Best of the Super Juniors hits the halfway point!

World Tag League hit halftime, now so does Best of the Super Juniors! Will we see another shocker? Or will Hiromu and Ishimori stay on pace?

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current 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

Yuya Uemura VS Hiromu Takahashi!

This Young Lion gave the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion quite the fight but still fell short. Will the Ticking Timebomb do even better than that to keep from having another loss?

The bell rings and fans cheer as Uemura is fired up. Hiromu takes it easy as he circles with Uemura. They tie up, Hiromu headlocks but Uemura powers out. They collide shoulders and Hiromu eggs the Young Lion on. They collide again, Uemura runs but Hiromu elbows him at the ropes. Hiromu runs and the two collide again! Neither falls and fans cheer! Uemura roars, runs but Hiromu follows, only for Uemura to run him over! Hiromu bails out, Uemura pursues, dodges, and scoops to SLAM him! Fans cheer Uemura as he goes to the apron. Uemura leaps to crossbody! Direct hit and Uemura fires up more! Uemura drags Hiromu up and puts him in the ring. Cover, TWO!

Uemura keeps his focus as he stomps Hiromu and goes after the legs. Hiromu scrambles around and gets the ropebreak. Uemura lets off to stomp away on Hiromu’s back, then brings him up for forearms and an uppercut. Uemura runs, Hiromu trips him and drags him out, to ram into railing! And more railing! Hiromu clutches his back before he shotgun dropkicks Uemura back into the railing! The ref checks but Uemura is okay to continue. Hiromu drags Uemura up, fans cheer as he puts Uemura back in. Hiromu has a cocky cover, ONE!

Hiromu grins as he grabs Uemura’s legs and ties them up, Cloverleaf BACKBREAKER! A unique combination and Hiromu brings Uemura back up for a scoop slam! Cover, TWO! Uemura clutches his back but fans cheer. Hiromu stomps Uemura, gets the legs again and has another Cloverleaf! For another backbreaker! Uemura writhes but Hiromu grins as he grabs the legs again. Fans rally but Hiromu gets Uemura for a Half Crab! Hiromu sits deep but Uemura crawls. Fans rally as Uemura endures, and Uemura gets the ropebreak! Hiromu lets off and talks some trash. Uemura gets up to throw a forearm but Hiromu eggs him on.

Uemura throws more forearms, but Hiromu avoids the dropkick! Uemura flounders because of his back but Hiromu gives him toying kicks. Fans rally up as Hiromu runs, and fakes out another dropkick! Uemura is down but fans rally up. Hiromu brings Uemura up, and CHOPS him to a corner! And whips him corner to corner, to run in, only for Uemura to boot! Uemura runs, but into an elbow! Hiromu runs, into the dropkick! Fans fire up as Uemura gets himself to a corner. Hiromu is in the opposite corner, Uemura fires up and runs corner to corner, back elbow! Uemura fires off furious forearms over and over and fans rally up!

Uemura whips corner to corner, runs in again, big dropkick! Cover, TWO! Uemura keeps on a leg but Hiromu kicks, into the FULL BOSTON CRAB! Uemura sits deep on Hiromu as fans rally again! Hiromu endures, powers up and reaches, but Uemura drags him from the ropes! Hiromu tries again, and gets the ropebreak! Uemura lets go and grits his teeth. Hiromu sits up but Uemura waistlocks! Hiromu elbows free, but swings into the waistlock! Hiromu holds off the lift, throws more elbows but Uemura lets him spin through, to a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO, to an ARMBAR! Hiromu clasps hands, Uemura keeps pulling, and gets the hands apart!

Hiromu gets the ropebreak, Uemura holds until the count of 4! Uemura drags Hiromu up, traps the arms, but Hiromu drops to block. Uemura powers up to still lift him, but Hiromu slips out! Hiromu suplexes but Uemura fights that off, to suplex! Hiromu slips out again, waistlocks, but avoids a back elbow, only for Uemura to ROCK him with a right! Uemura fires up as fans rally, and he runs, into a SUPERKICK! Both men are down but fans rally again. Hiromu checks his jaw while stalking up behind Uemura. Hiromu drags Uemura around but Uemura crosses legs for a victory roll, TWO!! Hiromu mule kicks, but he runs into the TRAPPED ARM SUPLEX!

