Didn’t we just do Best of the Super Juniors?

We may have just gotten BOSJ 28 in December, but NJPW has Best of the Super Juniors 29 now for Spring! Will Hiromu Takahashi start on the threepeat? Or will the Ticking Timebomb self-destruct?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• 8 Man Tag: Tiger Mask, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Mater Wato & Robbie Eagles VS Wheeler Yuta, Yuto Nakashima, Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita; Tiger Mask, Tenzan, Wato & Eagles win.
• Shingo Takagi & BUSHI VS El Phantasmo & Dick Togo; Takagi & Bushi win.
• Six Man Tag: Titan, Jado & EL LINDAMAN VS Suzuki-Gun; Titan, Jado & Lindaman win.
• Best of the Super Juniors 29 A Block: Ace Austin VS Clark Connors; Austin wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 29 A Block: Alex Zayne VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Zayne wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 29 A Block: Francesco Akira VS SHO; Akira wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 29 A Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Hiromu Takahashi; Hiromu wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 29 A Block: YOH VS Taiji Ishimori; Ishimori wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Best of the Super Juniors 29 A Block: Ace Austin VS Clark Connors!

The THREE-TIME Impact Wrestling X Division Champion leads off the tournament against the 2020 Lion’s Break Crown winner! Who takes that crucial first step towards being the Best of the Super Juniors?

The bell rings and fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, Connors pushes Austin back but Austin pushes Connors back. Connors pushes Austin back again but Austin turns it around and sends Connors to the corner. Fans applaud and the two reset. They feel out a knuckle lock, then Austin shoots in to waistlock. Connors wrenches out to a wristlock but Austin rolls, kips up and wrenches, only for Connors to wrench right back. Connors twists the wrist but Austin uses his leg to hook the arms, and he brings Connors in to ROCK him with a right. Fans applaud as the two stand off. Connors swings, misses, but follows Austin to run him over!

Austin kips up and fans cheer again. Austin dusts himself off, but Connors ducks his heel kick. Austin ducks the haymaker but Connors reels him in for a back suplex! Austin lands on his feet, runs back in but Connors tosses him! Austin lands on his feet again and fans cheer as the two reset. The two circle again and then feel out another knuckle lock. Austin spins to get a headlock but Connors powers out. They ram shoulders, Connors rebounds but redirects himself to run Austin over! Fans rally as Connors brings Austin up, and he EuroUppers Austin to a corner. Connors CHOPS, Austin kicks back, but Connors CHOPS more!

Connors has Austin in a corner, climbs up and rains down fists! He rains down from both sides and goes to 10! Austin staggers and Connors leaps to AX HANDLE! Cover, ONE, but Connors brings Austin up. Connors snap suplexes, covers, ONE! Connors clamps on with a chinlock and he grinds Austin down. Austin endures, fans rally up, and Connors grinds his forearms in. Austin gets up, throws body shots but Connors CLUBS him. Connors whips, Austin rolls to get a drop toehold to ENZIGURI! Austin keeps moving, basement dropkick and a kip up! Austin runs in at the corner to A-LIST LARIAT, and he throws more shots at point-blank!

Austin pushes Connors out, goes up and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Austin stomps Connors and throws knees, and fans rally as Austin kicks Connors to a corner. Austin throws forearms then a CHOP! Connors just scowls. Austin CHOPS, Connors eggs him on, so Austin CHOPS again. Connors puts Austin in the corner, but Austin dodges to ROCK Connors with a right hand! Austin shakes out his own hand from that shot! Austin runs in but into Connors’ elbow. Connors runs, into an arm-drag! Austin keeps the arm for a MOUNTED ARMLOCK! Austin brings out a playing card? PAPER CUT!

Austin puts that ace up his sleeve, but Connors CHOPS him! Connors clutches the cut hand, Austin dropkicks him down! Cover, TWO! Austin paces and fans rally up. Austin JAMS Connors with a knee, then throws a crossface forearm. Austin facelocks, throws knees, but Connors blocks the suplex. Austin CHOPS but Connors scowls. Austin CHOPS, then SPINNING CHOPS! Connors stays up, then drops as Austin runs. Connors goes perpendicular to POUNCE Austin! Fans fire up and Austin flounders to a corner. Connors snarls and fans rally as he runs corner to corner to back elbow! Connors whips Austin corner to corner, then RAMS into him!

