NJPW WTL X BOSJ 2021 begins!

NJPW once again holds two tournaments at the same time! World Tag League, Best of the Super Juniors, who come out ready to challenge the champs?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Best of the Super Juniors 28: BUSHI VS DOUKI; Douki wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 28: Yoshinobu Kanemaru VS Taiji Ishimori; Kanemaru wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 28: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Robbie Eagles; Taguchi wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 28: Master Wato VS El Phantasmo; Wato wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 28: YOH VS Hiromu Takahashi; Hiromu wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 28: El Desperado VS SHO; Sho wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Best of the Super Juniors 28: BUSHI VS DOUKI!

The Junior Heavyweight Division kicks off this newest side-by-side event, and the Black Mask and Japones del Mal get to kick BOSJ 28 off! Who gets the very first win to set the pace for the round robin?

The bell rings and fans rally already as the two circle. They tie up, Douki gets a headlock and grinds, but Bushi powers out to have his own headlock. Douki powers out, things speed up, Douki hurdles but Bushi rolls off his back. Bushi runs to RANA Douki out of the ring! Fans cheer as Bushi slingshots to RANA again! Bushi drags Douki up to whip him into railing! Douki writhes, Bushi stomps him down. Bushi drags Douki up and whips him into more railing! Douki falls, the ring count is 10 of 20 but Bushi puts Douki in at 12. Bushi takes off his shirt and uses it to choke Douki! The ref counts, Bushi lets off, and he drags Douki back up.

Douki throws forearms but Bushi ROCKS him with one. Bushi ROCKS Douki again, runs but Douki dumps him out! Douki hurries to the apron to ASAI MOONSAULT! Fans cheer that athleticism and Douki fires himself up! The ring count starts again, Douki stomps Bushi then gets him up to whip into railing! Payback for earlier, and Douki leaves Bushi behind at 10 of 20. The count reaches 15, Bushi stands at 17 and gets in at 19! Douki stomps Bushi, drags Bushi up and whips him to ropes to elbow down! Cover, TWO! Douki clamps on with a chinlock and digs a knee into Bushi’s back. Bushi endures, fans rally up, and Bushi moves around.

Douki cranks back on the chinlock, powers his way over and gets the ropebreak! Douki lets go, paces around, then drags Bushi back up. Bushi throws elbows, Douki knees low and scoops for a SLAM. Douki runs to double stomp but Bushi avoids them! Douki kicks him low, suplexes, but Bushi slips out to get a BIG back suplex! Fans fire up as both men are down. Douki rolls to a corner but Bushi heads over. Bushi stomps Douki, stands him up and throws forearms. Bushi whips, Douki reverses, but Douki runs into a BOOT! Bushi goes up to FLYING RANA! Fans rally, Bushi gets Douki up to spin him to a DDT! Cover, TWO!

Bushi keeps his cool while Douki writhes. Bushi drags Douki up, knees him to a corner then whips corner to corner. Bushi runs in to back elbow, then he goes up to missile dropkick! Bushirooni! Fans cheer, Bushi gets Douki back up, but Douki slips out of the fisherman. Bushi kicks low but runs into a boot! Douki tumbles to the apron, shoulders back in, slingshot into an enziguri! Douki is stuck on the rope, Bushi goes to the corner to hop up and missile dropkick Douki down! Fans rally up, Bushi aims from a corner and Douki rises, into the RUNNING CODE- NO! Douki blocks the Code Breaker to drop down and put Bushi in the ITALIAN STRETCH #32!

Bushi endures and fans rally up as Douki pulls harder on the hold! Bushi moves around, reaches out, but Douki drags him away from the ropes to reapply the Italian Stretch! Bushi endures all over again, moves around the other side, and rolls to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Douki lets go at 4, and fans rally up for Bushi. Douki slashes the throat, vowing to end this. He goes to the apron, takes aim as Bushi rises, slingshot to DAYBREAK! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives and Douki can’t believe it! Douki calls for the end, and he wheelbarrows Bushi, but Bushi fights out of the full nelson. Douki ENZIGURIS, runs, but into a DROPKICK from Bushi!

