Tag: best of the super juniors

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night six results: Ospreay vs. YOH

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Night six of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament took place today, once again in Yamagata. While the main event featured Ryusuke Taguchi and BUSHI, the real stars of the show tonight were Will Ospreay and YOH, who had an epic match in the co-main event.

Prelim bouts:

Jonathan Gresham, Shota Umino and Yuya Uemura and defeated SHO, Titan and Yota Tsuji

Umino pinned Tsuji with a fisherman’s suplex.

Juice Robinson and Tiger Mask defeated Dragon Lee and Toa Henare

Robinson pinned Henare with the Pulp Friction.

Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Taka Michinoku defeated Taiji Ishimori, Gedo and Jado

Taichi pinned Jado after a superkick.

Tetsuya Naito and Shingo Takagi defeated Marty Scurll and Brody King

Naito pinned King with the Destino.

B Block results:

Rocky Romero defeated Ren Narita

Chain wrestling starts us off. Romero applies a surfboard, but Narita counters with a cover. Romero then starts targeting the arm, sinking in a double wrist lock until Narita makes it to the ropes.

Narita captures Romero in a backslide then counters Romero’s la magistral cradle with a pin of his own. Narita overpowers Romero then applies the cloverleaf. They start striking one another with stiff shots as Narita lays out Romero with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. 

Romero soon takes down Narita and goes for an arm. Narita gets a cradle, but Romero kicks out, extends the arm and Narita has to tap. A very good match with lots of fun near falls.

Bandido defeated DOUKI

DOUKI charged before the bell, but Bandido countered, sent DOUKI to the floor and leveled him with a tope con hilo on the outside. DOUKI regains control in the ring, but Bandido cuts him off with a tornillo and a headscissors that takes DOUKI out of the ring. Another tope con hilo sends them both crashing to the floor.

Bandido went for the twenty one plex but DOUKI blocked it and ended up laying him out. He dived off the apron over the top rope but Bandido blocked him and hit a knee. He took down DOUKI with a headscissor armbreaker, but he made the ropes. 

DOUKI came back with a slingshot DDT but Bandido kicked out. DOUKI tried to follow with a wheelbarrow suplex but DOUKI countered with a reverse code red. Sensing the momentum, Bandido hit another knee with DOUKI on his shoulders then hit the twenty one plex for the win. A great match filled with some big, crazy spots. These two had great chemistry with one another and may have been DOUKI’s best match so far on the tour.

El Phantasmo defeated Robbie Eagles

With both being Bullet Club members, things started off slow, with both respecting one another. ELP bailed to the outside at one point and started harassing Kevin Kelly at ringside. Eagles asked ELP to take it to the ring and wrestle. ELP agreed, but then jumped Eagles from behind, posting him.

ELP gains control in the ring where he puts Eagles in a tree of woe position. He jams his foot into Eagles’ netheregions, but Eagles counters back with a spider German suplex. He went for a sliced bread, but ELP cut him off and landed an airplane spin. 

They trade nearfalls as Eagles starts to come back with some stiff kicks. He hits a poison rana then a 450 splash, but ELP kicks out. ELP takes out Eagles with a superkick then pins him following the CR2. Definitely a good match on a technical level, but the crowd was largely unresponsive for it.

The two make up after the match, giving the two sweet sign. 

Will Ospreay defeated YOH

Ospreay and YOH did some back and forth to start things off. He showed some good fire as he monkey flipped Ospreay to the floor then slingshotted himself to the floor.

Back the ring, Ospreay dominated as YOH started to fight back, hitting a dragon screw. YOH hit another that send Ospreay off the apron and to the floor. YOH hit the tope con hilo, sending them both to the floor once again.

They start exchanging strikes back in the ring as Ospreay starts to favor one of his legs. He hits a running dropkick then a reverse DDT. He goes for the Stormbreaker, but YOH starts to fight back, applying a calf crusher to break his momentum. He targets the leg as Ospreay kicks him and lands on the apron, following up with a forearm off the top rope.

Ospreay hits a shooting star press but YOH bridges out. Ospreay hits a giant sitout powerbomb YOH counters again, this time draping Ospreay and slamming him down, but still only gets a two count. They make it to the top rope where both try to take one another out. Ospreay slides out and hits the cheeky nandos kick. He goes to the top rope again, but YOH escapes the shooting star press attempt, with Ospreay crashing down on his bad leg. 

YOH seizes the opportunity by grabbing Ospreay and for the calf crusher. Ospreay desperately looks for a way out, and he does, getting a the break. Ospreay went for the ozcutter but YOH countered with a German suplex. YOH went for the dragon next, but Ospreay dodged it and hit YOH square in the temple. YOH countered with a superkick that sent them both down.

YOH hit an overhead suplex into the turnbuckle, then goes for another dragon suplex attempt. Ospreay comes back with a standing spanish fly then finally hits the stormbreaker for the win after the 20 minute mark. A really damn great match, one of the best of the tournament so far. So many great near fall spots, the legwork was well done and there were some great spots where you thought YOH had a chance.

Ryusuke Taguchi defeated BUSHI

They start off simple enough. Taguchi did comedy early, hitting the ropes over and over. BUSHI, get this, slapped him on the butt on the outside for heat. Taguchi came back with a hip toss that sent BUSHI to the floor. 

Taguchi launched off with a hip toss that took out BUSHI and held him against the ropes with his posterior. Taguchi missed a dive to the floor as BUSHI rolled himself back in. BUSHI followed through with a suicide dive 

Taguchi countered briefly back in the ring, but BUSHI cut him off with a DDT through the apron. Taguchi, however, countered the MX with a hip toss. BUSHI countered the dodon but fell into a ankle lock attempt. BUSHI escapes, but Taguchi knocks down the ref in the process.

BUSHI uses the opportunity to mist Taguchi then hit the rewind kick. He went for the MX again, but Taguchi grabs one of his legs for the ankle lock. He uses that to sink BUSHI into the dodon. When BUSHI kicks out, Taguchi takes him down and finally submits him for the win. This was pretty good, but paled in comparison to the co-main.

Taguchi closed off the show with a promo.

Current standings:

Block A:

  • Shingo Takagi: 6
  • Taiji Ishimori: 6
  • Tiger Mask: 4
  • Marty Scurll: 4
  • Dragon Lee: 4
  • Jonathan Gresham: 2
  • Titan: 2
  • SHO: 2
  • Taka Michinoku: 0
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 0

Block B:

  • El Phantasmo: 6
  • Ryusuke Taguchi: 6
  • Will Ospreay: 6
  • Robbie Eagles: 4
  • DOUKI: 2
  • YOH: 2
  • Rocky Romero: 2
  • Bandido: 2
  • BUSHI: 0
  • Ren Narita: 0

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night five results: Shingo vs. Kanemaru

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Night five of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament took place today in Yamagata, highlighted by a main event featuring LIJ’s Shingo Takagi against Suzuki-gun’s Yoshinobu Kanemaru.

Prelim bouts:

DOUKI and Taichi defeated Bandido and Yota Tsuji

Taichi submitted Tsuji with a modified sleeper. DOUKI removed Bandido’s mask after the match.

El Phantasmo and Gedo defeated Robbie Eagles and Jado

El Phantasmo pinned Jado with a roll-up after Gedo distracted Jado with his cane.

Will Ospreay, Juice Robinson and Ren Narita defeated YOH, Rocky Romero and Shota Umino

Juice submitted Umino with a modified Boston Crab.

Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI defeated Ryusuke Taguchi and Toa Henare

Naito pinned Henare with the Destino.

Block A matches:

SHO defeated Taka Michinoku

Michinoku immediately began working on SHO’s arm, which is all busted up. SHO mounted a brief comeback, but but Michinoku kept putting him down. SHO counters with a cross armbreaker, then holds on as he works on Michinoku’s arm.

Michinoku reaches the ropes as they battle back and forth. SHO hit two clotheslines, then a third. SHO then laid him out with the shock arrow for the win. This was a good, basic match and nothing more.

Marty Scurll defeated Tiger Mask IV

The two shook hands before the match started.After some chain grappling, Scurll teased like he wasn’t going to break Tiger Masks fingers by breaking away from him..but then seconds later he grabbed one of his hands and “broke a finger” anyway. 

Scurll got the heat by working on Tiger Mask’s hands, wrapping one of them around the chains that hold that ring ropes together in a clever spot. Tiger Mask dodged a chop, sending Scurll’s land into the post, but Scurll retaliated by dodging at just the right moment so Tiger Mask’s foot hit the post as well.

After a count out tease, Tiger Mask came back into the ring and hit Scurll with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Scurll went for the chickenwing but Tiger Mask countered with a pin attempt and a leglock. Tiger Mask hit a tombstone and a tiger bomb for a near fall.

Tiger Mask went for what looked like a modified kimura then went for the tiger suplex. Scurll countered with the chicken wing, but Tiger Mask floated over for another near fall. Marty Scurll then hit him with a forearm and pinned him with the black plague. This was good and built well, but the finish felt pretty flat and came out of nowhere.

Taiji Ishimori defeated Titan

They start off quick, ending up out of the ring. Titan looks to jump off the apron, but Ishimori instead grabs him and pulls him down in midair for the heat. Titan comes back with a big chop that somehow propels him to the floor, then sends Ishimori to the outside where he hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.

In the ring, Titan countered with a cross armbreaker then followed with a submission. Ishimori came back with a knee then pinned him with the bloody cross. This was another good match, more technical in nature than I expected.

Dragon Lee defeated Jonathan Gresham

They go back and forth for the first five minutes with some hot action. Gresham works over Lee’s arm. Lee at one point went for a roll-up, then with one arm powerbombed Gresham for a two count.

Gresham follows with a series of some great-looking offense, including a stacked powerbomb and a cradle attempt. Gresham works the arm again, then tries for the Octopus lock. He tries to break down Lee but he positions himself back on his feet. Lee dodges a enziguri and hits a running knee, then follows with a second. Lee then finishes him off with the descunadora. This was very fun while it lasted.

Shingo Takagi defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru

They end up brawling around the ring early on, with Kanemaru posting Shingo for the heat. Kanemaru lifted up Shingo’s knee and slammed it through the table, with the table actually breaking. 

Kanemaru works on the injured leg in the ring, wrenching it multiple times. Shingo makes it to the ropes, but Kanemaru wraps Shingo’s leg against the ring post, then grabbed a chair and whacked it against the injured knee. Not finished, he dragged Shingo on the entrance ramp and wrapped Shingo in a leglock in an attempt to get a count out win, but Shingo made it in at just the right time.

Shingo comes alive with a back suplex and soon after that hits a death valley driver. But Kanemaru counters by putting Shingo right back with a figure four leg lock. Kanemaru uses the referee to wrap Shingo back up, but uh oh, ref bump. Of course, that is Taichi’s (who is on commentary) cue to interfere, introducing a chair that Kanemaru happily accepts.

Kanemaru looks for the whiskey mist spot, but Shingo uses the chair to block the spray and lays him out. Kanemaru looks to use it himself and is successful. After a gory bomb, Shingo hits a pumping bomber but Kanemaru kicks out. Last of the Dragon gets it as Taichi struggles to get back in the ring. A different kind of main event, but very good. The leg work was well done in particular.

Shingo cut a promo after the match, saying he’ll go undefeated in the BOTSJ tournament.

Current standings:

Block A:

  • Shingo Takagi: 6
  • Taiji Ishimori: 6
  • Tiger Mask: 4
  • Marty Scurll: 4
  • Dragon Lee: 4
  • Jonathan Gresham: 2
  • Titan: 2
  • SHO: 2
  • Taka Michinoku: 0
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 0

Block B:

  • El Phantasmo: 4
  • Robbie Eagles: 4
  • Ryusuke Taguchi: 4
  • Will Ospreay: 4
  • DOUKI: 2
  • YOH: 2
  • Bandido: 0
  • BUSHI: 0
  • Ren Narita: 0
  • Rocky Romero: 0

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night four results: Ospreay vs. Romero

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Night four of this year’s Best of the Super Juniors saw an instant classic in the semi-main event. 

Will Ospreay and Rocky Romero tore the house down in Aomori, delivering a dramatic 25-plus minute back-and-forth battle. 

The other tournament matches on the evening were solid, but if you are cherry picking matches to watch on this tour, make sure you check out Ospreay vs. Romero.

Here are full results and match recaps:

TAIJI ISHIMORI & GEDO DEFEATED TITAN & YUYA UEMURA

They did a lot for an opener, including brawling around ringside. While Ishimori and Titan brawled on the outside, Uemura went for a double underhook suplex on Gedo. Gedo bit Uemura’s ear, then used an inside cradle for a near fall. 

He followed with a roll-up and a handful of tights for the pin. 