Connors throws more shoulders into Austin, then he THROWS Austin! ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Connors goes right to the corner, DIVING BACK ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up as Austin survives. Connors waits on Austin to get up. Austin staggers, Connors runs in, but Austin jumps over the spear! Connors tumbles out, Austin runs but has to bail out of the tope! Connors swipes at Austin but Austin handstands to avoid the clothesline! Then he handsprings to avoid the second try! Austin PENALTY KICKS Connors, then “watches” the kick clear the goal. Austin then slingshots and runs to FOSBURY FLOP!

Fans fire up as both men go down at ringside! Austin fires up and he puts Connors in. Austin steps in, springboards and ROUNDHOUSES! Cover, TWO! Connors survives and Austin is shocked! Austin aims from a corner as Connors gets up, and Austin runs in, into a SPEAR! Both men are down but Connors crawls to the cover, TWO!! Austin is still in this and Connors is losing his cool! Fans rally as Connors stalks Austin. Connors brings Austin up but Austin elbows him away. Austin throws forearm after forearm, but Connors DECKS him! Connors drags Austin up, whips him to ropes and SPINNING POWERSLAMS!

Connors fires up and fans fire up with him as he gets Austin back up. Austin knees free of the lift, throws more knees, then SPIN HEEL KCIK! Connors flounders, Austin runs in for HOUSE OF CARDS! Connors still wobbles, Austin hits THE FOLD!! Cover, Austin wins!

Winner: Ace Austin, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Connors earns 0 points)

The Inevitable happened! Ace Austin gets the first win of the BOSJ, will he be ranked high when all the hands have been dealt? As for Connors, can he rebound in the second round?

Best of the Super Juniors 29 A Block: Alex Zayne VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru!

The Sauce is in NJPW! But will he be able to bring the heat to the tournament? Or will the Heel Master wash him down with that Japanese whiskey?

The bell rings and fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, Kanemaru wrenches but Zayne wrenches back, only for Kanemaru to wrench again. Zayne rolls, handsprings and wrenches Kanemaru back, but Kanemaru rakes eyes! The ref reprimands, Kanemaru runs but Zayne hurdles, drops and dropkicks Kanemaru out! Zayne builds speed but Kanemaru gets back in and jumps on for a SLEEPER! Zayne stays up, shifts weight and throws body shots. Zayne gets free, throws an elbow then runs, but into a dropkick to the legs! Kanemaru hurries to keep Zayne from ropes, then turns him over to SMASH the knee into the mat!

Kanemaru stalks Zayne to a corner, stomps the bad leg, then drags Zayne up to grab at the leg. SHINBREAKER! Fans rally while Zayne leans on the ropes. Kanemaru walks into body shots but he stomps Zayne’s bad leg. Kanemaru drags Zayne to the corner and SLAMS the leg against the apron! Zayne clutches the knee but Kanemaru gets the leg again to SLAM it against the post! The ref reprimands but Kanemaru pushes past him to get the leg again. Kanemaru CLUBS the leg, then gets back in. Kanemaru stomps Zayne’s leg, then brings Zayne up to CLUB it. Kanemaru trips Zayne to drop an elbow on it!

Kanemaru has a toehold and he pulls on the leg. Zayne endures, chinbars but Kanemaru shrugs that off to keep on the toehold. Zayne uses his free leg to hook Kanemaru, but Kanemaru turns to SMASH the knee again! Kanemaru paces and fans rally while Zayne clutches the knee. Kanemaru stomps the bad leg again, then scuffs Zayne. Zayne gets mad and he CHOPS Kanemaru! And CHOPS again! Kanemaru kicks the bad leg and Zayne falls down! Kanemaru then drags Zayne back to turn him over for a HALF CRAB! Zayne endures, crawls for the ropes, fans rally and he manages to turn to put Kanemaru on the ropes!