Uemura is fired up and the fans are thunderous! Uemura drags Hiromu up, wrenches and clamps on, but Hiromu ROCKS him! Uemura ROCKS Hiromu, roars and runs again, but into a LARIAT! Fans fire up again as Hiromu glares at Uemura. Hiromu drags Uemura up, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO!! Uemura survives and Hiromu is surprised! Hiromu drags Uemura around to use the BOSTON CRAB on him! Hiromu sits deep, Uemura TAPS, Hiromu wins!

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by submission; now 4-1, Uemura is now 0-5

A rare way for the Timebomb to win, but he perhaps did it to teach Uemura a lesson. Will the Young Lion learn much from this fifth loss? As for Hiromu, he’s leading the way into the second half, will he lead all the way until the end?

Master Wato w/ Hiroyoshi Tenzan VS DOUKI!

The Way of the Grandmaster shocked El Desperado last round, and vows to be THE Best of the Super Juniors! But he now faces the other Suzuki-Gun member in this tournament! Will Wato sweep the most sadistic faction in NJPW on his way to the mountaintop?

As part of his entrance, Wato goes to the corner, but Douki attacks with his pipe! The ref reprimands, Douki tosses the pop and the bell rings. Douki clubs Wato, drags him up and CHOPS him! Douki whips, Wato reverses and drops but Douki brings him up to whip again. Douki hurdles, Wato leaps over the monkey flip, then comes back. Wato huricanranas and fans fire up! Wato dropkicks Douki out of the ring! Fans rally up as Wato builds speed, but Douki ducks. So Wato slingshots, but Douki feeds a Young Lion to the PLANCHA! Douki whips Wato into railing! Douki fetches his pipe, but the ref reprimands and stops him. Douki pushes the ref away but Tenzan steps in, so he gets jammed with the pipe! Douki then jams Wato anyway!

And uses the pipe to choke Wato! Douki stops before the ref returns, and he puts the pipe aside. Douki goes to the ring, Wato slowly gets up and the ring count starts. Tenzan coaches Wato up and Wato gets in. Douki drags Wato up to club him down, but fans rally. Douki clubs Wato again, but Wato hits back with body shots and forearms! Douki kicks low to DDT! Cover, TWO! Douki keeps his cool while he drags Wato back up. Douki scoops and slams Wato, to then run and double stomp! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up for Wato but Douki drags him up first. Douki CHOPS Wato down, then drags him back up. Douki bumps Wato off buckles but Wato hits back. Douki fires off forearms and digs his boot into Wato’s face.

The ref counts, Douki lets off at 4, then he brings Wato up to whip corner to corner. Douki runs in but Wato dodges and then ROUNDHOUSES Douki down! Fans cheer and Tenzan coaches Wato up. Wato drags Douki up but Douki rakes eyes! Douki suplexes but Wato slips out to waistlock. Douki elbows out then runs, but Wato hurdles, back elbows, back hands and sobats! Douki bails out and fans fire up as Wato aims. Wato slingshots but Douki moves, and Wato lands on the apron, to then FLYING RANA! Fans fire up with Wato and he gets back in the ring. Douki staggers up and around, Wato TORNILLOS! Fans fire up more as Wato drags Douki back up.

Wato clubs Douki then puts him in the ring at 9 of 20. Fans rally as Wato aims and springboards, for the flying uppercut! Cover, TWO! Wato drags Douki around, wrenches and reels him in, but Douki fights off the Mouse Trap. Wato KICKS Douki, then runs, but Douki uses the ref as as shield! Douki grabs Wato for the ITALIAN STRETCH #32! Wato endures and fans rally up, but Douki drags Wato down more! Wato scrambles and gets the ropebreak! Douki lets go at 3, and slashes his throat because he wants to end this. Douki goes to the apron, aims at Wato, and slingshots, DAY- NO! Wato blocks to scoop, but Douki slips out! Wato elbows the waistlock away but Douki kicks low.

