Tag: NJPW BOSJ 31

NJPW crowns Best of the Super Juniors 31 winner

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The Best of the Super Juniors 31 tournament has concluded.

El Desperado defeated Taiji Ishimori in the main event of Sunday’s Dominion event in Osaka-jo Hall. The finish of the match, which went over twenty minutes, saw Desperado pin Ishimori with the pinche loco to win the BOSJ tournament for the first time.

After the match, he was handed the tournament trophy and posed with the ceremonial flag. In his post-match promo, he put over Ishimori’s performance as Ishimori stormed backstage.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion SHO then came out and taunted Desperado. The two had a back and forth until Desperado challenged SHO to a steel cage match for SHO’s title, saying it would be the best way to make sure that no one can interfere. SHO left angrily as Desperado called himself the strongest.

Desperado defeated Douki to advance to the finals, while Ishimori defeated TJP.

A vote held before Dominion asked fans if they wanted the Best of the Super Junior finals or the lumberjack match between EVIL and Jon Moxley to headline the show. The finals ended up winning the vote, putting it in the main event slot.

Francesco Akira to miss remainder of NJPW BOSJ tournament due to injury

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Francesco Akira is out of the NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 31 tournament.

NJPW announced late Tuesday that Akira will miss the remainder of this year’s BOSJ due to a left knee injury suffered on Sunday’s show.

Akira suffered the knee injury in a B Block bout on Sunday against Drilla Moloney.

With Akira unable to continue in B Block, his opponents will be awarded forfeit victories for their scheduled bouts. The current BOSJ standings are here.

The promotion first announced that Akira was pulled from Tuesday’s show where he was scheduled for a tag bout, with his status for the remainder of the tournament up in the air pending medical evaluation. After being evaluated, NJPW made the announcement:

Thank you for supporting New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

After missing his match in Himeji May 21 due to a left knee injury, medical evaluation has determined that Francesco Akira should miss the remainder of the Best of the Super Jr. 31 series.

We apologise to fans who were looking forward to seeing Akira wrestle, and appreciate your understanding.

Akira’s forthcoming league matches will be cancelled, and points awarded to his opponents via forfeit.

Francesco Akira to miss NJPW Best of the Super Juniors show

Posted on by Ian Carey

NJPW has announced a change to the Best of the Super Juniors 31 night seven lineup.

United Empire’s Francesco Akira will miss tomorrow’s show due to a knee injury. He was scheduled for a tag match with Callum Newman against Hiromu Takahashi and Yota Tsuji. His status for the remainder of the tournament will be determined after medical evaluation.

Tsuji and Takahashi will now wrestle Shoma Kato and Katsuya Murashima on Tuesday’s show.

“Akira’s status for May 22’s group match, and subsequent dates on the Best of the Super Jr. 31 tour will be determined after medical evaluation,” NJPW wrote.

“We apologise to fans who were looking forward to seeing Akira wrestle, and appreciate your understanding.”

An injury angle took place on Sunday’s show in Hachioji when Akira faced Drilla Moloney in B Block action. Akira came into the match already selling his injured leg and Moloney focused on it for much of their match. Moloney eventually made Akira tap out to a leglock and then continued to attack Akira’s leg afterward. Akira had to be helped to the back and wasn’t putting weight on his leg.

Akira’s BOSJ record currently sits at 2-3. His next tournament match is scheduled for Wednesday against Takahashi.