Both men are down again as fans rally up. Bushi and Douki slowly rise, Douki runs in but Bushi dodges to kick. Douki blocks, then ducks the enziguri, but not the mule kick! Bushi runs to CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Douki survives but Bushi fires up and goes to the corner! Bushi climbs, leaps, but into the HELLSTAB! Douki runs, but into the Gory Especial! Douki fights it, spins Bushi, torture rack to a spin, MARISHIKI!! Cover, TWO!?! Bushi survives and Douki can’t believe it! Fans fire up, Douki wheelbarrows Bushi for SUPLEX DE LUNA!! Bridging cover, DOUKI WINS?!?

Winner: Douki, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Bushi earns 0)

Bushi was wearing golden gear but maybe that jinxed him here! Will Douki prove to even his Suzuki-Gun teammates that he has value?

Best of the Super Juniors 28: Yoshinobu Kanemaru VS Taiji Ishimori!

The Heel Master may have lost the Junior Heavyweight Tag titles, but he could be an insurance policy for his tag partner, El Desperado. Will Bone Soldier Reborn ruin that possibility by giving him a loss out the gate?

But living up to his nickname, the Heel Master attacks Taiji at the entryway! Kanemaru stomps away on Taiji and the ref shouts at him to stop. Kanemaru has the fans behind him as he brings Taiji around the way to whip, only for Taiji to reverse! Kanemaru hits railing and the bell rings to put this on the record. Taiji throws his jacket off to stomp Kanemaru down! Taiji puts Kanemaru in the ring, stomps him more, then throws hands in the corner. Taiji wrenches, whips Kanemaru corner to corner but Kanemaru reverses. Taiji slips out to the apron, baits Kanemaru in to slide under then go out the other side, and shoulders in to then springboard.

Kanemaru gets under, he dodges the clothesline and tilt-o-whirls, but Taiji throws him off to snapmare and step over to an omoplata! Kanemaru rolls and gets away to the outside! Fans cheer but Taiji is frustrated. He goes out and chases after Kanemaru, but Kanemaru baits him in to kick low and whip into railing! Taiji writhes and staggers away, Kanemaru keeps after him. Kanemaru whips him into even more railing! Kanemaru wants more but Taiji reverses the whip to fireman’s carry and SNAKE EYES Kanemaru off railing! Kanemaru falls and the ring count begins. Fans rally, Taiji takes his time catching his breath and the count passes 10 of 20, then 15! Taiji gets in at 19, as does Kanemaru!

Taiji aims from a corner, runs in and DOUBLE KNEES Kanemaru, to then wrench and ARM CODE BREAKER! Omoplata, YES LOCK! Kanemaru endures, Taiji pulls back hard but fans rally up. Kanemaru scoots around, Taiji grabs at the arm reaching out. Taiji keeps on the crossface, Kanemaru keeps moving around, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Taiji lets off cleanly. Taiji paces, but walks into a victory roll! TWO and Taiji kicks low. Taiji runs, into a BOOT, then an ENZIGURI! Kanemaru reels Taiji in but Taiji scoops to CYPHER UTAKI! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up while Taiji drags Kanemaru into a drop zone.

Taiji climbs the corner, to 450, but has to roll through as Kanemaru moves! Kanemaru gets out of the ring, Taiji goes out after him and kicks him at the railing. Kanemaru blocks the suplex to suplex back! Taiji slips out to RAM Kanemaru into the railing! Kanemaru yanks Taiji back into the railing, then goes to suplex. Taiji blocks, the ring count is past 10 of 20 again as they fight for control! Taiji throws body shots to suplex, Kanemaru slips out to POST Taiji! Kanemaru throws a Young Lion into Taiji before he gets into the ring! Taiji gets counted out!!

Winner: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, by count-out (gains 2 points; Taiji earns 0)

The Heel Master’s got many, many tricks, and this one paid off! Taiji can’t believe it, either! Kanemaru takes a celebratory swig, will he and Suzuki-Gun be toasting later tonight?

Best of the Super Juniors 28: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Robbie Eagles!

The Funky Weapon takes aim against the Sniper of the Skies, who just lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Power Struggle. Will Eagles start on his redemption? Or will Taguchi add a bit of insult to injury?

The bell rings and fans rally for “TA-GU-CHI!” “EA-GLE-SU!” It seems Eagles is wondering if Taguchi is still a Junior Heavyweight with that muffin top. But the two circle, approach and tie up. Eagles wrenches to a wristlock, Taguchi spins through to wrench back. Eagles endures the wristlock as Taguchi twists, then he rolls through to wrench Taguchi. And wrench, and wrench, and wrench! Taguchi rolls, trips Eagles and has the toehold. Eagles uses his free leg to pull Taguchi down but Taguchi clasps hands to resist the armbar. Eagles rolls, gets the leg for a toehold and has it trapped. Eagles clamps his hands on the knee to pull it tight!

