What is going on with El Desperado?!

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion has lost two times in a row in this year’s Best of the Super Juniors?! Will he be champion much longer at this rate?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current BOSJ 28 standings!

SHO: 2-0, 4 points
Douki: 2-0, 4 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 2-0, 4 points
Taiji Ishimori: 1-1, 2 points
Ryusuke Taguchi: 1-1, 2 points
Master Wato: 1-1, 2 points
Hiromu Takahashi: 1-1, 2 points
Robbie Eagles: 1-1, 2 points
Bushi: 1-1, 2 points
El Desperado: 0-2, 0 points
El Phantasmo: 0-2, 0 points
YOH: 0-2, 0 points

Best of the Super Juniors 28: DOUKI VS El Phantasmo!

Y’know what’s wilder than El Desperado being 0-2? Japones del Mal being 2-0! But will his streak end going up against The Headbanga? Or will he get another surprising victory to open the round?

The bell rings and ELP offers a handshake. Fans clap for it but Douki says no. He and ELP tie up, ELP wrenches, wristlocks, but Douki spins and wristlocks back. ELP rolls, kips up and wrenches to a headlock takeover. ELP gives Douki a palm strike to the head, but Douki rolls it to a cover. ONE, ELP still has the headlock but Douki powers out. ELP pulls hair to get the headlock back! The ref reprimands but fans cheer the savvy. Douki powers up, pouts out, but ELP runs him over. ELP double guns and kisses the biceps before things speed up. Douki hurdles, drops, ELP leaps over and sidesteps but Douki RANAS, only for ELP to handspring through!

ELP does some drop steps to show off, and then strikes a pose a la Liger or Hogan. Douki runs in to springboard, wheelbarrow and arm-drag! Then he ducks and dodges to RANA again! ELP bails out and fans fire up as Douki builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and fans fire up with Douki! The ref checks on ELP but he’s okay to continue. The fans rally up, the ring count starts, and Douki puts ELP in. Douki runs and DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, ONE! Fans cheer and rally as Douki drags ELP up. Douki spins ELP around but ELP blocks the Gory Especial! Douki knees him low, whips ELP to ropes, but ELP holds ropes. Douki runs in but ELP put shim on the apron.

Douki blocks the haymaker to UPPERCUT ELP down! ELP staggers back up, but avoids Daybreak to mule kick! That loaded boot might’ve just cracked Douki’s ribs! Fans rally up, ELP covers, TWO! ELP drags Douki up, whips him corner to corner hard, and Douki clutches those ribs again. ELP drags Douki back up, scoops and hits a BACKBREAKER, to a backbreaker rack! Douki endures, ELP brings him up to a GUTBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer as Douki toughs it out. ELP stands on Douki’s foot, Douki throws body shots but ELP ROCKS him with a forearm. ELP then reels Douki into a cobra twist and Douki endures his ribs being stretched!

ELP digs his elbow into Douki’s side, jams it in, then pulls on the stretch more. Douki still endures, fans rally up, and Douki elbows ELP’s leg. Douki tries to hip toss but his ribs hold him back! ELP throws Douki out, takes aim, and slingshots to ASAI MOONSAULT, but Douki dodges! ELP hobbles back up, Douki ASAI MOONSAULTS and hits him down! Fans fire up while the ref checks on them both. Douki clutches ribs, ELP holds onto his foot, and fans rally as the ring count climbs. ELP drags himself up at 9 of 20, hobbles around, but Douki is up at 11 to put ELP in at 12. Douki fires up, climbs up, springboards and DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!

ELP gets to ropes, Douki goes to the apron and aims again. Douki slingshots, for DAY- NO, ELP blocks and back drops but Douki sunset flips! ELP rolls through, but into the ITALIAN STRETCH #32! ELP reaches out, Douki pulls as hard as he can, but ELP STOMPS the bad ribs! Fans rally up but ELP drags Douki to straitjacket torture rack. Douki slips off and scoops ELP for a SWINGING NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO!! Douki fires up and fans rally behind him! ELP gets up, Douki wheelbarrows him for the full nelson, but ELP fights free with elbows. ELP then drops, victory rolls, TWO! Douki escapes and ELP his shocked!

Douki CHOPS, bobs ‘n’ weaves, CHOPS again, then ENZUGIRIS! Fans rally up as Douki roars! Douki goes to the apron, climbs up top, but ELP trips him! ELP GAMANGIRIS Douki, climbs up top to join him, then SUPERPLEXES! Roll through, straitjacket torture rack, SPINNING NECKBREAKER! ELP wants to finish this, and he reels Douki in! He hooks the arms, for the CR2!! Cover, ELP wins!

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

Douki tried but could not make it 3-0! Will those two wins be his only two now? As for ELP, will he turn this first win into one of many?

Best of the Super Juniors 28: YOH VS BUSHI!

Direct Drive hasn’t gotten much traction since returning, but something’s gotta give! Will he get his first points off the Black Mask? Or will Bushi just add to Yoh’s misery?

