NJPW PPV Coverage
NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 10/14/2019
Matt Davis steps back into the spotlight with his review and recap of New Japan’s King Of Pro Wrestling!
Matt Davis steps back into the spotlight with his review and recap of New Japan’s King Of Pro Wrestling!
Welcome to the event everyone has been waiting for since the G1 Climax ended! Annually this show is held in October, and features marquee rivalries coming to ahead as we set the stage for WrestleKingdom. Due to inclimate weather surrounding Typhoon Hagibis, several announced talent were not able to travel to Japan for this show. Due to time constraints of my own I will jumping into the action after the first couple matches with full details and summarizing the openers.
1) El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs SHO & YOH
Originally advertised as a six man tag featuring Zack Sabre Jr, this was turned into a regular tag team match and a preview for next weeks Super Jr Tag League Tournament. El Desperado made his return to NJPW after suffering a broken jaw in May. Suzuki-gun looked like they never missed a beat and picked up the opening win after a Pinche Loco at 10:55
Winners: El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Rating: **
Thoughts: Average junior tag match between two experienced teams. There was no doubt Desperado wasn’t winning his return. Let’s see what happens next week in the Super Jr Tag. I think these guys have to be favorites after their dominant run with the Tag Titles last year.
2) Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma vs Togi Makabe & Toru Yano
“20th Anniversary Hiroshi Tanahashi NJPW Debut Match”
This was a cool match which was the fourth in a series of anniversary matches for The Ace, honoring his longevity and loyalty to the company he helped rejuvinate over a decade ago. Makabe and Toru Yano have been with him along the way in the company, and Honma is a long time tag parter of Togi Makabe, so seeing the four veterans go at it with low stakes was fun. Tanahashi picked up the win after a High Fly Flow on Yano in under 10 minutes.
Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma
Rating: *1/2
Thoughts: Nothing wrong with it, nothing special about it either. I’m not a huge fan of Tanahashi at this stage of his career. Other people love him, it’s fine. He hit his spots, was a basic tag with NJPW veterans.
3) Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi vs DOUKI & Taichi
Early heel action by DOUKI and Taichi, because everyone hates Taichi. The feud with Naito and Taichi goes way back, when both were juniors. Taichi upset Naito in the G1 this year. With Takagi moving to the heavyweight division, there was a lot of story here and a proving ground for Taichi and Takagi as they tried to earn a reputation as guys that can “go”. Noshigami got a near fall at the end, but Taichi broke it up. Taichi attacked Shingo with his microphone for the rare disqualification finish in under 9 minutes.
Winners: Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi
Grade: *
Thoughts: So far this card has been extremely dull, and outside some excitement that we had near the end of this, there wasn’t much to it. I wished we got some more story. Disqualifications are extremely rare in New Japan, and it really sucks the finish away. No reason Naito couldn’t have gotte a pin on DOUKI and told the same story. As we head towards WK, I have to wonder if they’re building to Naito vs Taichi.
4) KISHIN Liger vs Minoru Suzuki
This is the match we’ve all been waiting for, and where I will begin reviewing the show. For those who need some background on why the title of this match says “KISHIN” and not “Jyushin”: In October 1996, The Great Muta had ripped off Liger’s mask during a match, but Liger stood up and revealed an all white painted face with red streaks, and white body paint, which was a much more aggressive version of Jushin Liger. He named this character KUSHIN Liger. He used the character again in 2006 in a feud with Bad Boy Hido, and again in 2012 against Taichi. In 2019, Minoru Suzuki assaulted Liger during his 30th anniversary, tearing at his mask, telling Liger he did not want to face Jushin, he wanted KISHIN. On September 22nd, the demonic alternative version of Thunder Liger finally returned, attacking Suzuki with a railroad spike, trainers, young lions, and even Hiroshi Tanahashi. Suzuki got his wish, and the match was made for tonight. Jyushin Thunder Liger will be retiring at WrestleKingdom in 2020, this being one of his final single matches.
Kevin Kelly tells us that this match could be considered a blood feud, dating back 17 years. Kelly tells us that Suzuki beat Liger in an MMA match in 2002, which was Liger’s only MMA match in his career. We are told that tonight Jyushin will be wrestling as Battle Liger tonight, which is a different character than either other character we’ve seen leading up to this match, only seeing it in 2012, and only two other times prior to tonight (against Tiger Mask and in 2002 and Hashimoto in 1994). We are told Liger might kill Minoru Suzuki tonight.
They circle around each other, trying to look for any advantage. Liger spits at Suzuki, and lays down on the mat, taunting Suzuki to wrestle him. Suzuki gets on the mat trying to twist him like a preztler and they square away to cheers. Liger into a drop toe hold but Suzuki blocks into a wristlock early! Suzuki is trying to break Liger’s arm, finally Liger gets to the ropes ad Minoru Suzuki is pissed. He lays flat on his mat now, but feigns out and tries to sweep Liger. Liger mounts now, as Suzuki cradles into a leglock but LIier reverses into a TRIANGLE! Suzulo frantic and backs up and gets a break. Liger refuses to break, as the referees warns him several times before breaking. Dropkick rolls Suzuki under the bottom rope. They begin to brawl outside. OW! Liger launches Suzuki chest first at full speed into the barricade. Liger smashes a chair on the cold steel as the referee stops LIger from using it, and Suzuki boots the chair into Liger now. Suzuki crashes Liger into the barricade now, cracking a chair across his back several times and then in the shoulder!
Suzuki wraps Liger’s arm and shoulder around the barricade and tries to break his arm again. Referee breaks it up, and Suzuki berates and chokes the referee. Suzuki begins tearing at the Battle Liger mask to boos. They stand face to face as Suzuki tries to rip it off again as they exchange slaps and chest strikes. On the apron, Suzuki tries to unmask Liger again, and drapes Liger’s arm across the top rope with a cross armbreaker screaming “IM GOING TO BREAK HIS ARM!” swinging back and forth on the ropes to boos. Liger rolling around in a lot of pain. Suzuki is really targeting the arm here.We are reminded that 7 years ago Suzuki wrestled one of the finest wrestling matches ever at King of Pro Wrestling against Hiroshi Tanahashi, but tonight it will be far from that. Huge headbutt drops Liger, before a hard right hand drops him again. Suzuki tells Liger to get up and stops the referee from counting him down. Liger up and open palm strikes, Suzuki with a boot and Liger collapses against the ropes. In the corner, huge boot by Suzuki, LIger blocks the PK! Running forearm chop across the nose and Suzuko shrugs it off and charges out of the corner! FIGHTING SPIRIT!!
Suzuki with elbows and is caught with a hard clothesline by Liger across the jaw to cheers! Capo Kick! Liger tries the Brainbuster into the rear naked choke! Suzuki doesn’t want it to end as he drops a limp Liger, Liger playing possum into a deep octopus double arm bar! Suzuki screaming in pain as Liger twists the shoulder and arm. He’s screaming “ASK HIM!” Suzuki somersaults out of of the hold into the ropes for a break. Liger with a hard kick on the shoulder he just twisted. Twisting armbreaker! Suzuki blocks, but Liger does it again! Suzuki in tremendous amounts of pain. Liger with a third one- NO BLOCKED INTO THE CHOKE! Liger escapes with a snapmare, and Suzuki holds onto the choke on the mat! Liger is fading… Referee lifts the limp arm twice and Liger gets to his feet. Suzuki teases a Gotch, and Liger blocks as the crowd starting to cheer. Liger back body drop! Lou Thesz Press into a pin for two and Suzuki gets out! VERTICAL DROP BRAINSBUSTERRRRRR!!!!! SUZUKI KICKS OUT!!!! ONE OF THE MOST PROTECTED MOVES IN JAPAN!!!! Suzuki kicked out! Liger signals for the end, and Suzuki with a hard dropkick!! Open palm strikes to a prone Liger who can’t protect himself as he stumbles, but roars back with his own fighting spirit! Crowd erupts! Suzuki slaps his own face! This is insane! Liger with his own chest strikes and slaps! Suzuki stares into Liger’s soul and smiles! Suzuki reponds with lightning fast strikes! Liger drops and stands again to cheers, but stumbles before he can connect with a strike. Liger with a slap! Suzuki says more! Forearm! Slap! Slap! Suzuki wants more! HARD STRIKE BY LIGER! Suzuki elbows Liger flat. Referee checking on Liger. Liger up with strikes and they yell in each others face. As hard as anyone can strike, Liger breaks sweat off Suzuki’s chest with an open palm strike, and Suzuki with a quick elbow strike into the Stalling Gotch Style Piledriver. Suzuki gets three for the win in 18 minutes.
Winner: Minoru Suzuki
Grade: ***
Thoughts: I honestly went from super excited about this match to disappointed before the bell rang, as I thought this would be Kishin Liger against Suzuki. Battle Liger still was a good character to use, as they absolutely kicked the crap out of each other here. Big, big difference between what we saw here and Liger’s usual stuff. The crowd loved it, it was reminiscent of older New Japan stuff, and both of them knew that. I can’t believe Suzuki kicked out of the Brainbuster. It’s one of the most protected moves in Japanese wrestling. This match was different for so many reasons, but it wasn’t a epic, so I gave it three stars out of five. Great story, electric atmosphere, great strong style, but it ended a little quicker than I was expecting, and as I mentioned, slightly disappointed that it was Battle Liger and not Kishin.
After the match Minoru Suzuki gets a chair and gets in the ring as the young lions tend on Liger, Suzuki tries to destroy Liger once and for all as he raises the chair above his head, and throws it away. He kneels in front of a prone Liger, and bows down to Liger as the fans erupt with cheers! A moment that this crowd will remember forever. The ultimate form of respect. Suzuki marches away quickly as Liger gets helped to his feet. Liger takes a microphone and says “Suzuki, thank you” and throws the mic down as his music hits for one of the last times. The crowd is chanting “LIGER LIGER” as he walks away.
5) El Phantasmo vs IWGP Jr Champion Will Ospreay
IWGP JR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
El Phantasmo won the Super J Cup in August, eliminating Ospreay in the semi-finals. Phantasmo has been haunting and attacking Ospreay at every corner. After Ospreay and Robbie Eagles couldn’t beat Phantasmo and Ishimori for thr Jr Tag Titles, Ospreay said Phantasmo will never beat him for the Jr Heavyweight Title. We are told ELP was able to make it to the show as he was training in the NJPW Dojo when the typhoon hit as the Doho was flooded and the moved memorabilia upstairs all night protecting the history of New Japan. Kevin Kelly told us Bullet Club will not be at ringside during this match as Phantasmo wanted to prove he could beat Ospreay by himself and clean. Ospreay won the Best of the Super Juniors in June, and won the IWGP Jr Championship at Dominion, but if Phantasmo can win here, he would be the reigning RevPro Cruiserweight Champion, one half of the IWGP Jr Tag Champions, the Super J Cup and British J Cup winner. He could sweep all the junior accolades with a win here.
Ospreay refuses a handshake as they lock up. Against the ropes, ELP breaks and taps Ospreay on the chest. Armdrag into a headlock into a press, snapmare, both men flip around to cheers, monkeyflip, missed clothesline, hurricanrana by ELP, Ospreay misses a roundhouse kick to cheers and ELP backs up. Ospreay says he was inches away from winning. Ospreay again refuses a handshake. ELP wants a test of strength and Ospreay accepts as they clash together. ELP forces down Ospreay at first but he fights back and drives ELP down into a bridge. They exchange rolls and flips into a double pin. Both escape into mirror bridges, eyes locked. ELP with a slap in the bridge. Both men up and The Aerial Assassin with his own slap! ELP with a knife edged chop! Ospreay with his own and ELP drops! They exchange forearms and ELP stumbles. Ospreay is fighting for his life, as they come to blows. Ospreay accuses ELP of hitting him in the eye as he drops down. ELP says it was an accident and offers his hand and respectfully lifts Ospreay to his feet to cheers before driving Ospreay throat first in the corner to boos! ELP blocks a forearm, and walks the ropes launching Ospreay outside. Handspring into the ropes, backflip into the superhero pose mocking Ospreay!
Ospreay with a quick Pip Pip Cheerio! HANDSPRING BACK FLIP MOONSAULT OVER THE TOP ROPE! Ospreay drags ELP around ringside to cheers. Ospreay tosses ELP into the crowd!! WOW! He tossed him over ten feet into the commentary teams. Phantasmo with a chair shot out of no where! He says “Whoops” (hahahahah). They’re brawling in the crowd now. Commentary is limited. Phantasmo climbs into a stairwell, as Ospreay meets him on the other side. They’re standing ten feet above concrete. Both of them teetering, Ospreay flips but fights back. OSPREAY TEASES THE STORMBREAKER BUT ELP BLOCKS! Ospreay slips and falls down to the walk way below. SUICIDE CROSSBODY DIVE TO THE FLOOR BY EL PHANTASMO!!!!!! ELP drags Ospreay back to ringside and is in complete control.