Taguchi endures, turns over, uses his fee leg to bring Eagles down to a cover, but Eagles gets the ropebreak. Taguchi twists the foot as he lets off and the ref reprimands. Fans cheer as Taguchi backs away to shake out a hamstring. Eagles gets up and the two reset. Eagles calls for a test of strength and Taguchi obliges. They knuckle lock but Eagles kicks an arm, CHOPS, then goes up and around to arm-drag! Things speed up as Eagles ducks and dodges, but then Taguchi just has Eagles pass by and pick up speed. Eagles ducks a chop, then whips Taguchi to return the favor by having Taguchi speed up. Taguchi slides out to put a stop to that, and then he dares Eagles to join him.

Eagles slides out but Taguchi slides back in. Eagles goes to the apron to get a HIP ATTACK! Taguchi builds speed, but Eagles stays away so Taguchi rebounds off the ropes. Eagles slides in, Taguchi avoids his boot to waistlock. Eagles switches, Taguchi breaks free but Eagles trips him. Eagles fakes out the drop down to drop a knee on Taguchi’s leg! Eagles stomps Taguchi, Taguchi clutches his leg, Eagles kicks it more. Eagles gets a modified toehold, almost a kneebar, but Taguchi scoots and crawls to the ropebreak. The fans cheer as Eagles lets off cleanly, and Eagles brings Taguchi up to CHOP! And CHOP again! Taguchi goes to a corner but Eagles looms over him.

Eagles digs his boot in, Taguchi pushes him away. Eagles stomps away on Taguchi but Taguchi bails out. Eagles pursues, CHOPS Taguchi again, then brings him around to CHOP even harder! Taguchi drops to the floor, Eagles drags him up and in, then mocks the hip swiveling. Eagles looms over Taguchi, turns him over as he traps the arm in a hammerlock, then he ties up the legs. Fans fire up as he figure four STOMPS the legs! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, Eagles eggs Taguchi on. Taguchi throws body shots and chops but Eagles eggs him on more. Eagles then BOOTS Taguchi to a corner, runs in to DOUBLE KNEE, then rolls back, but Taguchi BOOTS him!

Eagles comes back to Tiger Feint the legs out! Eagles then runs in to METEORA! Eagles pushes Taguchi to the center, high stacks, TWO! But to the RON MILLER SPECIAL! Taguchi endures and crawls over, ropebreak! The fans cheer, the ref counts, Eagles lets off. Fans rally up, Eagles gives Taguchi toying kicks. Taguchi throws body shots and Eagles feels those! Taguchi fires off more and more, then runs, but the hip attack meets ATOMIC DROP! Eagles runs but Taguchi follows, HIP ATTACK! Eagles bails out and fans fire up as Taguchi runs to the corner! TRIANGLE JUMP PLANCHA! Both men are down but fans fire up again!

Taguchi stands, brings Eagles up and into the ring, then aims from the apron. Eagles stands, Taguchi springboards, MISSILE HIP! Cover, TWO! Fans keep rallying, Taguchi drags Eagles up to snap suplex! Uno Amigo! Snap suplex, Dos Amigos! But Eagles blocks number three! Eagles tries but Taguchi blocks. Taguchi tries again, Eagles slips out and waistlocks but Taguchi blocks the lift. Taguchi spins it back around to get THREE AMIGOS! Cover, TWO! Eagles goes to a corner, fans fire up as Taguchi runs in to HIP ATTACK! Taguchi brings Eagles out to a BULLDOG! Taguchi then loops the arm but Eagles blocks La Magistrol! TWO, but Eagles dropkicks the leg out!

Eagles gets the arm, wants La Magistrol but Taguchi trips him up! OH MY GARFUNKLE!! Eagles endures the ankle lock, rolls and kicks Taguchi away, but Taguchi ducks and dodges, only to miss the hip attack! Taguchi crashes and burns to the ropes but both men are down. Fans rally up, Eagles gets to a corner. Taguchi gets himself to the opposite, Eagles runs in but is put on the apron. Eagles GAMANGIRIS, then springboards to missile dropkick the legs out! Fans fire up with Eagles, he rolls Taguchi up but no Turbo Backpack as Taguchi fights! Taguchi wants chicken wings but Eagles switches and drags him down to a chicken wing pin! TWO, Eagles trips, but Taguchi rolls him, TWO!