The bell rings and Bushi circles with Yoh. They approach, Bushi kicks low and headlocks but Yoh powers out. Things speed up, Bushi rolls off Yoh’s back and keeps going, but Yoh drop toeholds to basement dropkick! Bushi bails out but Yoh builds speed. Bushi gets in to dropkick Yoh’s legs out! Bushi stomps Yoh, drags him up and throws him out. Yoh hobbles to railing, Bushi kicks him then whips him into railing! Yoh drops to the floor, Bushi walks over and stomps him down more. Bushi puts Yoh in and takes off his shirt to choke Yoh with it! The ref reprimands, Bushi lets go with one hand but the ref counts more. Bushi lets off and Yoh falls over, gasping for air.

Bushi drags Yoh up, turns him and hits a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Bushi sits Yoh up for a chinlock and digs his knee into Yoh’s back. Yoh endures, fights up as fans rally, to get the ropebreak with a foot! Bushi sets Yoh down, to choke him with a knee! The ref counts, Bushi lets off at 4, and he paces as Yoh sputters. Bushi drags Yoh up but Yoh throws forearms! Bushi eggs him on, then rakes eyes! The ref counts, Bushi stops to CHOP Yoh in the corner. Bushi stalks Yoh to another corner and CHOPS him again. Bushi whips corner to corner, runs in and back elbows! Bushi shoves Yoh to then go up and missile dropkick! BUSHIROONI!

Fans cheer as Bushi looms over Yoh. Bushi stomps Yoh, fans rally up, Bushi gets Yoh up but he slips out of the Fisherman Screw! Bushi kicks Yoh, whips him to ropes, Yoh reverses and dropkicks Bushi down! Fans fire up while both Yoh and Bushi are on the mat. Yoh gets to the corner, Bushi stands up and runs in, but Yoh rallies on him with forearms! Yoh whips, Bushi reverses, Yoh FLYING FOREARMS! And then kips up! Fans fire up and Yoh runs in corner to corner, but into a boot! Bushi runs but into an elbow! Yoh wrenches and DECKS Bushi! Cover, TWO! Yoh keeps his focus and fans rally up again.

Yoh drags Bushi up, reels him in, suplexes, but Bushi knees free. Bushi runs in but into a sobat! Yoh hangs Bushi out to dry, KNEES him over and over, then EuroUppers him off the ropes! Yoh aims and PLANCHAS! Direct hit and fans fire up with Yoh! Yoh stomps Bushi while the ring count starts, and he drags Bushi up into the ring at 10 of 20. Fans cheer as Yoh drags Bushi up to suplex, Bushi blocks, wrenches, but Yoh ROCKS him with a forearm! And another, and another, and another! Yoh wrenches Bushi’s arm then whips him to a corner, but runs into a boot! Bushi goes up again, but Yoh dodges this time! Bushi still spins Yoh to a DDT! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up and Bushi goes to a corner. Yoh slowly gets up, Bushi runs at him, but Yoh dumps the Code Breaker to GROUND DRAGON SCREW! And then he rolls Bushi to a CALF KILLER! Bushi endures, crawls around, fans rally up, but Yoh pulls back harder! Bushi crawls, reaches out, Yoh throws some elbows and then drags Bushi back! Yoh has both legs in the hold, but Bushi gives it one last go to the ROPEBREAK! Yoh lets go in frustration but fans rally back up. Yoh drags Bushi up, half nelsons, then full nelsons, but Bushi breaks that and RAMS Yoh into a corner! Bushi hobbles, blocks Yoh’s kick, and puts the leg on the ropes for a DRAPING CODE BREAKER!

Fans fire up as Bushi gets back up and hobbles over. Bushi drags Yoh up to FISHERMAN SCREW! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer as Yoh survives, but Bushi fires up and goes up the corner! Bushi aims at Yoh, leaps, but into a SUPERKICK! Fans fire up more as both men are down! Bushi and Yoh slowly rise, hobble up, and Bushi kicks. Yoh blocks, ducks the enziguri and SUPERKICKS again! Suplex to GHOSTBUSTER! Fans fire up with Yoh and he gets Bushi up! DIRECT- NO! Bushi slips out, backslides, bridges, Bushi wins!

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

Yoh is frustrated to end up 0-3! What will it take for Direct Drive to get back on track? As for Bushi, will he be able to tip the scales in his favor and head for the top?

Best of the Super Juniors 28: Ryusuke Taguchi VS SHO!

The Funky Weapon has gone 50-50, but there’s a 100% chance he’ll be watching out for the House of Torture. Will the Murder Machine actually do this one on his own? Or will Evil and the gang show up again to help out?