Douki whips but Wato avoids the kick in the corner. Wato fires off forerams and elbows but Douki forearms back! They throw forearms back and forth, Douki enziguris! Knuckle lock cover, TWO! ITALIAN STRETCH! Fans rally as Wato struggles and moves around, to get another ropebreak! The ref counts, Douki lets go at 4, and he goes back to the apron. Douki aims, slingshots, DAYBREAK! Cover, TWO!! Wato survives but Douki keeps his focus. Douki brings Wato into the wheelbarrow, but Wato slips out to go for a suplex. Douki knees low then runs, but into a waistlock! Douki resists the lift, elbows then rakes eyes! The ref reprimands, Douki goes to a corner to run out and kick Wato down.

Douki brings Wato up, runs but Wato gets around to hook him up! Douki arm-drags free of the Mouse Trap but runs into a boot. Wato runs, crucifix takedown, to the MOUSE TRAP DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Douki survives but fans rally up. Wato drags Douki up and scoops him, but Douki slips out to shove Wato at the ref! And then dropkicks him into the ref! The ref is down, and Douki gets his pipe! Douki aims and swings, but Wato sobats first! Wato runs, but into the PIPE! And then Douki PIPE SHOTS Wato down! Douki gets the ref, covers, TWO!! Wato survives and Douki is furious! Douki drags Wato around, into the wheelbarrow, but Wato victory rolls! TWO!

Wato and Douki flounder up, Douki uppercuts! Douki runs, into a ROUNDHOUSE! Douki fires up again, but he runs into TENZAN TOMBSTONE DRIVER! But the TTD isn’t enough for Wato, he goes up top! R P P!! Cover, Wato wins!

Winner: Master Wato, by pinfall; now 4-1, Douki is now 0-5

The Grandmaster wins and stays strong in the round robin! Will he become the Best of the Super Juniors after all?

Ryusuke Taguchi VS BUSHI!

The Funky Weapon was on the receiving end of a shocking defeat when Sho literally kicked his ass then shot him down with the Shock Arrow. Will Taguchi rise again, stronger than ever?

The bell rings and Taguchi seems to be playing the copycat game with Bushi. From being on the corner to stretching his arms the same way as they cricle, Taguchi does what Bushi does. Fans rally up and now Taguchi does his dance. Taguchi and Bushi approach and Taguchi tests the waters with spinning hip attacks. Bushi kicks and clubs Taguchi down, then stomps him! Bushi brings Taguchi up, whips but Taguchi reverses. Things speed up and Taguchi keeps side stepping and passing Bushi by. Bushi basement dropkicks but Taguchi avoids it! Fans cheer and Taguchi smirks as he wags his finger at Bushi. Taguchi sits Bushi up for a point blank hip attack. And then another!

Bushi goes to a corner, Taguchi whips him corner to corner, then runs in. Bushi dodges the corner attack to hit a back elbow. Bushi drags Taguchi to the corner and pulls him against the post! The ref reprimands but the damage has been done to the Funky Weapon! Bushi drags Taguchi out and whips him into railing! Taguchi writhes and the ref reprimands, but Bushi fetches Taguchi to put him in the ring. Fans cheer while Taguchi slow rolls. Bushi stomps Taguchi on the way out but follows him. Bushi stomps Taguchi at the railing, then drags Taguchi up to put him in. Taguchi slow rolls again, Bushi kicks him the rest of the way out. The ring count begins while Taguchi clutches a leg.

The count is 8 of 20 before Taguchi sits up, and then Taguchi slowly stands. The count is 13, then 14, but Taguchi takes his time until 19.5! Bushi stomps Taguchi down, digs his boot in, but the ref counts. Bushi lets off and Taguchi claims his leg hurts. Bushi drags Taguchi up and hits a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Fans rally but then Bushi grinds his boot into Taguchi’s guchi! The ref counts, Bushi stops at 3, and the ref checks on Taguchi. Bushi turns Taguchi over for an STF! Taguchi endures, moves around, and fans rally up as he reaches for ropes. Taguchi crawls and gets the ropebreak! Bushi claws Taguchi’s face but stops at 4.