OH MY GARFUNKLE!! Eagles reaches, gets up, but Taguchi reels him in to chicken wing, DODON- Victory roll from Eagles! Taguchi rolls it back, TWO! OH MY GARFUNKLE!! Eagles rolls to send Taguchi into buckles! Taguchi comes back, hip attack into ATOMIC DROP! ROUNDHOUSE, SUPERKICK, PELE! But Taguchi PELES back! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Eagles rises first but Taguchi follows. Taguchi throws a forearm from the mat, Eagles gives it back. The forearms go back and forth, Eagles stands to throw another. Taguchi gives it back, and they keep going. Fans rally as they pick up speed, then Taguchi gets the edge!

But Eagles knees low, KICKS Taguchi down, then KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! Eagles fires up and runs, LEG LARIAT! Taguchi comes back with a HIP ATTACK! Fans fire up as Taguchi sits Eagles up for Point Blank Hips! Taguchi goes for another but Eagles blocks! Taguchi elbows Eagles but Eagles sobats! No Shiranui, Taguchi chicken wings! DODON, but Eagles slips out, so Taguchi makes it a DODON ATOMIC DROP! Cover, TWO! Eagles is still in this and fans rally up. Taguchi calls upon the powers of Strong Style, “ORYA!” But Eagles gets around to schoolboy and bridge, TWO! Taguchi scoops Eagles but Eagles turns Blue Thunder into a SHIRANUI! Cover, TWO!!

Eagles aims from a corner as fans fire up, SUPERKICK! Taguchi goes down, Eagles goes up! 450 onto knees! Cradle, TWO!! Eagles escapes, kicks, then blocks a kick to fire off! But Taguchi turns Turbo Backpack into DODON BUSTER!! Cover, TAGUCHI WINS!

Winner: Ryusuke Taguchi, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Eagles earns 0)

The Funky Weapon just shot down the Sniper of the Skies! This could be one of the biggest wins in the tournament already! Will Taguchi prove he’s still got what it takes to be champion?

Best of the Super Juniors 28: Master Wato VS El Phantasmo!

The Way of the Grandmaster is still searching for his chance to prove himself. But will he be able to get past The Headbanga? Or will ELP and his mysterious boot kick Wato out of the way?

The bell rings and fans rally up. Wato and ELP circle, feel things out, and Wato tests with a kick. ELP doesn’t take that seriously, and gives a testing kick of his own to mock Wato. They tie up, ELP wrenches an arm to a wristlock, Wato rolls and handsprings to wrench and headlock. Wato hits the takeover, ELP headscissors but Wato kips free. The two stand off and fans cheer. ELP checks his boot and ties up with Wato again. ELP headlocks, Wato powers up but can’t power out as ELP holds tight. ELP brings Wato down, Wato fights up, and Wato powers out this time, only for ELP to pull hair! ELP brings Wato into a headlock takeover, and he fights the headscissors.

Wato endures as ELP grinds the headlock. ELP digs a forearm into Wato’s face, then bops him with a palm strike. The ref reprimands, but Wato rolls ELP to a cover! ONE, they get up, and Wato throws body shots. Wato powers ELP to ropes then powers out of the headlock, but ELP runs him over! ELP flexes and kisses the biceps before he runs. Wato stays low, ELP walks all over him then struts. Wato gets up and keeps his cool as fans rally back up. ELP encourages them to get louder, then he ties up with Wato. Wato waistlocks, ELP switches, Wato switches back and headlocks. ELP powers out, hurdles, Wato leaps over. ELP whips but Wato RANAS, and ELP handsprings through!

ELP shows off with knee steps, then lounges on the top rope. Wato wants ELP to get serious, so ELP hops down. Wato shoves ELP, ELP throws a forearm. Wato ROCKS ELP back! ELP steadies himself to ROCK Wato! ELP does jumping jacks but Wato ROCKS him with another forearm. The forearms fly back and forth and fans rally up as they pick up speed! ELP knees low to stop that, then CHOPS Wato on the back. ELP runs, Wato hurdles to elbow, uppercut and SOBAT! Fans fire up as Wato dodges to RANA! ELP bails out, Wato builds speed, but ELP moves so Wato slams on the brakes. Wato dares ELP to bring it, and then he mocks ELP’s gestures.