Cover in the ring, and Ospreay barely kicks out. ELP sends Ospreay chest into the opposite corner and rakes his back. Ospreay put in the tree of woe. Dropkick to the face! Phantasmo fakes another one and drops a boot in the groin. As Phantasmo poses, Ospreay lifts himself up ad nails a german suplex while in the tree of woe! HARD KNIFE EDGE CHOP in the corner by Ospreay! Ospreay blocks a springboard strike with a dropkick to the chest! Twisting handspring kick to the face! Ospreay poses on the corner, misses a moonsault, misses a standing moonsault, nails a standing shooting star, and a second rope moonsault for two! Ospreay tries a Stormbreaker but ELP blocks. Ospreay signals for the Hidden Blade but ELP blocks. They dodge attacks and ELP with an enzuguiri in the corner! Phantasmo with a Frankensteiner and OSPREAY LANDS ON HIS FEET! ELP escapes the dragonsuplex, ducks the hook kick, step up enzo by ELP! Ospreay blocks a move into a cutter, ELP blocks the OsCutter into a reverse airplane spin! Both me down!
On the apron, El Phantasmo in control, Ospreay blocks the CRII as both men fight on the apron. Ospreay blocks the CRII again, and knocks ELP silly with a roundhouse kick! OS CUTTER TO THE OUTSIDE!!! Both men down as the count begins. Ospreay in at 11, ELP in at 19.98! COAST TO COAST BY OSPREAY! SHOOTING STAR PRESS! Phantasmo kicked out at two and a half! Robinson Special connects! OS CUTTERRRRR!!!! Hooks the leg and Taiji Ishimori pulls the referee out to a lot of boos! Ishimori grabs the IWGP Jr Championship, but Robbie Eagles makes the save and destroys Ishimori with a cannonball through the ropes and drags Ishimori to the back!
ELP grabs the IWGP Jr Championship now, ELP swings, Ospreay ducks, HOOK KICK! ELP is done! HIDDE BLADE MISSES! LOW BLOW BY ELP! Shot with the title to the face! He throws the title outside. ELP to the top, diving splash! Ospreay out at two! Cheeky Nando kick by ELP mocking Ospreay using his own move. Both men up top now. ELP with a spinning reverse fireman carry! Ospreay kicks out again! ELP tries the CRII. Ospreay blocks, BUT ELP NAILS THE STYLES CLASH!!!! OSPREAY KICKS OUT!! V TRIGGER BY ELP! Ospreay reverses the One Winged Angel into a cradle! Kickout! SUPERKICK BY ELP! SPANISH FLY BY Ospreay and both men down!
They’re exchanging blows in the middle of the ring as both men exhausted. They’re empting all they have. ROUNDHOUSE! Forearm! HOOK KICK! ELP is dazed! ROUNDHOUSE! ELP drops to his knees! CANADIAN DESTROYER DDT SPIKES ELP! Ospreay covers and Phantasmo kicks out! Ospreay to the top rope to cheers. Phantasmo kicks the referee into the ropes and Ospreay crumbles. Ospreay blocks the Super CRII on the top rope. Headbutt by ELP! OSPREAY BLOCKS THE SUPER FRANKENSTEINER WITH A POWERBOMB!!!!! Ospreay pulls the elbow pad down…. HIDDEN BLADE! ELP HEAD FELL OFF HIS SHOULDERS! STORMBREAKER! WIN! 28 minutes
Winner AND STILL IWGP Jr Champion: Will Ospreay
Grade: ****1/4
Thoughts: You ever watch a match and know you’re watching a breakout match for someone? Think Kenny Omega against KUSHIDA at Dominion 2015, you knew Omega was going to be special soon. This match was that moment for El Phantasmo. Several iconic moments, the suicide crossbody into the walkway was absolutely insane. You don’t see that too much in Japan, and haven’t in a major professional wrestling promotion in a while. They brought out tributes to multiple famous junior heavyweights through wrestling history. The Hidden Blade at the end was brutal. I really don’t like matches that get dirty, but the very minor interference and cheating didn’t affect this match in the least bit, so it’s okay. What a great match between two guys who work so well together. Ospreay’s offense is just so crisp and devestating. His striking ability is unlike anyone else in wrestling. Not KENTA, not Shibata, not Ibushi, no one can compare to how fast he can strike. The Roundhouse near the end was one of the stiffest shots I’ve ever seen, clean on the ear. Really fun stuff.
6) “CHAOS” Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, & YOSHI-HASHI vs “Bullet Club” Jay White, KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi
This is going to be another quick review, as six man tag matches are often dull affairs, with some stories, but not much consequence. Not sure why this match wasn’t fourth on the card. If anything, a true definition of a crowd break match. Jay White defeated Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Championship at Destruction in Kobe on September 22nd, so Bullet Club has some gold around their waists here (coming up short of another in the previous match).
KENTA dominated most of the match, after beating Ishii for the NEVER Open Championship at Royal Quest, KENTA looks to prove a statement to CHAOS and future NEVER Openweight challengers, but it was Hirooki Goto who laid claim to an opportunity as he pinned Yujiro Takahashi with the GTR as KENTA and Jay White looked on in 12 minutes.
Winners: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, & YOSHI-HASHI
Grade: **
Thoughts: Average six man tag between two groups of upper mid card guys. You get the usual Bullet Club/Jay White dirty stuff, and KENTA being a prick, but the fans went home happy with this one as Yujiro Takahashi ate the pin. Killed the flow of the show having this here, even if it involves some of the bigger names in the company.
7) Lance Archer vs Juice Robinson
IWGP UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP [vacant]
NO DISQUALIFICATION
This match was supposed to be Jon Moxley against Juice Robinson but Moxley could not travel to Japan due to the typhoon. This match was made instead. Lance Archer stepped into this opportunity due to a strong showing in G1 and the Fighting Spirit Tour. Juice Robinson is a former 2 time IWGP US Champion. Lance Archer is a former 3 time IWGP Tag Team Champion, former 4 time NWA Tag Team Champion (2 with Davey Boy Smith and 2 with Kid Kash), former 2 time GHC Tag Team Champion in NOAH, but he’s never held singles gold in a major promotion. Jon Moxley has now missed AEW’s All Out and NJPW’s King of Pro Wrestling in six weeks time for various reasons.
Archer starts trying a chokeslam, Juice a low blow and with an inside cradle for two! Juice with a spear to the outside! Juice immediately grabs a chair and drives it into Archer’s ribs and back! Juice throws Archer full speed into the barricade!! He posts him! Archer down! Juice tries a cannonball but Archer with a big boot on the outside! Juice blocks a chokeslam, but Archer gets it a second time through a table in the crowd! Archer with a steel chair across the back and holds the US Championship up to cheers. Archer tears off the turnbuckle pads in all the corners as this match is about to get dangerous.
Archer gets a chair and threatens the referee as Juice is still crawling around outside. Archer takes chairs and sticks them between the turnbuckles. He assaults Juice one more time for good measure. Archer gets another table and slides it in the ring as Archer is creating his own Murder House now. EVERYBODY DIES as he assaults the Young Lions at ringside. He puts the tables in the corners that don’t have chairs. Archer throws Juice face first into one of the chairs. Juice Robinson dislocated one of his fingers as he looks to be in a bit of pain, showing the finger to the camera. Archer sends Juice into the second chair, and tries a pin but Juice kicks out. Juice’s nose is now busted open as well. Archer grabs Juice’s arm and walks the top rope half way around the entire ring. Juice finally trips him up to cheers. Juice with a headbutt. Robinson tries a superplex and drops Archer back first!! Juice tries a pin and Archer kicks out! Juice with the Dizzy Jabs! Juice tries Left Hand of God, Archer blocks, RIGHT JAB! LEFT HAND OF GOD CONNECTS! Cannonball through the table! Juice with a pin and Archer kicks out.
Juice plays the crowd, Archer reverses Pulp Friction, POUNCE THROUGH THE TABLE IN THE CORNER! Both men down and dazed. Archer rolls outside and goes under the ring looking for more destruction. Juice is outside throwing chairs in the ring on the other side. Archer is getting more chairs. Both in the ring with chairs, Archer misses a swing, Juice misses, Archer with a right hand through the chair into Juice’s face! Juice is flat out! Chokeslam reversed. EBD CLAW! NO JUICE REVERSES INTO THE JUICEBOX! Hooks the leg and Archer kicks out! Juice is stacking chairs in the middle of the ring. Juice sets Archer and tries Pulp Friction, reversed into a Chokeslam onto the pile of chairs!! Archer piles them back together and grabs Juice as he teases the Blackout off the top through the chairs… MURDER HOUSE OPEN FOR BUSINESS!! Archer pins and JUICE KICKS OUT!!!!! Archer slamming Juice’s head into the chairs. EBD CLAW! Three count in the middle of the ring and we have a new IWGP US CHAMPION in 15 minutes!! Lance Archer has done it! WOW! What a upset!
Winner AND NEW IWGP US CHAMPION: Lance Archer
Grade: **1/2
Thoughts: For a impromptu brawl, this was fun. There was a lot of destruction, several tables went kaboom, several chairs were destroyed, and Juice’s finger and face also had better days. Juice wrestled with a dislocated finger most of a match against an opponent he wasn’t planning on facing. Gritty performance for Juice here. Archer gets a great moment as he has arrived in Japan as a singles star.
8) Kota Ibushi vs EVIL
TOYKO DOME CONTRACT MATCH
Kota Ibushi defeated Jay White in the finals of the G1 on August 12th, guaranteeing an opportunity to face the IWGP Champion at WrestleKingdom. He must defend that opportunity here against who many regard as the spiritual successor to big brawlers like Masahiro Chono and Hiroyoshi Tenzan in New Japan; “The King of Darkness” EVIL.
EVIL attacks at the bell trying to gain an immediate upper hand to head to the Toyko Dome. EVIL with a strong side headlock early on, wearing down Kota. Kota tries to fight out but EVIL locks it in tighter and harder. Ibushi finally escapes, EVIL with a strong shoulder tackle, Ibushi kips up, and EVIL with another side headlock, dragging this one to the mat. Ibushi up, strikes and kicks EVIL hard. He follows up with multiple mid kicks. EVIL blocks another and drives Ibushi upside down over the top rope with a clothesline! Ibushi back first into the ringside barricade crashing in hard! EVIL with a receipt!
EVIL in control in the ring, swinging neckbreaker and Kota kicks out at one easily. EVIL with knee in the back, angling pressure betwee the shoulder blades but Ibushi powers out but EVIL with a double wrist lock and Ibushi can’t escape. Ibushi tries to leverage. He finally outpowers, and EVIL reverses again, dropping Ibushi to the mat, driving the knee in deep. Ibushi with a desperation mid kick! Martial art kick combo, powerslam, into the moonsault and EVIL kicks out! They exchange tie ups, Ibushi misses a springboard kick, and EVIL ties Ibushi in the corner and drives Ibushi into the mat with a stomp to the heart. EVIL tries a bronco buster, and Ibushi counters into his own double stomp! On the apron, EVIL counters a deadlift german ito a cutter across the top rope! EVIL down outside, Ibushi down inside. EVIL wraps a chair around Ibushi’s head and hits a homerun! Its gone! EVIL crushes Ibushi i the corner and is in complete control. Superplex by EVIL, and Ibushi kicks out at two and a half!
EVIL dodges a dropkick at the 10 minute mark, and EVIL stalks the G1 winner, tries a misdirection lariat, but Ibushi with a headscissors! Both men on the top rope, EVIL with a devestating headbutt, but Ibushi with a springboard hurricanrana off the top! Two count! EVIL blocks the Kamigoye. German suplex by EVIL but Ibushi lands on his feet! Both men try hard forearms and are blocked! LARIATTTTTTTTTTTTT BY EVIL! HOOKS THE LEG! KICK OUT!! EVIL connects with Darkness Falls, Ibushi kicks out! Ibushi reverses Everything Is Evil into a roll up, two! KOTA IBUSHI WITH A BASTARD DRIVER!!!! Ibushi can’t make the cover. LAST RIDE! EVIL kicks out at 2.9! SO CLOSE! Shinsuke Nakamura tribute, LARIAT KILLS IBUSHI DEAD ON HIS FEET TURNING HIM INSIDE OUT!! Both men down! PUMPING BOMBER CONNECTS! EVIL hooks the leg, Ibushi kicks out! IBushi blocks Everything Is Evil, wristlock, waistlock briding german! EVIL rolls through, Kamigoye blocked! Half and half suplex by EVIL! Another half and half suplex! EVIL can’t get the pin… The rug was pulled out from Ibushi as he thought he had it won. LARIAT BY KOTA IBUSHI!!! EVIL flips inside out! Kamigoye reversed into Everything Is Evil but Kota blocks, tries a standing Kamigoye, EVIL WITH A HEADBUTT! Kota with a headbutt! High kick! Jumping Knee, KAMIGOYE! EVIL KICKED OUT!!!!!! EVIL KICKED OUT!!! KAMIGOYE AGAIN! That’s it at 24 minutes.