The ref counts the ropebreak, Zayne kicks at Kanemaru but Kanemaru stomps Zayne back. Kanemaru paces, he drags Zayne up and fans rally up. Kanemaru rakes eyes, reels Zayne in, but Zayne elbows free of the shinbreaker. Kanemaru kicks the bad leg, whips, but Zayne reverses. Zayne runs in to back body block and go to the apron, SLINGSHOT SPIKE-RANA! Then a DROPKICK! Kanemaru bails out again, Zayne jumps up to MOONSAULT from inside the ring! Direct hit and down goes Kanemaru, but Zayne hobbles from the landing. Fans fire up all the same, and Zayne puts Kanemaru back in the ring.

Zayne drags Kanemaru back up but Kanemaru kicks a leg. Zayne throws boxing elbows then a back elbow, into a leg sweep! Then SOMERSAULT AX KICK! Cover, TWO! Zayne is a bit frustrated but the fans rally up. Zayne stomps Kanemaru into the drop zone then goes up the corner. Fans rally as he reaches the top, for the 630! Kanemaru moves and Zayne has to bail out! Kanemaru dropkicks the leg! Kanemaru hobbles, gets Zayne’s leg and steps through, FIGURE FOUR! Zayne endures as Kanemaru thrashes about! Fans rally and Zayne keeps his shoulders up as he drags himself and Kanemaru along, to the ROPEBREAK!

The ref counts, Kanemaru “needs help” to undo the hold, but the leglock is undone. Kanemaru drags Zayne back up, reels him in and scoops to SLAM him into a drop zone! Kanemaru goes up now, MOONSAULT- NO, Kanemaru has to land on his feet! Zayne jumps over the basement dropkick, spins Kanemaru around and LARIATS! Fans fire up while both men are down again! Zayne clutches his knee still as fans rally up. Zayne crawls over to Kanemaru, drags him up, and reels him into a cobra clutch and pump handle! Kanemaru breaks free, kicks the bad leg, but Zayne back elbows! Zayne runs but the ref is used as a shield! ENZIGURI!

Kanemaru trips Zayne to jackknife bridge, TWO! Zayne hurries but Kanemaru victory rolls, TWO! SUPERKICK from Zayne! Fans fire up and Zayne aims from a corner. Kanemaru drags himself up and Zayne runs corner to corner, back elbow! Zayne hoists Kanemaru up top but Kanemaru throws headbutts and punches! Kanemaru boots Zayne away, but Zayne LEAPS to DRAGONRANA! Cover, TWO!! Kanemaru survives and fans fire up! Zayne gets up, looms over Kanemaru, then brings him up. Zayne scoops for the BAJA BLAST ROLLING FACEBUSTER! Zayne then hurries up top and fans fire up again! SPIRAL TAP!! Cover, Zayne wins!!

Winner: Alex Zayne, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Kanemaru earns 0 points)

The corkscrew senton was just the right touch to finish this off! Will the Sauce get even spicier in the following rounds? Can Kanemaru come back and break even in the second round?

Best of the Super Juniors 29 A Block: Francesco Akira w/ TJP VS SHO!

Speaking of heat, the Nova Fireball wants to blaze a trail in NJPW for the glory of the United Empire! Will Akira get red hot against the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Champion? Or will the Murder Machine extinguish the flames?

Sho doesn’t wait for a bell, he attacks Akira on the corner! Sho fires off, and takes Akira’s necklace off for him, before stomping away in the corner! The ref reprimands but has the bell ring to get this on record. Sho digs both boots in but lets off as the ref counts. Sho then smacks Akira with his own jacket, and digs his boots in again. The ref has Sho back off but Sho claims TJP is up to something. Sho whips, Akira dodges and tilt-o-whirls to headscissor! And then dropkick! Sho bails out, and Akira PLANCHAS! Direct hit and then Akira puts Sho back in. Akira slingshots for a CUTTER! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO!