ELP gets in, Wato continues to mock him, so ELP CHOPS! Wato CHOPS back, but ELP throws another forearm. Wato throws a forearm, ELP and Wato get forehead to forehead, then they throw fists fast and furious! They both slow down, but then start right back up! Fans fire up as they slow down again, and then go a third time! ELP knees low, snapmares Wato and KICKS him on the back! Wato gets up to snapmare and KICK and KICK and KICK away on ELP! ELP goes down, wants some mercy but Wato just KICKS him in the corner over and over! ELP sits down, the ref has Wato back off. Wato brings ELP back up to whip, but ELP goes up and over in the corner.

ELP dodges Wato to then springboard CROSSBODY, then somersault to a LIONSAULT! But ELP has to Hero Land out of it as Wato moves! ELP ducks the buzzsaw to schoolboy, TWO! Wato backslides ELP, TWO! ELP STOMPS Wato’s hand! The loaded boot might have just crushed Wato’s fingers! Wato writhes and falls out of the ring, ELP goes out the side. ELP mockingly asks what’s wrong, then he drags Wato up to SLAM his bad hand on the apron! ELP puts Wato in, covers, TWO! ELP grabs the bad hand and tortures the fingers! Wato endures, the ref reprimands, and ELP stops. ELP drags Wato up to knuckle lock, CHOP, and go up, up and jump around, just to hop down and CLAW Wato’s back!

ELP cartwheels around, rolls and handsprings, does knee steps, then CLAWS Wato again! Cover, TWO! ELP traps Wato’s hand in a vice between elbow and knee, then JAMS the fingers! ELP drags Wato up, throws forearms and whips him corner to corner. ELP lets out a “WOO~” to run in, but the Stinger Splash only gets buckles! Wato fires off forearms in the corner, then shakes out his bad hand. Wato whips corner to corner, ELP reverses but Wato goes up. The bad hand doesn’t let him maintain it, though! ELP KICKS Wato in the bad arm, wrenches to a straitjacket torture rack, then the SPINNING NECKBREAKER DROP! Cover, TWO!

ELP grows annoyed but fans rally up as Wato is still in this. ELP whips Wato to ropes, Wato holds them and BOOTS back! ELP runs in again but is sent to the apron. Wato ducks the clothesline to TRIANGLE JUMP KICK! ELP is down, Wato builds speed to TORNILLO! Direct hit and both men are down! Wato gets up, drags ELP into the ring, then aims. Springboard FLYING UPPERCUT! Fans fire up with Wato as ELP bails out again. Wato goes up and up and ESCELERA PLANCHA! Another direct hit and fans fire up! Wato fires himself up, drags ELP up as the ring count climbs, and he puts ELP in at 7 of 20.

Wato climbs up the corner to the top rope. He aims, but ELP slow rolls away to the far corner. Wato storms over, and blocks the superkick! SCREW HIGH KICK! Cover, TWO! Wato keeps his cool and drags ELP up to wrench and reel ELP in. MOUSE TRAP DRIVER! Cover, TWO! ELP survives, but Wato BUZZSAWS him down! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up and Wato drags ELP up to scoop. ELP slips off, Wato elbows him back. Wato runs, into a LOW SOBAT! That boot takes Wato down! Fans rally up as Wato gasps and sputters! ELP takes aim, BANG! Electric Chair lift, but Wato turns that to a sunset flip, then prawn hold! WATO WINS!!

Winner: Master Wato, by pinfall (gains 2 points; ELP earns 0)

Another shocking upset in this opening round! Did ELP overlook Wato? Or is Wato truly coming into his own in the Junior Heavyweight Division?

Best of the Super Juniors 28: YOH VS Hiromu Takahashi!

Direct Drive made a shocking return when he ran off the House of Torture! But before settling things with High Voltage, he has the Ticking Time Bomb to focus on. Will Hiromu make sure Yoh’s return to action is a lot of fun for Hiromu?