Winner: Kota Ibushi
Grade: ***3/4
Thoughts: This match started so unbelievably slow, it was grueling, but the second half was worth the wait. The winner was basically undeniable, I don’t think we will ever see a G1 winner dropping the contract at King of Pro Wrestling, but if they can give us matches like this, that’s perfectly fine. EVIL dominated this match, one of his best matches of all time. His thunderous powerful offense has begun to find its spot here in New Japan and the crowd just loves him. Ibushi played the come from behind guy well, hitting several quality spots. The last three minutes is just so crisp and exciting.
9) SANADA vs IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada
IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
This is the seventh singles meeting between these two, with Okada holding a 5-1 all time record against SANADA, but that one loss is what led to this title match, with SANADA all but eliminating Okada from the G1 (after a 6-0 start) with his upset victory over The Rainmaker. The IWGP Championship has not changed hands at KIng of Pro Wrestling since 2014, when Hiroshi Tanahashi beat AJ Styles.
Okada tries to start off hot with a shotgun dropkick but SANADA side steps, both men with bombs right away. SANADA dodges the Dropkick multiple times. SANADA to the top with the Muta Moonsault but misses, Rainmaker misses, Skull End escaped, and both men miss dropkicks as they square away.
Okada tries a waistlock but SANADA controls and gets up. SANADA with a slow pace, trying to gain any advatage. Okada reverses into a wristlock and SANADA reverses into a backlock, headlock by SANADA, both men against the ropes. Okada teases a strike and taps SANADA’s chest. Hard shoulderblock by Okada knocking SANADA off his feet. Slow neckbreaker by Okada, pins, and SANADA kicks out. Okada with a chinlock and SANADA gets to the ropes, dropkick to the ear knocks the challenger outside, and Okada follows. They exchange blows outside the ring. SANADA back first ito the barricade ad boots SANADA into the crowd! Draping DDT and SANADA reverses, twisting suplex off the barricade face first into the floor! SANADA with a fireman carry dropping Okada rib first on the barricade. Okada rolls in at 17. SANADA pins and gets two. Hard crushing back elbow in the corner by SANADA, snapmare into a pin press and gets two. Headlock by SANADA trying to weaken and drain the life from the champion. Okada blocks a splash with a boot, both men exchange maneuvers, SANADA misses the standing moonsault and Okada with an uppercut and both men down…
Okada kips up first, running forearm, forearm, ducks clotheslines, and drops SANADA with a hooking clothesline of his own! Thumping collison in the corner, SPIKING DDT by Okada, into the cover and SANADA kicks out at two. SANADA Flair flops to the apron, but Okada dropkicks him off the apron to the floor into the barricade. SANADA again into the barricade and again with a boot into the crowd. Okada HIGH SPEED DIVING CROSSBODY OVER THE BARRICADE SENDING SANADA INTO THE CROWD!!! Referee starts to count SANADA out… Okada stops the referee from counting SANADA out at 17 as SANADA stumbles into the ring and collapses at Okada’s feet. A hard right forearm drops SANADA. SANADA to his feet trying to fight back but OKada is just too much dropping SANADA again, followed by a powerslam. Okada to the top rope, SANADA up and leapfrogs Okada into a Dropkick! Springboard suicide splash to the floor byh SANADA as the crowd chanting and cheering for the challenger. SANADA plays up the crowd walking around the ring..
SANADA rolls Okada under the bottom rope and gets Okada in the Paradise Lock to cheers! SANADA plays up the crowd who loves is, SANADA sets and dropkicks the quad, freeing Okada, into the pin for two. Both men exchange counters, SANADA misses the moonsault prelude to Skull End, Shotgun Dropkick sends SANADA into the corner! Okada climbs to the top rope.. MISSILE SHOTGUN DROPKICK FROM THE TOP! Powerslam and Okada back to the top rope. Diving elbowsmash! RAINMAKKKKKKEERRRRRRR POSE!!!!!!!! SANADA ducks the Rainmaker into Skull End, Okada escapes, back into Skull End, cradle for two by Okada, SANADA tries a TKO, Okada escapes, Skull End! Okada reverses into a tombstone attempt but SANADA reverses and drops the champion with a spiking tombstone! TKO! Lateral press pin and two and a half! SANADA locks in the Bodyscissor Skull End in the middle of the ring. Okada trying to flail but SANADA trying to drain the life from Okada. Okada slowly fading… Okada slips out but SANADA locks it back in!! Okada is worse for wear, Okada going limp. Okada slips out again, trying to get to the ropes, but SANADA LOCKS IT IN A FULL BODYSCISSORS! NOT TODAY! SANADA YANKS BACK! This match should be over! Okadas’ eyes are fading. Referee checking on Okada. One hand up and down. Two hands up… Okada fights out into a roll up! Two! SANADA continues the ground mount, maintaining arm control. Okada blocks Skull End. OKada trying for leverage, SANADA trying for SKull End, flips and RAINMAKER!!!!!!! Okada took a few extra moments before trying a pin and SANADA kicked out!
Both men on their knees giving each other their all as we approach the 30 minute mark.. SANADA with hard forearms. Okada with an elbow. SANADA with a strike, Both men up. Okada with a hard forearm to the chin. Forearm by SANADA! Back and forth! Faster and harder! Uppercut by Okada! SANADA with an uppercut of his own. Okada with an uppercut. SANADA stumbles Okada with a uppercut! Okada with another! SANADA responds! Okada drops to the mat! Okada ducks a rolling elbow, SANADA ducks Rainmaker, Okada reverses Skull End into his own! Dropkick to back of the head! DROPKICK OFF THE ROPES! SANADA ducks Rainmaker, cutter out of the corner into the SKULL END! Okada fading! His arm dropping limp. SANADA spins the champion and drops in the hooks! Okada looks out! His eyes are grey! SANADA rolls Okada away from the ropes! Referee checking on Okada….. is he out? Okada eyes are closed. Referee asking Okada if he’s still with us. Referee checks the hand… Okada waving a fourth of a inch in a circle. SANADA tries a cover and OKADA KICKS OUT! MUTO MOONSAULT!!!!!! TRIES ANOTHER AND OKADA GETS THE KNEES UP! Both me down! SANADA could have gone to WrestleKingdom right there but he wanted to send a message and paid the price! Okada is out, stumbling around, barely able to grab the ropes, dazed. SANADA first to his feet as the crowd erupts. Okada with a defensive desperation boot, Moonsault into Skull End! Okada reverses into his own Skull End, TOMBSTONE! RAINMAKER BLOCKED WITH A BOOT! Rainmaker ducked! O’connor roll and the crowd is going crazy! TWO! ONLY TWO! RAINMAKER DUCKED! Tombstone reversed into Skull END! SANNADA SPINS THE CHAMPION AROUND, Okada armdrags out! Dropkick at the 35 minute mark! Rainmaker ducked, Okada ducks SANADA’s Rainmaker, popup dropkick! ROLLING ELBOW BY SANADA! OKada blocks the twisting cutter into the tombstone but SANADA tries to choke him, Michinoku Driver by OKada RAINMAKERRRRRRRRRRR GETS THREE! And still IWGP CHAMPION AT 37 MINUTES KAZUCHIKA OKADA!
Winner AND STILL IWGP Champion: Kazuchika Okada
Grade: ****1/2
Thoughts: They were testing the waters here, this was a fantastic match that told an awesome story. For all intents ad purposes if we were grading points, SANADA would be our new champion after this, after countering everything Okada had at every step of the way, completely draining him not once but twice with Skull End. But it wasn’t enough, and the Rainmaker finally connected for the successful defense as we look forward to Kazuchika Okada vs Kota Ibushi. Honestly, I’m not looking forward to that and I don’t think Ibushi will win. I would really love to see these two at it. I loved their New Japan Cup match, I loved their G1 match, and I loved this match. SANADA is often criticized for sandbagging matches, but Okada brings the best out of him. I think we saw the dawning of SANADA here and I think he will win G1 in 2020. Okada is still our champ, SANADA won our hearts and minds.
Overall Show Grade: 6/10
Overall Show Thoughts: King of Pro Wrestling is often regarded as a premier event, citing Minoru Suzuki/Tanahashi in 2012, and Tanahashi/Okada in 2013 as examples of some of the best matches in the modern era, in wrestling period both taking place at this event. Tonight had some amazing matches, but it also had it’s fair share of clunkers. All the tags were less than special, really not moving the meter much.
Top 5 Stars:
1) SANADA
2) Minoru Suzuki/Jyushin Liger
3) El Phantasmo
4) Will Ospreay
5) Kazuchika Okada
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Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (6/1/25)
The finals are finally here!
This is a guaranteed sweet ‘n’ fresh Best of the Super Juniors!
Whether it is Kosei Fujita or Yoh, there will be a guaranteed NEW winner of Best of the Super Juniors tournament! Who hoists the trophy high and heads for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Robbie X VS Shoma Kato; Robbie X wins.
- 10 Man Tag: Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg, Master Wato, KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- Six Man Tag: Taichi, YOSHI-HASHI & Tomoaki Honma VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Shota Umino, El Phantasmo, MAO & Nick Wayne VS TMDK; Shota, ELP, Mao & Nick win.
- Titan & Yota Tsuji VS Taiji Ishimori & Clark Connors; Titan & Tsuji win.
- Gedo VS EVIL; Evil wins.
- Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ninja Mack & Dragon Dia VS El Desperado, Taka Michinoku & Yuya Uemura; Tanahashi, Mack & Dia win.
- Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi; Takagi & Hiromu win.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 Finals: Kosei Fujita VS YOH; Fujita wins and will challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
Gedo VS EVIL!
While the War Dogs won the rights to the name, “Bullet Club,” it seems the war with the House of Torture is far from over! Will The Blacksmith show he’s still got it? Or will he fail to bring down the King of Darkness?
Wait, Evil is out here, but where is Dick Togo? Wait, someone is handcuffing someone else to the entryway’s frame! Gedo has cuffed Dick to the girder! The House of Torture’s trickery has backfired! The fans applaud and Evil hurries to save Dick! Gedo lures him backstage, and attacks him with a cookie sheet! Gedo SMACKS Evil, SMACKS him again, and even has a kendo stick on his hip! Gedo SMACKS Evil again and Evil almost topples the railing over! Evil scrambles away through the crowd but Gedo pursues for more SMACKS! The Young Lions help fans get out of the way as Gedo keeps after Evil. Gedo SMACKS Evil again and they end up at the exit ramp!
Gedo throws the cookie sheet away and starts using the kendo stick! Gedo SMACKS Evil, JAMS him up, and the fans cheer Gedo on. Evil stands, only for Gedo to SMACK him again! Evil takes a Young Lion hostage but Gedo shows no mercy! Gedo JAMS the Young Lion, then SMACKS Evil down! The fans rally as Gedo pursues Evil further along, and SMACKS him again! They go around behind commentary, and Evil takes English commentary’s Walker Stewart hostage! Gedo just SMACKS Evil in the shoulder! But now Evil takes Milano Collection AT hostage! Gedo just laughs, dares Evil to do something, so Evil shoves Milano! Gedo brushes Milano aside to SMACK Evil again!
Evil staggers away to ringside, and Gedo SMACKS him again! Gedo puts Evil in the ring, the bell finally sounds, and this is finally a match! Gedo JABS, JABS, and JABS! Then he eggs Evil on, and catches him into a FLATLINER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally behind Gedo has he looms over Evil. Gedo drags Evil up to DDT! Evil sputters, and he’s in the drop zone! Gedo goes up, but Evil shoves the ref into him! Gedo falls to the mat while Evil undoes one of the neutral corner pads. The Bullet Club Special is still in effect, even though Evil is no longer Bullet Club, and he whips Gedo hard into the steel! Gedo falls and the fans boo!
Evil laughs and he drags Gedo up, to then whip Gedo into the buckles again! The fans still rally for Gedo but Evil taunts them and Gedo. Evil drags Gedo up for a FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, but Evil lets up! Evil grins as he wants to make Gedo pay for all he did today. Evil puts one out, and CLAWS Gedo’s face! Evil runs, and he LARIATS Gedo inside-out! Cover, but again Evil lets up! The fans boo but Evil says shove it! Evil steps through to turn Gedo over for the SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Gedo TAPS, Evil wins!
Winner: Evil, by submission
The King of Evil withstands Gedo’s game plan, but now he calls out the rest of the House! Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Yujiro Takahashi, Sho, and even Sanada make their way out here, and Ren Narita helps Dick get free. They all stomp away on Gedo, and they have the steel chain dog collar! They put the collar on Gedo, stomp him, but the War Dogs are here! Robbie X & Taiji Ishimori fight, but that’s 7v2! The House beats Taiji & Robbie down, the fans boo, but none of the other dogs are coming! TORTURE TOOL for Taiji, PIMP CANE for Robbie! Evil tosses Gedo up and over and CHOKES him! Evil tries to HANG Gedo!!