Akira is upset with the count but the ref says it was fair. Akira drags Sho up, turns him, and hits a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Akira looms over Sho, drags him up and CLUBS his neck. Sho goes to ropes but Akira CLUBS him again. Akira whips but Sho holds ropes to block. Akira kicks Sho, whips, but Sho slides out. Akira WRECKS Sho with a dropkick then fans rally up as Akira builds speed. But Sho uses a Young Lion as a shield! Akira goes out to chase Sho but he gets back in the ring. Akira gets on the apron and Sho gets the arm to HOTSHOT it! Sho sweeps the legs, runs side to side and WRECKS Akira with a dropkick!

Sho goes out to stomp away on Akira, then he goes looking under the ring. Sho brings out chairs! The ref and TJP try to stop him but Sho JAMS TJP! The ref tries to confiscate the chair, but Sho brings Akira and the ref along to the entry way! Sho lets the ref have the chair, so that he can whip Akira into the wall! Akira flops down, then Sho goes somewhere around the back. Sho grabs the trophy!? Sho says it’s his but the ref stops him from bringing it to ringside. Sho lets the ref have the trophy back ,so that he can JAM Akira with the chair! And SMACK him, too! Sho is using a lot of misdirection here!

TJP storms up on Sho but Sho has the ref stop him. TJP backs off and Sho leaves Akira behind to get in the ring. Sho wants the ring out but Akira is already heading back as the count starts. Akira flounders and fans rally up, and he makes it to ringside at 8 of 20. Akira keeps floundering, TJP coaches him on, and Akira gets in at 13! Sho is amused but he drags Akira up to wrench the arm to an ELBOW BREAKER! Then Sho whips Akira to CLOBBER him! Sho drags Akira to a cover, TWO, but into the DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Akira endures and flounders to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts and Sho lets off while fans cheer.

Sho laughs, and kicks at Akira toyingly. Akira gets up to CHOP Sho! Sho eggs Akira on so Akira CHOPS and CHOPS! Sho gets the bad arm for another ELBOW BREAKER! Sho then wrenches, brings Akira down, and he KICKS, KICKS and SUPER- NO! Akira blocks the kick! Akira swings but Sho rakes the eyes! Sho runs, but Akira follows to wheelbarrow and VICTORY ROLL FACEBUSTER! Fans fire up while both men are down! Sho and Akira go to opposite corners as fans rally up. Akira runs in to clothesline! And again to back elbow! Akira gets up top to leap, BLINDSIDE MISSILE DROPKICK! Fans fire up as Sho flops out!

Akira gets fans to clap along with his rhythm, “FRAN! CESCO! FRAN! CESCO!” Akira fakes Sho out on building speed, and then ASAI MOONSAULTS! Fans fire up with Akira and he puts Sho back in the ring. Akira drags Sho up, reels him in, OVERDRIVE DDT! AKA Speedfire! Cover, TWO!! Sho survives and Akira grows frustrated. TJP coaches Akira and the fans rally up. Akira kicks at Sho now, drags him up and wrenches the arm. Sho bends Akira’s fingers then throws a forearm! Akira hits back, Sho hits again, and we have a brawl of forearms! Akira gets the edge, but Sho KICKS the bad arm! Akira dropkicks the bad leg!

Fans fire up, Akira goes to the corner, but Sho JUMP KNEES! Sho runs in but is put up top! Akira tucks Sho in and CHEEKY NANDOS! He learned that from Ospreay! Akira hurries to drag Sho back up and fans fire up with Akira! Akira aims from the corner, but the ref is used as a shield! Sho SPEARS Akira down! Sho hurries to aim from a corner now, and he PENALTY KICKS the bad arm! Then POP-UP into ARMBAR! Akira clasps hands to resist but Sho pries the fingers free! Akira flails and flounders to the ROPEBREAK! Sho lets off, drags Akira back up and he reels Akira in to tuck the arms! SHOCK- NO! Akira turns it into a cradle, TWO!!