Bushi stomps Taguchi, drags him up, but Taguchi hits back with body shots! Bushi kicks low, clubs Taguchi on the back, then whips him to ropes. Taguchi reverses but Bushi sunset flips. Taguchi stays up and pants himself! Bushi avoids the booty drop! Bushi stomps Taguchi then runs, but into the BARE ASS ATTACK! Bushi bails out, Taguchi runs and BARE ASS ATTACKS Bushi off the apron! Taguchi fires up and TRIANGLE PLANCHAS! A ring count starts, Taguchi walks off the landing but goes back to Bushi at 8 of 20. Taguchi puts Bushi back in and still keeps some of his butt bare, as he SPRINGBOARD HIP ATTACKS! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up as Taguchi drags Bushi up. Taguchi suplexes but Bushi slips out to waistlock. Taguchi switches, dragon sleepers for reverse DDT! Cover, TWO! OH MY ANKLE LOCK! Bushi scrambles to get the ropebreak! Taguchi holds on until the ref counts, and then he rubs his butt in Bushi’s face! Is he twerking? The ref counts and Taguchi lets off to run and hip attack! And then again, only for Bushi to dump him out! Taguchi takes a tumble and Bushi builds speed, but Taguchi dropkicks the legs out! LA MAGISTROL! TWO! Fans rally up and Taguchi drags Bushi back up. Taguchi whips Bushi corner to corner, runs in but Bushi slips out to swing kick!

Bushi climbs up and leaps to missile dropkick! And Bushirooni! Taguchi ends up in the other corner but he dodges Bushi. Bushi puts Taguchi on the top rope! The Funky Weapon suffers major damage! The ref counts and Bushi lets off, but kicks the rope! Taguchi falls and Bushi goes out to the apron. Bushi drags Taguchi through ropes, DRAPING DDT to the arpon! Taguchi is hanging out of the ropes like his butt is out of his tights! Bushi drags Taguchi in, fireman’s carries, but Taguchi slips off. Bushi kicks low but runs into a sobat. Taguchi runs but into an enzugiri! Bushi runs but the Code Breaker is countered to OH MY ANKLE LOCK!

Taguchi cranks on the ankle, drags Bushi away but Bushi rolls! Taguchi holds on! Fans rally as Bushi endures more! Bushi crawls but Taguchi reels him into chicken wings! DODON- Victory roll! TWO and Taguchi sits on the cover, TWO! OH MY ANKLE LOCK! Taguchi cranks on the foot but Bushi still endures. Bushi stands up to enziguri, Taguchi ducks but Bushi mule kicks! Taguchi enziguris back! DODON- NO! Bushi hits the FISHERMAN SCREW! Cover, TWO!! Taguchi survives, gets to a corner, but Bushi brings him up to put him in the ropes. DRAPING BACKSTABBER! Bushi gets up again as fans rally.

Bushi aims at Taguchi from a corner, runs in, CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Taguchi survives but Bushi goes to the corner! Bushi fires up and climbs, then aims at Taguchi, for M X!! Cover, Bushi wins!!

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

The Death Mask was the death of Taguchi’s hot streak! But is there still time for the Funky Weapon to reload? Or is Bushi going to beat him to the top of the BOSJ?

Robbie Eagles VS Taiji Ishimori!

Last round, the Sniper of the Sky was shot down while the Bone Soldier stood tall. Will Eagles be able to reload and hit a new target? Or will the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion make sure he still only owes one person a title match from this tournament?

The bell rings and Ishimori wants Eagles to Low Sweet him? But Eagles isn’t Bullet Club. Eagles kicks the Low Sweet away and the bell rings. Eagles dropkicks Ishimori down, then dropkicks him down again! Eagles knuckle locks Ishimori, cranks on the fingers, then CHOPS! Eagles goes up and around to arm-drag then dodges and ducks to huricanrana! Ishimori gets up but Eagles windmill kicks him down! Ishimori bails out, dodges the baseball slide and gets back in the ring. Eagles follows but Ishimori stomps him down. Ishimori throws hands, whips Eagles and goes to hip toss but Eagles rolls him to basement dropkick him! Fans cheer while Ishimori writhes.