The fans boo as Gedo sputters, but Evil lets go to let Gedo slump down to the floor. The House put one out together, will Evil put down the top dog when he and David Finlay battle in a Dog Collar Match at Dominion?
Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ninja Mack & Dragon Dia VS El Desperado, Taka Michinoku & Yuya Uemura!
The Ace Final Road continues, and he teams up with the American Ninja and Infinite Carat Diamond for the first time, for the last time. But will the President of NJPW, the shinobi of Pro-Wrestling NOAH and the skater boy of Dragon Gate be able to bring down the Rogue Luchador, Blue Playmaker and Heat Storm?
Tanahashi shows off the abs and the fans cheer. The teams sort out and Yuya steps up to face The Ace! The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, Yuya wrenches and wristlocks, but Tanahashi wrenches and wristlocks back. Tanahashi headlocks, Yuya wrenches out, and the two fight for control. Yuya powers through to headlock Tanahashi, then he wrenches again to hammerlock. Tanahashi drop toeholds, headlocks, but Yuya pops out the back to hammerlock. The fans applaud this opening exchange while Tanahashi fights up. Yuya headlocks for the takeover, but Tanahashi headscissors.
Yuya kips free, and roles reverse as Tanahashi headlocks for the takeover but Yuya headscissors. Tanahashi kips free, roles reverse again so that Yuya headlock takeovers and Tanahashi headscissors. Yuya again kips free, then Tanahashi hits another takeover, and Yuya headscissors again! Tanahashi kips free once more, and the two stand off while the fans applaud. Yuya and Tanahashi nod and grin, and the fans rally up again. They even duel as the “YUYA! YUYA!” comes out to rival the “TANA-HASHI! TANA-HASHI!” Ninja Mack tags in, so now it is “NINJA! NINJA!” Yuya tags Desperado, and the fans cheer as THE IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion steps up.
Mack offers the handshake, but Despy wags his finger to say no. Mack asks, “Honto? <Really?>” Despy says, “Honto. <Really.>” Mack still offers, but Despy pie faces him! The fans boo Despy being a sore sport, but Mack offers a third time. Despy says okay, and he shakes Mack’s hand. And uses it to reel Mack into a headlock! Mack powers up and out, Despy RUNS Mack over, then Despy runs. Mack stays low, goes to hip toss but Despy turns that into a HIP TOSS, only for Mack to roll through! Mack then trips Despy, and goes for STRETCH MUFFLER!? Despy scrambles away, ROPEBREAK! Mack aims and PLANCHAS, but Despy moves!
Mack lands safe on the apron, but Despy grabs a leg! Despy THROWS Mack, but Mack handsprings through! The fans fire up and Despy is stunned! Then Mack SUPERKICKS Despy! The fans fire up as Mack goes up the aisle, and runs in, only for Despy to pop him up! Mack lands on the apron, Despy blocks the kick this time, and he trips Mack! STRETCH MUFFLER on the apron! Taka & Yuya BLAST Tanahashi & Dia while Despy thrashes Mack’s leg! The ref reprimands and counts, but Despy lets go at 4. The fans rally, Despy drags Mack up, and Despy POSTS him! Mack flounders away while the fans rally up.
Mack asks fans for help but Despy SMACKS Mack in the head! Despy drags Mack up and into the ring, then stalks him. Despy brings Mack around, whips him to the corner, and Mack hits buckles hard! Tag to Taka and he stomps Mack. Taka stomps Mack some more, then brings him up. Mack CHOPS Taka! And CHOPS again! Taka staggers but he powers up! Mack CLUSB Taka, but Taka fires up! And pokes Mack in the eyes! Taka whips Mack to a corner and SHINING WIZARDS! Taka snapmares, runs, and SHINING WIZARDS! Cover, TWO! Taka is annoyed but the fans cheer as Mack stays in this. Taka stands Mack up to UPPERCUT!
The fans rally for “NINJA! NINJA!” but Taka UPPERCUTS him again. Tag to Yuya and he CHOPS Mack! Mack CHOPS back! Yuya CHOPS, Mack CHOPS, repeat! Yuya CHOPS Mack down, has him in the corner, and the fans rally again. Yuya CHOPS Mack back down, and Mack crawls on his knees! Yuya drags Mack around to scoop, SLAM and ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Mack toughs it out but Yuya drags him up. Tag to Despy and they mug Mack. Despy brings Mack around, reels him in, and suplexes. Mack slips free, rolls Despy up, TWO! Despy KNEES low, whips Mack to a corner, but Mack goes up and over and handsprings away! Despy runs up, but into an UPPERCUT!
The fans fire up while both men crawl! Hot tag to Dia! The fans fire up as Dia runs and RANAS Despy! Despy tumbles, Taka is in but Dia dodges! Dia BLASTS Yuya, dodges Taka again and trips him up! Then SLINGSHOT TORNILLO! #DragonFlip! The fans fire up and Taka bails out. Dia runs corner to corner and ELBOWS Despy, to then SOBAT, SWEEP, and STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Despy stays in this and the fans rally for Dia. Dia climbs up, waits on Despy, but Despy scrambles away. Dia storms up to kick and whip, but Despy reverses to hit a BIG back suplex! The fans rally again as Despy drags Dia back up.
Despy suplexes high and hard, then covers, TWO! The fans cheer as Dia stays in this, but Despy brings him up. Dia BODY SHOTS, then CHOPS! Despy eggs Dia on so Dia CHOPS, CHPOS, and CHOPS! Despy DECKS Dia with a forearm! Despy then gut wrenches for GUITARRA- NO, Dia slips free, shoves, and then 619s! Despy takes that shot to the gut, and Dia springboards in, but Despy makes it a SPINEBUSTER! Despy underhooks for PINCHE LO- NO, Dia lands out! HEEL KICK! Both men are down again and the fans rally up! Dia crawls, Despy crawls, hot tags to Yuya and Tanahashi! The fans fire up as Yuya dodges to CHOP, CHOP, CHOP!
Yuya has Tanahashi in a corner and CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Yuya whips, Tanahashi reverses, but Yuya goes up and over. Tanahashi runs up but Yuya arm-drags! Then DROPKICKS! The fans fire up with Yuya and he brings Tanahashi back up. Yuya clinches but Tanahashi fights the lift with elbows. Tanahashi fires up but Yuya reels him back in! BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Tanahashi is still in this, but Yuya hurries up top! The fans rally more as Yuya aims, Tanahashi stands, but Tanahashi avoids the crossbody! Yuya rolls through and comes back, but Tanahashi blocks his kick! So Yuya fires forearms!
Yuya free his leg, but Tanahashi ducks the chop to DRAGON PALM! Tanahashi fires up and runs, but Yuya DROPKICKS him again! Both men are down and the fans fire up. The fans rally as Yuya crawls, tag to Taka. Taka runs to BOOT Dia! Then he pokes Mack in the eyes! Taka runs up on Tanahashi, Tanahashi blocks, but Taka pokes him in the eyes! Taka SHOTEIS, then runs, redirects, redirects, and redirects again to BOOT! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi is tougher than that but Taka fires up! The fans are with Taka, but then Tanahashi DRAGON PALMS! Taka kicks, Tanahashi blocks, and DRAGON SCREWS!
Taka writhes but Tanahashi grabs the legs! Tanahashi ties Taka up in the TEXAS CLOVER HOLD! But Despy DRAGON PALMS Tanahashi! Dia runs in and tilt-o-whirl ARM-DRAGS! Despy bails out, Dia builds speed, but Yuya TOSSES Dia out! Dia lands on the apron, GAMANGIRIS Yuya, then he ASAI MOONSAULTS Despy! Mack is up top, and he leaps at Yuya! Yuya catches his arm, then CHOPS! Yuya whips, Mack reverses to ROCK and SUPERKICK! Yuya tumbles out, Mack builds speed, NINJA SPECIAL! Down goes Yuya from that hot one! Tanahashi SLINGBLADES Taka! Tanahashi fires up and the fans are with him now!
Tanahashi climbs right up top, takes aim, and HIGH FLY FLOW!! Cover, Team Tanahashi wins!
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall
The Ace, the Ninja and the Diamond win the day! But Tanahashi knows he and Yuya are set to face off at Dominion, and the two get face to face again. Will Tanahashi’s Final Road really heat up going 1v1 with the Heat Storm?
As for Despy, he shows respect to the Junior Heavyweights by raising their hands in victory, but wait! Someone else is here! It’s JUN KASAI!! Despy’s hardcore rival is here, but is very business casual as he wears the tie and has a letter. Kasai has the mic to tell Despy, “In life, some things go well, and some do not. And perhaps our lives have not always gone according to plan. But I made it a point of mine today to come here and light a fire under yer ass! June 24th, it is set! I said before that I don’t want to face the Best of the Super Juniors winner, and I don’t want to face the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. I want to face the man that IS El Desperado!”
The fans cheer, and Kasai tells Despy that all those Triple Threats, tag team matches or whatever else, none of those wins mean a single thing to warriors like them! Kasai won’t let Despy use frustration and think he can win. Kasai received a certain invitation before, and now he has a special invite for Despy. He calls it the “Death Pain Invitational.” That is to say, he is issuing his challenge. He offers the letter, Despy accepts, and the fans applaud. These two wild ones are going to run it back one more time! Who wins out in the Death Pain Invitational at the Name Undecided event in Korakuen Hall?
Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi!
The Fierce Warrior held onto the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship through Resurgence, but that means the Rampaging Dragon is next! Will the Funky Weapon help Goto make it through to Dominion? Or will the formerly Los Ingobernables de Japon still keep things tranquilo?
The teams sort out and Goto starts against Takagi for a preview of the world title match! The fans rally as Takagi and Goto stare down. They slowly circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Goto powers Takagi to the ropes, the ref calls break, and Goto pats Takagi on the shoulders as he backs off. Takagi storms right back up and the two tie up again. Takagi powers Goto to ropes now, the ref calls for the break, and Takagi pretends he doesn’t understand at first. Takagi says okay, clean break, and he backs off. But then he takes a swing! Goto ducks and headlocks Takagi, but Takagi powers up and out. Goto comes back to RAM Takagi!
Takagi rebounds and he RAMS Goto! Goto rebounds and RAMS Takagi, but neither man moves this time! The fans fire up while Takagi and Goto shake that off. Goto eggs Takagi on, so the forearms start flying! They go back and forth, but not Takagi eggs Goto on! Goto fires forearm after forearm, Takagi fires back, but Goto ROCKS and whips Takagi. Takagi counters hip toss with HIP TOSS, then he RUNS Goto over! The fans fire up while Takagi shakes that off, then Takagi tags Hiromu. Hiromu & Takagi double whip Goto to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans fire up while Takagi and Hiromu flex! Hiromu even gives the side chest!
Hiromu drags Goto up, CHOPS, and CHOPS, and then whips corner to corner. Hiromu LARIATS Goto in the corner, runs, but into an URA GTR! Goto RUNS Hiromu over, BLASTS Takagi, and the fans fire up again. Goto stomps Hiromu, then tags in Taguchi. The fans rally as Goto & Taguchi double whip and DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans cheer while Taguchi sits Hiromu up for POINT-BLANK HIP! And POINT-BLANK HIP! Taguchi has Hiromu on the ropes for more POINT-BLANK HIPS! The fans rally, the ref reprimands, but Taguchi runs to HIP ATTACK! Hiromu flounders while the fans cheer, and Taguchi calls upon Strange Style!
Taguchi aims from the corner, “ORYA~!” KETSU- NO, Hiromu rolls Taguchi up, TWO!! Taguchi escapes, goes to a corner, and Hiromu runs up. Taguchi BOOTS Hiromu, then he goes up for DEADLY BUTT SHADE! Taguchi kicks Hiromu away, runs, but he fakes Hiromu out! HIP- ATOMIC DROP! Hiromu says he’s too smart for that! Hiromu runs, but into a HIP ATTACK! Taguchi runs, but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Both men are down and the fans rally up! Taguchi and Hiromu crawl, hot tags to Goto and Takagi! Takagi dodges Goto to knee low and whip him to a corner. Takagi blocks a boot to LARIAT through!
The fans fire up with Takagi, but Goto turns things around to throw forearms! Goto fires up and the fans are with him, but then Takagi turns things around to fire forearms back! Takagi has the fans with him again, and he whips corner to corner. Goto reverses, runs up, MURAMASA! Then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, Goto drags Takagi up, but Takagi fights the fireman’s carry. Takagi CLUBS away on Goto but Goto shoves him. Takagi ELBOWS, JABS, feints, but then he stands Goto back up to JAB again! Takagi suplexes high and hard, then covers, TWO! Goto stays in this but Takagi fires up! “TOKI GA KITA!”