Akira ROUNDHOUSES Sho, then fires up to chicken wing the arms! Then a straitjacket! Sho fights free, switches, but Akira elbows free! Akira fires up, but Sho shoves him at the ref! Akira stops himself, gets around the sucker punch, wrenches and traps the arm, but Sho shoves Akira into the ref! The ref goes down, Sho GERMAN SUPLEXES! Sho crawls away while everyone is down! Fans rally but Sho is going for his corner’s goodies! But TPJ snatches away the wrench! Sho is furious but TJP shrugs. Akira gets the arms, the lift, GERMAN SUPLEX with bridge! TWO!! Akira is furious and fans are thunderous!

Akira Alabama Lifts, spins Sho, BANGARANG! Akira is red hot as he gets Sho back up and fans rally behind him! Akira runs from the corner, BLINDSIDE METEORA! The FIREBALL! Cover, Akira wins!!

Winner: Francesco Akira, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Sho earns 0 points)

Bruciare burns down the Murder Machine! Will Akira set the rest of the BOSJ ablaze? Will Sho be able to redeem himself for the House of Torture in the next round?

Best of the Super Juniors 29 A Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Hiromu Takahashi!

The Funky Weapon lost to the Ticking Timebomb in both BOSJ 27 and 28, and Hiromu went on to win the whole thing each time. Will the third time be the charm and help Taguchi break the cycle? Or will it be three for three on the road to the threepeat?

Hiromu offers a handshake, but Taguchi slap sit away! Fans applaud, liking the edge! The bell rings and Taguchi rushes in, but Hiromu easily avoids the hip attack. Taguchi crashes and pounds the mat in frustration. Hiromu tells him to stop throwing a tantrum and get up. Taguchi says no, he should just cover him now. What? That’s obviously a trick. Taguchi says he’ll lie down for the pin, trust him. No way! Taguchi promises he won’t do anything. He puts his hands under his back and even crosses his feet. Hiromu says what the hell. One foot pin, TWO, and Taguchi goes after the leg! Hiromu scrambles away and says he knew he shouldn’t have trusted Taguchi!

Taguchi rushes out but Hiromu goes around the outside. They make a full lap, then keep going. Taguchi stops, ducks under the apron skirt, and the ring count starts. Hiromu wants to know where Taguchi went, but the count is already 8 of 20. Taguchi springs out and grabs at Hiromu! Hiromu gets away, gets back in the ring, and Taguchi spills going around the corner! The count is 15 of 20 as Taguchi gets up. Taguchi grins, but he’s not getting back in? He gets in at 19 just for the drama and fans applaud. Taguchi and Hiromu circle, feel out the grapple, and Taguchi shoots in after a leg! Hiromu gets away again and goes all around the inside of the ring.

Hiromu goes up and over in a corner, but Taguchi keeps after him! Roll-up, TWO! ANKLE- NO, Hiromu gets back out of the ring. Fans applaud but Taguchi catches his breath. Taguchi then hurries back out but Hiromu hides behind the timekeeper’s area. The ring count starts, Abe-san does his best to count while the cat ‘n’ mouse game is going on around him, and then Hiromu shoves a chair at Taguchi. Hiromu rushes off and Taguchi hurries after. We’re at 10 of 20 and now Hiromu is pulling up floor mat as a shield! But Taguchi gets around and drags Hiromu to the entry way with OH MY GARFUNKLE! We’re at 15 of 20 as they go further away!

Hiromu rolls to throw Taguchi off! We’re at 17! Hiromu gets in at 18, Taguchi rushes over and slides in, but Hiromu dropkicks him down! Fans applaud this new exchange, though it’s been far from technical. Fans rally up and Hiromu watches Taguchi closely. Is Taguchi even conscious? The ref raises the arm and drops it, one! Then he raises and drops it again, that’s two! The ref actually checks on Taguchi, but Taguchi gets his second wind! Wait, really? Hiromu brings Taguchi up, CHOPS him then whips him corner to corner. Hiromu runs in to clotheslines, snapmare, but Taguchi avoids the basement dropkick!