Hiromu hands his BOSJ 28 picture diary to Milano Collection AT, only to turn around into a PLANCHA from Yoh! Yoh builds speed to FLY and take out Hiromu! The bell rings as fans fire up with Yoh! Yoh drags Hiromu up and into the ring to then get him up for underhooks. Hiromu breaks out, wrenches, but Yoh ROCKS him with a right. Yoh then dodges to rally on Hiromu with forearms. Yoh whips, Hiromu reverses but Yoh hits FLYING FOREARMS! Fans fire up and Yoh hurries to get Hiromu up. Underhooks, but Hiromu breaks free. Yoh blocks the superkick and spins Hiromu around, but Hiromu fights the full nelson. Yoh waistlocks but Hiromu fights that, too.

Hiromu runs but Yoh elbows him then wrenches to DECK Hiromu with a forearm! Yoh gets Hiromu up to suplex, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up with Yoh as he roars! Yoh drags Hiromu up, reels him in, underhooks again, but still no Direct Drive as Hiromu fireman’s carries. Yoh slips out to waistlock but he dodges Hiromu’s elbow. Yoh elbows, Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Yoh flops but rewinds to SUPERKICK! Hiromu staggers, but he side steps to SNAP GERMAN! Yoh is right back up?! But into Hiromu’s LARIAT! Fans rally for this fast and furious start! Hiromu crawls to a corner, but storms back over to pick Yoh up. Yoh slips off the fireman’s carry to roll up, TWO!

Hiromu mule kicks, front kicks then fireman’s carries again. CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Fans fire up with Hiromu now as he drags Yoh up. Another fireman’s carry, but Yoh sunset flips! TWO, Yoh tries a cradle! TWO, and Yoh goes for a backslide. Hiromu turns that around on Yoh, Yoh rolls through but Hiromu fireman’s carries again! Hiromu throws Yoh to a dragon sleeper, for the inverted suplex! But Yoh slips out of Time Bomb II to full nelson! DRAGON SUPLEX! Yoh holds on to underhook, DIRECT- Hiromu slips out?! Hiromu wrenches, pump handles and rolls Yoh to a cradle! HIROMU WINS!

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

This was shocking more for how fast it was over than for who won! But again, it only takes three seconds. Will Hiromu be able to do the same as the BOSJ continues? Will Yoh be able to redeem himself in his second match back?

Best of the Super Juniors 28: El Desperado VS SHO!

The Rogue Luchador, the NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, takes on the Bullet Club’s High Voltage turned “Murder Machine” in the big opening night main event! But will Sho get another shocker like he did last year? Or will Desperado shut him down to establish his reign?

The bell rings and fans rally up already. Desperado and Sho slowly circle, but then Desperado advances and Sho backs away to his corner. Desperado taunts Sho, but Sho stays by the ropes. Desperado grabs at Sho, Red Shoes has him back down, and Sho gets out of the ropes. They circle, but then Sho bails out of the ring. Desperado taunts Sho and fans cheer but Sho keeps cool on the outside. Desperado holds the ropes open for Sho but Sho wants Desperado to back off. Red Shoes has Desperado stay back, Sho slides in and CLOBBERS Desperado with an elbow! And then with a forearm! Desperado rakes eyes, whips, but Sho reverses to back drop!

Sho complains about the eye rake, then he stomps Desperado down. Sho rakes Desperado’s eyes in return! Desperado gets the ropebreak, Red Shoes counts, Sho lets off but still complains about when Desperado did it. Sho stomps Desperado, wrenches an arm to a wristlock then CLUBS the shoulder. Sho KICKS Desperado to a corner, then puts his arm around ropes and pulls! Red Shoes counts, Sho lets go and Desperado CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Sho take the chops to ROCK Desperado with a forearm! Sho whips corner to corner, runs in, but Desperado boots him! Sho tries again but Desperado dodges, then runs in, but Sho puts him on the apron.

Sho sweeps the legs, runs side to side, but Desperado gets off the apron. Sho redirects to get on the apron, but Desperado dodges the Penalty Kick to dropkick Sho’s legs out! Fans fire up as Sho falls and clutches his knee. Desperado composes himself, brings Sho around and mockingly asks what’s wrong before he SLAMS the leg on the apron! Desperado paces, brings Sho down and whips him into railing! Sho writhes, Desperado drags him by the bad leg and SMASHES the knee into the floor! Desperado clears some space in the blue corner as he stomps Sho’s leg, then makes Sho straddle the post so he can SLAM the leg into the steel!