The fans fire up as Takagi’s time has come! They join in on “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi runs, PUMPING- NO, Goto LARIATS at the same time! And they DOUBLE LARIAT again! Goto swats a lariat, Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON- NO, Goto fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down and the fans fire again! Goto and Takagi crawl, hot tag to Taguchi! Taguchi BLASTS Hiromu, and now Taguchi says it is HIS TITITITITITIME! Taguchi runs in and HIP ATTACKS! And then HIP ATTACKS! And HIP ATTACKS! That’s three-ever, but Takagi CLOBBERS Taguchi before he can four-ever! Takagi winds up, runs, and- HIP ATTACK!
The fans rally while both men are down! Taguchi hurries to dropkick a leg out, then has OH MY GAH ANKLE! Goto BLASTS Hiromu off the apron, and Taguchi drops an ELBOW on Takagi’s leg! Hiromu fights past Goto to DROPKICK Taguchi! Goto LARIATS Hiromu! Takagi fires boxing elbows on Goto! Goto ROCKS Takagi back! Goto runs, but Takagi LARITS at the ropes! Takagi runs, Goto follows, but then Takagi redirects! PUMPING BOMBER! The fans fire up but Taguchi HIP ATTACKS Takagi! Taguchi runs in at the corner, Takagi dodges, and Hiromu LARIATS! Takagi LARIATS! Feed to the SUPERKICK, then PUMPING BOMBER!
The fans fire up with Takagi and he drags Taguchi up. Pump handle, torture rack, but Taguchi fights free! Taguchi shoves, HIP- NO, Takagi catches Taguchi and puts him in the ropes! Hiromu keeps Goto outside, so he can only watch as Takagi hits the DRAPING G T R!! Takagi then hauls Taguchi up, pump handle and torture rack, BURNING DRAGON!! Cover, Takagi & Hiromu win!
Winners: Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall
The former LIJ is still as strong as when they were LIJ, and now Takagi has all the momentum. Takagi grabs the mic to say, “OI, GOTO! I haven’t had enough! Not nearly enough! There’s no holding back at in Osaka-Jo Hall on June 15th.” The fans applaud, but then Takagi says, “I forgot to mention something back in Fukuoka. Let me say it now.” Oh? Takagi tells Goto, “Compared to you… Yeah, I don’t have a belt. I don’t have a wife or children, either. And now, I don’t even have a faction. I’m unaffiliated. But that’s okay with me. I don’t need a family or a faction. What I want most in life is that IWGP World Heavyweight Championship!”
The fans cheer, and Takagi says he doesn’t need anything else. “At Osaka-Jo Hall, I’ll take your neck and end your Goto Revolution thing! That’s where the Takagi Revolution will begin! That’s all I have to say about that!” Takagi drops the mic, but then Goto picks it up! Goto tells Takagi, “You seem to be in a rush. You ought to try being tranquilo!” The fans cheer Goto throwing that line at Takagi. Goto continues by saying, “At Osaka-Jo Hall, just try and stop my Goto Revolution! That’s all I have to say about that.” In just two weeks, The Fierce Warrior and the Rampaging Dragon will battle, but whose revolution wins this Dominion?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 Finals: Kosei Fujita w/ TMDK VS YOH!
After nine rounds of wrestling, this is the moment of truth! The Japanese Young Punk made it through A Block while Direct Drive was able to seal the deal in B Block. They both want everything there is in the Junior Heavyweight Division, but only one can have it all! Who proves that they are the Best of the Super Juniors?
The bell rings and the fans rally up already. The “YO-OH! YO-OH!” and “FU-JI-TA! FU-JI-TA!” seem even as the two circle. They feel things out, clinch, then Fujita waistlocks. Yoh pries at the grip, wrenches free to wristlock, but Fujita rolls, handsprings, and wrenches to wristlock in return. Yoh rolls to trip Fujita and have the toehold. Fujita fights around to get an arm, but Yoh stacks Fujita! ONE, and Fujita keeps the arm. Yoh slips through to a lateral press but Fujita keeps his shoulders up. Yoh shifts to have the arm, then he wrenches to headlock and takeover. Fujita headscissors, Yoh kips free, and the fans cheer this opening exchange.
The two reset, circle, and the fans rally again. The two tie up, are in a deadlock at center, and Fujita digs his heels in to power Yoh to ropes. Red Shoes calls the break, Fujita lets off, but Yoh turns things around. Yoh lets off slowly, but then whips. Yoh drops down, bypasses, and drop toeholds! Fujita avoids the basement dropkick, Yoh avoids the Penalty Kick, then he ducks a heel kick! Fujita avoids the lariat, Yoh avoids the backhand, and Yoh ripcords, but Fujita dodges the Rainmaker! The fans cheer that Yoh would even attempt that! Yoh grins and he goes forehead to forehead with Fujita. Fujita eggs Yoh on, so the forearms start flying!
The fans rally and Fujita CHOPS! Fujita CHOPS again, then CHOPS again! Yoh goes to ropes, Fujita whips, but Yoh backs up to avoid the chop! Yoh calls for the break but Fujita isn’t even touching him! The fans rally for Yoh all the same, and Fujita storms up. Fujita blocks a kick to CHOP, but then Yoh throws Fujita down by his hair! “Y! O! H!” Shrug! The fans cheer as Yoh continues to reference his Chaos senpai. Yoh drags Fujita up, CLUBS him on the neck, then stalks him to a corner. Yoh wrenches and whips, runs up, and ELBOWS! Yoh then reels Fujita in but Fujita wrenches, drop toeholds, and wants the legs!
Yoh scrambles out of the ring and the fans cheer. Fujita storms up to the ropes, Yoh avoids the Plancha but Fujita is on the apron! Fujita then PENALTY KICKS Yoh, and ASAI MOONSAULTS! He didn’t even need to springboard for that! The fans fire up with Fujita and he drags Yoh back up. Fujita puts Yoh in the ring, slides in and storms up on Yoh in the corner. Fujita CHOPS, snapmares, and PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally again while Fujita paces. Fujita grabs a leg, and he turns Yoh over for the HALF CRAB! Yoh endures as Fujita pulls the leg back! The fans rally again and Yoh fights his way around.
Yoh crawls, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! Fujita lets go and the fans applaud. Fujita eggs Yoh on, but Yoh kicks from below. Fujita still eggs Yoh on so Yoh fires a forearm. Fujita KNEES low, snapmares, and KICKS! Cover, TWO! Yoh is tougher than that but Fujita stays cool. Fujita drags Yoh up, reels him in, but Yoh fires forearms! Fujita CHOPS, runs, but Yoh dodges! Yoh BLOCKBUSTERS! Or rather, he used Yoshi-Hashi’s Headhunter! The shoutouts continue and the fans rally up. Yoh brings Fujita up, and wrenches for an ELBOW BREAKER! Yoh hammerlocks Fujita, and RAMS him into a corner! Fujita slumps against ropes but Yoh is on him again.
Yoh hammerlocks the arm and RAMS Fujita into another corner! Yoh then hammerlocks, and he RAMS Fujita backwards into a corner! Fujita writhes but Yoh doesn’t stop as he drags Fujita back up. Yoh wrenches for the ELBOW BREAKER again! Fujita clutches the arm but Yoh shakes his head. Yoh wrenches for his odd rhythm! “Y O H! Y O H! Y O O O, O O H!” Then he WRINGS Fujita out! Cover, TWO! Fujita is tougher than that but Yoh stays focused. The fans rally while Yoh scuffs Fujita and kicks him towards ropes. Fujita slumps to the floor and Yoh watches him stir. The fans rally up for Fujita while the ring count starts.
Yoh waits on Fujita, then PLANCHAS! Down goes Fujita, Yoh puts him back in, and Yoh turns Fujita for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! BUTTERFLY LOCK, another favorite of Hashi’s! Fujita endures, the fans rally, and Fujita fights toward ropes. Fujita makes it to the ROPEBREAK, and Yoh lets go. The fans rally more as Yoh brings Fujita up. Yoh fires a forearm, then whips Fujita. Fujita blocks by holding ropes! Yoh tries again, but Fujita still holds on! Yoh tries a third time but Fujita still holds on! Yoh ROCKS Fujita, whips, but Fujita reverses to GAMANGIRI! Both men are down and the fans fire back up!
Yoh bails out and Fujita goes up the corner! DOUBLE JUMP CANNONBALL! Direct hit and the fans fire up! Fujita shakes out his bad arm and fetches Yoh. Fujita drags Yoh into the ring, the fans rally again, and Fujita springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Fujita deadlifts Yoh but Yoh fights with elbows! Fujita jumps onto Yoh with a HOVERBOARD! The fans fire up as Fujita shouts out both his TMDK training and his rival, Kushida! Yoh suplexes free but Fujita lands out to spin Yoh! HOVER- NO, Yoh slips through to have the ANACONDA VICE! Fujita fires body shots, wrenches out, and RANAS into a cover, TWO!!
Fujita has the HOVERBOARD again! Yoh endures the double wristlock but is free of the body scissors! Yoh reaches out, fights around, and powers up, but Fujita rolls him away! But Yoh suplexes first! FALCON ARROW! Both men are down and the fans fire up! TMDK coaches Fujita but the fans give Yoh strength. Both men stir and Yoh rolls away to the ropes. Yoh rises, fires up, and he tunes up! The fans rally, Yoh aims, but Fujita dodges the superkick! Yoh blocks a shot, Fujita blocks a shot, but Yoh ducks the chop! O’Conner Roll into the FIVE STAR GAZE- NO, Fujita blocks and shoves Yoh down into the deathlock!
Fujita SLAPS the arms and has them for the SURFBOARD, and then the NEMOS SPECIAL!! Yoh endures and the fans rally even harder! Yoh pries the grip open but he falls forward! Fujita shifts to have one arm trapped, and he pulls on the other other arm into the cording hold! Yoh endures, ZSJ coaches Fujita to grab that leg! CLARKY CAT, G1 TEKKERS EDITION!! The fans rally as hard as they can while Yoh endures! Yoh kicks with his free leg, his only chance, but Fujita puts on even more pressure!! Yoh kicks, kicks, and finds the ROPEBREAK!! The fans are thunderous while Fujita lets go in frustration!
TMDK coaches Fujita to stay focused. Fujita rises, he drags Yoh up by his pants, and the fans continue to rally. Fujita waistlocks to GERMAN SUPLEX! Fujita holds on to bring Yoh up again, GERMAN SUPLEX! And then he brings Yoh up again, even as Yoh reaches out! GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as Fujita makes Ota into #SuplexCity! Fujita drags Yoh up but Yoh shoves him away. Fujita comes back, Yoh WRINGS the arm! Yoh goes to a corner, then comes back, but Fujita ROCKS him! Yoh fights off the torture rack with elbows! Fujita CHOPS! Yoh staggers, but he comes back. Fujita CHOPS again!
Yoh eggs Fujita on so Fujita CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again! Yoh just takes those shots, CHOP after CHOP, and he might even feed off them! Yoh runs, Fujita CHOPS, repeat! Repeat! And repeat! Yoh IS feeding off the chops, as he puts his arms back! Fujita CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS again! Yoh says I’LL BE BACK, to take a CHOP! Fujita runs, into a LARIAT!! The fans are thunderous again while both men are down! The dueling between “YO-OH! YO-OH!” and “FU-JI-TA!” continues as both men stir. Yoh sits up while Fujita crawls away to a corner. Yoh finally feels the stinging from the chops, but he brushes it off.
Yoh makes the pecs dance to show he’s stronger than those chops! Yoh steps to Fujita, stands him up, and then CHOPS, JABS, and repeat! A shoutout to Ishii!! Yoh makes Fujita stay up so he can JAB and CHOP again! Then a Too Sweet to CHOP?! That’s a Jay White thing! Yoh is referencing even those who betrayed Chaos! Red Shoes counts, Yoh stops at 4, and he brings Fujita up. Yoh hoists Fujita up top, and then he climbs up after him. Yoh calls his shot, perhaps another shoutout to Tenzan, but Fujita fires body shots! Fujita ROCKS Yoh and Yoh drops back. Yoh shakes out the stars, goes up top again, but again Fujita fights back.
Yoh still brings Fujita to the very top for a SUPERPLEX! The fans fire up and Yoh crawls to the cover, TWO! Yoh has the ANACONDA VICE! The fans rally and duel again as Fujita endures! Fujita fights around, stands back up, but Yoh holds him back, ANACONDA BUSTER! Fujita flails and kicks around as he again endures the hold! The fans rally as hard as they have all night, and Fujita rises again! TMDK coaches him on, but he’s fading! Yoh drags Fujita around for another ANACONDA BUSTER! But Fujita cradles it! TWO!! Yoh lets Fujita go in time, and he hurries to ripcord- CUTTER!! Fujita counters Yoh’s counterfeit Rainmaker!