Taguchi gets the leg, OH MY G- NO! Hiromu turns over, kicks Taguchi away, and then fireman’s carries for TIME- NO! Sunset flip from Taguchi, TWO! OH MY GARFUNKLE! Hiromu rolls again, but Taguchi gets the free leg! But Hiromu twists for a victory roll, TWO! OH MY GARFUNKLE! Hiromu reaches out, Taguchi drags him back! Chicken wings, DODON- NO! Victory roll again! TWO, Taguchi has the victory roll, TWO! They roll and roll and roll, and roll and roll and roll, and roll and roll, Hiromu has the cover, TWO!! Taguchi has the OH MY GARFUNKLE!! Hiromu endures, reaches out, and fans rally up as Taguchi leans on the hold!

Hiromu scrambles forward, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Taguchi lets go reluctantly, but then brings Hiromu up. Fans rally, Hiromu breaks free but Taguchi catches the superkick to spin Hiromu for an ENZIGURI! And then chicken wings, DODON- NO, Hiromu slips free! Taguchi fights the suplex, wrenches an arm, then ducks Hiromu’s clothesline to waistlock. Hiromu elbows free, runs, Taguchi jumps but the hip attack turns into an atomic drop! Taguchi staggers but he powers up! Fans fire up with Taguchi, but Hiromu kicks and whips him! Taguchi reverses, but again hip attack becomes atomic drop!

Fans rally as Taguchi staggers. Hiromu eggs Taguchi on and Taguchi takes his tights down?! He shows off his red briefs! Hiromu is worried now, but Taguchi rushes in. Hiromu sets up but Taguchi fakes him out! Taguchi knees Hiromu, reels him in, and suplexes for a GOURD BUSTER! Fans fire up, Taguchi goes to the corner, and he throws down Hiromu’s jacket so he can climb up the corner! Taguchi reaches the top, brings his tights back up, and then jumps in, but only to the mat. But then Hiromu reels Taguchi in for a cradle! TWO!! Hiromu rolls Taguchi, then runs, but Taguchi side steps and kicks low!

Taguchi runs, but Hiromu follows to HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up while both men are down. Hiromu brings Taguchi up and whips him to ropes. Taguchi runs backwards to let Hiromu go past him! Hiromu turns around into a HIP ATTACK! Fans fire up and Taguchi calls upon the powers of Strong Style! “ORYA!” But then Hiromu pushes Taguchi over to a cover, TWO! Hiromu dodges to hook, spin and wrench, to pump handle, but Taguchi rolls! Hiromu tries again, HIROMU CRADLE! HIROMU WINS!

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Taguchi earns 0 points)

The still not officially named arm-trap cradle gets it done again! Hiromu feels that was a bit anticlimactic, though. But in the end, the Timebomb is 3-0 against the Funky Weapon in the Best of the Super Juniors! Will this lead Hiromu to his third straight tournament trophy? Or can Taguchi make a comeback in round two?

Best of the Super Juniors 29 A Block: YOH VS Taiji Ishimori!

Mr. Direct Drive found his motivation again after being hassled by Hiromu, and he looks to kick it into a new gear! But he’s up against the NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion! Will the Bone Soldier make sure BOSJ 29 is reborn? Or will Yoh win himself a golden shortcut?

The bell rings and fans rally up. Taiji and Yoh circle, tie up, and Taiji wrenches to a wristlock. Yoh rolls, kips up, wrenches back and also has the wristlock. Taiji rolls, kips, handsprings, wrenches and YANKS! Taiji whips, Yoh reverses and drops to speed things up. Drop toehold and basement dropkick! Fans applaud and Yoh stomps Taiji down. Yoh brings Taiji up to waistlock but Taiji switches. Yoh switches back, only for Taiji to run and throw Yoh out! Taiji drags Yoh up while fans rally, and Taiji wrenches the arm to CLUB it. Taiji then hammerlocks the arm to POST it! Taiji puts Yoh in the ring but pulls him against the post, and he SLAMS the arm!

