Best of the Super Juniors 27 reaches the fourth!

NJPW BOSJ 27 continues, and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion ISN’T leading! Will he at least make sure the Young Lion doesn’t get ahead of himself?

NOTE: NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Best of the Super Juniors 27: Yuya Uemura VS Taiji Ishimori; Ishimori wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 27: Robbie Eagles VS BUSHI; Bushi wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 27: Hiromu Takahashi VS DOUKI; Hiromu wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 27: Ryusuke Taguchi VS SHO; Sho wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 27: Master Wato VS El Desperado; Wato wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current Best of the Super Juniors 27 standings!

Ryusuke Taguchi: 2-1
El Desperado: 2-1
Hiromu Takahashi: 2-1
Taiji Ishimori: 2-1
Robbie Eagles: 2-1
Master Wato: 2-1
SHO: 2-1
BUSHI: 1-2
DOUKI: 0-3
Yuya Uemura: 0-3

Yuya Uemura VS Taiji Ishimori!

The Young Lion that subbed in for Yoshinobu Kanemaru is facing THE IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion to open the round! But with Uemura at 0-3 and the Bone Soldier at 2-1, is it still 100 years too early for Uemura to defeat Ishimori?

The bell rings and fans rally as Uemura circles with Ishimori. They tie up, Ishimori avoids the shoot in and the two trade off on facelocks and waistlocks. Ishimori gets away and fans cheer the fast technical exchange. Ishimori and Uemura tie up, Ishimori wrenches to a wristlock but Uemura gives it back. Ishimori rolls, gets a leg to a takedown, and then cranks on the toehold. Uemura tries to headscissor back but Ishimori gets the legs then floats to a headlock. Uemura rolls to a cover, ONE and Ishimori holds on. Ishimori wrenches, wrangles Uemura back down then holds onto the arm. Uemura gets up but Ishimori throws him down and has a double wristlock.

Uemura fights up again and wrenches out to put the hold on Ishimori. Ishimori drop toeholds and floats to a facelock. Uemura fights back up but Ishimori cranks on a necklock now. Ishimori throws Uemura over and rolls back to crank on his head. Uemura endures, reaches and gets the ropebreak. Fans cheer while Ishimori holds until 3. Ishimori stomps an arm then stomps Uemura down! Uemura grits his teeth but Ishimori whips. Uemura reverses but Ishimori reverses back to get the FUJIWARA! Uemura endures and flails, and the fans rally up as he crawls over. Uemura uses a leg to get the ropebreak! Ishimori holds until 3, then drops knees on the shoulder! The ref reprimands, Uemura is still touching ropes! Ishimori stops, but then stomps Uemura down again.

Ishimori scrapes Uemura out of the ring, wrenches and whips and Uemura hits railings! Ishimori brings Uemura up, hammerlocks the arm and POSTS him! Uemura falls and clutches the arm but fans rally up. Ishimori drags Uemura up to put in the ring, cover, TWO! Ishimori clamps onto the arm again, wrenches it through and elbows away on the shoulder! Then hits an arm CODE BREAKER! Uemura stumbles to a corner, Ishimori wraps the arm around a rope! The ref counts, Ishimori stops at 3, but then wraps the arm up again! The ref counts, Ishimori drags Uemura up and CHOPS him! And CHOPS him again! Ishimori whips Uemura corner to corner but Uemura reverses to judo throw Ishimori down!

Ishimori holds onto the arm and drags Uemura down! Uemura scrambles, and gets another ropebreak! Ishimori lets off but he clubs the bad arm to then wrench for an ELBOW BREAKER! Ishimori runs, into a dropkick! Uemura’s legs still work! Fans cheer as Uemura and Ishimori go to opposite corners. Uemura fires up and runs in but into a boot! He comes back to forearm away on Ishimori! Fans rally as Uemura whips Ishimori corner to corner. Uemura runs in to back elbow! Uemura whips corner to corner again, runs in and dropkicks! Ishimori staggers, Uemura pushes him over to cover, TWO!