The fans rally and duel even louder now while both men are down! Red Shoes checks and both men are able to continue. Fujita and Yoh crawl to each other, go forehead to forehead, then go forearm for forearm! The fans rally as the shots go back and forth, and the two stand up. The shots go back and forth even more, and then DOUBLE FOREARMS knock both men down! The fans rally, both men roar, and they rise up again! The forearms are fast ‘n’ furious, then Yoh ROLLING ELBOWS! Fujita CHOPS and SNAP GERMANS! But Yoh is right up!? And he SNAP DRAGONS Fujita! Fujita roars, but Yoh SUPERKICKS!
Yoh reels Fujita in but Fujita is a ragdoll! The fans are electric, and Yoh brings Fujita back up! Point-blank LAR- NO, Fujita ducks to then waistlock and O’Conner Roll BRIDGE!! TWO!!! Yoh escapes at the last possible moment, but Fujita SHOTEIS! HEEL KICKS! And then he roars! The fans are electric again as Fujita drags Yoh back up! But Yoh fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! There’s the Goto shoutout! The fans are volcanic as both men go to corners. Fujita roars and runs corner to corner, but Yoh puts him in the ropes! DRAPING SHOTO!! Cover, TWO!?!? Fujita survives, is is NOT lights out just yet!
Yoh roars and he vows to end this! Yoh reels Fujita in, underhooks, DIRECT- NO, Fujita fights that, backdrops, but Yoh sunset flips! Fujita steps over to deadlift fisherman! THRILL- NO, Yoh sips out, ripcord and JUMP KNEE!! The fans are volcanic as Yoh roars again! Yoh ripcords, but Fujita scoops! ZACK DRIVER!! The fans fire up as Fujita gives tribute to the Front Man! And then he suplexes, ABANDON HOPE!!! Fujita has to crawl to the cover! TWO?!?!?! The nanoseconds of delay save Yoh, but Fujita vows to finish this once and for all! Fujita drags Yoh up, reels him back in, and fisherman to the THRILL RIDE!!! Cover, FUJITA WINS!!!
Winner: Kosei Fujita, by pinfall (Best of the Super Juniors 32 winner)
Yoh showed Fujita true Chaos, but not even that was able to make the mighty kneel! If fighting this hard only gets Yoh second place, how much harder must he fight to be the best?
As for Fujita, the banner is brought in as the official announcement is made. The trophy is presented by Tadahiro Sekiguchi, president of the BOSJ 32 sponsor, Sekichu. Fujita poses for the photo ops, then is presented with the banner by Sekichu director, Ken Dojima. They shake hands and pose for another photo op. Trophy and banner are put aside a moment while Fujita grabs the mic. The fans chant for Fujita while he catches his breath. Fujita then says, “Who’s talking about the future of NJPW?! Without a doubt, I’m at the center of the Juniors!” The fans cheer that!
Fujita continues by saying, “There’s always criticism when you try to do something new. However, don’t hesitate. Give me your true feelings. I’ll even take the negative feedback. But most of all, I’m asking you all to come pack the buildings.” The fans cheer that, too. Fujita says he might be repeating himself, but he’ll take both hope and hate. How about it? Isn’t the NJPW Junior Division awesome? The fans do cheer that, too. Fujita says he’ll take us all to even higher peaks. Please, leave it to him! He just become the youngest ever Super Juniors winner! He was able to endure because he could feel everyone behind him, so he thanks the fans for that.
The fans applaud, and Fujita says, “Don’t you dare take your eyes off me.” Mic drop and the streamers fly as Fujita stands with his trophy and banner. TMDK celebrates with their Japanese Young Punk, getting their own photo op with it. Next stop: The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship! If The Mighty Don’t Kneel, will the only thing left be for them to reign?
My Thoughts:
A great finale to BOSJ 32, but also some great builds towards Dominion in a couple weeks. While I skimmed, I did like the fun everyone had in the 8 Man Tag, including ELP and Nick Wayne doing a photo op where they traded belts. Gedo VS Evil was great stuff for everything Gedo did beforehand, but I had a feeling Evil would find a way to win. The main thing was that the House of Torture beat down Gedo and the other War Dogs, and clearly sent a message with the dog collar to Finlay. Finlay VS Evil in a Dog Collar Match will be great stuff, but I sadly anticipate the House just getting involved again. Kinda defeats the purpose of the dog cage match, but I guess that was just about the literal title of Bullet Club, not a real blowoff…
Great Six Man Tag, great win for Tanahashi’s team, and great surprise appearance by Jun Kasai. Their “Death Pin Invitational” will be a wild match, we all know it. And as it stands, I like how the name for that event is “Name Undecided.” A part of me hopes they keep it that way for the fun of it. Great tag of Takagi & Hiromu VS Goto & Taguchi, but I figured Taguchi would take the loss. Takagi has momentum going into the title match, but that makes me think Goto finds a way to retain. I just don’t know what Takagi could do when he’s been world champion before and, as he put it, has no faction. Lone wolves are rare in NJPW so I don’t see such a wrestler being their top champ.
And awesome main event, Yoh bringing out the Chaos moves was a nice touch. But a great move making it Fujita. Fujita has been going strong for a long time, and also Yoh has the tag title so he and Wato can focus on that while Fujita focuses on Despy. There was tease of ZSJ wanting the NJPW World TV Championship back, maybe TMDK start getting the midcard titles, and then the G1 helps figure out a contender for the world title.
My Score: 9/10
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Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/29/25)
B Block, FINAL ROUND!
Who heads to the finals?
Kosei Fujita won A Block, and now B Block finalizes its ranking! Who heads to the Best of the Super Juniors finals this weekend?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Six Man Tag: KUSHIDA, Ninja Mack & Dragon Dia VS Shoma Kato, Masatora Yasuda & Daiki Nagai; Kushida, Mack & Dia win.
- Master Wato, Toru Yano & Katsuya Murashima VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- Hiromu Takahashi & Yota Tsuji VS Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young; Hiromu & Tsuji win.
- Six Man Tag: TMDK VS Bullet Club; TMDK wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Kevin Knight; Knight wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Titan VS Nick Wayne; Titan wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: MAO VS SHO; Mao wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Robbie Eagles; Despy wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Taiji Ishimori; Yoh wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Here are the current B Block standings!
YOH: 5-3, 10 points
MAO: 5-3, 10 points
El Desperado: 5-3, 10 points
Nick Wayne: 4-4, 8 points
SHO: 4-4, 8 points
Taiji Ishimori: 4-4, 8 points
Robbie Eagles: 4-4, 8 points
Kevin Knight: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Titan: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Ryusuke Taguchi: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Kevin Knight!
The Funky Weapon and The Jet may be out of the running, but they will still fight for themselves. Who earns their final points in this final round?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Taguchi and Knight circle with a bit of a strut, and then they tie up. Knight puts Taguchi on the ropes, the ref calls the break, and Knight lets off to swivel his hips. Taguchi pumps up, but Knight says he can’t see anything. Knight flexes and says he tsuyoi. They tie up with knuckle locks, then go shoulder to shoulder in a test of strength. Knight hooks a leg to power Taguchi back, and Taguchi bridges! The fans cheer as Taguchi fights up back up! Taguchi bends Knight into a bridge, has the shoulders down, TWO as Knight powers back up! The fans rally, Knight and Taguchi start vibing with the arm wave, then a full body wave!
Taguchi wiggles around, sends it back to Knight, and Knight spins Taguchi around and around, to then headlock. Taguchi powers up and out, drops down, then hurdles over. Knight stops to waistlock but Taguchi fires elbows. Taguchi runs to fake Knight out, but Knight goes up and over! Knight avoids the Hip Attack! The fans cheer while Taguchi stares Knight down from underneath. Taguchi says bring it, so Knight punches those cheeks! Taguchi’s iron buns withstand it, and Knight says, “Itai itai.” Knight winds up again, and he punches cheeks! Taguchi still stands tall, but the fans rally for Knight.
Knight does some push-ups, he and Taguchi do squats, and Knight winds up again. The fans rally and Knight lines up a shot, to then headlock! Taguchi powers up and out, bypasses and bypasses, but Knight redirects himself! And again, and again, and again! Knight is making Taguchi spin around, and then Taguchi gets dizzy and falls! The fans cheer while Taguchi slumps out of the ring. Knight runs and FLIES! Down goes Taguchi and the fans fire up! “Ore wa meccha, meccha… Meccha tsukareta…” Knight admits he is tired, and he asks for water. A Young Lion brings him water and Knight refreshes himself.
Taguchi sputters, Knight makes his way over to Taguchi, and then brings him back into the ring. The fans cheer and Knight snapmares Taguchi to run and SLIDING TACKLE! Cover, TWO! Taguchi is still in this and the fans applaud. Taguchi flounders, Knight does some squats to get his glutes going. Knight brings Taguchi around to HIP ATTACK! Knight gives Taguchi another HIP ATTACK! The fans rally and Knight does more squats to power up. Knight runs, but Taguchi somersaults to HIP ATTACK! The fans fire up and Taguchi powers up now. Taguchi has Knight on the ropes, rubs it in literally, and then gives point-blank HIPS!
Taguchi runs and HIP ATTACKS at the ropes! Knight dangles out of the ring! Knight flops down, the fans rally again, and Taguchi TRIANGLE JUMP PLANCHAS! Down goes Knight and the fans fire up again! Taguchi rises, steadies himself, and then puts Knight in the ring. Taguchi goes up, up, and MISSILE HIPS! Cover, TWO! Knight is still in this and the fans rally again. Taguchi looks to the corner, and he calls upon the powers of Strange Style! “ORYA~!” Taguchi runs in, but Knight hurdles Ketsuye! SUPERKICK! Taguchi mule kicks, runs, but Knight somersaults, into a FLAPJACK! OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Knight endures, reaches out, but Taguchi drags him back!
Knight reaches up to headscissor into the victory roll, TWO! Taguchi goes to a corner, BOOTS back, then goes up, MISSILE HIP meets DROPKICK! Knight’s antiair works out, and then he somersaults to SATELLITE DDT! Knight goes up top and the fans rally for the hip swivel and MOTHERSHIP UFO SPLASH! Cover, Knight wins!
Winner: Kevin Knight, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Taguchi earns 0)
The Jet still flies high, and he ends with a 4-5 record. Taguchi ends with 6 points in the 9th round, is that nice enough for him?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Titan VS Nick Wayne!
El Inmortal may not have life in the block, but he can still be a spoiler! Will he pop the Prodigy’s bubble? Or will this still be Wayne’s World in the end?
The bell rings and Titan runs up! Nick dodges, whips, but Titan reverses to TORNADO- NO, Nick powers out! Nick wrenches and whips, Titan goes up and over, and then Titan handsprings away! The fans cheer as things keep moving. Nick hurdles then bypasses Titan to UPPERCUT him down! Nick kips up and the fans cheer again. Nick covers, TWO! The fans rally as Nick brings Titan up. Nick CHOPS Titan, Titan leans on the ropes, and Nick brings him around. Nick ROCKS Titan, then whips corner to corner. Nick runs in, UPPERCUTS, and then pushes Titan down to cover, TWO! Titan stays in this and the fans applaud.
Nick stays cool and he sits Titan up. Nick KICKS Titan in the back, then paces. Titan writhes but Nick brings him back up. Titan CHOPS and the fans “WOO~!” Titan CHOPS again, but Nick ROCKS him! Nick then whips Titan, runs in, but Titan BOOTS, SOBATS, KICKS, and fires fast hands! Nick ducks the jump sobat to SOBAT back! Nick cravats, ASAI DDT. but Titan kips up! PELE! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Titan roars and rises up, then he brings Nick around. TRAILER HITCH! Nick endures the leglock and the fans rally again! Nick crawls forward, reaches out, and manages the ROPEBREAK!
The fans applaud and Titan lets go of the hold. Nick shakes out the legs but Titan KICKS Nick in the back. Titan brings Nick in but Nick resists the lift. The fans rally again as Nick and Titan fight for control. Nick wrenches, kicks, and runs, but Titan follows to RANA! Nick bails out, Titan builds speed, and Titan DIVES into an UPPERCUT! The fans rally harder as Titan flops to the apron! Nick rises, he stalks Titan on the apron, and Nick drags Titan up. The ref says don’t do it, but the fans rally up. Nick waistlocks, then goes for the nelson, but Titan resists. Titan fires elbows and Nick backs off. Titan runs up but Nick BOOTS him!
Nick runs up, but Titan SUPERKICKS! Nick falls back, Titan skins the cat to the top rope! Titan aims for LA APRON LANCER!! The fans fire up and Titan roars while Nick sputters and coughs! Titan shoves Nick into the ring, goes up the corner again, and LA LANC- NO, Nick dodges! Titan’s leg jams, Nick DROPKICKS the other out, then he DRAGON SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO!! Titan survives and Nick snarls. Nick goes to the corner and climbs up while the fans rally again. FROG- NO, Titan bails out! Nick rolls through and then comes right back, to FLY over the corner! Down goes Titan and the fans fire up!