Eagles KICKS Ishimori, and KICKS him again. Ishimori blocks th ekick to elbow th eleg then club Eagles’ back. Ishimori bumps Eagles off buckles, throws more haymakers, then brings him up to whip corner to conrre. Egales reverses, Ishimori slips out, around, and shoulders in. Springboard seated senton! Fans fire up and Ishimori drags Eagles up for a cravat. Eagles endures, even as Ishimori rams his shoulder in again and again. Ishimori snapmares and neck TWISTS! Eagles clutches his neck but Ishimori covers, ONE! Ishimori drags Eagles up to a chinlock, digs his knee in, and pulls Eagles back. Eagles endures and reaches but Ishimori puts him in a headscissor squeeze.

Fans rally as Eagles endures and moves around. Eagles turns and rolls and gets the ropebreak! Red Shoes counts, Ishimori gives one last jam as he lets go at 4. Ishimori brings Eagles up for a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Ishimori wraps Eagles up in a chinlock but fans rally as Eagles endures the grind. Ishimori shifts to a cover, ONE! He tries again, TWO! And again, TWO! And again, TWO! Eagles shakes his head as he gets out again. Ishimori brings Eagles up but Eagles throws body shots. Eagles CHOPS but Ishimori knees low! Ishimori CHOPS Eagles off his feet! Eagles gets to a corner but Ishimori CHOPS him again!

Ishimori wrenches and whips Eagles corner to corner, then runs in, but Eagles goes to boot. Ishimori blocks, turns Eagles sideways and kicks, before he runs side to side, for the SLIDING GERMAN! Cover, TWO! Fans rally while Eagles stirs. Ishimori takes his time to check his knee pads as Eagles gets to a corner. Ishimori runs in but Eagles elbows him away. Ishimori returns, Eagles drops down and slides to a sunset, but ishimori slips out. Ishimori swings into the roll up with bridge! TWO and Ishimori kicks low. Ishimori runs, Eagles gets around to rolling chop block! And blinside lariat! Both men are down and fans fire up!

Fans rally as the two stir, and Eagles sits up first. Eagles KICKS Ishimori, and KICKS, and KICKS! Eagles runs to SLIDING LEG LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Eagles keeps his cool and drags Ishimori up to CHOP! Eagles throws forearms, whips IShimori but Ishimori reverses. Ishimori runs into the corner but is put on the apron. Eagles enziguris Ishimori down then builds speed, to SOMERSAULT TOPE! Fans fire up with Eagles and he goes back to Ishimori. Eagles puts Ishimori in, covers, TWO! Ishimori goes to a corner but Eagles runs in to DOUBLE KNEES! Eagles rolls back and returns, into a BOOT! But Eagles Sweep-1-9’s, to METEORA! Cover, TWO!

Eagles keeps his focus as he goes out to the apron. Fans rally up, Eagles aims and springboards, to missile dropkick the legs out! Eagles grabs the legs, steps through but Ishimori cradle counters, TWO! Eagles kicks and whips Ishimori but Ishimori handsprings to NEURALIZER KICK! Both men are down but fans rally up again. Ishimori gets his bad leg moving and he kicks at Eagles. Ishimori rakes eyes, goes to a corner and runs back out, to shotgun dropkick Eagles to the other corner! Ishimori runs corner to corner, Eagles tries to dodge, the METEORA still gets his arm! Eagles clutches his elbow, Ishimori runs and tilt-o-whirls to the takedown! YES LOCK!