Fans rally up as Uemura drags Ishimori by his legs. Ishimori kicks and kicks but Uemura still gets a HALF CRAB! The one good arm holds Ishimori down, but Ishimori crawls for ropes! Uemura cranks as far back as he can, but Ishimori still gets the ropebreak! Uemura lets go, shakes out the bad arm, and goes back to Ishimori. Uemura drags ishimori up, cording hold but ishimori hits the bad arm! Ishimori gut wrenches Uemura for a SHOULDER BUSTER! And then a roll, into the YES LOCK! Uemura endures, reaches, crawls, drags himself and Ishimori, but Ishimori rolls him away! Ishimori brings Uemaru up but Uemura resists the half hatch! Uemura jumps up and gets an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN!

Ishimori endures now as Uemura cranks back! Ishimori fights up but Uemura wrangles him back down! Ishimori moves around, reaches out and gets a ropebreak! Uemura lets go and fans rally up as he waistlocks Ishimori, and hits a GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!! To the ARMBAR! Ishimori makes it a cover, TWO! Uemura escapes the omoplata, dodges the jumping knee and rolls Ishimori up! TWO, Uemura blocks Ishimori’s clothesline but with the bad arm! Uemura still SLAPS with big palm strikes! Ishimori is down and fans fire up with Uemura! Uemura drags Ishimori up, traps one arm then the other, but Ishimori rolls Uemura to the BONE LOCK!! Uemura taps, Ishimori wins!

Winner: Taiji Ishimori, by pinfall; now 3-1, Uemura is now 0-4

The Young Lion did better than expected, but in the end, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion wins! Will Ishimori be able to keep his loss record at just one as the round robin continues?

Robbie Eagles VS BUSHI!

The Sniper of the Sky is back up after he brought Sho down, and the Death Mask is on the bottom half of the block as it is. Will Bushi be like fish in a barrel for Eagles? Or will they both end up tied at 2-2?

Eagles is still on the corner when he sees Bushi rushing over! Eagles dropkicks him down, takes off his vest and the bell rings. Bushi bails out but Eagles builds speed as fans rally, only for Bushi to get in and kick him then club him. Bushi stomps Eagles, drags Eagles up and whips, but Eagles holds ropes to resist. Bushi kicks, Eagles reverses the whip to go up and around to arm-drag Bushi! Eagles then dodges and ducks Bushi to huricanrana! Bushi gets up to get a windmill kick, but gives back a basement dropkick! Eagles bails out, Bushi builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and Eagles hits railing! Bushi drags Eagles up and whips Eagles into railing!

Eagles slowly slumps down but Bushi stomps him! The ring count begins, Bushi drags Eagles up and puts him in. Fans cheer and Bushi drags Eagles up, for a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Bushi keeps on Eagles with a chinlock and a knee in the back. Eagles endures, Bushi claws his nose, then puts on a figure four headscissor squeeze. Eagles endures, crawls around and gets a ropebreak. The ref counts, Bushi claims he needs help, and the ref undoes the hold. Eagles sputters but Bushi drags him up. Eagles throws body shots and haymakers but Bushi kicks low. Bushi back suplexes high and hard, then covers, TWO!

Eagles shakes his head but Bushi takes off his shirt, and chokes Eagles with it! The ref reprimands, counts, Bushi tries to hide it but the ref knows better. Bushi lets go, and stomps Eagles down. Bushi hoists Eagles up and hangs him out to dry! Bushi goes to a corner, leaps, but Eagles avoids the missile dropkick! Eagles springboards and missile dropkicks Bushi’s legs out! Both men are down and fans rally up. Eagles stands, KICKS Bushi in the chest, and KICKS him again! And again! Eagles runs, to sliding leg lariat! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer and rally as Eagles drags Bushi back up. Eagles CHOPS Bushi in a corner! And throws a forearm, to wrench and whip corner to corner.