MARTY SCURLL & BRODY KING DEFEATED TIGER MASK IV & YOTA TSUJI

Tiger and Scurll will face off on Saturday, so we got a tag team preview here. Like with the first bout of the evening, they did more than you might expect from an undercard NJPW tag. 

The finish was cool. Scurll hit a sunset flip on Tsuji, into a German from King. King followed up with a Gonzo Bomb for the pin on Tsuji. 

They didn’t really play up Tiger’s supposed knee injury, which has been the story of this tour for him. 

SHO, JONATHAN GRESHAM & TOA HENARE DEFEATED DRAGON LEE, JUICE ROBINSON & SHOTA UMINO

They played the Time’s Up video for Juice right after the opening bell rang. Juice sold like he was distracted by the video throughout the match. 

This was much quicker than the first two bouts, and not nearly as good. Gresham was selling like he was hurt from last night’s tournament match. The finish saw Henare hit a uranage on Umino for the pin. 

TETSUYA NAITO & SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED YOSHINOBU KANEMARU & TAKA MICHINOKU

This was laid out in an interesting way. Shingo was in and out for a few spots, sandwiched between two lengthy segments of Suzuki-gun getting heat on Naito. 

TAKA hit a running knee on Naito, but Shingo broke up the pinfall. Naito made his own comeback and hit Destino on TAKA for the pin. 

After the match, Kanemaru posted Shinigo’s legs and hit them with a chair. So they have a story to work with in their match on Saturday. 

B BLOCK MATCH: ROBBIE EAGLES DEFEATED REN NARITA

Aomori is Narita’s hometown, and his parents were in attendance. They handed out signs with Narita’s photo on them to the crowd, which was a nice touch. 

Eagles worked over Narita’s left leg early. Narita came back with a dropkick and earned a near fall. Narita went for his bridging belly-to-belly, but Eagles blocked it and hit a springboard dropkick to the leg. 

Eagles went for a figure four, but Narita turned it into a cradle for a near fall. Eagles went for a backpack stunner, but Narita turned it into a backslide for a near fall. 

Narita hit a release belly-to-belly for a near fall. Narita used a modified Scorpion Deathlock, but Eagles reached the ropes. Narita got a near fall off a shoulder tackle, as the people really got behind him. 

Eagles hit a backpack stunner out of nowhere and pinned Narita. The air was sucked out of the crowd, who really wanted Narita to pull off the upset. This was a lot of fun. 

B BLOCK MATCH: YOH DEFEATED BANDIDO

Bandido hit a press slam early on. YOH responded by targeting Bandido’s left leg. Bandido came back with a tornillo off the top, a flying headscissors off the apron, and a gorgeous Asai moonsault. I thought Io Shirai had the best moonsault in the business, but it might actually be Bandido. 

Back inside, YOH hit a neckbreaker. YOH hit a flying forearm, but Bandido hit a pop-up cutter. They continued to go back and forth, as YOH hit a superkick. Bandido hit a 450 while YOH held himself up on the middle rope. 

Bandido went for the 21 Plex, but YOH reversed it into a suplex of his own. YOH hit a superplex into a falcon arrow for a near fall. Bandido hit a knee strike and a clothesline for a near fall. YOH blocked another 21 Plex attempt. 

YOH hit a dragon suplex, but Bandido landed on his feet. YOH hit a second dragon suplex, and held the bridge this time, earning the victory. 

Athletically, this was great. I could have used a little bit more music between the notes, though. It felt more like a collection of moves than a match. 

B BLOCK MATCH: EL PHANTASMO DEFEATED BUSHI

Phantasmo did his rope walk halfway around the ring. BUSHI cut him off. Phantasmo came back, choking BUSHI with his own T-shirt. He tied BUSHI to the tree of woe, then stomped on his groin. 

BUSHI hit Eat Defeat, followed by a missile dropkick. Phantasmo hit an airplane spin into a neckbreaker. He followed with a quebrada for a near fall. BUSHI crotched Phantasmo on the top rope, then hit a flying rana. 

Phantasmo sent BUSHI outside, then hit a pair of suicide dives. Back inside, he hit a top rope splash for a two count. He teased a CR II, but BUSHI countered with a DDT on the apron. 

Phantasmo hit a low blow and used a CR II for the pin. A good match, but it lacked intensity. 

B BLOCK MATCH: WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED ROCKY ROMERO

They started with a fun, fast-paced sequence, ending with both posing. Rocky hit a baseball slide, and they slowed the pace. Rocky teased his forever clotheslines, but Ospreay cut him off. Ospreay hit a big knee drop for a near fall. 

Rocky used an octopus hold. He held it for a long time, but Ospreay finally broke the hold with a backbreaker. Ospreay hit a knee to the back, then used a chinlock. Rocky broke the hold, then they exchanged strikes. Ospreay dropped Rocky with a chop. 

Rocky hit a tornado DDT. He followed up with a series of chops and punches. Ospreay flipped out of a flying headscissors, then hit a PK. Rocky blocked a handspring kick and hit a springboard  rana. He followed with a suicide dive. 

Back inside, Rocky hit a double stomp while Ospreay was draped over the second rope. He used a knee strike to the left arm and followed with an arm wringer. Ospreay hit a back handspring kick. 

Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio with his right arm, but sold the damage to his left arm on the follow-up cover. Ospreay hit a Space Flying Tiger Drop, the first time he’s broken that move out on this tour. 

Ospreay hit a series of short kicks to the face, then a big high kick. Rocky blocked an OsCutter, and tried to lock on an armbar. After a fight, he briefly got full extension on the armbar, but Ospreay rolled to the ropes, forcing a break. 

Rocky kicked at the left arm. Ospreay hit a mid kick, Rocky hit a rewind kick, and Ospreay hit an enzuigiri. Ospreay went for a dropkick in the corner. Rocky blocked it, and hit forever clotheslines. Rocky hit a standing Sliced Bread for an awesome near fall at the 20-minute mark. 

Rocky went for a rana, but Ospreay caught him coming in and hit a buckle bomb. Ospreay hit a sidewalk slam for a near fall. Ospreay hit a hook kick. He went for a Storm Breaker, but Rocky turned it into a backslide for a near fall. 

Rocky used a cradle for a near fall. Ospreay hit another hook kick. He went for Storm Breaker again, but Rocky turned it into a roll-up for a near fall. 

They traded strikes from their knees. They got back to their feet and traded again. Rocky ducked a Hidden Blade, then hit a pair of strikes. Ospreay hit a thrust kick, but Rocky locked on an armbar. Ospreay powerbombed out of it and got a near fall at the 25-minute mark. 

Ospreay hit a shooting star press for a two count, then hit Storm Breaker for the pin. Awesome match. 

B BLOCK MATCH: RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED DOUKI 

Douki attacked Taguchi before the opening bell. He hit a seated senton off the top to the floor, the most impressive move we’ve seen from Douki yet. They teased an early countout, but Taguchi made it back in at 19. 

Taguchi hit a hip attack. He went for a slingshot plancha, but Douki moved out of the way and hit a snap suplex on the floor. Douki posted Taguchi. Taguchi tried a hip attack off the apron, but Douki hit him with a chair. 

Back in the ring, Taguchi hit a hip attack. Douki hit a sunset flip, but Taguchi countered with a dropkick. He followed up with a springboard plancha to the outside, then a springboard hip attack inside for a two count. 

Taguchi hit Three Amigos. He applied an ankle lock, then transitioned to a Dodon on the knees, picking up another two count. Taguchi sat down into a cover on another Dodon attempt for a near fall. 

Taguchi put on the ankle lock. Douki grabbed Red Shoes, then Taichi jumped in to hit Taguchi with a suplex. They did a long double down. Douki was up first, and hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. 

Douki hit a springboard DDT. He went for Suplex de la Luna, but Taguchi blocked it. Douki used a triangle choke. Taguchi rolled through, but Douki kept the hold applied. Taguchi made it to the ropes, forcing a break. 

Douki hit a clothesline. He again went for the de la Luna, but Taguchi blocked it and used a roll-up for a two count. Taguchi hit a Blue Thunder Bomb into a double down. 

They exchanged strikes. Taguchi went for a hip attack, but Douki ducked. Taguchi hit Red Shoes, who took a bump. Taichi jumped on the apron and threw Douki a chair. Taguchi ducked a chair shot, and hit an enzuigiri. 

Taguchi dropped Douki on the chair, then followed with a Bomaye for a near fall. Taguchi hit Dodon and applied the ankle lock. Taichi tried to jump in with a steel pipe, but the Young Lions at ringside held him off. Douki tapped out. 

B BLOCK STANDINGS

  • Will Ospreay 2-0
  • Robbie Eagles 2-0
  • El Phantasmo 2-0
  • Ryusuke Taguchi 2-0
  • Douki 1-1
  • YOH 1-1
  • Bandido 0-2
  • Rocky Romero 0-2
  • BUSHI 0-2
  • Ren Narita 0-2

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night three results: Dragon Lee vs. SHO

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The second night of A Block action in Best of the Super Juniors 26 saw Dragon Lee and SHO push each other to the limit. 

Their main event showdown nearly went to the 30-minute time limit, before Lee was finally able to put SHO away, earning his first victory of the tournament. 

Here are full results and match recaps:

ROBBIE EAGLES & JADO DEFEATED REN NARITA & YUYA UEMURA

This was a very good opener. Narita and Uemura both hit nice double underhook suplexes. Jado used a kendo stick shot to turn the tide in Bullet Club’s favor. Eagles won with a backpack stunner on Uemura. 

TAICHI & DOUKI DEFEATED RYUSUKE TAGUCHI & SHOTA UMINO

This was a Suzuki-gun showcase. They used an attack before the opening bell to take control. They turned the match into a crowd brawl. Back inside, they worked over Taguchi. 

Umino got a hot tag and the crowd was hyped for his offense. Taichi won after hitting an Axe Bomber for a near fall, then using a stretch plum for the submission. Douki continues to disappoint me. He used a pipe to attack Taguchi after the match. 

JUICE ROBINSON, BANDIDO & WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED YOH, ROCKY ROMERO & TOA HENARE

YOH and Bandido paired off at the start. Bandido hit a gorilla press slam on YOH, which also took out Rocky. Juice and his team worked over YOH. 

Rocky and Ospreay paired off for an excellent sequence. The closing section saw Juice and Henare go back and forth. Juice won after a Left Hand of God and Pulp Friction. 

After the match, they played the same Time’s Up video that plays in every Juice segment. 

TETSUYA NAITO & BUSHI DEFEATED EL PHANTASMO & GEDO

Phantasmo teased shaking hands with BUSHI at the outset, but flipped him off and kicked him in the gut instead. Phantasmo and Gedo went to work on BUSHI. Gedo went for brass knuckles, but Naito jumped in and stopped him. 

Naito hit the combinacion de cabron, and BUSHI hit an MX, then pinned Gedo. 

A BLOCK MATCH: JONATHAN GRESHAM DEFEATED TAKA MICHINOKU

A nice little grappling battle here. Gresham is a great technician, and TAKA went hold for hold with him. The match didn’t have a lot of heat, but it was fun. 

Gresham used a variation of a finger break spot to take control of the bout. He worked over TAKA’s left arm. TAKA used an eye poke and a chinlock. TAKA slapped on a headscissors on the mat, but Gresham powered out. 

TAKA maintained control of the bout with two knee strikes. He used another headscissors, but Gresham slipped out and worked on TAKA’s left arm some more. He used a magistral cradle for a two count. 

Gresham tried for an octopus hold, but TAKA made it to the ropes. TAKA briefly applied the Just Facelock, but Gresham reached the ropes. TAKA applied the hold again, and again Gresham forced a rope break. 

Gresham hit a quebrada, then used a backslide for a near fall. Gresham got another quick near fall, then went back to the octopus hold before TAKA tapped out. 

A BLOCK MATCH: TIGER MASK IV DEFEATED YOSHINOBU KANEMARU 

Tiger attacked Kanemaru before the bell. Tiger hit some kicks on the floor. He went for a kick with his bad right leg, and Kanemaru caught it and posted it. Kanemaru worked over Tiger’s leg as the pace slowed. 

Kanemaru went to the top for Deep Impact, but Tiger cut him off, hitting an arm drag off the top. Tiger hit a tombstone, then a Tiger Driver, picking up a near fall. Kanemaru got back to his feet and hit Deep Impact, but Tiger kicked out. 

Kanemaru used a figure four, but Tiger forced a break. Tiger hit a flying wheel kick. Kanemaru tried to go back to the figure four, but Tiger used a small package and got the pin. Kanemaru unmasked Tiger after the bell. 

Considering Tiger’s limitations, this was okay. He really needs to pick his spots in a long tournament like this, so I’m okay with some shortcut matches like this. 

A BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED TITAN

Titan teased a tope con hilo early, but settled for a flying headscissors on the floor. Back inside, he went for a top rope rana. Shingo dropped Titan across the top rope, then clotheslined him over the top. 

Titan came back, hitting a kick that sent Shingo outside. Titan hit a suicide dive that went about three rows deep into the crowd. Titan got a near fall, then hit a springboard splash for another. Shingo went for a Pumping Bomber, but Titan ducked it. 

Titan used La Mistica to set up a rolling pinning combination for a near fall. He went for the same combination again, but Shingo escaped. 

Shingo hit Noshigami, the Pumping Bomber, then Last of the Dragon, and got the pin. Good match. 

A BLOCK MATCH: TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED MARTY SCURLL

Ishimori worked a wristlock at the outset. Scurll was frustrated, as he would set up an escape but Ishimori always found a way back to the wristlock. Scurll finally found an escape and stomped on Ishimori’s left arm. 

Scurll hit a superplex. Ishimori rolled outside and avoided Scurll’s superkick on the apron. Ishimori followed with a Golden Triangle off the post. Back inside, Ishimori used a chinlock and focused on attacking Scurll’s neck. 

Ishimori hit a sliding German for a near fall. Ishimori hit some strikes, and Scurll asked him to hit him again. Scurll hit a tornado DDT, then a series of strikes in the corner. Scurll hit a superkick on the apron. 

Scurll hit a stomp off the second rope. He blocked a handspring kick, then hit a powerbomb for a near fall. Scurll went for the Black Plague, but Ishimori turned it into a cradle. They traded a series of cradles for near falls. 

Ishimori hit a shotgun dropkick, then used double knees in the corner for a two count. Scurll stomped away at Ishimori’s left arm, trying to set up the chicken wing. Ishimori hit a handspring kick into a double down. 

Scurll went for a tombstone. Ishimori tried to reverse it into one of his own, but he stumbled, dropped Scurll on his head, and may have knocked himself out tripping and hitting the second rope. Everyone was okay, but this was scary. 

Ishimori hit a lungblower for a near fall. Scurll escaped a Bloody Cross attempt and applied the chicken wing. Ishimori refused to tap, so Scurll decided to try for a pin instead, but Ishimori kicked out. 

Ishimori used La Mistica to set up a Yes Lock. Scurll slid out of the hold and used a Yes Lock to transition back to the chicken wing, before hitting a half-and-half suplex. Scurll hit a lariat for a two count, then a package driver for another. 

Ishimori avoided the Black Plague and hit a rebound lariat for a near fall. Ishimori then hit Bloody Cross to pick up the win.

Some scary moments after the botched tombstone spot, and the crowd was in and out of it, but a very good match.

A BLOCK MATCH: DRAGON LEE DEFEATED SHO

They began with an intense striking battle in the center of the ring. The pace slowed, but they continued to trade strikes. SHO sent Lee to the floor. SHO tried for a lariat on the floor, but Lee ducked, and SHO posted his own right arm. 

Lee went for a headscissors off the apron, but SHO caught him and hit a powerbomb on the apron. SHO used a crucifix hold to try for a submission, but Lee made it to the ropes. Lee sent SHO to the floor, then hit a crazy suicide dive. 

Back inside, Lee used a Fujiwara armbar on the right arm, but SHO made it to the ropes. SHO kicked at Lee’s right arm. Both sold their right arms. They clotheslined each other over the top rope. They teased a double countout, but both made it back in at 19. 

They traded strikes. SHO hit a lariat, then hit a deadlift German into a bridge for a near fall. SHO hit two rolling Germans, but Lee forced a rope break before the third could connect. SHO kicked at Lee’s right arm again. 

Lee used a Fujiwara armbar, but SHO forced a rope break. They fought on the top rope, and Lee hit a double stomp. Lee picked up a near fall. 

Lee went for Desnucadora, but SHO turned it into a backstabber, then a cross armbreaker, but Lee made it to the bottom rope. 

SHO went for Shock Arrow, and he finally got it after a series of counters. Lee kicked out of Shock Arrow at two. They traded jumping knee strikes. Lee hit a poison rana, but SHO no-sold it and hit a clothesline. 

They traded forearm strikes from their knees. Back on their feet, they exchanged again. SHO got the better of it, and he ended the exchange with a clothesline. SHO hit a lungblower on his knees, then a powerbomb on the knees. He made a cover, but Lee kicked out. 

SHO went for Shock Arrow again. Lee slipped out and hit a jumping knee strike at the 25-minute mark. Lee went for Desnucadora, but SHO slipped out and applied an armbar. Lee made the ropes initially, but SHO maintained the hold. 

Lee powerbombed out of the armbar, then hit a pair of knee strikes for a near fall. Lee hit Desnucadora to win.

The match really picked up in the last 10 minutes and was a fine main event. 

A BLOCK STANDINGS

  • Shingo Takagi 2-0
  • Taiji Ishimori 2-0
  • Tiger Mask 2-0
  • Dragon Lee 1-1
  • Titan 1-1
  • Marty Scurll 1-1
  • Jonathan Gresham 1-1
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru 0-2
  • SHO 0-2
  • TAKA Michinoku 0-2

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night two results: Taguchi vs. YOH

Posted on by Ethan Renner

B Block action began today in the 26th Best of the Super Juniors tournament, with NJPW running their second consecutive night in Miyagi. 

The Sendai Sunplaza Hall hosted a solid night of action. Nothing on night two could touch the Shingo Takagi vs. SHO battle from night one, but the card as a whole delivered more than you likely expected at first glance. 

YOH found himself in the main event the night after his tag team partner stole the show. YOH is perhaps better than SHO in the ring, but lacks a certain charisma or intangible that his partner has. That’s a real shame, because he really is something special as a worker. 

Here are full results and recaps from Tuesday’s show:

TAKA MICHINOKU, YOSHINOBU KANEMARU & TAICHI DEFEATED JONATHAN GRESHAM, TIGER MASK IV & YOTA TSUJI 

Gresham and TAKA started the show with some mat work. The Suzuki-gun squad went to work on Gresham’s left hand. Gresham made his own comeback, hitting Kanemaru with a cutter before tagging in Tiger. 

Tiger hit a high cross, but was immediately cut off. He also made his own comeback and hit a Tiger Driver. Tsuji and Taichi tagged in. Tsuji hit a powerslam. He went for a crab, but Taichi fought him off. 

Taichi took his pants off, and Tsuji rolled him up for a near fall. Taichi put on a stretch plum, and Tsuji tapped out. 

After the bell, Kanemaru ripped off Tiger’s mask, while Taichi and TAKA held Tsuji and Gresham in submission holds. The match never got out of first gear and was not as good as most NJPW openers. 

DRAGON LEE & JUICE ROBINSON DEFEATED SHO & SHOTA UMINO

SHO and Lee began, trading holds. SHO had his left shoulder taped up. Umino and Juice tagged in, and Umino aggressively went after Juice. Juice cut him off, then hit a cannonball and a senton. 

Juice and Lee isolated Umino in their corner and focused their attack on his left arm. Umino escaped a double ax handle, pushing Lee in the way. He managed to tag SHO, and SHO and Lee traded strikes. 

Lee and SHO exchanged big knee strikes. SHO landed on his feet out of a snap German, then hit a lariat. Both made tags. Juice missed a senton on Umino, who followed up with a back elbow. Umino ducked the Left Hand of God and hit a vertical suplex. 

Juice hit a flapjack and made a cover, but SHO broke up the pinfall. SHO and Lee fought to the floor. Juice hit a lariat for a near fall, then used a Tenzan-style crab for the submission. 

Lee and SHO continued to brawl after the bell, and their fight spilled into the crowd. They were finally pulled apart, with neither gaining a clear advantage. Good intensity between Lee and SHO throughout here, but just an average match. 

MARTY SCURLL & BRODY KING DEFEATED TAIJI ISHIMORI & GEDO

Scurll and Ishimori started out with an intricate sequence, while King and Gedo brawled on the outside. Scurll was getting the best of the exchange — until Gedo jumped in to choke him with a towel, cutting him off. 

Ishimori and Gedo worked like a totally old school heel tag team here. They used eye rakes, kept Scurll isolated in their corner, cheated behind the ref’s back, all building anticipation for the big tag to King. 

King never got a legal tag, but he jumped in and ran wild. He hit a springboard double arm drag and a double senton, allowing Scurll time to recover. Scurll hit Black Plague on Gedo for the pin. A fun little match. 

TETSUYA NAITO & SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED TITAN & TOA HENARE

Titan hit a springboard arm drag on Shingo, who rolled outside. Shingo grabbed a chair, but didn’t use it. Henare and Naito made tags. Naito and Shingo tried to double up on Henare. Henare  got some shine briefly, but was quickly cut off. 

Naito and Shingo worked Henare over. Henare blocked a neckbreaker from Naito, and both tagged out. Shingo and Titan went back and forth, then Shingo hit a DVD into a double down. 

Naito and Henare tagged back in, and Shingo jumped in for an assist. Naito hit some trademark spots, including the combinacion de cabron and a one-legged dropkick. Shingo and Titan brawled on the outside, while Naito hit a flying forearm and a Destino on Henare to win the match. This was quick. 

B BLOCK MATCH: DOUKI DEFEATED REN NARITA

Narita showed off some impressive amateur moves, out-wrestling Douki early on. Douki low-bridged Narita to the floor, then used a chair shot to take control of the match. 

Douki hit a double stomp and methodically worked over Narita. Narita went for a double underhook belly-to-belly, but Douki blocked it and applied a modified triangle choke. Narita reached the bottom rope with his feet, forcing a break. 

Narita hit a perfect dropkick. He followed with a pair of shoulder tackles and hit a vertical suplex for a two count. Narita used a modified Scorpion Deathlock, but Douki reached the ropes. Narita hit a big belly-to-belly, but could not bridge out of it. He covered, but Douki kicked out at two. 

Douki hit a lariat. Narita used a roll-up and an inside cradle for two near falls. Douki hit a sloppy springboard DDT, then used his Suplex de La Luna for the pin. 

After the match, Douki attacked Narita with a pipe. Narita was impressive in defeat. We obviously have a very small sample size, but Douki has not been impressive so far. 

B BLOCK MATCH: ROBBIE EAGLES DEFEATED ROCKY ROMERO

They came out firing strikes. Rocky hit a headscissors, and Eagles rolled outside. Rocky teased a dive, but slid out to the floor while Eagles jumped back in. Eagles went for a suicide dive, but Rocky hit him with a dropkick. 

Back in the ring, Rocky used an octopus hold, then hit a dropkick. Eagles went after Rocky’s left leg. He went for a figure four, but Rocky kicked him off. Eagles hit a chop block, then a lariat to the back of the head for a two count. 

Eagles continued to target the left leg with kicks. He hit a bridging fall-away slam for a two count. Eagles hit double knees in the corner, a 619 to the legs, then again hit double knees in the corner for a near fall. 

Rocky caught a kick and hit a slap to the face. He followed with a tornado DDT. Rocky hit a series of chops, then used a flying bodyscissors to transition to an armbar. Eagles reached the ropes, forcing a break. 

They exchanged kicks. Rocky hit his forever clotheslines, but his knee gave out, allowing Eagles to hit a springboard dropkick to the leg. Eagles used a Ron Miller Special submission, but Rocky made it to the ropes. 

Eagles hit an enzuigiri, then used a Pulse Drop for a near fall. Rocky flipped out of a backpack stunner, and used a magistral cradle for a two count. Eagles bridged out of another cover. Rocky hit a standing Sliced Bread for a near fall. 

Rocky hit a rewind kick. Eagles caught another kick, and he used a backpack stunner for a two count. Eagles hit a 450 to Rocky’s leg, then used the Ron Miller for the submission. Good match. 

B BLOCK MATCH: EL PHANTASMO DEFEATED BANDIDO

They used a really nice opening sequence, ending with both kipping up out of handstands. They used a series of monkey flips and bridges to transition in and out of covers. Bandido got sent outside, and Phantasmo hit a suicide dive, landing in the front row. 

Back in the ring, Bandido avoided a charge in the corner. He went for a gorilla press slam, but Phantasmo escaped. Bandido hit a flying headscissors, sending Phantasmo to the floor. Bandido hit a big tope con hilo, then sent Phantasmo back inside. 

Bandido went for a springboard crossbody, but Phantasmo hit a dropkick. Phantasmo used an airplane spin neckbreaker out of a torture rack position. They traded Canadian Destroyers, then both collapsed. Phantasmo ended up bleeding from the mouth. 

They traded chops, then exchanged strikes. Bandido hit a pop-up cutter for a two count. He used an inverted suplex, then a running knee strike, earning a near fall. Bandido went up top, but Phantasmo cut him off with an enzuigiri. Phantasmo hit a top rope rana, then used a frog splash for a near fall. 