Eagles endures, crawls, but Ishimori pulls him away! Eagles still endures, Ishimori cranks on the crossface harder, but Eagles keeps moving around! Eagles is so close, and he gets the ropebreak with a foot! Ishimori lets go reluctantly but he slowly gets up. Ishimori says BANG and drags Eagles back up. But Eagles fights off Bloody Cross, bobs ‘n’ weaves to then block the clothesline with knees! ROUNDHOUSE, HEEL KICK, PELE! Eagles drags Ishimori back up, cravats, but no Sliced Bread! CIPHER- NO! Eagles counters to the RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Ishimori flails, reaches, crawls for ropes but Eagles cranks harder! Fans rally, Ishimori keeps crawling, but Eagles brings him away!

Eagles kicks away on Ishimori’s back, but Ishimori refuses to give in! Ishimori drags himself and Eagles over to the ROPEBREAK! Eagles lets go right away, but he’s frustrated. Eagles goes after Ishimori at the ropes for a SLICED BREAD! Cover, TWO! SUPERKICK! Eagles goes up fast, WARP 4.5, ONTO KNEES! Fans rally as Eagles staggers up. Ishimori gut wrenches him, for a SHOULDER BUSTER! Ishimori goes to the corner and gets his leg moving. Fans rally as Ishimori climbs. Ishimori 450’s onto Eagles’ knees!! Fans fire up as Eagles evens things with Ishimori! Fans rally up now and both men stir.

Eagles sits up first but Ishimori follows. Eagles throws a forearm from the mat, Ishimori forearms back. They go back and forth, fight their way up and throw more forearms! Fans rally up as they pick up speed! Eagles CHOPS and forearms, then kicks, kicks and sobats! Front kick, dropkick takes the legs out! Eagles runs, dodges but Ishimori JUMPING KNEES! Ishimori hops up, but Eagles throws him off! Ishimori elbows but his boot is blocked to a kick, body shot and grab, TURBO BACKPACK! Cover, TWO!! Both men are down but fans are fired up!

Eagles rises first and he drags Ishimori up. Eagles turns Ishimori and runs the corner, but no reverse sliced bread! Ishimori slams Eagles down and puts on the BONE LOCK!! Eagles reaches for ropes, Ishimori rolls him away, BLOODY CROSS!! Cover, Ishimori wins!!

Winner: Taiji Ishimori, by pinfall; now 4-1, Eagles is now 2-3

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion dodges a bullet to shoot Eagles down! But will he be able to keep this up in the BOSJ’s second half? As for Eagles, is he all but done in the round robin?

SHO VS El Desperado!

When he beat Taguchi, High Voltage beat the man who beat the man who beat the man who beat the champion! That is to say, Taguchi has also beaten Desperado in BOSJ 27, and Sho beat Taguchi. Will Sho double down and beat both the man who beat the man who beat the man who beat the champion and the man who beat the man who beat the champion?

The bell rings and fans cheer as the two circle. Sho and Desperado approach, feel out the grapple, but Desperado backs up to a corner. Sho backs off and the two go again. They knuckle lock but then Desperado pokes Sho’s eyes! Desperado clubs Sho on the back while laughs at him for being an idiot. Desperado turns around into Sho’s tackle! Sho ground ‘n’ pounds to then get the arm! Desperado clasps hands and moves around, Sho rolls to get a leg but Desperado resists. Sho pushes through to facelock then back mount then roll for the arm! Desperado holds the armbar off, rolls and gets Sho’s legs. Desperado goes after a leg but Sho trips him up again!

Sho has the heel hook but Desperado gets the ropes! The fans cheer as Sho lets off and resets. Desperado and Sho circle, Desperado shoots in for a foot but Sho holds off the takedown. Sho slips around to waistlock, half nelson, chinlock, then roll Desperado for the arm! Desperado gets the ropes just as Sho gets the armbar! Sho lets go and fans cheer as he stomps Desperado. Desperado gets to a corner, Sho knuckle locks then wrenches. Sho wrenches both arms for the pretzel keylock. Desperado talks trash but Sho sweeps the legs! Fans cheer as Sho stands tall over Desperado. Sho stomps Desperado more, KICKS him in the chest, then digs his boots in at the ropes.