Desperado gloats, goes for another round, but Sho BOOTS him into railing! Sho gets on the apron to PENALTY KICK Desperado down! Sho takes a moment before he fetches Desperado, and whips him hard into railing! Desperado grits his teeth as he asks Sho wait. Sho doesn’t care, he drags Desperado to the corner and wraps his arm around the bottom crossbar! Red Shoes counts, Sho lets go at 4, and Desperado writhes and crawls away. Sho gets Desperado’s arm again to wrap it around railing and kick away on the steel! The ring count is 10 of 20, Sho stops kicking to get in the ring. Desperado rises at 18 and rolls in at 19! Then he goes back outside to give himself more time to recover.

But Sho goes out to stomp Desperado! Sho stands on Desperado’s head, then lets off to stand Desperado up. Desperado RAMS him into railing! Desperado gets in, Sho follows, but Sho is standing as he stomps Desperado down. Sho knuckle locks and then bends the fingers to torture Desperado! Desperado throws body shots but Sho wrenches the arm for a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Desperado scrambles and gets the ropebreak! Sho lets go, digs his boots into Desperado’s chest and neck, then has Desperado’s head on the apron! Red Shoes counts, Sho lets off, and fans rally up for Desperado. Desperado sits up to throw forearms and chops, but Sho isn’t bothered.

Sho then rakes Desperado’s eyes! Sho throws Desperado down, drags him up and bumps him off buckles. Sho digs his boots in again and stands on Desperado! Red Shoes counts, Sho lets off, but he knuckle locks to drag Desperado back up. Sho wrenches, but Desperado blocks the suplex. Fans rally up as the two fight for control, and Desperado gets Sho up, only for the bad hand to hold him back! Sho grabs the fingers to bend them! Red Shoes counts, Sho CLUBS the arm, but runs into a scoop! But Sho drags Desperado down with another double wristlock! Desperado endures, scoots back and gets a ropebreak! Red Shoes counts, Sho lets go at 4, and Desperado falls to the floor.

Sho goes out the side as fans rally, and Sho finds a chair! Sho aims but Red Shoes reprimands. Sho SMACKS Desperado on the bad arm! And then SMACKS Desperado while he’s down! And again! And again! Until the padding falls off the chair! Red Shoes gets Sho to stop and Desperado clutches his arm again. Sho wants Red Shoes to call it but Desperado is still in this. Sho drags Desperado up and puts him back in the ring. Fans rally up, Sho steps in but Desperado kicks the ropes! The rope gets Sho in his high voltage! Desperado runs to DIVE! Somersault Tope into the railing! Fans fire up even more as Desperado stands tall!

Desperado hobbles after Sho as he crawls. Desperado gets what’s left of the chair Sho was using, stands on Sho’s leg to SMACK the other! Sho writhes, Desperado moves the padding aside. Desperado gets Sho up to TOSS him into railing! Sho falls in a heap, Desperado gets him back up and back in the ring. Fans rally up, Desperado stalks Sho to a corner, and Desperado stands Sho up to CHOP him! Sho grimaces, Desperado runs in and blocks Sho’s boot to dropkick the other leg! Desperado gets that leg for something between leg DDT and a splash! Sho writhes, but Desperado isn’t done! STRETCH MUFFLER! Sho writhes and endures, reaches out and gets the ROPEBREAK!

Desperado holds on, thrashes around, but lets off as Red Shoes counts 4. Desperado drops knees on Sho’s knee! Fans fire up as Desperado stalks Sho again. Desperado stands on Sho’s bad leg and taunts him for all the bravado earlier. Sho hobbles up to rake Desperado’s eyes! But Desperado CHOPS! Sho fires off boxing elbows, but Desperado kicks his bad leg! Sho hobbles but he mule kicks Desperado’s bad leg! Sho aims from a corner but Desperado dodges the Penalty Kick to CHOP! Sho JUMP KNEES and Desperado goes down! Fans rally up again and Sho PENALTY KICKS the bad arm! DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Desperado clasps his hands but Sho pulls them apart!

Sho twists the wrist, has the double wristlock even deeper, but Desperado kicks and flails! Desperado reaches, kicks and gets the ROPEBREAK! Sho lets go at the count of 4, but fans rally up even harder as he drags Desperado up. Sho wrenches, brings Desperado to his knees, then KICKS Desperado in the chest. Sho reels Desperado in, tucks the arms, but Desperado back drops out! Desperado runs but into a SPEAR! Sho gets Desperado up, reels him in, tucks the arms but Desperado drags him into EL ES CULERO! Cover, TWO!! Sho escapes but Desperado hurries up. Sho kicks, runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO!