Eagles runs in to double knee, rolls back but Bushi boots him! Eagles corner 619’s to sweep the leg! Then METEORA! Cover, TWO! Eagles keeps his cool and brings Bushi back up. Eagles has the leg, the head, but Bushi resists the lift. Eagles throws strikes but Bushi rakes eyes! The ref reprimands, Bushi runs but into a knee, and Eagles KICKS Bushi down! Eagles runs but Bushi dropkicks him down! Bushi goes out to the apron and drags Eagles up through the ropes. DRAPING DDT! Eagles is stuck doing a headstand in the ropes but Bushi drags him back in. Eagles spins through the fisherman screw to mule kick, front kick and ROUNDHOUSE, HOOK KICK, PELE! Fans cheer as Eagles has Bushi down!

Eagles drags Bushi back up, but no Sliced Bread! Bushi elbows back, reels him in, but Eagles fireman’s carries! Eagles makes it a TURBO BACKPACK! Cover, TWO! Bushi survives but Eagles keeps his cool. Fans rally up and Eagles goes to the corner. Eagles is up top, WARP- No, Eagles has to roll through as Bushi moves. Bushi goes out ot the apron and swing kicks Eagles away. Bushi goes up, missile dropkick! BUSHIROONI! BACKSTABBER! Eagles staggers on his feet, Bushi runs in, but no Code Breaker! Eagles ducks the enziguri, dodges the mule kick, and rolls Bushi to the RON MILLER SPECIAL! Bushi endures and fans rally up!

Bushi drags himself to ropes but Eagles drags him away! Eagles stomps Bushi’s back but Bushi endures! Bushi crawls, reaches, but Eagles cranks harder on the hold! Fans rally harder as Bushi gets closer, and gets the ropebreak! Eagles lets off reluctantly and he goes back after a leg. Eagles stomps away on Bushi’s leg, drops a knee, spins through but Bushi kicks. Eagles stops that with the spinning toehold! Eagles spins through again but Bushi kicks him away! Eagles ends up on the apron, Bushi gets up and heads over but Eagles shoulders back in. Eagles puts Bushi through ropes, KICKS him back in, then aims as fans rally up.

Eagles springboards but into a dropkick! Bushi stalks Eagles, reels him in, DESTROYER!! Cover, TWO!! Eagles survives but Bushi goes up the corner! Bushi aims, leaps, M X!! Cover, Bushi wins!!

Winner: Bushi, by pinfall; now 2-2, Eagles is now 2-2

The Sniper of the Sky got shot down, Death Mask is rising back up! Is there still a chance for Bushi to take the BSOJ?

Hiromu Takahashi VS DOUKI!

The Ticking Time Bomb vowed to win the entire BOSJ, and so far, so good. But will he take Japones de Mal too lightly and detonate prematurely?

Hiromu is on the corner posing, and Douki dropkicks him down! Douki watches Hiromu get up on the outside, then builds speed, but Hiromu gets in to trip him up! Hiromu drags Douki out to throw him into railing, and then into more railing! Hiromu goes up top as the bell rings, but Douki sees that and gets far away. Hiromu hops down to the apron, and runs to leap, but flops as Douki dodges! Douki gets back in the ring, runs and DIVES! Direct hit into the railing! Fans cheer that while Douki goes back to the ring. Douki climbs up top now, Hiromu stands, SUPER DOUKI BOMB! Douki uses Hiromu’s move on him!

The ref checks on Hiromu while Douki leaves him behind. Hiromu is okay to continue so the ring count begins. Hiromu slowly sits up and fans rally, but the count is 10 of 20 before Hiromu stands. Hiromu hobbles and gets in at 16! Douki heads over and stomps Hiromu down. Hiromu gets to a corner but Douki just stomps a mudhole into him! The ref counts, Douki lets off at 4, then brings Hiromu up. Hiromu CHOPS back then CHOPS again! Douki rakes Hiromu’s eyes! The ref reprimands, Douki stops and Hiromu falls over. Douki drags Hiromu up, scoops him and slams him, then runs to DOUBLE STOMP! Hiromu writhes but Douki covers, TWO!