Yoh writhes, Taiji gets a chair! Red Shoes reprimands but Taiji SLAMS the bad arm again. Taiji grabs the bell hammer but Red Shoes shakes his head. Taiji tosses the hammer aside, to SLAM the arm again, and SMACK it with the chair!! Yoh writhes and clutches the arm, Red Shoes checks on him and Taiji goes to the blue corner. Taiji takes away the buckle pad, the Bullet Club Special is in play! Taiji then hides it while the ring count starts. The count is 10 before Yoh sits up. Yoh gets up at 14, and in at 15! Fans applaud but Taiji stomps the bad arm! Taiji drags Yoh up, and whips him into the bare buckles!

Yoh writhes and Red Shoes reprimands but Taiji just shrugs. Fans rally up, Taiji brings Yoh around and he SLAMS the bad arm on the mat! Taiji then wrenches Yoh, puts him in a neutral corner, and whips him just to WRING him out, and then WRING the arm again! Taiji gets the bad arm and uses it in a cobra clutch! Fans rally as Yoh endures, fights up, and throws body shots with his free arm. Taiji ripcords Yoh to RAM shoulders! Then he WRINGS the arm again! Yoh writhes more as fans rally up. Taiji takes his time as he looms over Yoh, but Yoh throws body shots! Taiji elbows Yoh on the top of his head!

Taiji drags Yoh up, bumps him off buckle pads, and whips him corner to corner. Taiji runs in to DOUBLE KNEE, then he keeps moving. Yoh dodges to dropkick Taiji down! Fans rally up, Yoh gets up and shakes out the bad arm, and he roars as he brings Taiji up. Yoh throws forearms, whips Taiji corner to corner, but Taiji reverses. Yoh goes up and over, blows past the boot to CLOBBER Taiji! Taiji bails out, Yoh builds speed and FLIES! Direct hit and fans fire up with Yoh! Red Shoes checks on both men but they’re okay to continue. Yoh gets Taiji up and into the ring. Yoh then climbs up and waits on Taiji to get up. MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!

Yoh grows frustrated but the fans still rally up behind him. Yoh brings Taiji back up, reels him in, but Taiji wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! And then a hammerlock, to RAM into the bare buckles! Red Shoes reprimands but the damage has been done. Taiji drags Yoh up, hammerlocks and half nelsons to scoop, for a SHOULDER BUSTER! Yoh writhes again and fans rally back up. Taiji aims from a corner as Yoh slowly rises. Taiji runs in, tilt-o-whirl but Yoh makes it a roll-up! TWO, Taiji runs but Yoh gets around. Taiji bucks the O’Conner but Yoh blocks the boot to DRAGON SCREW! Taiji writhes and fans fire up!

Taiji drags himself to ropes, Yoh gets the leg again for another DRAGON SCREW! Yoh drags Taiji back to a KNEEBAR! Taiji scrambles for the ROPEBREAK! Yoh lets go in frustration, but he drags Taiji to center to SPINNING TOEHOLD! Yoh pushes Taiji down but Taiji kicks him away! Fans rally, Taiji gets up but Yoh dropkicks his legs out! Yoh then hurries to get Taiji up, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! But into the KNEEBAR!! Taiji endures, reaches out and fans rally up! Taiji crawls, but Yoh drags him back! Yoh cranks way back on the leg with a HEEL HOOK! Taiji still endures, still fights forward, but Yoh shifts to an ANKLE LOCK!

Taiji fights, gets up, but Yoh reels him in for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Yoh holds on, brings Taiji back up, another GERMAN SUPLEX! Fans fire up as Yoh still holds on, and shifts to a full nelson! Taiji fights and breaks free, but Yoh KICKS his leg out! Yoh runs, into a gut wrench! CIPHER UTAKI! Both men are down and fans fire up! Taiji hits his bad leg to get it moving, and he drags himself over to Yoh. Taiji brings Yoh up, ROCKS him with a forearm, but Yoh ROCKS Taiji back! Taiji throws another forearm, Yoh gives it back, and fans rally. Taiji staggers but he comes back to ROCK Yoh! Taiji eggs Yoh on, so Yoh throws boxing elbows!