How fitting that instead of a crown, Taguchi wears a head lantern in case the lights drop out. He gives it to a Young Lion for safe keeping during the match, and then the bell rings. Sho stays back in his corner but Taguchi tells him to bring it. Fans rally for Taguchi as he calls out the House of Torture. Young Lion, turn on the light! Roger! Taguchi then dares Evil and the others to try something! But Sho attacks Taguchi from behind! Sho whips, Taguchi reverses, things speed up and Taguchi arm-drags Sho down! Sho comes back but into a HIP ATTACK! Fans fire up for Taguchi as he gives Sho a bit of stink face at the ropes!

The ref counts, Taguchi lets off but starts up the hip attack train! Then he slides out but Sho avoids the apron hip attack to choke and rake Taguchi’s eyes! The ref counts, Sho lets off to run and WRECK Taguchi with a dropkick! Sho aims from the apron, to PENALTY KICK Taguchi down! Sho has the ref pay attention to something else as he gets Taguchi up to RAM him into railing. Sho wrenches and whips Taguchi into more railing! Sho brings Taguchi around as the ref reprimands, and Sho CHOPS Taguchi against railing again and again! The ring count climbs, fans clap along with the CHOPS! Sho stops at 10 of 20 to put Taguchi in at 14. Cover, TWO!

Sho drags Taguchi up and bumps him off buckles to then dig his heels in! The ref counts, Sho lets off at 4 and Taguchi sputters. Sho “apologizes” then knuckle locks and twists Taguchi’s wrist. Taguchi gets the ropebreak, the ref counts and Sho stops at 4. Sho drags Taguchi up to wrench and bring Taguchi to his knees to kick, KICK and then scuff Tagushi with his heel. Fans rally up as Taguchi stands. Taguchi ROCKS Sho with a forearm, then another. Taguchi fires off more forearms but Sho rakes eyes! Sho runs, but Taguhci follows to jump, but the hip attack is caught! Taguchi elbows free of the waistlock, fakes Sho out and HIP ATTACKS!

Fans cheer while Sho bails out. Taguchi goes to the corner to TRIANGLE JUMP PLANCHA! Direct hit and fans cheer while both men are down. Taguchi stomps Sho down as fans rally up. Taguchi whips Sho into railing! Sho ends up stuck on the railing but Taguchi SPANKS Sho over and over as the ring count climbs! Fans clap along with each SPANK, and Taguchi stops at 10 of 20. Taguchi brings Sho around and puts him in the ring at 15. Taguchi aims, springboards, MISSILE HIP! Cover, TWO! Taguchi drags Sho up as fans rally again. Taguchi kicks Sho around, reels him in and snap suplexes! Uno amigo! Another snap suplex, Dos Amigo! Sho fights the third to BEND fingers!

The ref reprimands, Sho CLUBS the hand, but Taguchi kicks back! Taguchi runs, Sho uses the ref as a shield! Sho then SPEARS Taguchi down! Fans rally up again as both men are on the mat. Taguchi and Sho go to opposite corners, Sho runs in and clotheslines! Sho pushes Taguchi down, aims and PENALTY KICKS the arm! Sho then drags Taguchi down to a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Taguchi kicks and flails as Sho wrenches harder! Taguchi gets the ROPEBREAK! Fans cheer and Sho lets go, but then gets the arm again. Sho wrenches the wrist, wrenches the arm, then kicks, KICKS and SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO!

Sho tunes out the fans rallying for Taguchi as he drags Taguchi back up. Sho reels Taguchi in, tucks the arms but Taguchi resists the driver and back drops Sho away! Sho comes back with boxing elbows and ROCKS Taguchi! Sho runs but into a mule kick! Sho comes back with a JUMP KNEE! Taguchi comes back to HIP ATTACK! Sho rebounds but into Taguchi’s ENZUGIRI! Taguchi gets Sho up, suplexes, for the GOURD BUSTER! Fans fire up as Taguchi calls upon the powers of Strong Style! “OHYA~!” BUMAYE!! Cover, TWO!! But Taguchi chicken wings, only for Sho to RAM him into the corner! Sho is free, but Taguchi comes back, into a waistlock! GERMAN SUPLEX!

Fans fire up again as both men are down. Fans rally up for “TA-GU-CHI!” but Sho gets him up. Sho runs, and LARIATS Taguchi down! Cover, TWO! Sho gets Taguchi back up, reels him in and tucks the arms again, CROSS ARM PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Taguchi survives and fans fire up! Sho is furious, but he takes aim with his bow. Sho drags Taguchi back up, reels him back in, double pump handle, but Taguchi fights to another back drop! Sho sunset flips but Taguchi rolls through! High stack, TWO! Taguchi dropkicks Sho’s legs out! OH MY GARFUNKLE!! Sho endures the ankle lock, but he fights up and moves around!