Titan puts Nick in, goes back up, and he tries again! FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Titan survives again and the fans fire up! Nick huffs ‘n’ puffs, hears the fans cheering, and shouts “IKU ZO!” Nick drags Titan up, hooks a leg, PRODIGY- CRADLE COUNTER! TWO!! Nick escapes, Titan ducks the roundhouse to fire off his strike fest! But Nick still ROUNDHOUSES! Nick goes up, up, WAYNE’s- NO, Titan stops the cutter to shove and TORNADO DDT! Titan isn’t done there! He suplexes and GOURD- NO! Nick lands out! But Titan goes Matrix and then CALF KICKS! Titan roars, the fans fire up, and Titan has the ripcord, YOYO SLAM!
Titan goes to a corner, skins the cat again, and LA LANCER!!! Titan crawls to the cover, TWO?!?! Nick survives, but Titan ties up the legs! Deathlock, and then LLAVE INMORTAL!! Nick is caught, the straitjacket variation is in, and Nick QUITS!! Titan wins!!
Winner: Titan, by submission (gains 2 points; Nick earns 0)
Nick Wayne falls to 4-5, he is out of the running! But bigger yet, Titan has a win over the ROH World Television Champion! AEW/ROH and CMLL are going to meet in Arena Mexico for Grand Slam: Mexico, could these two run it back with gold on the line?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: MAO VS SHO!
The Strange Love Connection is the first of the top three to compete tonight, and while he has to hope for the others to fall, he still has to do his part and win. Will the Murder Machine make that all moot with another underhanded trick up his sleeve? Or can the star of DDT Pro make it to the finals?
Wait, Mao already turns the tables by pedaling in on his bike! He RAMS Sho down from behind! The fans fire up as Mao hurries to CLUB Sho down! Yujiro Takahashi AND Ren Narita hurry out here already to mug Mao before this on the record! The fans boo but Mao’s friends from DDT Pro are here! Kanon helps fight off the House, and Mao wants fans to clear out! Mao whips, but Sho reverses and BOWLS Mao into chairs! STRIKE! Ren & Yujiro keep the rest of DDT Pro back while Sho CHOKES Mao with a chair! The ref reprimands but Sho shoves him back! Wait, Kanon has the house in headlocks! Shunma Katsumata stops Sho from hitting Mao with the chair!
Sho gets mad hearing that trash talk, but that lets Mao SMACK Sho in the back with a chair! And Mao sends Sho out the door?! The fans rally as everyone is waiting on the street, and Mao runs to FLY! Down goes the House and DDT stands tall! Wait, wait, they spot a fan parked nearby. Mao hops in and he turns the key! The fans cheer as Mao kicks it into drive, and he comes barreling down the road! Sho and the House freak out, and Sho gets SMACKED by the front of the van! The fans cheer and Mao grins as he steps out. The ref reprimands but Mao drags Sho back into the building! Mao says now they can have this match!
Mao makes Sho sit on the hand cart, and Mao pushes Sho back to ringside! The fans cheer as Sho is barely conscious as Mao drags Sho into the ring. The bell finally rings, Mao covers, TWO!! Sho survives Mao’s hit ‘n’ run and Mao can’t believe it! Mao drags Sho up, but the ref wants to check him. Sho sputters and sits up in a daze, and Ren drags Mao out! Ren beats up Mao, beats up on Mao’s team, and Yujiro SMACKS Mao with a chair! The fans boo as they put Mao’s arm in a chair! Yujiro STOMPS away on the chair! Ren POSTS Kanon, and Sho grabs Mao’s bike! Sho brings it over and he runs over Mao’s arm! Sho does wheelies to smash Mao’s arm!
The fans boo but then Sho adds insult to injury by RIPPING OFF the DDT Pro hood off the bike! Sho and the House beat up the bike! The ref reprimands and Mao says they’ll pay for that! Sho CLUBS Mao, puts him in the ring, and then pushes him to a cover, TWO! Sho has the arm for a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Mao endures and the fans rally. Mao kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Sho puts Mao on the apron, and he has the arm in the rope! ARM WRINGER! Sho then pulls Mao through the corner, traps his arm against the buckle pad, and then KNEES the arm! Mao is stuck and Sho stands on the arm!
The ref counts, Sho step off, and Mao is freed. The fans rally, Mao throws a forearm but there’s not much to it. Sho kicks Mao, Mao fires more shots, but Sho slips around, GERMAN ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Mao flails, reaches out, but Sho pulls on the arm! Mao still kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Sho lets Mao go, and Mao clutches his arm. Sho wrenches Mao’s arm, twists it, and hits the ELBOW BREAKER! Sho holds on to wrench and ELBOW BREAKER again! Sho grins as he lets Mao slump down. Sho knuckle locks, wrenches, and ELBOW- SLEEPER!! Mao has Sho now and the fans fire up!
Sho pries at the bad arm, pulls the fingers, but Mao breaks free! Look! HAYMAKER! Sho wobbles and the fans fire up! Mao whips, Sho reverses, but Mao SHOTGUNS! Sho flounders, the fans rally up, and Mao runs to BOOT Sho! Sho sputters, Mao runs again, CANNONBALL! Cover, TWO! Sho survives, but is now in JUST FACELOCK! Sho endures, fights around, and both Ren & Yujiro are on the apron. But Mao’s team YANKS them down! Sho flails, the bell rings, but it was REN! The fans boo the usual tricks from the House, and Mao is upset that he fell for such a basic trick. Mao drags Sho up, but Sho CLAWS Mao’s eyes!
Sjo runs, but Mao uses the ref as a shield! Mao runs, but now Sho uses the ref as a shield! Sho runs but Mao hurdles over the spear! Mao sends the ref back at Sho, then he HIGH JUMP CUTTERS!! The fans fire up and Mao waits on Sho. Sho rises, Mao brings him around, OSAKA RENKAI!! Cover, YUJIRO DRAGS THE REF OUT! The fans boo, Kanon is up but Yuijro & Ren BLAST him! The House mugs Mao, drags him up, and double whip him into a corner. Yujiro BOOTS Mao, Ren ELBOWS Mao, then Ren snapmares Mao to hold him open! Yujiro hits the FALLING HEADBUTT LOW BLOW! The fans boo while Mao writhes!
Ren stands Mao up and Yujiro has his pimp cane! But wait, SPRINGBOARD MISSILE DROPKICK from Shunma! Down goes Tokyo Pimp! Ren BOOTS Shunma, he BOOTS Kanon, but Kanon roars! Ren CLAWS Kanon’s eyes, runs, but Kanon LARIATS! The fans fire up as the full Strange Love Connection aims at Sho, HIGH LOW LARIATS!! Shunma builds speed and he DIVES! Down go Ren & Yujiro! Kanon & Mao set Sho up, but YOSHINOBU KANEMARU shows up! WHISKEY MIST for Kanon, and the BOTTLE SHOT for Mao! The fans boo as the Heel Master helps screw over the enemies of the House!
Kanemaru shoves the ref in and Sho laughs at Mao! STRAITJACKET DRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Mao survives and the fans fire up! But Sho has the ARMBAR!! Mao flails, fights around, and he stacks Sho! TWO and Sho still has the arm! SNAKE BITE!! Mao fights against the modified triangle, fights his way over, and has the ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer and Sho lets go in frustration. Sho crawls his way over and looks for his things. Sho grabs his Torture Tool and NEVER Openweight Six Man belt. The ref sees the belt and takes that, but then Mao surprises Sho with is iron gauntlet! Mao PUNCHES the Torture Tool down!
Sho dodges the fist, pushes Mao to ropes, and Kanemaru is there! But Mao ducks, WHISKEY MIST hits Sho! Mao BOOTS Kanemaru, then powers up the gauntlet! ROCKET PUNCH!! And then SAMURAI SUPERKICK!! Cover, TWO?!?! Sho survives, but Mao says he’ll finish this now! Mao drags Sho to a drop zone, climbs up the corner, and 450 SPLASHES!!! Cover, MAO WINS!!
Winner: Mao, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Sho earns 0)
Sho tried to stack the deck, but justice was still served! Mao is alive in the block, if only for now. Can he count on Robbie Eagles AND Taiji Ishimori to bring down El Desperado and Yoh?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Robbie Eagles!
The Rogue Luchador still has that target on his back, not only because he could go to the finals with his win and Yoh’s loss, but because he is THE IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. Could the Sniper of the Skies kill two birds with one victory? Or is Despy about to go back-to-back at the BOSJ finals?
Eagles shows off his Soul of PWA Championship, and makes a point that it is bigger and shinier. Despy says yeah, that’s nice. The fans rally and duel already, and the bell rings. Despy and Eagles circle, the fans rally more, and they feel things out. The fans already start up “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” so Eagles joins in! “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” The fans applaud, Eagles mocks Despy’s bow and waving arms, then the two tie up. Despy waistlocks, Eagles switches but Despy wrenches. Eagles rolls, wrenches, hammerlocks, but Despy headlocks for the takeover.
Eagles headscissors, Despy rolls Eagles around to then float, but Eagles gets his leg guard up. Eagles wrangles Despy and goes for a leg, but Despy rolls to have a toehold. Eagles kicks Despy down to have the HEEL HOOK! Despy scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Eagles lets go, and Despy goes to the apron. Eagles smirks and eggs Despy on. Despy rises up, the fans rally and duel, and Despy steps inside. Despy and Eagles circle, tie up, and Despy powers Eagles to the ropes. Red Shoes counts the break, Despy lets off to pat Eagles on the shoulder. But then he KNEES low! Despy whips, but Eagles holds ropes to block!
Despy still tries, Eagles still holds on, but Despy CLAWS Eagles’ eyes! Red Shoes reprimands but Despy whips, only for Eagles to go up and around to arm-drag! Things keep moving, Eagles hurdles then RANAS, but Despy sunset flips through! TWO, Eagles high stacks, TWO! Both men stand, Despy KNEES low again, then whips. Eagles reverses to WHEEL KICK and kip up! The fans fire up and Eagles paces. Despy rises but Eagles is on him with a CHOP! Despy goes to ropes, Eagles is on him in the corner. Eagles CHOPS, puts Despy’s leg in ropes, and pulls! Despy shouts for Red Shoes, Red Shoes counts, and Eagles lets go, to basement 619!
Despy tumbles out of the ring, the fans rally, and Eagles paces. Eagles mockingly calls for Despy, then goes to the outside. Eagles stomps away on Despy’s leg, and then SMASHES it on the floor! Eagles flexes, says hey to Ninja Mack on commentary, then goes for Despy. Despy fires body shots and CHOPS, but Eagles TACKLES him down! Eagles YANKS Despy’s leg, puts him in the ring, then sits him up to step over and tie up the legs! STUMP PULLER! Despy endures and clubs at Eagles’ leg, but Eagles drops back to make this a cover, ONE!! The fans cheer as Despy sits up. Eagles KICKS, KICKS, and KICKS! But Despy blcoks!
Despy spins Eagles, Eagles knees free, then Eagles runs, but Despy dropkicks a leg! Despy grabs that leg for a SHIN BREAKER! The fans fire up while Eagles writhes. Despy has the leg and SPLASHES down on it! Eagles kicks at Despy from the mat, but Despy pushes on a leg to have a toehold! Eagles endures, Despy drags him around, and ties up the legs for an INDIAN DEATHLOCK! Despy slaps his own leg into working, but Eagles sits up to CHOP! Despy eggs him on so Eagles CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Despy “falls over” and that puts on more pressure! Eagles flails while Despy just lounges. Eagles crawls over, pushes Despy out of his way, and has the ROPEBREAK!
The fans applaud and Red Shoes calls the break. Despy claims he needs help, but Eagles fires hands! Despy lets go, but he kneels on the bad leg! Eagles has the ropes again, Red Shoes counts, and Despy finally stands. Eagles crawls away, but he refuses to let Red Shoes stop this. Despy drags Eagles up but Eagles fires body shots and forearms! Despy KNEES low, but Eagles BOOTS! Eagles whips, Despy reverses, but Eagles fights the spinebuster! Despy KNEES low again, suplexes, but Eagles slips free to CHOP BLOCK and BLINDSLIDE LARIAT! Despy tumbles out, the fans rally up, and Eagles pushes through the pain to DIVE!
The fans fire up with Eagles but he still hobbles on that bad leg. Eagles sees a young fan dressed like him and cheers with him. Eagles then puts Despy in the ring, pounds the apron, and the fans rally up more. Eagles springboards to SNIPER DROPKICK! And then he has the leg to roll Despy into the RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Despy shouts and flails, scratches and claws, and makes his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Eagles lets go, then Eagles drags Despy to center. Despy kicks at Eagles, but Eagles KICKS the leg! Despy writhes, Eagles hobbles, and they go to opposite corners. Eagles runs in, but Despy dodges!