Desperado floats over to gut wrench, GUITARRA DEL ANGEL!! Cover, TWO!! Sho survives and fans are thunderous as both men are down! Desperado gets up and roars, drags Sho up, reels him in, but Sho wrenches! Desperado rolls, swings but into a ripcord and DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Sho thrashes the arm, fans rally up, Desperado moves around again, but Sho drags him into SNAKE BITE! Sho’s take on Hell’s Gate could be a choke but he’s keeping it at just a sleeper hold level! Desperado is fading, Red Shoes checks on him. Desperado gets a second wind and gets the ROPEBREAK! Sho lets go and fans rally up again.

Sho slashes the throat, takes aim with his bow, then drags Desperado up. Desperado is practically dead weight but Sho still stands him up and reels him in. Double pump handle, SHOCK- Desperado lands on his feet to HEADBUTT! Desperado fires up, ducks Sho’s forearm, and gets the inverted Gory Especial, GUITARRA DE LA MUERTE!! Cover, TWO!?! Sho survives and Desperado is furious! Desperado pounds the mat and fans rally behind him. Desperado drags Sho up, reels him in to underhook, but Sho powers out to cross arm PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Desperado survives and fans are thunderous again! Sho argues the count but Red Shoes says that was fair!

Wait, who is this storming in? Dick Togo is here, he distracts the ref, and Sho has the wrench! The same wrench he used to help House of Torture win the Six Man Tag titles! But Desperado dodges that, to shove Sho into Dick! LOCO MONO WITH THE WRENCH!! Fans are thunderous again as Desperado pushes Sho around. Desperado tosses the wrench away and vows to end this. But Sho shoves him into Red Shoes! Desperado blocks the low blow to schoolboy to STRETCH MUFFLER! Sho endures, reaches, but Desperado gets an arm! NUMERO DOS! And he rolls Sho away, NUMERO DOS PLUS!!

Sho endures with no limbs to use, but now Yujiro Takahashi is here! And he drags Red Shoes out of the ring! House of Torture is not letting their young stud lose! Dick gets in to use the SPOILER CHOKER!! Desperado fades out, Sho has the wrench! SPANNER SHOT!! Sho grins as he vows to end this. Sho drags Desperado up, reels him in, double pump handle for the SHOCK ARROW!! Cover, Red Shoes returns, and he has no choice but to count. Sho wins!

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

Tokyo Pimp and the Spoiler celebrate with Sho, and the King of Darkness himself appears to join in. Evil stands with his House of Torture. Did Sho just win the actual most important match of the entire tournament? Sho gets the mic to say, “Sweet! That was Sweet! Desperado, beating you tastes so sweet. Even this air tastes good.” Sho remembers being told this a year ago: “The strongest one doesn’t win. The one who wins is the strongest.” That’s exactly right.

And Desperado is the Junior Heavyweight Champion, right? “That’s crazy! Something’s off about the power balance in this Junior Heavyweight Division.” But Sho will change that. “Everyone in this Best of the Super Juniors is just another to add to my body count.” The Murder Machine drops the mic, will he drop every single opponent in this round robin until HE is the Best of the Super Juniors?

Here are the current BOSJ 28 standings!

SHO: 1-0, 2 points
Douki: 1-0, 2 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 1-0, 2 points
Ryusuke Taguchi: 1-0, 2 points
Master Wato: 1-0, 2 points
Hiromu Takahashi: 1-0, 2 points
El Desperado: 0-1, 0 points
YOH: 0-1, 0 points
El Phantasmo: 0-1, 0 points
Robbie Eagles: 0-1, 0 points
Taiji Ishimori: 0-1, 0 points
Bushi: 0-1, 0 points

My Thoughts:

A great opening night for the Best of the Super Juniors half of this year’s parallel tournament series, with quite a few shocking outcomes. I did not see Douki or Wato winning at all, and I sure didn’t see Hiromu winning so quickly. Kanemaru winning by count out was rather unique, but it was a great way to give Suzuki-Gun two big wins before the main event “screw job” where literally all of the House of Torture was needed to beat Desperado. Sho still gets a win over the champion so even if he doesn’t win BOSJ, he will essentially be owed a title match, which works out just fine because Wrestle Kingdom is three nights. Sho could get his shot on Night One, winner of that takes on BOSJ 28 winner in Night Two.

My Score: 8.9/10