Phantasmo used a rope walk, halfway around the ring. Bandido hit a moonsault press for a two count. Phantasmo pulled the referee in Bandido’s way, then hit a thumb to the eye. He then used a modified facebuster to pick up the pin. A good match with some cool moves, but not a blow-away outing. 

B BLOCK MATCH: WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED BUSHI 

A hot opening sequence ended with BUSHI hitting a flying headscissors over the top to the floor. He continued his attack on Ospreay’s neck with a chair shot. Back inside, BUSHI hit some chops, then used a neckbreaker. 

Ospreay came back with a series of chops. BUSHI grounded Ospreay with an STF, and Ospreay forced a break. Ospreay removed BUSHI’s shirt and hit some chops. BUSHI used the shirt to choke Ospreay, but Ospreay responded with a handspring kick. 

Ospreay hit a 619, then a dropkick in the corner. Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio, but BUSHI kicked out at two. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick. After a nice series of teases and counters, BUSHI finally hit a swinging neckbreaker.

Ospreay hit a step-up enzuigiri. They traded strikes. Ospreay hit a sit-out powerbomb for a two count. BUSHI avoided an OsCutter, and hit a codebreaker for a near fall. BUSHI went to the second rope for an MX, but Ospreay cut him off. 

Ospreay flipped out of a top rope rana, landing on his feet. He followed with a standing Spanish Fly for a two count. Ospreay went for a Storm Breaker, but BUSHI flipped to the apron. BUSHI hit a draping DDT, dropping Ospreay on the apron. They teased a countout, but Ospreay made it back inside at 19. 

BUSHI hit a backstabber for a near fall. He went for an MX, but Ospreay caught him with a dropkick. Ospreay hit a Robinson Special, then an inverted Bloody Sunday DDT. He went for an OsCutter, but BUSHI blocked it. Ospreay dodged BUSHI’s black mist, then hit the Hidden Blade. Ospreay then hit a Storm Breaker for the pin. Again, a very good match, but not a great one. 

B BLOCK MATCH: RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED YOH

They did a nice series of dropdown spots, ending with Taguchi avoiding a low dropkick. Taguchi hit a hip attack. YOH blocked a second with an atomic drop. Taguchi rolled to the ropes, then crotched himself on the bottom rope. 

YOH used the Paradise Lock, then broke it with a dropkick. Taguchi rolled to the floor, and YOH hit a rolling senton off the apron. Back inside, YOH used an elbow drop, a knee drop, and a double stomp for three quick near falls. 

YOH hit a dragon screw, then continued to attack Taguchi’s legs, as the pace slowed. Taguchi hit a springboard hip attack, rolled through a sunset flip, and hit a springboard plancha. Taguchi hit a hip attack off the apron, sending YOH into the front row. 

Back inside, Taguchi went for his rolling suplexes. YOH blocked the third, and he used an inside cradle for a two count. YOH hit a neckbreaker, then a flying forearm. YOH fought for a dragon suplex, but had to settle for a gutwrench German for a near fall. 

YOH went for a superplex. Taguchi fought him off, then hit a second rope hip attack. Taguchi went for a Bomaye, but YOH rolled through into a half crab. That was awesome. YOH again focused on attacking the legs, using a figure four. Taguchi reversed the hold, then reached the ropes. 

They traded cradles for near falls. Taguchi went for Dodon, but YOH rolled through. Taguchi got two quick near falls. Taguchi hit an enzuigiri, then YOH hit a thrust kick into a double down. They got back to their feet, and exchanged strikes. 

YOH ate a hip attack. He attempted to full himself up by the bottom rope but Taguchi caught him coming in. Taguchi used an ankle lock to set up a Tiger Suplex for a near fall. YOH went for an enzuigiri, but Taguchi caught him. Taguchi hit Dodon for a near fall. Taguchi then hit a modified Dodon for the pin.

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night one live results: Ishimori vs. Lee

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The twenty sixth Best of the Super Juniors tournament begins this morning in Miyagi, featuring A Block action.

A rematch from Wrestling Dontaku will take place in the main event. Dragon Lee successfully defeated Taiji Ishimori, and naturally Ishimori is looking to settle the score this morning. A win here could be a good omen for either man as they begin to enter their way into the tournament.

Other A Block matches taking place include SHO vs. Shingo Takagi (who feuded with one another during the last tour), Marty Scurll vs. Jonathan Gresham, Titan vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Tiger Mask vs. Taka Michinoku.

Bandido will also be making his official debut for the promotion in the undercards as he will team with Rocky Romero and Yuya Uemura to take on the Bullet Club contingent of Jado, Robbie Eagles and El Phantasmo. DOUKI will also be making his debut, teaming with Taichi to take on Ren Narita and Yota Tsuji.

Join us for live play-by-play starting at 5:30 a.m.

**********

TAICHI & DOUKI DEFEATED REN NARITA & YOTA TSUJI

This was all about introducing Douki. Taichi and Tsuji started. Taichi worked over Tsuji with kicks. Tsuji got sent to the floor, where Douki nailed him with a chair. 

The finish saw Douki hit a Suplex de Luna, a wheelbarrow dragon suplex into a bridge, for the pin. Douki didn’t show much, but we will get a chance to see what he can do tomorrow against Narita. 

EL PHANTASMO, ROBBIE EAGLES & JADO DEFEATED BANDIDO, ROCKY ROMERO & YUYA UEMURA 

Bandido and Phantasmo began with a hot sequence. Rocky and Eagles were in next. Jado used a kendo stick to cut Rocky off, and Bullet Club went to work. They tied Rocky to the tree of woe, and took turns working him over. 

Bandido got a hot tag, and connected with a tornado crossbody off the top. Uemura and Eagles faced off, and Uemura hit a double underhook belly-to-belly. 

The match broke down, still leaving Eagles and Uemura the legal men. Eagles hit a Backpack Stunner and picked up the victory. 

JUICE ROBINSON & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED YOH & SHOTA UMINO

Juice and Taguchi did a lot of comedy for the first two-thirds of the match. Things took a more serious turn later, and Taguchi and YOH had a nice sequence. YOH hit a falcon arrow for a nearfall. Taguchi got an ankle lock, but Umino broke it up. 

Umino and Juice faced off, while Taguchi and YOH fought on the floor. Umino hit a back elbow, and used a cross armbreaker, but Taguchi made the save. Juice used a high angle crab. After a fight, Umino finally tapped out. 

TETSUYA NAITO & BUSHI DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY & TOA HENARE 

Ospreay has really toned down his style. He’s still an excellent wrestler, but he doesn’t fly nearly as much as he used to. That’s not a complaint. 

He started off here with BUSHI. They had a nice exchange, and both tagged out. Naito and Henare got tags, and Naito had fun toying with Henare. Henare hit a Samoan Drop, and both made tags. 

Ospreay hit a 619, and then a backflip kick. He connected with a standing shooting star press for a nearfall. He went for Storm Breaker, but BUSHI slipped out. Ospreay teased an Oscutter, but BUSHI hit a neckbreaker.

Naito and Henare got tags. Ospreay on the apron with a DDT. Naito hit Destino, and pinned Henare. 

A BLOCK MATCH: TIGER MASK DEFEATED TAKA MICHINOKU

This was good, all things considered. They played off the knee injury that Tiger suffered at the end of the last tour. TAKA immediately went after the right knee, using holds and kicks. 

Tiger got a couple of hope spots. He threw kicks with both legs, making it clear that he is mostly selling when it comes to the severity of his injury. 

TAKA used a figure four, but Tiger reached the ropes. Tiger used a tombstone for a nearfall, then applied a cross armbreaker. TAKA reached the ropes. Back on their feet, Tiger threw some kicks. TAKA ducked another kick, then used the Just Facelock, but Tiger made it to the ropes. 

TAKA hit a springboard wheel kick. He tied Tiger up in a submission, but Tiger again reached the ropes. They went into their nearfalls at the ten minute mark. Tiger hit a Tiger Driver for a two count, and a Tiger Suplex for another. Tiger then hit a Tiger Suplex into a bridge, and got the pin. 

A BLOCK MATCH: TITAN DEFEATED YOSHINOBU KANEMARU

Kanemaru used an attack before the opening bell to take the early edge. Kanemaru went for Titan’s mask, and loosened it. Titan made a brief comeback, hitting a dive to the floor, then a headscissors. Kanemaru fired right back, hitting a DDT on the floor. 

Kanemaru used a camel clutch, then a headscissors on the mat, grounding Titan. Titan almost hurt himself badly on a charge into the corner, as he slipped between the ropes and went to the floor. He followed up with a beautiful tope con hilo. 

Kanemaru went to the top for Deep Impact. Titan cut him off, but Kanemaru was still able to connect, and got a nearfall. Kanemaru hit a tilt-a-whirl DDT, into a double down at the ten minute mark. 

Titan ducked whiskey mist, then hit a super kick. He hit Titanics, and pinned Kanemaru. Nice effort from these guys. 

A BLOCK MATCH: MARTY SCURLL DEFEATED JONATHAN GRESHAM

They began with a great leapfrog/drop down/dropkick sequence. The pace slowed as Scurll used a Romero Special. They spent several minutes trading holds on the mat. There was some good grappling here.

Scurll hit a 619, then a superplex. They traded pinfall attempts with rolling cradles. Gresham hit a quebrada, then rolled through into an ankle lock. Gresham used a deadlift German. He used a backslide, and a magistral cradle for nearfalls. 

Scurll stomped on the hand, then did his finger break spot. Scurll rolled into a cradle, then slipped to the chicken wing. Gresham escaped the hold, but Scurll followed with a big lariat, and Black Plague for the pin. A different kind of match, but very good. 

A BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED SHO

SHO came out to new entrance music, and has changed his look up a bit. He has new gear and dyed his hair black. 

They locked up. SHO broke cleanly as Shingo reached the ropes. The crowd was buzzing, just waiting to explode. They traded shoulder tackles, and somewhat surprisingly, SHO scored the first knockdown. 

SHO hit a dropkick. Shingo no-sold two kicks, then caught a third. Shingo swung his arm for a clothesline, but SHO caught it and used a Fujiwara armbar. Shingo rolled outside, and SHO hit a kick from the apron. He teased a German on the apron, but Shingo slipped out. They popped back inside, and Shingo hit a clothesline. 

Shingo hit a clothesline, and SHO spilled to the floor. Shingo posted SHO’s arm. Back inside, Shingo hit a gutbuster, followed by a DDT. Shingo hit a Dragon Spirit, which is a falling back elbow off the top. 

They traded chops. Shingo got a knockdown off a double sledge to the chest. Shingo blocked a spear. SHO hit a vertical suplex. They made the ten minute call, and this match was just flying by. 

SHO used a backstabber and an armbar, but Shingo reached the bottom rope. SHO tried to attack the right arm, Shingo’s Pumping Bomber arm. Shingo hit a big jab and a lariat. SHO teased a suplex to the floor, but Shingo turned it into a deadlift superplex for a nearfall. 

They had an intense striking battle. They traded suplexes. They dropped each other to a knee simultaneously with clotheslines. SHO hit a jumping knee strike, blocked a lariat, and hit his own lariat. 

SHO hit a Pumping Bomber, then three rolling deadlift Germans. He bridged on the third, but Shingo kicked out. SHO hit a lungblower for an awesome nearfall. Shingo backdropped out of a Shock Arrow attempt. 

Shingo hit a German, and followed with a Pumping Bomber for a two count. SHO hit a knee strike, but Shingo followed with a Noshagami. Shingo hit another Pumping Bomber, but SHO kicked out. 

Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but SHO turned it into a kimura. SHO transitioned to an armbar, then a triangle choke. He slipped back to an armbar, but Shingo reached the ropes. 

SHO hit a series of kicks to the right arm, so Shingo hit a clothesline with his left arm. They traded strikes. Shingo hit a big right hand, and another Pumping Bomber. SHO kicked out. 

Shingo connected with Last of the Dragon, and got the pin. An unreal match. I don’t know how anything in the rest of the tournament can follow this. 

A BLOCK MATCH: TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED DRAGON LEE

A good match, but they couldn’t follow the semi-main. It felt as though they were out there trying to figure out a way to get the crowd. They tried brawling, they tried slowing the pace, they tried quickening the pace, and nothing quite worked. 

This is the second time these two have main evented in the last ten days. I’m sure they wanted to do a different match for that reason. And so, they started off brawling. They exchanged forearm strikes for a long time. Ishimori sent Lee outside with a dropkick, then hit a pescado. 

Back inside, Ishimori went for Lee’s mask. He tied him to the tree of woe, then hit a dropkick. Ishimori worked a chinlock. Lee escaped and hit the ropes, but Ishimori went back to the chinlock. Lee forced a rope break. 