Douki keeps his cool, kicks at Hiromu and slaps him around. Fans rally up, Douki CHOPS but Hiromu CHOPS back! Douki CHOPS, whips but Hiromu reverses. Hiromu runs in but Douki boots him! Douki runs but Hiromu follows to huricanrana! Fans cheer while both men are down. Hiromu gets up at the ropes, BOOTS Douki, then gets him for a necklock! Hiromu tries to drag Douki up and over but that doesn’t work so he just drags Douki under, for a wheelbarrow facebuster to the floor! Fans cheer while Hiromu fires up and goes to the apron. Douki slowly rises, Hiromu aims and missile dropkicks him to railings!

The count starts again and Hiromu fires up as he drags Douki up. Hiromu puts Douki in and drags him up. Hiromu suplexes, Douki slips out and knees low. Douki runs, into a wheelbarrow COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer and Hiromu mockingly asks if Douki is okay. Hiromu fireman’s carries but Douki slips off to shove Hiromu to the corner. Douki blocks the boots, gets Hiromu up and over to the Gory Especial, but HIormu slips off. Douki knees low again to run, get around, backslide but Hiormu slips out! Douki gets him in the Gory Especial, DOKON NO JUTSU! Cover, TWO! Hiromu survives Douki’s “ninjitsu” but Douki goes to the apron.

Fans rally up as Hiromu rises, and Douki slingshots, DAY- NO! Hiromu catches Douki, fireman’s carries but Douki pops around! Hiromu pushes Douki off and pops him up, but Douki turns that into the ITALIAN STRETCH #32! Hiromu moves around, gets the ropebreak, but Douki doesn’t let go until 4! Douki goes back to the apron and watches Hiromu rise again. Fans rally up, slingshot, DAYBREAK! Cover, TWO! Hiromu survives but Douki vows to finish this! Douki wheelbarrows Hiromu and lifts, but Hiromu resists the full nelson! Hiromu arm-drags Douki away, pops him up again, but Douki huricanrana counters!

Douki runs in, but into the OVERHEAD SUPLEX! Douki is short of the buckles but he still hits hard! Fans rally up as both men slowly stir. Hiromu sits up first and fires himself up. Hiromu has a wild look as he drags Douki up to a fireman’s carry. DYNAMITE PLUNGER! Cover, TWO! Hiromu tries again as fans rally up, but Douki fights off the fireman’s carry. Hiromu kicks low, runs but Douki uses the ref as a shield! Douki swings but Hiromu blocks, fireman’s carry takedown to the fireman’s carry lift! CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Fans fire up with Hiromu as he drags Douki back up. Hiromu fireman’s carries again, spins, but Douki victory rolls and turns Hiromu over, ITALIAN STRETCH!

Hiromu endures, fans rally up, and Hiromu reaches around. Douki drags Hiromu back down with the stretch but Hiromu has a crazy grin on his face as he fights his way back up! Hiromu drags Douki with him as he heads for ropes. Douki rolls Hiromu again but Hiromu powers up to VICTORIA! Fans fire up while both men are down. Hiromu slowly sits up and fires himself up as he heads for Douki. Douki throws a forearm first but Hiromu gives it back. Douki forearms, so Hiromu forearms! Both men are laughing as they go back and forth, faster and faster! The fans rally, Douki ROCKS Hiromu, but Hiromu throws a forearm back!

Douki throws another forearm, then another, then a third! Hiromu stays up, to SUPERKICK! Douki stays up to ENZIGURI! Fans cheer as Hiromu fires up, Douki dodges, DOUBLE LARIATS! But both men stay up! Douki runs, Hiromu clotheslines him at the ropes! Hiromu rusn but Douki LARIATS him down! Fans fire up again and Douki rises. Douki fires himself up, reels Hiromu into the wheelbarrow, but Hiromu goes to counter! Douki keeps Hiromu from hitting the Complete Shot but Hiromu fights free with elbows. Douki DECKS Hiromu! Hiromu is dazed, Douki fires up, and fans rally as Douki drags Hiromu into a torture rack! MARI-