Red Shoes reprimands, Sho lets off at 3, then taunts Desperado now as he throws forearms! Desperado ends up in a corner, Sho whips him corner to corner, but Desperado reverses. Desperado runs in but is put on the apron! Sho sweeps legs, runs but Desperado ducks the baseball slide! Desperado RAMS Sho into railing, then whips him into more railing! Sho flops down while fans cheer the aggression. Desperado drags Sho up as fans rally, then puts him in the corner to pull him against the post! Desperado SLAMS a leg against the steel! Sho flops out of the ring, Desperado SMASHES the knee on the floor!

Red Shoes checks on Sho while Desperado sneaks the ring bell hammer! Desperado also fetches himself a chair from under the ring. The chair hides the hammer but Red Shoes reprimands. Desperado gives Red Shoes the chair, to HAMMER Sho! And then HAMMER Sho’s leg! Desperado threatens Young Lions with the hammer before throwing it away. Desperado puts Sho in the ring, stalks him, then stomps him. Fans rally up for Sho but Desperado brings him up. Sho throws forearms but Desperado kicks the leg out! Desperado puts the leg on the ropes to springboard straddle attack it! Sho scrambles away and Desperado mockingly asks how he’s doing.

Desperado stands on the bad leg while fans rally, and Desperado keeps asking what’s wrong. Sho throws a forearm! Desperado eggs him on so Sho throws another forearm! Desperado rakes Sho’s eyes! Red Shoes reprimands, Desperado throws Sho down then knee breakers the leg! Then he drops down on it! Desperado has the butterfly deathlock on! Fans rally and Sho endures but Desperado bridges back to add pressure. Sho has Desperado sit up and CHOPS him! But that only causes Desperado to fall back! Sho sits Desperado up again and CHOPS, but again Desperado just falls back! Sho falls back but sits up to keep his shoulders off.

Desperado adds pressure to the legs, Sho endures and fights towards ropes. Fans rally up, Sho reaches but Desperado adds pressure. Sho reaches and gets the ropebreak! Desperado says he needs help undoing the hold and Red Shoes works to untie it. Desperado drops a knee on Sho’s knee, and “apologizes” about that. Desperado taunts Sho and then brings him back up. Desperado suplexes but Sho resists! Sho suplexes but the bad leg limits him! Desperado kicks the bad leg then drags Sho back up. Desperado brings Sho up but Sho suplexes him up and over after all! Fans rally up for Sho and Sho gets his bad leg moving.

Sho aims from a corner, runs corner to corner and clotheslines! Sho whips, wrenches but Desperado breaks free! Sho blocks the kick to give some kicks! And more kicks! Desperado covers up but Sho kicks him from behind! Sho kicks Desperado down then covers, TWO! Fans rally and Sho dead lifts Desperado in the waistlock but Desperado kicks and flails! Desperado elbows free, Sho forearms back. Sho runs, Desperado goes the other way but the spear is blocked! Sho knees then runs, but Desperado dropkicks the legs out! Desperado grabs the bad leg for a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! And then he splashes on the leg! And puts on STRETCH MUFFLER!

Sho endures and fans rally up, but Desperado drags Sho from the ropes! Desperado cranks on the leg, gets the arm, NUMERO DOS! Sho still crawls with his one arm, but Desperado tries to grab it! Sho gets the ropes first! Red Shoes counts and Desperado lets go reluctantly. Fans rally up and Desperado stands up. Desperado drags Sho up, reels him in, but Sho slips out of Guitarra to waistlock! Desperado kicks the bad leg then talks more trash. Desperado throws a forearm then another. Sho gets mad and eggs Desperado on. Fans rally as the forearms fly! Sho dares Desperado to bring it on and they start going back and forth! They go faster and faster, harder and harder!

Sho ROCKS Desperado then fires forearms from all sides! Now Sho mockingly asks what’s wrong, but Desperado kicks the bad leg! Desperado taunts Sho back and drags him up. Sho swings but into a spin and GUITARRA DE ANGEL! Cover, TWO!! Sho survives and fans fire up! Desperado grits his teeth and fires himself up as he drags Sho around. Desperado underhooks but Sho blocks the lift! Sho powers out to back drop Desperado away! Fans fire up again as Sho gets up. Desperado kicks the bad leg then whips Sho. Sho reverses and kitchen sink knees! But that was the bad leg!