Eagles’ knees hit buckles, Despy runs up, and Despy blocks a boot! Despy kicks one leg, and DRAGON SCREWS the other! Then he has the STRETCH MUFFLER! Eagles flails, reaches out, but Despy thrashes him around! Eagles lunges to the ROPEBREAK! Despy lets go and the fans rally again. Despy hobbles over to bring Eagles up, and he reels Eagles in. Despy suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! The fans applaud while Despy drags Eagles up. Despy gut wrenches for GUITARRA- NO, Eagles slips free and waistlocks! Despy ELBOWS Eagles, whips, but Eagles reverses, only for Despy to reverse and SPINEBUSETR! High stack, TWO!
Despy has the STRETCH MUFFLER! Eagles endures, Despy thrashes, then Despy rolls Eagles away to have NUMERO DOS! Eagles reaches out with his free arm, then activates the core to sit up! Eagles DESTROY- NO, Despy blocks the rolling driver, tucks Eagles in, but Eagles CLUBS away on the legs! Eagles slips free, wrangles Despy, and has the RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Despy endures, reaches out, and he crawls forward. Despy drags Eagles along with him, but Eagles drags Despy back! Eagles puts on the pressure and the fans are thunderous! Despy fights his way forward again, but Eagles thrashes around! Despy gives it one last gasp and he has the ROPEBREAK!!
Eagles lets go, to drop KNEES on the knee! Then GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Then SPINNING TOEHOLD! Despy writhes, Eagles goes out and up, for WARP 4.5, but onto KNEES! Well, to clarify, the legs are usually the target, but Despy gets his knees up to jam Eagles! Both men are down and the fans rally up again. Eagles and Despy stir, then crawl for each other. They go forehead to forehead, then rise up to go forearm for forearm! The fans rally as the shots go back and forth! Despy slaps his leg into working, ROCKS Eagles, and then stands. Eagles ROCKS Despy, Despy ROCKS Eagles again, but now Eagles UPPERCUTS!
The fans rally up more as Despy storms back up. He SLAPS Eagles! Eagles takes off the headband and bandana! Eagles huffs ‘n’ puffs and SLAPS Despy! And SLAPS, and KICKS! Despy ROCKS Eagles, but Eagles says I’LL BE BACK! ROUNDHOUSE! SUPERKICK! ENZI- NO, Despy ducks to roll and STRETCH MUFFLER! Eagles rolls Despy to a cover, TWO! Eagles schoolboys with a bridge, TWO! Despy stands, Eagles SOBATS, then ASAI DDTS! Cover, TWO!! Despy stands, spins Eagles around and around, then PINCHE LOCO!! But Despy can’t make the cover! The fans fire up as Despy crawls and covers, TWO!!!
The fans fire up as Eagles survives! Despy rises, brings Eagles around, and Despy underhooks. TIGER DRIVER!! And then he underhooks again, but Eagles fireman’s carries! Eagles shifts things around to hit the TURBO BACKPACK!! Eagles crawls to the cover, TWO!! Despy survives and the fans are thunderous! Eagles goes to the corner, takes aim, and he basement SUPERKICKS!! Eagles can’t make the cover, his bad leg hurts too much! The fans rally harder as both men rise, and Eagles is back at the corner. Eagles runs to HYPER- NO, Despy ducks and has the leg! STRETCH MUFFLER! NUMERO DOS!! Eagles flails, sits up again, but Despy makes it a SPINEBUTER!!
Despy has NUMERO DOS PLUS!!! Eagles dangles as he endures, and he QUITS! Despy wins!!!
Winner: El Desperado, by submission (gains 2 points; Eagles earns 0)
The Sniper could not take out the Rogue Luchador, and Desperado is still in the running! With that, Mao is now out of the running, too, so it all comes down to the main event!
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Taiji Ishimori!
The pressure is on for Direct Drive! Yoh beat Despy in their 1v1, so if Yoh wins, he is in! Will this be a fresh finals for the Best of the Super Juniors? Or can the Bone Soldier help Despy make it through?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Yoh and Taiji circle, feel things out, and they tie up. Taiji wrenches to a wristlock, but Yoh rolls then trips Taiji. Taiji counters by going for the armbar, but Yoh stacks Taiji to a cover, ONE! The two back off and the fans cheer. Yoh and Taiji reset, circle again, and feel things out. They knuckle lock, but then Yoh goes for a leg. Taiji holds him off and puts him on ropes. Red Shoes calls the break, and Taiji lets off with pats to the shoulder. The two reset again, tie up, and Taiji headlocks. Yoh fires body shots, powers up and out, then drops down. Yoh bypasses Taiji, drop toeholds, but Taiji avoids the basement dropkick!
Yoh avoids a Penalty Kick, but Taiji kicks low to snapmare and NECK- NO, Yoh victory rolls, so that he can NECK TWIST! The fans rally while Taiji goes to ropes. Yoh runs up, Taiji puts him on the apron, but Yoh blocks a shot. Taiji ducks Yoh’s punch to HOTSHOT him down! Taiji then runs to a corner, goes up, up, and GOLDEN TRIANGLE MOONSAULTS! The fans fire up and Taiji brings Yoh around. Taiji hammerlocks Yoh’s arm and POSTS him! Yoh staggers away, Taiji goes off to the blue corner and he undoes the buckle pad. The Bullet Club Special is in play, but Taiji waits as the ring count climbs.
Yoh stands at 3 of 20, shakes out the bad arm, and rolls in at 8. The fans cheer, Taiji storms up, but Yoh fires a forearm! Taiji fires back, snapmares, and NECK TWISTS! The fans cheer while Yoh clutches his neck and shoulder. Taiji drags Yoh up, snapmares, and FIST DROPS! Cover, TWO! Taiji sits Yoh up to clamp on with a chinlock! Yoh endures the knee in his back, then fights his way around. Yoh reaches out, but Taiji turns him with a wristlock. Taiji wrenches and WRINGS Yoh to then WRING the arm again! Yoh scrambles to ropes while the fans cheer. Taiji storms over, grabs the arm, and has a COBRA CLUTCH!
Yoh endures as Taiji drags him away to center. Yoh kicks and reaches out, then fights up. Taiji ripcords to RAM Yoh, then COBRA CLUTCH and a takedown! COBRA TRIANGLE! The fans rally as Yoh endures, and Yoh kicks around to have the ROPEBREAK! Taiji lets go in frustration, and Yoh coughs and sputters as he catches his breath. Taiji CLUBS Yoh, drags him up, but Yoh fires forearms and kicks! Taiji BODY BLOWS, then CLUBS Yoh! Yoh goes back to the ropes, Taiji brings him around to whip into a corner. Taiji runs up, but Yoh BOOTS him away! Taiji comes back, but into a clinch, BACKBREAKER and NECKBREAKER!
The fans rally while both men are down again. Yoh and Taiji rise, and Yoh runs up to rally with forearms! Yoh whips, Taiji reverses, but Yoh FLYING FOREARMS! The fans fire up with Yoh, and he brings Taiji up. Yoh scoops Taiji to SLAM him, and then he revels in cheers. Yoh drops the ELBOW, then covers. TWO, and Yoh drops the KNEE! Cover, TWO and Yoh SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer and Yoh shakes out the arm. Yoh drags Taiji up, reels him in, but Taiji fights the suplex to wrench and ARM CODE BREAKER! Then BONE LOCK! But Yoh rolls it fast! TWO!! Taiji kicks low, CLAWS Yoh’s eyes, then whips.
Yoh reverses, Taiji handsprings, but Yoh catches him! Taiji switches, ducks an elbow, then spins Yoh around, to POST him! The Bullet Club Special comes through, and Taiji brings Yoh out. Taiji hammerlocks the arm, scoops, and SHOULDER BUSTERS! Yoh writhes, Taiji goes back to the corner, and the fans rally up. Taiji runs back in, tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTIC- NO, Yoh spins that into a COBRA TWIST! Yoh then shifts to throw elbows, and he puts on the ANACONDA VICE! Taiji reaches out, fights his way over, but Yoh wrangles him to the mat! Taiji endures, rolls, pops free, and has the BONE LOCK!!
Yoh endures again and the fans rally back up! Yoh fights around, reaches out, but Taiji rolls him back for BLOODY- NO, Yoh handsprings through and O’Conner Rolls! Taiji stops the bridge, pushes Yoh down, BONE LOCK!! Yoh endures again and the fans rally! Yoh fights over again, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Yoh literally escapes by a foot. Taiji lets go, then grins as he brings Yoh back up. Taiji gut wrenches, and CIPHER UTAKI! But Taiji says that’s not all! He aims his finger gun, says BANG, and then brings Yoh back in. But Yoh suplexes, FALCON GOROSHI! Both men are down and the fans rally up again!
Yoh and Taiji slowly stir, rise up, and Yoh fires a forearm! Taiji fires back! Yoh fires another, Taiji fires another, repeat! They pick up speed and the fans rally! Taiji LARIATS but Yoh stays up! Yoh LARIATS but Taiji stays up! They both roar, and DOUBLE LARIAT! Yoh runs up but Taiji JUMP KNEES! BANG and BLOODY- NO, Yoh wrenches out to HEADBUTT! Both men fall and the fans fire up! Taiji and Yoh stir, but Yoh sits up first. Yoh roars, slaps his bad arm into working, and then crawls over to Taiji. Yoh underhooks but Taiji fights the lift! Taiji wrenches out but Yoh full nelsons! Taiji fights that, but Yoh ripcords!
Taiji blocks the knee but that hurts his harm! Taiji takes a swing, but into the ANACONDA VICE! Taiji fights the hold, wrenches out, and tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! BONE LOCK!!! Yoh fights around, reaches out, but Taiji rolls him! Yoh uses that to have the ANACONDA VICE!!! Taiji endures, fights to sit up, and then he stands to fire body shots. Taiji RAMS Yoh into the bare buckles! Both men fall back and the fans rally harder! Taiji drags Yoh up, reels him in, but Yoh blocks! Yoh fireman’s carries, and he hits an USHIGOROSHI! The fans fire up and Yoh full nelsons Taiji! DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!!
Taiji escapes but Yoh vows to end this! The fans are thunderous as Yoh hauls Taiji up! DIRECT DRIVE!!! Cover, YOH WINS!!!
Winner: Yoh, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Taiji earns 0)
The Bone Soldier fails, and now Desperado is NOT going to the finals! Desperado will now be on the outside looking in, waiting for his next challenger.
Speaking of which, Kosei Fujita now makes his way out here to be face to face with Yoh. Yoh holds the ropes open for Fujita to step into the ring. Fujita and Yoh get face to face, and Fujita points at the tag title on Yoh’s shoulder, because he also wants that belt. Yoh knows, since he and Wato took it from Fujita & Eagles. But Yoh dismisses Fujita, they’ll meet again on June 1st. Yoh then takes up the mic to tell Fujita, “Ya bastard… I’ll show you true chaos! Now, just one more win. In Ota, the best wind will blow.” Yoh drops the mic to leave it at that. Will that wind be the winds of change? Or will Yoh fail to bring down The Mighty Japanese Young Punk?
Here are the FINAL B Block standings!
YOH: 6-3, 12 points [FINALIST]
El Desperado: 6-3, 12 points [ELIMINATED]
MAO: 6-3, 12 points [ELIMINATED]
Taiji Ishimori: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Robbie Eagles: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
SHO: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Nick Wayne: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Kevin Knight: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Titan: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Ryusuke Taguchi: 3-6, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
My Thoughts:
A great night to wrap round nine and therefore the round robin portion. No repeat BOSJ finalists, which is actually great because now we’ve got a fresh match-up. Taguchi VS Knight was still a great match for not affecting outcomes, and Knight gets to return to AEW with a win. The flipside is Titan gets a win over Nick Wayne, I really do think it books itself, Nick VS Titan for the ROH World TV Championship on Grand Slam: Mexico. Christian Cage can even be condescending to Nick over how Nick didn’t make it to the finals, adding to that feud. Nick can beat Titan in the rematch, then get in Christian’s face to make a match for All In: Texas, or at least Supercard of Honor where ROH titles should be showing up anyway.
Great stuff with Mao and his team against Sho and the House of Torture. I was pleasantly surprised that Mao won, and I wonder if the House of Torture goes to a DDT Pro show to battle it out with Strange Love Connection. Mao winning also added great drama to the remaining matches, Despy VS Eagles was awesome stuff, probably the actual best match of the night. Yoh VS Taiji wasn’t quite as hot going by the crowd, but Yoh getting the win to shut the door on Despy was good. Yoh VS Fujita will be great, a bit hard to call, but that makes it fun.
My Score: 9/10
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