Taguchi reels Sho in but Sho grabs the ref! Taguchi avoids the low blow, fights the German Suplex and drop toeholds to GARFUNKLE!! Sho fights up, reaches out, but Taguchi drops an elbow on the leg! Taguchi keeps on the ankle lock but Sho crawls forward! Sho reaches out, Taguchi puts all his weight on the hold, then drags Sho away. Sho grabs at the ref! Sho shoves the ref, then rolls to send Taguchi into him! The ref is down, Taguchi tells the Young Lion to be ready! Light, on! But the stadium lights stay up, and Sho gets his wrench!! Taguchi blocks but then Sho LOW BLOWS! And then SPANNER SHOT!! Sho gets the ref back up so he can finish this!

Sho drags Taguchi up, reels him in, pump handle for the SHOCK ARROW! Cover, Sho wins!

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

Oh the irony! The House of Torture were so expected to appear, that Taguchi wasn’t focused on Sho! Will Sho continue to throw a wrench into the plans of all his opponents in this tournament?

Best of the Super Juniors 28: Robbie Eagles VS Taiji Ishimori!

The Sniper of the Sky hit the mark against Master Wato while the Bone Soldier Reborn did what Eagles couldn’t: Defeat El Desperado! Will Taiji keep this momentum going or will Eagles shoot him down, too?

The bell rings and Eagles gets the fans fired up as he circles with Taiji. They feel things out, tie up, and Eagles wrenches to a wristlock. Taiji rolls, wrenches back to put the wristlock on Eagles, but Eagles rolls, rolls, handsprings and wrenches back! Taiji uses a leg to break free and then he wrenches Eagles to a hammerlock. Eagles slips around to waistlock, spin Taiji to a headlock then hits a takeover. Taiji headscissors and holds tight to keep Eagles down. Eagles moves around, headstands and pops out. Fans cheer the technical exchange, and Taiji backs off to reset. Fans rally up as the two tie up with knuckle locks.

Eagles uses a body scissor takedown to get a leg, but Taiji kicks him away. Eagles comes back but into a roll up, TWO! Taiji drops down but Eagles slips away before the Bone Lock can clamp on! Eagles and Taiji reset again, circle, and Eagles calls Taiji “Chihuahua Man.” Taiji says Eagle’s is the dog! Eagles trips Taiji, howls like a dog, then things speed up. Taiji hurdles but Eagles turns hip toss into takedown, and basement dropkicks Taiji! Fans fire up and Taiji bails out, but Eagles builds speed. Taiji moves so Eagles springboards to backflip and blow off the finger guns. Taiji is heading to the ramp? Is Taiji giving up? Eagles taunts Taiji and fans rally, so Taiji returns, into Eagles’ baseball slide!

Eagles CHOPS Taiji up the ramp, then brings him around the way to CHOP against railing. Eagles puts Taiji back in the ring and fans fire up with him as he brings Taiji up. Taiji rakes Eagles’ eyes! Taiji whips but Eagles holds ropes to block. Taiji kicks low, whips but Eagles reverses to go up and around, only for Taiji to stop the arm-drag and snapmare Eagles for a NECK TWIST! Fans cheer while Eagles clutches his neck. Taiji throws hands and Eagles goes to a corner. Taiji cravats and cranks the neck to then throw short shoulder thrusts into Eagles’ head. Taiji snapmares to have the neck wrench, then covers, ONE!

Taiji is annoyed but Eagles gets to ropes. Taiji hears the fans rallying for Eagles, but he drags Eagles up. Eagle throws body shots, Taiji CLUBS him down! Taiji brings Eagles up and around to snapmare and wraps on a chinlock. Eagles endures, Taiji grinds him to the mat. Fans rally up, Eagles gets to his feet and throws elbows. Taiji CLUBS Eagles on the neck, whips him but Eagles reverses. Taiji goes out, slides under then slips out the side to shoulder into Eagles. Taiji springboards but Eagles gets under. Eagles RANAS Taiji, then WHEEL KICKS him down! Taiji bails out, Eagles builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit with the somersault tope to the ramp!

Fans fire up and rally for “EA-GLE-SU!” as he drags Taiji back up and into the ring. Eagles KICKS Taiji as he sits up, and KICKS and KICKS. Eagles runs to GAMANGIRI Taiji down! Cover, TWO! Eagles keeps cool as he drags Taiji up and throws forearms. Eagles whips Taiji to a corner, runs in and DOUBLE KNEES! Then he rolls back, but Taiji SHOTGUNS him back! Taiji runs to DOUBLE KNEE in return! Eagles staggers, Taiji fireman’s carries but Eagles slips off to waistlock. Taiji switches but Eagles switches to clip the leg! Eagles runs to BLINDSIDE LARIAT Taiji down! Fans fire up with Eagles as he aims from the apron. Springboard missile dropkick to the leg!

Eagles grabs the leg, steps through and rolls Taiji, RON MILLER SPECIAL! Taiji scrambles and reaches but Eagles drags him back! Taiji endures, fans rally, Eagles puts pressure on the hold! Taiji keeps crawling, Eagles pushes up to put as much pressure as he can, but Taiji gets the ROPEBREAK! Eagles lets Taiji go, then drops a knee on the leg! Eagles goes up the corner, 450 but he has to roll through as Taiji moves! Taiji comes back, but into a knee! Taiji blocks the roundhouse but not the sobat! Eagles cravats, SHIRANUI into a SHOULDER BREAKER! Both men are down as fans fire back up! Eagles rolls to a corner while Taiji gets his bad leg moving.