Lee hit a suicide dive. They teased a countout, but Ishimori made it back inside at 18. Ishimori hit a handspring kick, then applied La Mistica. Lee reached the bottom rope, then rolled to the floor. Ishimori teased a moonsault off the post, but Lee cut him off, and hit a dropkick on the apron. 

They stood on the apron, trading strikes. They got back inside, and continued to trade. Twice Lee hit snap German suplexes, and twice Ishimori landed on his feet. Ishimori hit a Canadian Destroyer at the fifteen minute mark. 

Lee hit a DVD into the turnbuckle pad, then hit a double stomp for a nearfall. Lee went for Desnucadora, but Ishimori turned it into a crucifix bomb for a two count. They traded poison ranas. Ishimori connected with a double knee gutbuster for a nearfall, then hit the Bloody Cross for the pin. 

El Desperado & Flip Gordon out of NJPW BOSJ, replacements set

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NJPW has announced two changes to this year’s Best of the Super Juniors field.

El Desperado is out of the tournament due to injury, while Flip Gordon won’t be able to take part in it due to visa issues. It was noted that Desperado suffered a broken jaw during a match against Jun Kasai at TakaTaichi Mania 2.

NJPW’s Ren Narita and Japanese luchadore DOUKI are replacing Gordon and Desperado in the tournament. NJPW posted an in-character statement from Taichi, with Taichi claiming that he chose DOUKI as Desperado’s replacement and that he met DOUKI 10 years ago and taught him everything he knows. DOUKI was called a hired gun for Suzuki-gun.

Both Desperado and Gordon were set to be in the B Block of the Best of the Super Juniors. Narita, DOUKI, Ryusuke Taguchi, Will Ospreay, Rocky Romero, YOH, Bandido, El Phantasmo, Robbie Eagles, and BUSHI are now the B Block participants.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Dragon Lee, Tiger Mask IV, SHO, Titan, Marty Scurll, Jonathan Gresham, Taiji Ishimori, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, TAKA Michinoku, and Shingo Takagi are in the A Block.

This year’s Best of the Super Juniors will begin on Monday (May 13) and conclude on June 5. If Dragon Lee doesn’t win the tournament, the winner will likely challenge for his title at Dominion on June 9.

Narita will face DOUKI in a tournament match on Tuesday (May 14), which is the first night of B Block action.

NJPW announces blocks, matches for Best of the Super Juniors

Posted on by Bryan Rose

NJPW has revealed both blocks and matches for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament.

A Block will feature Taka Michinoku, Titan, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Marty Scurll, Jonathan Gresham, SHO, Shingo Takagi, Dragon Lee, Taiji Ishimori, and Tiger Mask IV. B Block meanwhile will feature Robbie Eagles, Flip Gordon, El Desperado, Bandido, El Phantasmo, Will Ospreay, BUSHI, Ryusuke Taguchi, YOH, and Rocky Romero.

The first show will take place on May 13 with A Block action. The main event will be a rematch from the first night of Wrestling Dontaku, with Dragon Lee facing Ishimori. Shingo vs. SHO, Scurll vs. Gresham, Titan vs. Kanemaru, and Tiger Mask vs. Michinoku are also set.

Will Ospreay vs. El Phantasmo, which was teased during the second Wrestling Dontaku show when they wrestled in a tag team match, will take place on May 22. 

The full schedule for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament can be found here. The tour will end on June 5 at Sumo Hall. All shows will air live on New Japan World with English commentary.

If IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Dragon Lee doesn’t win the tournament, it’s expected that the winner will get a shot at his title at Dominion on June 9.

It was also announced that Brody King will be working the Best of the Super Juniors tour in the undercard matches. He was a part of the New Beginning in USA shows earlier this year, after New Japan talent were unable to make it due to visa issues.

Daily Update: Raw, Best of the Super Juniors, SmackDown tag teams

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News

Latest Audio

We’re looking for reports on the WWE Raw show tonight in Evansville, IN, the Progress Strong Style tournament shows from London and Impact TV tapings from Philadelphia to [email protected].

We’re looking for your thoughts on both Dontaku shows from New Japan so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match from each show to [email protected].

IMPACT CODE RED AT 8 P.M EASTERN SUNDAY FROM THE NYC ARENA IN QUEENS, NY ON IMPACT+

  • Johnny Impact & Taya Valkyrie vs. Eddie & Alisha Edwards
  • Michael Elgin vs. Willie Mack
  • LAX vs. Dave & Jake Crist vs. Smoothe Blackmon & Chris Seaton
  • Rich Swann vs. Ace Austin vs. Trey Miguel vs. Smiley vs. Evander James vs. Mantequilla
  • Tommy Dreamer vs. Sami Callihan
  • Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz vs. Ethan Page & Josh Alexander
  • Tessa Blanchard & Violotte vs. Scarlett Bordeaux & Sonya Strong
  • Moose vs. Ken Broadway

Raw will be Monday in Cincinnati. Roman Reigns and other Smackdown stars are scheduled. 

Smackdown and 205 Live are being taped on Tuesday in Louisville.

The WWE European tour opens on Wednesday in Belfast, Ireland.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Looking at AEW’s build to Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes

A brother vs. brother match will be one of the key pieces of All Elite Wrestling’s Double or Nothing card.

After weeks of teases, Dustin Rhodes was confirmed as his brother Cody’s opponent for Double or Nothing at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, May 25. Dustin issued a statement about his status with WWE after the announcement was made, revealing that he had requested his release from WWE and was granted it. Dustin also posted a video where he said goodbye to his Goldust character.

WON NEWSLETTER: May 6, 2019 Observer Newsletter: WWE earnings report, Brock Lesnar, more

One of the biggest news issues of the year, a double issue, leads off with a basic state of the industry right now. Read about how WWE business fell in the first quarter, what is and isn’t the long-term prognostication, usage of fake stats in business that history shows are meaningless to growth, WWE injuries, WWE getting behind new talent, changes in October, and more.

Read a lot more on Brock Lesnar staying with WWE and not returning to WWE, such as how the ESPN deal has changed things for top stars in UFC, when Lesnar can command so much money, what has happened over the last year with Lesnar, UFC and WWE and more.

Read the update on Money in the Bank and Double or Nothing and the ticket demand for both.

Look at the front runner for 2021 WrestleMania, notes on 2020 WrestleMania plans including what match is off the books, Dean Ambrose becomes Jon Moxley and what that means, update on situation with Luke Harper, The Revival, Gallows & Anderson and others.

Read rundowns on the UFC and Bellator shows this past week, with business notes, how much the fighters got paid and match-by-match rundowns of both events.

Read more on the Japanese legacy of The Destroyer, listing all of his championship matches in Japan, as well as his biggest wins and his infrequent losses in All Japan in the 70s and 80s.

ORDERING INFO:  Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered  via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

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If you order by  mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell,CA  95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Our weekend show with Garrett Gonzalez is up on the site right now. We talk a ton of subjects, answer questions including the Vince McMahon/Phil Mushnick debate on Fox News that never happened, the Von Erichs, New Japan Dontaku, UFC, Cormier vs. Stipe, Raw and Smackdown plans this week and more.

We now have more tickets put on sale for a Q&A Bryan Alvarez and I are doing in Las Vegas over the weekend of Double or Nothing.

A story on Ben Askren leading to his wrestling match in MSG’s Hulu Theater tomorrow against Jordan Burroughs.

This morning, Donald Cerrone was the third most searched term on Google with 50,000, although it fell to sixth at the time of this writing. Searches related to the Canelo Alvarez vs. Danny Jacobs fight were 2.1 million and for the Kentucky Derby topped 10 million.

The complete New Japan Best of the Super Juniors lineups are expected to come out late tomorrow night.

WWE had better hope the Roman Reigns on Raw stuff means something, because Raw goes against the Celtics-Bucks early game and then the second half of Raw going against the Warriors, who are the ratings king, vs. Houston. In addition, it goes against game six of both Boston vs. Columbus and San Jose vs. Colorado in the NHL playoffs, and both Boston and San Jose could win their series as each is up 3-2. Smackdown on Tuesday has both NHL & NBA playoffs, but not early.

WWE

  • Investors talking that WWE will have a resurgence in October and blame the bad quarter on Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and A.J. Styles being out.  
  • The WWE web site is listing six teams on the Smackdown roster as it pertains to the tag team titles, listing the B Team, Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev, Heavy Machinery, Finn Balor & Ali, Shane McMahon & Elias and Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods.
  • Ronda Rousey appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert promoting the new Mortal Kombat 11 video game. Rousey had a cast on her arm from her surgery after breaking her hand at WrestleMania. Aside from bringing up the injury, she never brought up pro wrestling. 
  • TMZ reported that Paige is looking for Hollywood roles.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • On tonight’s episode of “Billions” on Showtime, there is a charity boxing storyline. Deontay Wilder is the trainer of one guy on the show and cornerman, while Stipe Miocic appears in the corner of the other. Dudley Mafee, a character on the show, is a wrestling fan and it gets played up. There was also a reference to George Steele in the commentary. (thanks to Ross Blair)
  • Warrior Wrestling 5 on 5/12 in Chicago Heights, IL at Marian Catholic High School at 2 p.m. is a fund raiser for scholarships for Marian Catholic High School. The last show in March raised $10,000. The listed lineup has Brian Cage vs. Wardlow for the Warrior Wrestling title (no word on if this is possible because Cage is hurting pretty badly), Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Robert Anthony where if Pillman wins, he gets five minutes with Frank the Clown, if he loses Frank the Clown will shave Pillman’s head, Tom Lawlor vs. Chris Ridgeway, Sam Adonis vs. Pat Monix, Austin Aries vs. Eddie Edwards in a cage match, Pentagon Jr. & Fenix vs. Kotto Brazil & Daga, Volador Jr. vs. Gringo Loco, Tessa Blanchard vs. Jordynne Grace with Nora Greenwald (Molly Holly) as referee and more.
  • Last night’s Bellator show was explosive with four first round finishes, all impressive including a potential knockout of the year by Raymond Daniels over Wilker Barros.
  • I Believe in Wrestling from Friday night in Orlando: Chasyn Rance b Jake Shadows, Mike Reed & Marina Tucker b Jarrett Diaz & Sofia Castillo, Kahagas b Kwame Nas, Cisco Sucio & Danny Malo b Ali Mohammed & Chris Ramirez, Jay Say won three-way over Jason Cade and Remi Danilo, Amber Nova won three-way over Kaci Lennox and Ellie Hile Andrew Merlin & Carlos Gabriel b Justin Black & Joey Ozburne, Aaron Epic b Deon James to in Florida title. Next show is 6/7 with the Florida J Cup.
  • WrestleRock from last night in Melbourne, Australia: Nick Bury b Taylor King, Vixsin & Chanel Phoenix b Xena & Kingsley, Ritchie Taylor b Mad Dog, Avary b Lochy Hendricks, CK Dowie b Mitch Waterman. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Saraya Knight comes to Australia on 5/17.
  • Stardom from Saturday in Tokyo: Hanan b Rina, Hana Kimura b Hina, Saya Iida b Leo Onozaki, Arisa Hoshiki & Saki Kashima & Starlight Kid & Tam Nakano b Hazuki & Natsuko Tora & Andras Miyagi & Natsu Sumire and Jungle Kyona & Konami & Ruaka & Rebel Kel in a three-way, Toni Storm d Momo Watanabe, Bea Priestley b Kagetsu to win the World of Stardom championship.
  • Stardom from today in Tokyo: Arisa Hoshiki & Tam Nakano & Saya Iida & Hanan won three-team over Momo Watanabe & Bea Priestley & Leo Onozaki & Hina and Hana Kimura & Ruaka & Rebel Kel & Rina, Natsu Sumire b Saki Kashima-DQ, Hazuki b Starlight Kid to keep the High Speed title, Toni Storm b Andras Miyagi, Kagetsu & Natsuko Tora b Jungle Kyona & Konami. (thanks to Shannon Walsh, Tomi Yamada, and wrestlingwithdemons.net)
  • Northeast Wrestling from last night in Bethany, CT: JT Dunn b Brad Hollister to win NEW title, Private Party b Christian Casanova & Brandon Watts, Jimmy Preston b Mike Verna, Keith Youngblood b Daniel Evans in a no DQ match, Aiden Aggrom & Danger Kid b Tommy & JP Grayson, Richard Holiday b Zane Bernardo, Chuck O’Neil  b Brett Ryan Gosselin, Chuck O’Neil b Dexter Loux, Chuck O’Neil b Chris Battle, Mike Gamble b Anthony Battle. (thanks to Nick Mahmood)
  • Best of the West live TV taping on 5/11 at the Best of the West Arena at 5766 Fountain Way in Fresno at 6 p.m. 
  • CCW on 5/19 in Los Banos, CA at the Parasio Brewery with Super Crazy.
  • CWA on 5/26 in Hilmar, CA at Grange Hall at 5 p.m.
  • Best of the West on 5/26 in Merced, CA at the American Legion Post.
  • Pro Wrestling Revolution on 5/31 in Visalia, CA at the Rawhide baseball stadium.
  • VIPW on 5/25 in Nanaimo, BC at the Departure Bay Activity Centre. They also run 5/24 in Victoria BC at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 912.
  • Hoosier Pro Wrestling from last night in Columbus, IN: Big D b Cousin Cooter, Drax O’Brien b Zack Pittman, Lighting Bolt b Omega De, Guy Lombardo won over Ace Jackson and Scarecrow to keep the cruiserweight title, Do Do Brown & Alice Crawley b Duke the Nuke & Richard Sharkey-DQ, Tank & Fireball b Buck Sexton & Dynamite Dillen to win the tag titles, Tim Lutz b Butcher Manson to keep HPW title. Next show is 6/1 with Crowley vs. Sharkey in a strap match.
  • Jim Cornette, Bobby Eaton, Stan Lane and Dennis Condrey will appear as part of the Midnight Express 35th anniversary celebration in Richmond, VA at HUGE TMPT Con 3.
  • Bodyslam Wrestling from last night in Odense, Denmark: Tank b Adonis, Capt. Bodyslam b Erik Sabel, Jurn Simmons b Veit Muller, Killer Kelly & Alexander Jams b Steinbolt & Sixt, Rick Dominick won three-way over Michael Fynne and Peter Olisander. (thanks to Kristian Buus Nielsen)
  • Al Snow’s autobiography will be released this coming Wednesday. 
  • An interview with Gino Gambino talking New Japan coming to Australia and announcing for New Japan.
  • Dean Ambrose at the CAC Wednesday night talking about trainer Cody Hawk.
  • Chris Jericho did a yard sale this weekend.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Second Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions

F4W Empire Convention Info:

  • Ed in San Antonio presents PODER~! at the FSW arena on Friday 5/24 – Showtime is at noon – Main event: Bryan Alvarez vs. Logan Stunt
  • Empire dinner on Friday 5/24 at 8:30 p.m. at Texas de Brazil – Price is $82 – All you can eat meat and salad, sodas, tea, and coffee, plus dessert included
  • Empire suite party on Friday 5/24 for those who were not able to get the Q&A package – Price is $25

Purchase tickets here. 

CONTACT INFORMATION

El Phantasmo makes NJPW debut, set for Best of the Super Juniors

Posted on by Joseph Currier

El Phantasmo made his NJPW debut at Wrestling Dontaku night two and is officially set for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament.

NJPW had hyped that a mystery partner would be teaming with Taiji Ishimori against IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Dragon Lee & Will Ospreay this morning, with Ishimori’s partner also being the final entrant in Best of the Super Juniors.

The mystery partner was confirmed to be Phantasmo when he appeared this morning. He’s also the newest member of Bullet Club.

Ishimori & Phantasmo defeated Lee & Ospreay, with Phantasmo getting the pin on Ospreay.

Phantasmo debuting and joining Bullet Club was first hyped by NJPW in a video that aired in March.

Phantasmo is from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and wrestles on the United Kingdom independent scene. He’s a regular for Revolution Pro Wrestling.

This year’s Best of the Super Juniors will begin on May 13 and end on June 5. Here’s the updated list of entrants:

  • Ryusuke Taguchi
  • Tiger Mask IV
  • Rocky Romero
  • SHO
  • YOH
  • Will Ospreay
  • Taiji Ishimori
  • El Desperado
  • TAKA Michinoku
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • BUSHI
  • Flip Gordon
  • Titan
  • Marty Scurll
  • Dragon Lee
  • Robbie Eagles
  • Jonathan Gresham
  • Bandido
  • Shingo Takagi
  • El Phantasmo

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku night two live results: Okada vs. SANADA

Posted on by Bryan Rose

NJPW finishes up their Wrestling Dontaku tour this morning with their second straight event taking place in Fukuoka.

Kazuchika Okada will defend the IWGP Heavyweight title against SANADA in the main event. The two faced each other in the New Japan Cup finals, and although SANADA put on a hell of a showing, came up short. Getting another shot at the title could be all the incentive needed to pull off a major upset.

Tomohiro Ishii will take on EVIL in the co-main event. The two have been feuding with one another all tour, exchanging blows every time they enter the ring against one another. This time, there will be no limits as to what they can do.

A tag match that will take place in the undercard will reveal the final entry in this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament. A Bullet Club member, they will team with Taiji Ishimori to take on the team of Dragon Lee and Will Ospreay.

Join us this morning at 2 a.m. EST for live coverage. There will be English commentary.

**********

Ren Narita and Shota Umino defeated Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji

Very good, basic opener, par the usual for these four. Uemura was worked on until he made the tag to Tsuji, who did a comeback. With Narita’s help, Umino dropped Tsuji with a missile dropkick then pinned Tsuji with a perfect plex.

Narita stomped on Uemura after the match, continuing to build a young lion feud between the two.

It was announced that the blocks for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament will be revealed on Tuesday.

Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Desperado, Taka Michinoku defeated Jeff Cobb, YOSHI-HASHI, Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi and Toa Henare

Suzuki-gun actually did not attack their opponents before the bell, maybe a first in I don’t know how long. Regardless, it did not take long for it to devolve into a brawl as Suzuki-gun took it to the outside, with Suzuki blasting YOSHI-HASHI with a chair.

It eventually became the patterned tag team match that’s on every New Japan card. After Toa Henare made a comeback against Taichi, he cut him off and pinned him clean with a superkick. That felt kinda flat.

Togi Makabe, Toru Yano and Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Jado

Bullet Club as well took no time to take things outside of the ring. Tama Tonga focused on Liger, who was also attacked by Jado, who is now wearing a shirt saying “So what, I don’t care”. This ended up being another pretty good tag team match.

At one point, Jado took his cane to attack Yano but Makabe cut him off. Yano used the confusion to low blow Jado and roll him up for the win.

The announcers mentioned it was the Bullet Club’s fourth loss this tour.

Juice Robinson, Tomoaki Honma and Mikey Nicholls defeated Jay White, Chase Owens, Hikuleo

White, Owens and Hikuleo worked on Honma for a good while until Goto made the tag, laying everyone out with suplexes. After a confrontation with Hikuleo, Juice is tagged in as he and Nicholls go after Hikuleo.

Hikuleo grabs him for a chokeslam but Juice blocks it as he and Nicholls hit an assisted suplex. Juice finishes off Hikuleo with a big left then pins him with the pulp friction, handing Bullet Club another loss.

They aired the same video from last night, featuring the words “Time’s Up”. Whoever it is, they will be revealed at the Best of the Super Junior finals on June 5.

‘X’ was revealed to be El Phantasmo, the newest member of the Bullet Club.

El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori defeated Dragon Lee and Will Ospreay

The announcers are playing it up as if Ospreay is shocked that El Phantasmo is part of the Bullet Club. He shoves Ospreay at the bell, spitting on his hand and chopping him. He then rope walked around the ring, springboarded off the middle rope back to the top and laid out Ospreay with a hurricanrana.

Lee and Ishimori came in with some stiff shots as ELP tagged in. The other three participants ended up on the outside of the ring. ELP again rope walked around the top rope, went to where they were at and launched with a giant Asai moonsault.

Ospreay tried to fight back in the ring but ELP blocked the Oscutter and pinned Ospreay with a no hands Gotch piledriver. This was the best showcase possible for ELP and the match did a great job of making him look special.

Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi and BUSHI defeated Kota Ibushi, SHO and YOH

Everyone had stories here — YOH paired off with BUSHI, SHO paired off with Takagi and of course Natio and Ibushi. SHO and Takagi have great chemistry with one another and the crowd got really into it whenever they were in the ring.

Naito blasted Ibushi with a hurricanrana off the top rope and followed with a big boot. Naito tried Gloria, but Ibushi blocked it. Naito hit it the second time, with Ibushi landing right on the back of his neck. He’s gonna break it someday and I don’t know if he cares or not.

YOH is tagged in as he lands a Falcon Arrow on Naito. He lands a superkick, but Takagi comes in with a lariat. BUSHI took out SHO on the outside and Takagi held Ibushi back as Naito landed the Destino on YOH for the win. Great tag team match.

Naito took the mic after the match. The story is Naito has yet to name a time or place for the eventual IC title match. He officially laid out the challenge for June 9 at Dominion. He asked Ibushi if he accepted the challenge. Ibushi came back to the ring and accepted, so that match seems to be official.

Hiroshi Tanahashi came to the ring. He’s been gone most of this tour due to an elbow injury. He said his cast had just come off yesterday and was sad he couldn’t wrestle on this tour. He mentioned how this time last year he ended up winning the G1 and won the IWGP title at WrestleKingdom, but now he’s lost all of his momentum and is at his lowest.

He confirmed that he will be back on June 5 at the Best of the Super Junior finals and will look to reclaim the IWGP Heavyweight title again.

Jay White entered the ring with Gedo. He said the line starts with him and he deserves to be in the back of the line, even behind Goto. Gedo distracted him momentarily which allowed Jay White to jump him and attack the elbow. He grabbed a chair and wrapped Tanahashi’s arm in the chair and looked to destroy it with another chair, but was stopped. He told Tanahashi that he was next.

Tomohiro Ishii defeated EVIL

This was about what you would expect: a really awesome back and forth match, easily the best match of the tour so far. The story of EVIL trying to submit Ishii with the Scorpion Deathlock was a nice touch too.

They immediately went after each other with shots. EVIL was the first to hesitate but quickly took back control on the outside, throwing Ishii into the barricade. Ishii literally bounced off the ringpost, making a nasty sound.

EVIL took him down and worked on his legs, but both wind up exchanging chops again, this time with EVIL getting the better of things. He goes for the Scorpion Deathlock, but Ishii blocks it. He fights back, going for a superplex. EVIL tries to fight it off, but ISHII headbutts him and lays him out on the floor.

On the outside, Ishii tries to suplex EVIL into the barricade, but EVIL counters by draping Ishii on the barricade and laying him out with a neckbreaker. Back in the ring, EVIL does what Ishii did to him earlier by laying him out with a big superplex. EVIL finally gets in the Scorpion Deathlock, which he has been using on this tour to taunt Ishii, but Ishii makes it to the ropes.

EVIL goes for a lariat, but Ishii responds with one of his own then applies the Scorpion Deathlock, the move his mentor Riki Choshu made famous. EVIL manages to make it to the ropes as well. The two go crazy, with EVIL hitting a giant German suplex and a lariat, then a second lariat, but to no avail.

At one point, both men hit lariats but stumble to the ground, dazed. They get back up and start countering again until EVIL connects with a half nelson suplex. Ishii connects with an enziguri and connects with another lariat but EVIL kicks out. A brainbuster finally keeps him down.

Kazuchika Okada defeated SANADA to retain the IWGP Heavyweight title

This was a great NJPW main event. It started out real slow, to the point where you knew they were going long, but it did build well and by the end turned out to be a great match. I kind of expected more for the finish, but this was all well done.

They start things off pretty slowly, spending the first five minutes just grappling. Okada gets the advantage and holds him down. It seems based on the pacing they’re going to go for quite a while.

SANADA gets the advantage at the ten minute mark and after working on Okada’s leg, puts Okada in the paradise lock. On the outside, Okada sends SANADA over the barricade with a boot then hits a giant flying crossbody to the inside of  the crowd.

Back in the ring, SANADA leapfrogs over Okada, sends him to the floor and connects with a big crossbody. Back in the ring, they exchange some good near falls. SANADA goes for a bridge, but Okada kicks out and grabs SANADA for the Cobra clutch. SANADA escapes and hits a tiger  suplex, but misses the moonsault.

Okada hits the dropkick and goes for the rainmaker, but SANADA escapes and puts Okada in the cold skull. Okada resists, so he shifts his weight and applies the hold on the other arm. Okada tries to get to the ropes, but can’t. SANADA lets go and hits the moonsault once, but Okada gets the knees up after a second is attempted.

The two exchange strikes until SANADA goes for the cold skull again, but SANADA transitions for the tombstone. SANADA counters it and tries one of his own, but Okada reverses again only for SANADA to counter with the cold skull again. SANADA avoids the rainmaker twice then hits one of his own for a near fall.

SANADA goes for the cold skull again, but Okada counters and hits the twisting tombstone, then lays out SANADA with the rainmaker for the win at the 38 minute mark.

Okada extends his hand after the match. SANADA says one more, then fist bumps Okada as he makes his exit. After posing with the sponsors, he cuts a promo. He mentioned the changing of the eras in Japan, saying he will be the one to change the wrestling scene in the Reiwa era and he’s got plenty more to do.