NO! Hiromu denies the bomb but Douki gets him in the Gory Especial again! But wait, he’s changing it up!? DODON NO JUTSU S T O!! Cover, TWO!?! Hiromu survives and fans are thunderous! Douki is furious and he fires himself back up! Douki drags Hiromu back into the wheelbarrow, but Hiromu victory rolls! TWO!! Douki scrambles up, into a SUPERKICK! Douki uppercuts back! Douki runs, into a LARIAT! But he’s right up?! Douki flounders about, powered by rage alone! Hiromu runs and LARIATS him again! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu has that wild look on his face again, and he fires himself up as he drags Douki back up. Fireman’s carry, TIME BOMB!! Cover, Hiromu wins!

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall; now 3-1, Douki is now 0-4

The Time Bomb demolishes a Douki no one expected to see! Will Hiromu be able to keep this going as we get deeper into the rounds?

Ryusuke Taguchi VS SHO!

The Funky Weapon stands atop the block because he beat the man who beat the man who beat the champion! And yet he is still only 2-1 just like High Voltage. Will Sho shock Taguchi and completely turn the round robin upside-down?

Taguchi offers a handshake, and Sho takes it. Fans cheer this sign of respect and the bell rings. Sho and Taguchi circle, Taguchi does some fancy foot work, and fans cheer. Taguchi bows then circles with Sho again. They feel out the grapple, clinch, and go around. Taguchi throws Sho but Sho stays on top. Sho works through the leg guard to go for a cover but Taguchi slips away to get the arm and facelock. Sho reverses but but Taguchi slips out to get a toehold. Sho headscissors for the armbar but Taguchi rolls to the ropebreak. Sho lets off and fans cheer the exchange. Taguchi and Sho reset, tie up, and though Sho resists, Taguchi wrenches through to a wristlock.

Sho wrenches back to get a wristlock of his own. Taguchi rolls, wrenches, slips through to wrangle Sho down with a keylock. Sho headscissors, Taguchi pops out, and fans cheer as the two reset again. Taguchi and Sho circle, tie up and Taguchi headlocks. Sho powers out, things speed up, Sho runs Taguchi over! Sho drags Taguchi up to headlock, but Taguchi powers out. Things speed up, Taguchi goes one way but Sho dodges. Taguchi dodges, and side steps, and passes Sho through but Sho whips. Taguchi reverses the whip to keep passing Sho through, but Sho stops and Taguchi spins out! Taguchi is dizzy as he runs at Sho, and runs into a corner instead!

Sho covers but Taguchi’s too close to ropes. Sho drags Taguchi up and spins him more! And more! And then throws forearms! Taguchi is dizzy and he goes around Sho a few times before falling. Cover, TWO! Sho brings Taguchi back up, throws forearms, then runs, into the hip attack! Fans cheer but Taguchi still has to steady himself. Taguchi spins the other way to cancel things out, and he’s fine! Taguchi brings Sho up to club him to a corner. Taguchi whips Sho corner to corner, runs in but Sho boots him! Taguchi comes back to trip Sho, and put on the OH MY ANKLE LOCK! Taguchi presses the foot into the ropes, Red Shoes counts, but Taguchi drags Sho into the post! Now Taguchi presses the foot into the steel! Red Shoes reprimands and counts and Taguchi lets go.

Sho hobbles, but he counters Taguchi’s springboard with a forearm! Sho sweeps the leg, runs side to side and baseball slides Taguchi off the apron! Fans cheer and Sho goes to the apron, to Penalty Kick! Taguchi goes down but fans cheer for Sho as he fetches Taguchi. Sho goes after an arm, knuckle locks as he drags Taguchi up and to the corner. Sho returns the favor by using the crossbar in the keylock! Red Shoes counts, Sho lets off to put Taguchi in. Sho wraps the arm around the ropes now! Red Shoes counts and Sho lets off. Sho shakes out the bad leg before going in, but Taguchi slow rolls to the far side.