Taiji runs in at Eagles, Eagles boots but is put in the ropes Taiji KICKS and runs to SLIDING GERMAN! Taiji roars, fans fire up and Taiji hobbles over to Eagles. Taiji hammerlocks one arm, drives elbows over and over into the shoulder, then drags Eagles back up. Hammerlock and scoop to a SHOULDER BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Eagles is still in this but Taiji keeps his focus. Taiji aims from a corner, runs in and tilt-o-whirls but Eagles fights that to a backslide! TWO, and Taiji swings, into a roll-up with bridge! TWO and Eagles dodges the boot to ROUNDHOUSE, SUPERKICK and PELE! Fans fire up, Eagles hits STANDING SLICED BREAD! Cover, TWO!!

Fans rally up, Eagles takes aim and rolls Taiji to backpack. Taiji fights that off, wrenches Eagles’ to an ELBOW BRAEKER, then gut wrenches! CIPER UT- NO! Eagles lands on his feet, wants the legs, but Taiji shoves him away! Taiji blocks the superkick to tilt-o-whirl TAKEDOWN! BONE LOCK!! Eagles powers up, reaches out, but Taiji rolls him away! Taiji pulls way back, Eagles taps! Taiji wins!

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

The Bone Soldier grounds the Sniper of the Skies and he’s just outside the top of the block! Can Taiji soldier on and make BOSJ reborn? As for Eagles, he’s back down again. Will he be able to fly back up towards the title?

Best of the Super Juniors 28: Yoshinobu Kanemaru VS Hiromu Takahashi!

The Heel Master has been able to stay sharp, but the Ticking Time Bomb is coming back from a House of Torture screw job. Will Kanemaru find a way to defuse Hiromu and go 3-0?

Hiromu opens his picture book to the page about Kanemaru, and Kanemaru attacks at the entryway! He stomps Hiromu’s leg then SMASHES the knee on the ramp! Kanemaru stomps Hiromu more, the ref reprimands and Kanemaru drags Hiromu into the ring. The bell rings and this is on the record now as Kanemaru stomps Hirom’s leg more. Kanemaru digs his heel into Hiromu’s knee, lets off as the ref counts, and then drags Hiromu up to whip and dropkick the leg out! Hiromu writhes, Kanemaru drags him back up and throws him out. Kanemaru has Hiromu on the ramp for a FIGURE FOUR! Hiromu endures, Kanemaru wants the ring count to start!

Hiromu endures the leg lock and the count climbs. Hiromu reaches around, Kanemaru puts as much pressure as he can on the hold, and we’re at 10 of 20! Then 13! Kanemaru hears it go past 15 and lets go! Kanemaru gets in the ring, Hiromu flounders and hobbles in at 19! Kanemaru is annoyed with the count but the fans cheer. Kanemaru stomps Hiromu’s leg, fans rally up but Kanemaru stands on Hiromu’s leg and stomps it down! Kanemaru then gets Hiromu up for a SHINBREAKER! Hiromu writhes but Kanemaru gets the leg for a standing toehold! Fans rally as Hiromu endures, but Kanemaru drops an elbow on the leg! Kanemaru has a seated toehold, but Hiromu reaches for ropes.

Hiromu drags himself and Kanemaru over, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Kanemaru holds on, Hiromu kicks at him, but Kanemaru digs his knee into Hiromu’s knee as he lets off. The ref counts, Kanemaru stops and Hiromu bails out. Hiromu hobbles around the way, the ring count starts again. Kanemaru watches Hiromu limp around the outside. Hiromu gets back in at 10 of 20, and Kanemaru stomps him back down! Kanemaru has the leg for a BIG knee smash into the mat! Kanemaru then pulls back on a modified CALF KILLER! Hiromu endures, fans rally and he crawls over to the ropes for another ROPEBREAK! Kanemaru lets go cleanly to then put the leg on the rope.

Kanemaru lines up the shot to STRADDLE ATTACK the leg! And stomp it! Hiromu clutches the knee, fans rally but Kanemaru stomps the leg again. Hiromu growls but Kanemaru stomps and kicks the leg more. Hiromu CHOPS but Kanemaru just kicks the leg out. Kanemaru steps on Hiromu, then stomps the leg more. Hiromu crawls to a corner, Kanemaru stands on the bad knee! The ref counts, Kanemaru lets off at 4. Fans rally up while the ref checks on Hiromu. Hiromu doesn’t quit so Kanemaru stomps the leg again. Kanemaru gets Hiromu up but Hiromu fights off the shinbreaker. So Kanemaru rakes eyes and whips Hiromu to ropes. Hiromu still manages a RANA!