He said he was going to make it rain when all of a sudden, the lights go dark. None other than Chris Jericho appears on the screen, calling himself the painmaker. At June 9 at Dominion, he challenges for the IWGP Heavyweight title and he’s going to win, win win. Okada says lets do it, saying that he will be the one who will win.

NJPW Best of the Super Junior finals live results: Ishimori vs. Takahashi

Posted on by Bryan Rose

It all boils down to the final two in tonight’s Best of the Super Junior finals.

Hiromu Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori will battle to determine the twenty fifth Best of the Super Juniors winner. With Will Ospreay eliminated, it seems very likely that the winner of tonight’s main event will challenge for the IWGP Jr. heavyweight championship, possibly at Dominion on 6/9.

The two had a confrontation right after Takahashi defeated KUSHIDA to win the B block. Takahashi was laying in the ring when Ishimori snuck up from behind and tried to do something off the top rope. Takahashi bolted, not wanting a confrontation right after winning his match. They will face off against one another for the first time ever in tonight’s main event.

With this being the final go home show before Dominion, there will likely be more build towards that event. Aside from the usual tags, the co-main event will pit Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada against Kota Ibushi and Chase Owens, with the idea being that Okada is facing Kenny Omega’s best friend just days before he clashes with Omega himself.

Join us for live coverage of the event this morning at 5:30 a.m. EDT. Kevin Kelly will be on English commentary, along with a special guest color commentator.

**********

Flip Gordon and Chris Sabin defeated Tiger Mask and Shota Umino

A pretty solid opener, but nothing special Some nice back and forth, mostly. Gordon got the win for his team with a springboard 450 splash using his knees. Enjoy that finish while it lasts.

Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano and YOSHI-HASHI defeated Minoru Suzuki, Taka Michinoku and Takashi Iizuka

So stop me if you’ve heard this one, but a Suzuki-gun tag team broke down into a brawl early in the match. Suzuki this time focused on YOSHI-HASHI, pelting him with a chair. Suzuki attempted the Gotch piledriver, but YOSHI-HASHI managed to escape.

The finish had everyone in the ring. Michinoku raked Yano’s eyes. Yano came back alive, low blowed Taka Michinoku and pinned him with a roll up. It was there.

Hirooki Goto and Roppongi 3K defeated Taichi, El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru

Stop me if you heard this one, but a Suzuki-gun tag team broke down into a brawl early in the match. Yes, they used steel chair shots here too. Desperado threw SHO into the crowd and smashed his knee into a chair. Kanemaru and the rest of the heels worked on the bum leg.

YOH made a hot comeback, but got stopped by Kanemaru’s whiskey spray to the face. Kanemaru went for the Deep Impact DDT but YOH countered and scooped him up into a bridge for the win. Better than the previous bout.

The heels beat up on CHAOS after the match. Taichi posed with the NEVER title over the fallen Goto, alluding to their match next weekend.

Marty Scurll and Yujiro Takahashi defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi and Henare

Henare was worked on for a bit before Tanahashi made a great hot tag. Henare came in and looked good, hitting Takahashi with a big suplex. Takahashi bit one of Henare’s fingers. He tried to do the same with Tanahashi, but he escaped.

Henare kicked out of a fisherman’s buster from Takahashi, but Takahashi finished him off with the Pimp Juice DDT. Another fine tag team match, but again absolutely nothing special.

Scurll attacked Tanahashi after the match, latching on the chicken wing.  Liger, who was on commentary on the outside, had enough and made the save for Tanahashi. This sets up Liger, Tanahashi and Mysterio against Marty Scurll, Yujiro Takahashi and someone else from the Bullet Club.

Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, BUSHI and SANADA defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Dragon Lee, ACH and KUSHIDA

This had a quicker pace than the other matches and started off really strong. Everyone came in and looked good. ACH, who was jumped by Naito right before the match started, tried to finish it with SANADA. He went for a roll up, but SANADA kicked up. He went to lift him in the suplex position, but he blocked it and went for the Skull End. With no other options, ACH submitted.

Chris Jericho appeared on the titantron. He admitted he didn’t headline Budokan back in 1997 when Naito was there, but he headlined WrestleKingdom 12. He mentioned the fact people voted him off of WrestleKingdom 8’s main event. 

It’s okay, he says. Naito doesn’t have to know he is. He doesn’t need to know. He’s going to help Naito become a star, then he’ll know who he is. He closed the promo by calling him a  certain word we can’t use here. Let’s just say everyone in New Japan LOVES to use the F word.

Naito says Jericho talked too much. He has too much free time on his hands, taking selfie camera videos. He’s going to shut that big mouth of Jericho’s at Korakuen Hall. 

Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay defeated Kota Ibushi and Chase Owens

A lot of this was back and forth. Okada was worked on for a bit by Ibushi and Owens, then Ospreay came in and was worked on too.

They built to a confrontation between Ospreay and Ibushi after a double pele kick took out their partners. They exchanged some offense and it was absolutely insane. Ibushi took him out with the Golden Triangle moonsault.

In in the ring, Owens went for the package piledriver, but Okada blocked it. He hit the dropkick, struck Owens with a v-trigger (a message to Kenny Omega) and pinned him with the Rainmaker. Another solid match with good build towards next weekend’s show.

Hiromu Takahashi defeated Taiji Ishimori to win the Best of the Super Juniors tournament

This was an excellent bout, probably on par with some of the recent finals that was some of the best wrestling all year. Lots of excellent callbacks from the previous night, as well as some killer offense by Takahashi and some terrific work from Ishimori. Dunno how high I’d go, or where it is on the scale of awesome matches, for me I feel it’s definitely up near the top.

They start off quick. Takahashi goes for the sunset flip bomb, but Ishimori flips over him as they two begin to brawl on the outside. Takahashi takes Ishimori into the crowd. He ran towards one end of Korakuen Hall to the other, sending Ishimori falling to the floor. He tries to follow with a powerbomb on the concrete steps but Ishimori counters with a hurricanrana, sending him down the stairs in a nasty way.

Ishimori takes him back in the ring, then sends Takahashi back out by sending him into some chairs on the outside. Takahashi makes it back in the ring, but is taken down by a sliding German suplex out of the ring by Ishimori. Takahashi escapes and connects with the sunset flip bomb to the floor.

Takahashi follows by sliding Ishimori out of the ring in a wheelbarrow position, sending him face first to the mat. He follows with a shotgun dropkick hat sends Ishimori into the crowd. Ishimori launched himself with a springboard, but Takahashi took him out with a lariat.

Ishimori finally came back to life by putting in the move that gave him the spot in the finals — the crossface. Takahashi manages to escape, but when he tries to mount some offense Ishimori sets him back down with the crossface once again. Ishimori tries everything in his power to prevent Takahashi from getting to the ropes, but finally he gets a foot on the bottom rope and manages to free himself.

Takahashi sends Ishimori flying into the post with a giant belly to belly suplex. After connecting the dynamite plunger. Takahashi connects with what can best be described as an inverted powerbomb off the top rope and to the floor.

Ishimori blocks the time bomb, plants Takahashi with a reverse rana but Takahashi jumps right back up and hits a reverse rana of his own. A striking exchange follows, with Ishimori getting the better of it. Ishimori drills him with double knees in the corner and then does it again for a pinfall attempt, but Takahashi kicks out. 

Takahashi avoids a bloody cross finish and traps Ishimori with the triangle. Ishimori tries to escape, even trying to deadlift his way out but couldn’t do it…until he does, and drives Takahashi into the ring post. 

Takahashi comes back to life and plants Ishimori with the piledriver from last night and sinks in the triangle again. Ishimori gets to the ropes. Takahashi hits the running Death Valley Driver into the corner and hits the Time Bomb to win the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. 

Takahashi takes the mic after the match. He doesn’t like being called best of the super juniors.He’s taking this all the way to the IWGP Jr. title. That brings out Ospreay, who congratulates him. He says that he’s beaten Takahashi twice already and he’ll prove it again at Osaka. 

Hiromu says thank you, meow. He says this our Super Junior tournament. His dream is to take back the title and wear the belt around his waist at Korakuen Hall. That popped the crowd. The show ends with the usual streamer show. Somehow, he ended up breaking the trophy, taking apart one of the wings. Oops!

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors finals are set

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The finals for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors are set.

For the first time ever, Hiromu Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori have advanced to the finals and will face one another tomorrow morning at Korakuen Hall to decide the 25th Best of the Super Junior winner. With Will Ospreay out of the equation, it is very likely that the winner of the tournament will challenge him to a title match at Dominion on 6/9.

Ishimori advanced by beating YOH. He needed a win in order to tie with Will Opsreay, and since he beat Ospreay he would win the tiebreaker and advance to the finals. He was at ringside, cheering fellow CHAOS member YOH on as he was rooting for an upset. Despite some close near falls and great support from the crowd, Ishimori trapped YOH in a crossface and earned the submission win. Ospreay, stunned, helped YOH to the back. 

Meanwhile, Takahashi had his hands full with one of the most biggest stars in the division, KUSHIDA. In a match with tremendous heat, Takahashi managed to score the upset win after hitting an inverted piledriver and submitting KUSHIDA with a triangle.

The finals of the Best of the Super Juniors starts tonight at 5:30 a.m. EDT. There will be English commentary.

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors live results: Block finals

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Tonight decides who’s in and who is out of the Best of the Super Junior 25 finals.

Both block finals will take place tonight.  KUSHIDA and Hiromu Takahashi will headline tonight’s show. Considering some of the matches that the two have had in the past over the IWGP title have been absolutely wild, this is one bout that is sure to excite Korakuen Hall this morning.

As far as who is alive, things go like this. For Block A, if Ishimori wins, he’s in no matter what. Ospreay needs to win and have YOH beat Ishimori in order to advance. If Ishimori and Ospreay both lose, then it gets more complicated. Either way, ACH and Kanemaru are eliminated no matter what.

Block B is simpler. Whoever wins between Hiromu Takahashi and KUSHIDA tonight makes it to the finals. One person who will still be alive if they falter, however, is Scurll. He needs to win his match tonight against SHO, then hope for a tie between Takahashi and KUSHIDA.

Join us for live coverage this morning at 5:30 a.m. Eastern. There will be English commentary.

**********

A Block Match: ACH defeated Tiger Mask

ACH entered wearing a Tiger Mask mask. ACH rolled to the floor after Tiger sweeped his legs. Tiger followed him outside, and ACH chopped the post with his good arm. Tiger went to work on the arm. ACH missed a frog splash, and Tiger continued attacking the right arm. 

ACH made a comeback, hitting a lariat, and a top rope frog splash for a nearfall. He hit a Tiger Driver, earning a nearfall. He went for another, but Tiger reversed it, and hit one of his own, also for a nearfall. 

They went to the top rope, and Tiger hit a double underhook superplex for a nearfall. Tiger went for a Tiger suplex, but ACH countered, and rolled him up for the pin. Tiger Mask is eliminated from contention. A short, simple opener. They didn’t do much. 

Both men finish the tournament 3-4. 

A Block Match: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated BUSHI

BUSHI attacked Kanemaru during the introductions. He sent him to the floor and went for a suicide dive, but Kanemaru moved, and BUSHI slammed into Tomoyuki Oka, sending him into the crowd. Kanemaru slammed another of the Young Lions on BUSHI. Back inside, he used a camel clutch, and teased ripping off BUSHI’s mask. 

Kanemaru hit a drive-by dropkick on the apron, then DDT’ed BUSHI to the floor. BUSHI beat the count, making it back inside at 15. BUSHI choked Kanemaru with his t-shirt, then hit a rana and a missile dropkick. Kanemaru countered a neckbreaker with a botched tornado DDT, then hit an inverted DDT. 

Kanemaru went for a brainbuster, but BUSHI slid out. He hit an enziguri, and Kanemaru slid to the floor. BUSHI tried another suicide dive, and connected this time. Back iniside, he hit a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall. He went for the MX, but Kanemaru shoved him into the ref, who took a bump. 

Kanemaru went for the whiskey mist, but BUSHI spraed him with the black mist. BUSHI used a backslide for a nearfall, but Kanemaru slid out. Kanemaru still had the whiskey in his mouth, and hit the whiskey mist, then hit Deep Impact for the win. BUSHI is eliminated. 

This was fine, but they didn’t get much time. Both finish the tournament 3-4. 

B Block Match: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Chris Sabin

They started out working each other’s arms. Sabin hit a springboard armdrag. Taguchi did a series of dropdowns as Sabin ran the ropes, and Sabin hit a low dropkick. He hit a high cross from the top for a nearfall. 