Yoh ROCKS Taiji and Taiji drops to his knees! Yoh drags Taiji up to DECK him! Fans rally and Yoh brings Taiji up. Taiji fires off a strike fest, and a JUMP KNEE! Yoh goes down but Taiji fires up! He takes aim, “BANG!” and he brings Yoh back up. But Yoh wrenches and rams shoulders with Taiji! Yoh shakes his head, and he brings Taiji up. Suplex, GHOSTBUSTER! Yoh powers up and fans are fired up with him! Yoh gets Taiji back up, reels him in again, underhooks the arms but Taiji blocks to wrench and POST Yoh! Part two of the Bullet Club Special! Taiji throws Yoh down and fans rally up again.

Taiji drags Yoh up, Half Hatch, but no Bloody Cross as Yoh goes up and over! Taiji runs in, into a SUPERKICK! Yoh roars and fans are thunderous! Yoh drags Taiji up into the double underhooks. DIRECT- NO, Taiji fights free, tilt-o-whirls, MISTICO! BONE LOCK!! Yoh scrambles around, reaches out but Taiji rolls Yoh away! Yoh taps, Taiji wins!

Winner: Taiji Ishimori, by submission (gains 2 points; Yoh earns 0 points)

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion denies Yoh his golden ticket! Will Yoh have to start that long road to the top next round? As for Taiji, he puts the belt on and gets the mic. “Yoh. I usually have no idea what you’re thinking, but maybe I felt a little bit of your fire today. But it’s still not enough. Come again.” Fans applaud, and Taiji continues with, “The Best of the Super Juniors 29 has begun! Both A and B Blocks are full of unique personalities. This is a stacked league.” Taiji remembers that two years ago, he walked into Nagoya and BOSJ the champion. He started with a main event loss then, but he’s started on the right foot this time!

Fans applaud and Taiji continues to say, “No one has won the Super Juniors while champion in some time, huh? The Super Juniors winner goes on to face the champion, right? That’s the convention. But I’m looking to smash all conventions!” Fans like the sound of that. Taiji wants to know where the main camera is right now. “All eyes on me. I’ll show you how strong and great us Juniors are! It’s Reborn!” The Bone Soldier pats the belt, confident he’ll make history. But will it be that easy for the current champion to also be Best of the Super Juniors? Or will he run into a roadblock soon enough?

Here are the current standings in A Block!

Taiji Ishimori: 1-0, 2 points
Hiromu Takahashi: 1-0, 2 points
Ace Austin: 1-0, 2 points
Alex Zayne: 1-0, 2 points
Francesco Akira: 1-0, 2 points
YOH: 0-1, 0 points
Ryusuke Taguchi: 0-1, 0 points
SHO: 0-1, 0 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 0-1, 0 points
Clark Connors: 0-1, 0 points

My Thoughts:

This was a great start to BOSJ 29, but of course I kept this to just the BOSJ matches. That opening tag match was obvious, anyway, since there were three Young Lions on one side. B Block was still in action through those other matches, so those were good tune-ups. The A Block BOSJ matches were great stuff, Austin VS Connors was a very good start to the tournament. Zayne VS Kanemaru was great stuff, and honestly just proof that WWE gave up on The Sauce too soon. Austin and Zayne both getting the wins in their matches was a bit of a surprise but a good start for them in this tournament, being they’re from outside NJPW.

Akira VS Sho was great stuff, with Akira having his own takes on some of Ospreay’s signatures. And it was great for TJP to be there to stop Sho from cheating so that Akira could win fair and square. Given how Akira made his appearance in NJPW, he’s definitely a frontrunner for winning this tournament. Taguchi VS Hiromu was great and hilarious stuff, but it made a lot of sense for Hiromu to win. Taguchi is currently IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, he doesn’t have to win the BOSJ. And Hiromu going for the threepeat is one of the major stories, so he’s gotta start strong.

Yoh VS Taiji was a great main event, and for many of the same reasons as Hiromu going for his threepeat, Taiji is going for the historic tournament win while champion. The whole A Block could certainly come down to Hiromu VS Taiji, the winner going on to the finals against the B Block winner.

My Score: 8.5/10