Kanemaru gets up, he kicks Hiromu’s bad leg! Kanemaru whips Hiromu but Hiromu reverses to run in and clothesline! Hiromu snapmares Kanemaru, fights through the pain in his leg and basement dropkicks Kanemaru out! Fans rally up, Hiromu goes to the apron, FLYING SHOTGUN DROPKICK! Fans fire up with Hiromu and he hobbles over to Kanemaru. Hiromu puts Kanemaru in the ring, hobbles around, and drags Kanemaru up to FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, Hiromu gets up and drags Kanemaru up to fireman’s carry. Kanemaru rakes eyes! Hiromu dodges the low dropkick to mule kick, front kick and CORNER DEATH VALLEY!

Hiromu roars and fans fire up with him. He still hobbles around but he gets Kanemaru up to fireman’s carry. But Kanemaru fights the timebomb, bobs ‘n’ weaves, and dropkicks Hiromu’s leg out! Fans rally while both men are down again. Kanemaru gets up first and gets the leg, but Hiromu kicks him down! Hiromu swings but into hooks! He fights off the backslide, jumps but Kanemaru turns rana into POWERBOMB! Fans fire up as Kanemaru catches his breath and gets Hiromu back up. Hiromu fights the suplex, but Kanemaru BOOTS! Hiromu SUPERKICKS, then gets Kanemaru for a POP-UP POWERBOMB! Fans fire up as both men are down again!

Hiromu gets his bad leg moving and hobbles over to Kanemaru. Hiromu drags Kanemaru up, fireman’s carries, but Kanemaru again fights it. So Hiromu throws him to a dragon sleeper and inverted suplexes! Kanemaru slips out to dropkick Hiromu’s leg! Fans rally again but Kanemaru gets Hiromu up to scoop and BRITISH- NO! Hiromu slips out and suplexes, but Kanemaru slips out! Kanemaru waistlocks, Hiromu elbows free and runs, but into a dropkick! Hiromu wobbles around, but he comes back to LARIAT! Both men are down and fans fire back up! Hiromu and Kanemaru slowly stir. Hiromu crawls over to Kanemaru and fireman’s carries! Kanemaru grabs the ref!

Hiromu lets Kanemaru down, Kanemaru shoves the ref at Hiromu! Then Kanemaru dropkicks Hiromu’s leg out, and hits a DRAGON SCREW! FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK!! Hiromu endures, Kanemaru puts as much pressure as he can, but fans rally! Hiromu grabs at the ref, the ref reprimands, but Hiromu flails and reaches out! The fans are thunderous as Hiromu refuses to give up! Kanemaru drags him away from ropes and puts as much pressure as he can! Hiromu gives it one more try, and he crawls his way over to the ROPEBREAK! Kanemaru lets Hiromu free, but he drags Hiromu back to SMASH the knee on the mat!

Kanemaru wants it again but Hiromu turns it into a cradle! TWO, Kanemaru has the cradle! TWO, Hiromu has the cradle! TWO, Kanemaru has it again! TWO, Kanemaru drags Hiromu up, suplex to the BRAINBUSTER! Both men are down and fans fire up! Kanemaru crawls to the cover, TWO!! Hiromu is still in this but Kanemaru drags him back up. Scoop and SLAM into a drop zone, and Kanemaru goes up to MOONSAULT onto knees! Hiromu gets a pump handle cradle, and Hiromu wins!!

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

Suzuki-Gun’s insurance policy is no longer undefeated in BOSJ 28! Will the Ticking Timebomb use this big win to spark his run at the top? But as Kanemaru takes his leave, Hiromu laughs at him. Kanemaru doesn’t like that so he gives Hiromu’s bad leg more stomps! The Heel Master is clearly sour over the loss, will he drink his sorrows away and rebound in the next round?

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

This could be the moment of truth. The Rogue Luchador, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, lost to Sho and Taiji Ishimori. Will the Way of the Grandmaster make the saying, “When it rains, it pours,” come true for Desperado? Or will Desperado take his frustrations out on Wato and finally get on the board?

The bell rings and fans rally up as Wato and Desperado circle. Wato tests the waters with a kick but Desperado stays back. Wato tries a roundhouse but Desperado also avoids it. They tie up, Desperado waistlocks but Wato switches. Desperado spins around to get a facelock, but Wato wrenches out to a wristlock. Desperado rolls, steps through to wrench and wristlock back. Wato rolls, kips up and wrenches back, but Desperado gets to ropes. Red Shoes calls the break and Wato lets off cleanly. Fans cheer as Wato and Desperado reset. They circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Wato manages to find a point of leverage but Desperado pushes him back.

Desperado wrenches the arm, hammerlocks it, but Wato slips around to hammerlock back. Desperado drop toeholds, floats and ties up the legs to then pull Wato’s hair. Red Shoes reprimands, so Desperado shifts to a chinlock. Desperado then shifts to the motorcycle stretch and he pushes down on Wato’s head with a foot. Wato fights up, Desperado wrenches but Wato wrenches back to wristlock, hammerlock, headlock and takeover! Desperado headscissors and holds Wato down as he kips. Desperado pushes up to put pressure on the neck, but Wato moves around to headstand and pop out. Wato then jumps on Desperado for a headlock!