Both men flounder about and Sho gets to a corner. Sho aims at Desperado, for a PENALTY KICK to the arm! And then a rolling takedown to the double wristlock! Desperado holds on but Sho gets the KIMURA! Sho taunts Desperado with “How do you like that?!” Desperado kicks and flails and gets the ropebreak! Sho lets off just long enough, and he drags Desperado up. Sho wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! And another! And another! Sho runs, but Desperado SPINEBUSTERS! STRETCH MUFFLER, but Sho turns over to get an inverted ARMBAR! A Disarmer even! Desperado endures, rolls, and covers, TWO! ARMBAR!

Desperado flails and gets another ropebreak! Sho holds until 4, and fans rally up. Sho taunts Desperado and kicks at him. Desperado stays on ropes so Sho just scrapes his boot off his head. Sho drags Desperado up but Desperado kicks the bad leg! Sho kicks the bad arm! BACKSTABBER! Sho pushes Desperado up to then run corner to corner for a BIG corner clothesline! Sho keeps moving, LARIAT! Fans fire up with Sho as he drags Desperado back up! Sho lifts for the POWER BREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Desperado survives but fans fire up for Sho!

Sho flounders over, aims his bow and brings Desperado back up. Desperado gets around, he and Sho dosido and Desperado grabs at Red Shoes! Sho dodges the low blow to KNEE! Sho reels Desperado in, double pump handles but Desperado lands out of Shock Arrow! Sho HEADBUTTS! Sho drags Desperado around but Desperado spins to victory roll! TWO!! Sho scrambles up, Desperado shoves him at Red Shoes, then turns him around for the RIGHT HAND! Desperado drags Sho in, PINCHE LOCO!! Cover, Desperado wins!!

Winner: El Desperado, by pinfall; now 3-2, Sho is now 3-2

Sho may have beaten Taguchi, who beat Desperado, but now Desperado has beaten Sho! Will this be the loss that short circuits Sho’s chances? As for Desperado, he gets the mic to speak. “Oi, oi, hold on. The champion, albeit the tag champion, is going to give you some praise here. Why leave so quickly? Don’t be an idiot.” Desperado says Sho isn’t weak, not at all. Sho stayed on the attack until the very end.

But y’know what? It’s not about strength, it’s about who wins! That’s why Desperado is a champion now! “You don’t get to talk about strength, because you didn’t have enough in the end.” Desperado will be winning the BOSJ, and Sho, with his bad leg, will lose the rest of his matches. “Too bad.” Desperado leaves with both his and Yoshinobu Kanemaru’s tag titles, but will he be adding the BOSJ trophy to the collection?

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

Hiromu Takahashi: 4-1
Taiji Ishimori: 4-1
Master Wato: 4-1
El Desperado: 3-2
BUSHI: 3-2
SHO: 3-2
Ryusuke Taguchi: 2-3
Robbie Eagles: 2-3
DOUKI: 0-5
Yuya Uemura: 0-5

My Thoughts:

A really good fifth round, but not much more than what we got last round. Uemura looked good again but Hiromu of course wins. I was surprised Hiromu debuted a new move like the Cloverleaf backbreaker here but it’s still a very clever combination. Wato as top three is a surprise in itself, and I feel like with Douki, he would’ve completed a sweep of Suzuki-Gun had Kanemaru not gotten injured. Ishimori of course stays up near the top, the champion can’t have more than two title matches owed with only WrestleKingdom left. Taguchi again weaponizes his bare ass but it backfires this time and Bushi stays in the middle of the block.

Sho VS Desperado was a great match, and it works out that Desperado wins here. Desperado stays just outside the top, but I bet this also sets up a Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship story, maybe Yoh and Kanemaru will both be back in time for WK15 to give us RPG3K VS Suzuki-Gun. That would be a great moment, especially for Sho & Yoh, and especially if they won the titles back. RPG3K’s reign got cut short, so starting the next one off with a WK15 victory to start 2021 would be perfect.

My Score: 8.9/10