Taguchi gets out of the ring, Sho goes out and runs around the way to stomp him down! Taguchi wants a time out but Sho throws kicks and forearms! Sho bumps Taguchi off the apron then gets in as Taguchi slow rolls. Fans rally up and Sho brings Taguchi up by the bad arm. Sho wrenches, cording holds, and cranks on the shoulder! Taguchi reaches but SHo wrenches both arms for the pretzel lock, and then throws Taguchi down! Cover, TWO, to the double wristlock! Taguchi scrambles and gets the ropebreak. Sho lets off but brings Taguchi back up. Sho wrenches, Taguchi throws body shots over and over, but Sho throws forearms and knees.

Sho KICKS Taguchi in the butt, but Taguchi shakes his head. Taguchi dares Sho to do that again and Sho KICKS Taguchi in the butt! Taguchi powers up and eggs Sho on. Sho back suplexes to atomic drop! But Taguchi still hulks up!? Sho kicks and runs but into a hip attack! Taguchi runs, but into another atomic drop! Sho runs, into ROLLING BUM-DER! The hip attack sends Sho out and Taguchi runs to the corner, TRIANGLE PLANCHA! Fans fire up while both men are down. Taguchi puts Sho in, aims from the corner and springboards, missile hip attack! Cover, TWO! Taguchi keeps his cool as he drags Sho back up. Taguchi snap suplexes, uno amigo! And again, dos amigos!

Sho resists the third, powers up and suplexes Taguchi, but Taguchi slips out! Taguchi waistlocks, Sho switches, but Taguchi drop toeholds, for OH MY ANKLE LOCK! Fans rally as Sho endures and gets to the ropebreak! Red Shoes counts, Taguchi lets off at 3. Sho clutches his leg while Taguchi brings him up. Taguchi has the leg, for a SHIN BREAKER! Taguchi then calls upon the power of Shinsuke Nakamura… “ORAYO!” BUMAYE- Countered to a waistlock and lift! Taguchi fights out, runs, but Sho dodges to SPEAR! Sho’s bad leg keeps him from making the cover but he fires up with the fans.

Sho crawls over to Taguchi, brings him up again, wrenches the arm and bends the fingers for the ELBOW BREAKER! And then again, ELBOW BREAKER! And a third, ELBOW BREAKER! Sho wrenches, kicks and kicks and kicks, but Taguchi blocks! OH MY- No, Sho elbows free! Taguchi ROCKS Sho with a right! Sho throws a forearm back but Taguchi hits again. The fans rally as the two brawl, and Taguchi eggs Sho on. Sho hits back, Taguchi hits again, and they pick up speed! Taguchi gets the edge, then runs, but into a KNEE! Sho runs but catches the hip attack for a GERMAN! Sho holds on, for another GERMAN! And then the pop-up to ARMBAR!

Taguchi kicks and flails, moves around and gets OH MY ANKLE LOCK! Sho endures, gets up and reaches around, to drag Taguchi back into the ARMBAR! Taguchi moves to cover, TWO, OH MY ANKLE!! Fans rally, Sho endures, Taguchi leans on the hold with everything he has, then drags Sho back to drop an elbow on the leg! OH MY ANKLE reapplied! Sho endures, fans rally but Taguchi gives it everything he has! Sho also gives it his all to get up, but Taguchi reels him in to chicken wing! Sho pops out of Dodon Buster but Taguchi gets around him. Sho slips out again, crosses Taguchi’s arms but Taguchi back drops! Sho tries to sunset, but Taguchi pulls his tights down himself!

Sho fears the butt, pulls those tights back up, and completes the sunset! TWO, Taguchi sits on Sho, TWO!! Taguchi enziguris Sho back down! Sho goes to a corner, Taguchi pulls down his pants, “unprotected” HIP ATTACK! Taguchi runs, into a LARIAT! Sho drags Taguchi back up, crosses the arms, CROSS ARM DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Taguchi survives but Sho aims his bow! Sho drags Taguchi up and double pump handles, for SHOCK ARROW!! Cover, Sho wins!