Fans cheer the technical exchange, but Desperado makes it a cover. ONE, Wato holds on and grinds the headlock. Desperado fights up, powers his way out and has Wato’s arm. Wato gets around to get the headlock back! Desperado drags Wato down, floats all over and facelocks, to then spin and headlock. Wato slips out to get the headlock back again! Fans cheer the exchange, Desperado powers out to reel Wato in, but Wato powers out to get the headlock! Desperado endures the grind, and fans rally up as he throws body shots. Desperado powers out but Wato runs him over! Things speed up, Desperado hurdles but Wato leaps over and then eggs Desperado on.

Desperado runs in but Wato hurdles to then back elbow, uppercut and SOBAT! Fans rally up as Wato KICKS Desperado down! Cover, ONE!! Desperado bails out but Wato pursues to CLUB Desperado down. Wato puts Desperado in, wrenches an arm, snapmares and wrenches again! Desperado rolls but Wato floats to go for the armbar! Desperado clasps hands, Wato gets the SHORT ARM SCISSOR! Desperado endures, moves around, and reaches out with a foot to the ROPEBREAK! Wato lets go, but he stomps Desperado’s bad arm! Red Shoes reprimands, Wato lets off, but Desperado throws Wato out!

Desperado goes out after Wato to SLAP him! Desperado then brings Wato around to POST him! Fans rally up, Desperado shakes out the bad arm, and Desperado whips, only for Wato to reverse and send Desperado into railing! Wato gets in, fires up as he takes aim, but Desperado gets in as Wato slingshots! Wato lands on the apron to bail out of the plancha, but Wato then bumps Desperado off buckles! Wato aims again but Desperado DECKS him! Desperado goes back out, drags Wato up and wrenches to whip Wato into railing! Wato sits down and clutches his leg while Desperado shakes out the bad arm. Desperado mockingly asks what’s wrong before he stomps the bad leg.

Desperado gets the leg and SMASHES the knee on the floor! Fans cheer, the ring count starts and Desperado shakes out his arm. Desperado digs his heel into Wato’s face, lets off at 10 of 20 to then put Wato in at 14. Fans cheer as Desperado continues this in the ring. Desperado stomps the leg, stands on it at the ropes, but lets off with a stomp as Red Shoes reprimands. Desperado drags Wato up but Wato throws body shots. Desperado rakes eyes, Red Shoes reprimands, and Desperado CHOPS Wato in the corner. Desperado puts the leg around ropes and pulls! Red Shoes reprimands but Desperado pulls harder! Desperado lets off at 4, to then kick the leg!

Wato falls, Desperado gets his bad arm moving, and then he drags Wato up. Wato CHOPS back! Desperado stays up but Wato CHOPS again. Desperado CHOPS Wato off his feet! Cover, TWO! Desperado drags Wato by his leg and turns him over for a HALF CRAB! Wato endures, and gest the ROPEBREAK. Desperado holds on until 4, then “Oops!” drops a knee on the leg. Desperado drags Wato up, goes to suplex, but Wato blocks. Desperado knees low, tries again, but Wato slips out of the suplex, only to jam his bad leg. Desperado slaps Wato, runs, but into a tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Desperado flops out of the ring while fans rally up.

Wato builds speed, FLIES and takes Desperado down at the ramp! Fans rally back up while Wato gets his bad leg moving. Desperado is okay to continue, so Wato drags him up and puts him in the ring. Wato sees Desperado go to a corner so he runs in to back elbow! Wato whips corner to corner, just to YANK the bad arm! Wato then hops up and missile dropkicks Desperado down! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, Wato waits on Desperado to stand, and then he KICKS and KICKS and SOBATS! Front kick and ROUND- NO! Desperado blocks that then dropkicks the leg out! Fans fire up as Desperado gets the leg for a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! And then STRETCH MUFFLER!

Wato scrambles and gets the ROPEBREAK! Desperado thrashes the leg but lets off as Red Shoes counts. Fans rally back up as both men are down. Desperado gets back up, gets the bad arm moving again, and then stands on Wato’s bad leg. Wato grabs ropes so Desperado lets off to stand him back up. Desperado wants the leg but Wato elbows him away. Desperado ROCKS Wato with an elbow of his own! Desperado gets the leg, but Wato knees free of the shinbreaker! Desperado kicks back, runs, but into a BOOT! Wato runs but into an elbow! Desperado runs but Wato dodges to come back, roll to the sunset flip! TWO, and Wato has Desperado in a BUTTERFLY CLUTCH!

