with a superkick. Ospreay met ELP on the floor by launching off the top rope with a corkscrew press, then struck him with the forearm back in the ring.
Ospreay connected with the Billy Robinson special and went for the Oscutter but ELP countered with a backslide. Ospreay went for the stormbreaker but ELP floated over and rolled him up for a nearfall, then hit a BME. He goes to finish with the CR2, but Ospreay blocks it and strikes ELP with a giant kick to the head.
After hitting the cheeky nandos kick, Ospreay put ELP on his shoulders and carried him to the middle rope, hitting a giant iconoclasm for a nearfal. Ospreay blocked a low blow as a defiant ELP spat at him. Ospreay hit more kicks then went for the Oscutter, but ELP shot up and pushed him onto the apron.
The two fight on the apron as Ospreay gets the advantage. He went for a spanish fly to the floor but ELP blocked it and hit him with a forearm. ELP went for the CR2; Ospreay blocked it but ELP instead hit a piledriver right on the apron. Both men entered the ring at 19 but ELP got the advantage with a splash off the top rope.
ELP went for the rainmaker but Ospreay countered with a Liger bomb. Ospreay went for the Ozcutter again but ELP countered with a spinning neckbreaker. He started to pick on Red Shoes as Ospreay used the distraction for a spanish fly and a shooting star press as the twenty five minute mark approached. Ospreay went for the stormbreaker but ELP used his legs to take out the referee. After a couple of nearfalls, ELP hit the CR2 and finally defeated Will Ospreay in what was one hell of a crazy bout, definitely one the better matches of the tournament so far.
ELP told people to take off NJPW, CHAOS and LIJ merch and buy Bullet Club merch right now. He promised that the Best of the Super Juniors is coming to the headbang club.