Winner: SHO, by pinfall; now 3-1, Taguchi is now 2-2

High Voltage has beaten the man who beat the man who beat the man who beat the champion!! Does this mean Sho will be THE man to take the Best of the Super Juniors?

Master Wato w/ Hiroyoshi Tenzan VS El Desperado!

In similar fashion to the previous match, these two are both at 2-1. They’ve both lost to Ryusuke Taguchi, but there are many rounds left. Will the Way of the Grandmaster continue onward and upward? Or will Desperado send him on a depressing detour instead?

The bell rings and Desperado talks a lot of trash already as he circles with Wato. Fans rally but Desperado talks some smack to Tenzan, too. Tenzan gets mad and gets on the apron but Wato has him calm down. Desperado knocks Wato into Tenzan and Tenzan falls to hit railing! Desperado clubs Wato, whips him to ropes, but Wato slides under! Wato back elbows, back hands and KICKS Desperado down! Fans fire up as Wato stomps, cravats and snapmares Desperado to KICK him! Wato turns Desperado over to get a camel clutch! Desperado endures, but he gets an arm free. Wato cranks back but Desperado gets the ropebreak. Wato lets off to stomp Desperado down, then brings him up to throw an elbow. Wato forearms Desperado to a corner, elbows him in the back, then throws more elbows.

Wato whips corner to corner and runs in, but Desperado puts him on the apron. Desperado swings, Wato counter punches! Wato springboads but Desperado throws Red Shoes at him! Wato goes down and Desperado goes out to drag Wato up. Desperado whips Wato into railing! Tenzan coaches Wato but Desperado slaps Wato around. Wato hits back, but Desperado knees and POSTS Wato! Desperado puts Wato on the apron and pulls him into the corner to swing a leg into the post! And again! Red Shoes keeps Tenzan and Desperado apart, but Desperado sneaks the ring bell hammer! Desperado CLUBS Wato with it, and CLUBS Wato’s leg with it!

Desperado hides the hammer in the back of his pants and taunts Wato. Desperado taunts Tenzan and Red Shoes keeps his eyes on him, but Desperado brings the hammer back out to CLUB Wato again! Tenzan protests, but this time Desperado throws the hammer away. Desperado stomps Wato more, but Wato CHOPS back! Desperado knees Wato hard, then scoops him for a slam! Fans rally as Desperado hits a knee breaker, then splashes down on the knee. Desperado hits a spinning toehold drop then locks the legs up in a butterfly. Fans rally as Wato endures the butterfly deathlock, and he CHOPS! Desperado doesn’t flinch so Wato throws forearms. Desperado rakes eyes, cranks on the deathlock, but Wato fights up as fans rally.

Wato drags himself back and gets the ropebreak! Desperado says he needs help to break the hold, but he adds some pressure as he undoes it. Desperado paces while Wato clutches his leg. Desperado toys and taunts Wato and talks more trash to Tenzan. Desperado drags Wato up, scoops and slams him, then paces as he talks more trash. Wato kicks Desperado away, ducks the boot and rolls Desperado up, but Desperado slips out. Wato gets up but the bad leg buckles! Desperado slaps Wato, knees low then runs, but into a tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Both men are writhing but fans fire up! Wato gets to his feet for a moment but he has to get the bad leg moving. Desperado runs over but Wato dumps him out! Wato builds speed and TORNILLOS! Direct hit at the ramp!

Wato fires up, gets back in and builds speed again, to FLY! The tope conjilo wipes Desperado out again! Wato gets back up, drags Desperado up and into the ring. Fans rally as Wato aims. Wato springboards, flying uppercut hits! Cover, TWO! Wato grits his teeth and fires himself up again. Wato brings Desperado up, wrenches and hooks him up, but Desperado fights off the Mouse Trap! Desperado rakes eyes! Red Shoes reprimands but Wato knees Desperado then ROUNDHOUSES! Desperado ducks the next kick to dropkick the legs out! Fans cheer while both men are down again. Wato gets to a corner and fans rally up. Desperado runs in but blocks the boot to put the leg on the rope. Desperado dropkicks the other leg, then gives it a DRAGON SCREW!