Desperado endures as Wato bends the arms and pulls on the head! Fans rally as Desperado moves around. Desperado reaches out, and gets the ROPEBREAK with a foot! Wato lets go quickly and fires himself up. Fans rally as Wato wrenches Desperado. Desperado rakes eyes and puts Wato in a corner! Desperado kicks the bad leg, catches his breath and runs in, but blocks Wato’s boot! Wato ENZUGIRIS Desperado away! Wato goes to the apron, springboards and FLYING UPPERCUTS Desperado down! Fans fire up, Wato wrenches and hooks Desperado up, MOUSE TRAP DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Desperado escapes but Wato just goes back to the apron.

Wato climbs as fans rally back up. Wato leaps, RPP FLOPS as Desperado dodges! Desperado aims from the corner now, and he runs up to hook Wato into the Mouse Trap! TWO, and Wato sobats! Desperado ducks the Screw High Kick to get the STRETCH MUFFLER! Wato endures, flails, reaches, but Desperado thrashes the leg! Desperado drags Wato from the ropes, Wato rolls him to a cover! TWO!! Both men are shocked, but Wato ROUNDHOUSES Desperado down! Wato roars and fans fire up as he goes to ropes. Wato wants Desperado to stand as he takes aim. Desperado rises, into the SCREW HIGH KICK! Cover, TWO!! Desperado survives and fans are fired up again!

Wato drags Desperado up, reels him in, and scoops, but Desperado slips out to ripcord and SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO! Desperado floats, hooks Wato up, GUITARRA DEL ANGEL! Cover, TWO! Fans are thunderous now as both men slowly rise. Desperado stands and fires up as he gets Wato to his feet. Desperado reels Wato in, underhooks the arms, but Wato fights Pinche to tilt-o-whirl and roll up, PRAWN HOLD! TWO and Desperado sunset flips! TWO, but Desperado gets the STRETCH MUFFLER! He gets Wato’s arm and has NUMERO DOS! Then he rolls Wato from the ropes, to get NUMERO DOS PLUS!! Wato quits, Desperado wins!!

Winner: El Desperado, by submission (gains 2 points; Wato earns 0)

The third time IS the charm, and Desperado is finally on the board! Will Wato have to wait a little longer until he’s ready for the top spot? But Desperado gets the mic before Wato leaves to say, “That’s right. You beat me in last year’s Super Juniors, didn’t you?” Desperado’s been calling Wato an idiot for the past year, and… Yeah, Wato’s still an idiot! But Wato showed that he’s watching the champion very closely. Wato knew to go after Desperado’s neck and shoulder after Ishimori made him tap out. Why would he otherwise? Desperado will give Wato some credit, then.

“Well, moving on… It took three days of this tournament, but I finally won. Yeah, that’s right! I haven’t had my spot to boast yet. After beating you, I have my chance.” And “those other guys,” aka House of Torture, didn’t show but Taguchi was looking for ’em, right? Their Super Junior fight is over, but he knows they’ll meet again. Wato better practice. Desperado vows that “The champion who sits at 1-2 will win from here on out. And what kind of match will Hiromu and I have?” What do Hiromu and Wato have in common? “You’re idiots!”

He knows this tournament isn’t only about himself and Hiromu, but Desperado vows to win the BOSJ! Then he’ll be in the Dome with a match! But is this late start in time for him to take the block? Or will his fate be in the hands of everyone else around him?

Here are the current BOSJ 28 standings!

SHO: 3-0, 6 points
Taiji Ishimori: 2-1, 4 points
Hiromu Takahashi: 2-1, 4 points
Douki: 2-1, 4 points
Bushi: 2-1, 4 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 2-1, 4 points
El Desperado: 1-2, 2 points
El Phantasmo: 1-2, 2 points
Ryusuke Taguchi: 1-2, 2 points
Master Wato: 1-2, 2 points
Robbie Eagles: 1-2, 2 points
YOH: 0-3, 0 points

My Thoughts:

A very good round for BOSJ, but not quite like the others. ELP finally getting his win to give Douki his loss was a natural move, Douki wasn’t going to keep that momentum up. Yoh gives good matches but continues to lose because again, that’s the story. Yoh is really only going to have a chance to win getting his revenge on Sho. And I really like how they cleverly made Taguchi anticipate House of Torture to the point where it cost him against Sho, much in the way wanting to expose ELP’s loaded boot cost him winning the tag titles. Eagles VS Ishimori was very good, but in similar fashion to Yoh, Eagles is going to go up and down as he tries to recover from losing the title.

Kanemaru VS Hiromu was very good, with great story elements of the bad leg being a target for Kanemaru. With that, Hiromu winning by a quick pin, not a finisher, was actually very smart. Desperado VS Wato was also very good, but rather plotting in its pace. Wato gets probably one of his better matches out of this but of course Desperado finally gets his win. Desperado’s closing promo was great stuff, calling out Sho and House of Torture while also nodding to his rival, Hiromu. Desperado’s run from here could be quite a great one given he’s the champion trying to win the tournament and determine his own fate.

My Score: 8.8/10