Sabin used a hammerlock and an abdominal stretch. He used a backslide for a nearfall, then used a Garvin stomp. Sabin used a chinlock, then hit a sunset flip. He hit another, but Taguchi countered with a dropkick. He hit a hip attack, then a crossbody from the top to the floor. He followed up with a tope con hilo, taking control of the bout. 

Taguchi hit a springboard hip attack for a nearfall. They hit simultaneous lariats, leading to a double down. They traded chops. Sabin hit an enziguri and a yakuza kick, then connected with a top rope rana, and a missile dropkick, leading to a two count. 

Sabin went for All Hail Sabin, but Taguchi countered. They traded La Magistral cradles. Taguchi slapped on the ankle lock, hit Dodon for a nearfall, then applied the ankle lock again, and Sabin tapped. A slightly above average match.

Both finish the tournament 3-4. 

B Block Match: El Desperado defeated Dragon Lee

Lee jumped Desperado at the bell, hit a suicide dive, and followed with a tope con hilo. Lee got low-bridged, but bounced back immediately. He went for another tope, but Desperado moved, and Lee landed on his feet. My knees hurt just watching that. 

Desperado hit Lee with a chair he had stashed under the ring, then sent him into the crowd. He used a chair to attack Lee’s left knee, which was taped up. Desperado posted the knee, then tied Lee to the tree of woe. Desperado went for the mask, but Lee escaped, and they traded lariats and strikes. 

Lee hit a snap suplex, then a series of forearm strikes. He went for Desperado’s mask, and tore it badly. Lee missed a fottstomp, but connected with a dropkick. He hit the footstomp for a nearfall, and Desperado desperately tried to keep his face hidden. 

Desperado hit a spinebuster, then used a stretch muffler, but Lee made the ropes. They traded nearfalls. Desperado hit a low blow right in front of the referee, who had to pretend he didn’t see it, and got the pin. 

After the match, Desperado ripped off Dragon’s mask, and the Young Lions ran in to cover his face.

They worked at a crazy pace, and the match was probably good until the finish, but Desperado pulling on his torn mask the whole time was a major distraction. Both finish 3-4.

Tomoaki Honma came out for a promo, and announced that he’s returning to action on June 23. 

A Block Match: Will Ospreay defeated Flip Gordon

They mirrored each other in the opening exchange. Both didn’t connect on dives to the floor, and both landed on their feet. Flip hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall, then hit a vertical suplex. Ospreay hit a back elbow and a dropkick in the corner. Ospreay torqued on Flip’s arms, and got a pair of nearfalls. 

The pace slowed, as Ospreay grabbed a headlock. They picked it back up, as Flip landed on his feet out of a suplex, then hit a springboard dropkick. He followed with a springboard spear for a nearfall. Ospreay hit a 619, then hit a springboard clothesline. Ospreay went for the Storm Breaker, but Flip escaped. Ospreay hit a standing Spanish Fly, leading to a double down. 

They traded elbow and forearm strikes. Flip connected with a rolling senton and a standing shooting star, but Ospreay countered with Cheeky Nandos. Ospreay went up top, but Flip hit a superkick, knocking Ospreay to the floor. Flip hit a springboard senton to the floor, then a 450 in the ring, earning a nearfall. Ospreay hit a cutter, and they did another double down. 

Ospreay hit a sidewalk slam, then connected with the Robinson Special. He went for the Oscutter, but ate a superkick on the landing. Flip went foor the Four Flippy, but Ospreay hung him over the top rope, and hit a shooting star. 

Ospreay hit a superkick and the Essex Destroyer for a nearfall. Ospreay teased a top rope Storm Breaker, then hit a top rope Oscutter. He immediately hit the Storm Breaker, and got the victory. 

This was very good. They did less in the way of flips than you might expect, but they had a great match anyway. Flip finishes the tournament 3-4, and Ospreay 5-2. Ospreay will win the A Block with an Ishimori loss. 

A Block Match: Taiji Ishimori defeated YOH

YOH hit a flying forearm, sending Taiji to the floor. He followed with a tope, and immediately went for covers back in the ring, getting three quick nearfalls. Taiji hit a seated senton, a hangman legdrop, a drive-by, and a standing moonsault, earning a nearfall. Ospreay came to ringside to watch the match, and Taiji jawed with him. 

YOH rebounded, hitting a dragon screw, a back elbow, a footstomp, and a neckbreaker. Taiji sent YOH to the floor, then hit a Golden Triangle. They took their time getting back into the ring. Taiji hit a knee strike, then slapped on a crossface, but YOH made the ropes. Taiji hit a dropkick, and a handspring enziguri. He covered, but YOH slid out and hit a superkick, leading to a double down. 

They traded strikes, but Taiji go tthe upper hand, and hit a ton of short forearm blows. They went to the top, and YOH hit a superplex into a falcon arrow, getting a two count.

Taiji hit a knee strike and a lungblower, getting a nearfall. He went for the Bloody Cross, but YOH turned it into a backslide for a nearfall. He got another close nearfall, but Taiji applied the crossface, and YOH tapped. 

A very good last few minutes, and they did a great job in convincing the audience that YOH might pull off the upset. Taiji Ishimori wins the A Block at 5-2, and advances to the final. YOH finishes 3-4.

B Block Match:  SHO defeated Marty Scurll 

Scurll caught one of SHO’s imaginary arrows and laid into him with strikes. He hit a superkick on the apron, then went to work on SHO’s left hand in the ring. Scurll continued to dominate the early going, using a modified sharpshooter, sending SHO crawling to the ropes. 

Scurll hit a superplex for a nearfall. SHO ducked a lariat and connected with a spear, as he looked to find his footing. SHO hit three lariats, and sent Scurll to the floor with a dropkick. Back inside, SHO went for a suplex, then hit a backstabber into a cross armbreaker, but Scurll reached the ropes. 

They traded superkicks, and Scurll hit a brainbuster, earning a two count. Scurll slapped SHO across the face twice, and SHO sold as though he was still feeling the damage from the brainbuster. They exchanged simultaneous strikes and lariats, and both collapsed to the mat. 

Scurll rolled into a cradle for a nearfall, and SHO followed with a lariat. SHO went for the SHock Arrow, but as Scurll tried to fight it, he settled for a piledriver. Scurll made it to his feet, and did the finger break on both of SHO’s hands. 
Scurll stomped on SHO’s head, but SHO kept fighting. Scurll swung the umbrella, but SHO ducked it, and broke the umbrella in half. He followed up with a powerbomb on the knees for a two count. He went for Shock Arrow, but couldn’t connect the hands after the finger break. 

Scurll hit a lariat and applied the chicken wing, but SHO escaped, and locked on a choke, then hit a bridging german for a nearfall. SHO applied a rear naked choke and a body triangle, but Scurll climbed to the second rope and jumped off, breaking the hold. 

Scurll stomped on SHO’s hand, then jumped on his head, then applied a hammerlock and rained down elbows on SHO. They teased a stoppage. Scurll went for the chicken wing, but SHO powered out, and hit the Shock Arrow, and got the pin. 

I don’t like hard slaps to the face. Putting that aside, this was the best match on the show to this point. Scurll is eliminated from contention, and finishes at 4-3. SHO finishes 3-4. 

B Block Match: Hiromu Takahashi defeated KUSHIDA

Collar and elbow tie ups. Lots of them. They locked up for a long time, and it worked.These guys are great. Hiromu went for the sunset bomb, but KUSHIDA blocked, and hit a senton bomb from the top rope to the floor. KUSHIDA used a wristlock, setting up the Hoverboard later. He stomped on Hiromu’s left hand, then used an armscissors, continuing to work the left arm. 

KUSHIDA went for a handspring elbow, but Hiromu countered it into a german. He followed with a shotgun dropkick from the apron to the floor. Back inside, he hit a lariat and a dropkick, and begged KUSHIDA to fight back. Hiromu used a tarantula, then a senton from the top rope. He then moved to a sleeper hold as the pace slowed. 

They picked it back up with a hip toss and a cartwheel dropkick from KUSHIDA. He teased BAck to the Future and applied the Hoverboard, but Hiromu locked his hands, escaped, then hit a flying headscissors. KUSHIDA applied an armbar, but Hiromu reached the ropes. 

KUSHIDA hit a dropkick to the left arm. he went for a lariat, but Hiromu turned it into a powerbomb. KUSHIDA hit a Pele kick, but Hiromu caught him coming in and suplexed him into the corner. Hiromu went for a Frankensteiner, but KUSHIDA blocked it. KUSHIDA applied a kimura, then jumped to the mat, jamming Hiromu’s damaged left arm. 

KUSHIDA applied the Hoverboard, and Hiromu did a masterful job of selling it, before finally rolling through and hitting the Dynamite Plunger. Hiromu couldn’t follow up, and both men sold on the mat. 

They finally got to their feet to trade strikes. Both were on the verge of collapsing. KUSHIDA went to take the arm for the Hoverboard, but Hiromu grabbed an arm and locked on the triangle. They teased a stoppage, but KUSHIDA fought and reached the ropes. 

Hiromu followed with an inverted piledriver, then went back to the triangle, and KUSHIDA tapped. Hiromu Takahashi wins the B Block, and will face Taiji Ishimori in the finals tomorrow. 

Ishimori showed up after the match as Hiromu cut a promo. He did the Bullet Club gun taunt, then left, as Hiromu promised to win the tournament and have fun doing it. 

I personally liked the Scurll/SHO match more, but if you wanted to say that this was the best match on the show, I wouldn’t argue with you. Both of the final two matches are worth going out of your way to see. 

Final Standings

A Block

Taiji Ishimori 5-2

Will Ospreay 5-2

YOH 3-4

Flip Gordon 3-4

BUSHI 3-4

Yoshinobu Kanemaru 3-4

ACH 3-4

Tiger Mask 3-4

B Block

Hiromu Takahashi 5-2

KUSHIDA 4-3

Marty Scurll 4-3

Dragon Lee 3-4

Chris Sabin 3-4

El Desperado 3-4

SHO 3-4

Ryusuke Taguchi 3-4

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors standings heading into final day

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The next to last day of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament was today in Takasaki, with Hiromu Takahashi, KUSHIDA, and Marty Scurll all getting wins and going into the final day of action tomorrow at Korakuen Hall with 4-2 records.

Today’s results were:

  • Chris Sabin (3-3) defeated El Desperado (2-4)
  • Marty Scurll (4-2) defeated Ryusuke Taguchi (2-4)
  • Hiromu Takahashi (4-2) defeated Sho (2-4)
  • KUSHIDA (4-2) defeated Dragon Lee (3-3)

The A and B block will be decided tomorrow on a show with eight matches.

In the A block, Will Ospreay and Taiji Ishimori are both 4-2 while Flip Gordon, Tiger Mask IV, BUSHI, and Yoh are 3-3.

If Ishimori beats Yoh, he will go to the finals no matter what. If Yoh wins and Ospreay beats Gordon, Ospreay will advance. If Ishimori and Ospreay both lose, it gets confusing.

At that point Ospreay, Ishimori, Gordon, and Yoh would all be 4-3. Tiger Mask faces ACH and BUSHI faces Yoshinobu Kanemaru. ACH and Kanemaru are mathematically eliminated. But Tiger Mask or BUSHI could also end up tied at 4-3. If four to six guys end up 4-3, the winner will be determined based on head-to-head record among whoever is tied, so there are a number of different ways it could go. Additionally, if there is a draw in either the Ospreay or Ishimori match, that would give them a 4-2-1 record which could eliminate the big tie.

In the B block, it comes down to a KUSHIDA vs. Takahashi match, and Scurll. If Scurll beats Sho, he’ll be in a tiebreaker with the KUSHIDA vs. Takahashi winner, unless they go to a draw and a Scurll win would make him the block champion. If Sho beats Scurll, the KUSHIDA vs. Takahashi winner goes to the final.

If Scurll beats Sho and KUSHIDA wins, then KUSHIDA will advance since he beat Scurll in the tournament. If Takahashi beats KUSHIDA and Scurll beats Sho, then Takahashi advances. So the only way Scurll can advance would be if he wins and if Takahashi and KUSHIDA draw. If not, the Takahashi vs. KUSHIDA winner goes to the finals.

Tomorrow’s matches will begin at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on New Japan World, which will have both Japanese and English commentary. They are:

  • Ospreay (4-2) vs. Gordon (3-3)
  • Ishimori (4-2) vs. Yoh (3-3)
  • ACH (2-4) vs. Tiger Mask (3-3)
  • BUSHI (3-3) vs. Kanemaru (2-4)
  • Taguchi (2-4) vs. Sabin (3-3)
  • Lee (3-3) vs. Desperado (2-4)
  • Scurll (4-2) vs. Sho (2-4)
  • KUSHIDA (4-2) vs. Takahashi (4-2)