Wato falls down, Desperado gets the leg for a STRETCH MUFFLER! Desperado drags Wato from ropes and cranks on the leg, but Wato reaches! But Desperado gets the arm, NUMERO DOS! Wato keeps reaching, fans rally more, and Wato gets the ropebreak! Desperado keeps on the leg until Red Shoes counts 4! Desperado drags Wato up, reels him in, and lifts but no guitar! Wato waistlocks but Desperado kicks the bad leg out! Desperado throws forearms and clubbing elbows but fans rally. Desperado talks trash but Wato throws forearms back! Desperado forearms, Wato KICKS! And KICKS! Wato fires himself up to kick again, but Desperado blocks to elbow the leg! Desperado forearms but Wato KICKS right back! Wato reels Desperado in for the MOUSE TRAP DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!!

Wato drags Desperado to a drop zone, goes to the corner and climbs up. RPP- FLOPS! Desperado avoids the corkscrew splash to then SPEAR Wato down! Fans fire up with Desperado as he reels Wato in, GUITARRA DE ANGEL! Cover, TWO!?! Wato survives and Desperado is furious! Desperado drags Wato up, reels him in and underhooks the arms, but Wato fights out to back drop! Fans rally up again and Wato runs, but Desperado elbows him. Desperado runs but into Wato’s boot! Desperado CHOPS, Wato forearms! Both men wobble but the forearms fly again!

Fans rally as they pick up speed, but Desperado pulls hair! Wato forearms back and gets the edge, but Desperado kicks the leg out! Desperado forearms, powers up, but Wato ROUNDHOUSES! Wato fires up and he brings Desperado back around, throws some knees, then reels him in. Scoop and- No, no TTD! Desperado waistlocks, Wato switches, but Desperado grabs Red Shoes to LOW BLOW MULE KICK! And then he DECKS Wato!! Fans fire up and Desperado drags Wato back up, to underhook him and lift, but no Pinche! Wato slips out, tilt-o-whirls and rolls up, to a prawn hold! WATO WINS!!!

Winner: Master Wato, by pinfall; now 3-1, Desperado is now 2-2

INCREDIBLE! Wato just beat the mean who beat the man who beat the champion!! Desperado tries to beg Red Shoes to reconsider, but that’s not going to work. So Desperado stomps away on Wato! So Tenzan gets in and Mongolian CHOPS him! Desperado runs away before Tenzan can add on! Will Desperado turn this frustration into a rebound in round five? As for Wato, Tenzan helps him up so he can actually celebrate what he just accomplished! Wato gets the mic to have his first main event speech! “I will win the Best of the Super Juniors 27. “I will be the Grand Master!” And it’s simple as that as Wato drops the mic! Will Wato be able to fight even harder than this with still over half the BOSJ to go?

Here are the NEW Best of the Super Juniors 27 standings!

Hiromu Takahashi: 3-1
Taiji Ishimori: 3-1
Master Wato: 3-1
SHO: 3-1
Ryusuke Taguchi: 2-2
El Desperado: 2-2
BUSHI: 2-2
Robbie Eagles: 2-2
DOUKI: 0-4
Yuya Uemura: 0-4

My Thoughts:

What a great round for BOSJ! Even Uemura and Douki got to look great, even though they were of course losing to Ishimori and Hiromu. Douki’s newest move and then how he modified it further is some great stuff, but it gets buried pretty quickly with Hiromu surviving period. Bushi getting a win over Eagles was a bit of a surprise in a good match, and there was a lot of good stuff in Sho VS Taguchi. I find that Taguchi is a master of mixing the comedic and the serious. Only Taguchi can weaponize his own bare butt like that. The biggest surprise was of course Wato winning against Desperado in the main event. Wato had a very short promo, he probably hasn’t had time to really think how his character would talk and frame things. But still, a great win for him, he is looking like a contender now.

My Score: 9.2/10