Who will be the two Best of the Super Juniors this year?

Round 11 is here, and the door is closing! Only two can go to the finals on December 15th! Will IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, El Desperado, survive?

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current BOSJ 28 standings!

El Desperado: 6-3-1, 13 points
Hiromu Takahashi: 6-3-1, 13 points
SHO: 6-4, 12 points
YOH: 6-4, 12 points
Robbie Eagles: 6-4, 12 points
Taiji Ishimori: 6-4, 12 points
El Phantasmo: 5-5, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 4-6, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Bushi: 4-6, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Ryusuke Taguchi: 4-6, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Master Wato: 4-6, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Douki: 2-8, 4 points [ELIMINATED]

Best of the Super Juniors 28: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Taiji Ishimori!

The Funky Weapon may be out, but he can ruin Bone Soldier Reborn’s outside shot! Will Taguchi spoil Taiji’s chances at the finals?

The bell rings and fans rally up as the two approach. Taguchi starts a dance battle, and Taiji joins in! Fans clap along as Taguchi breaks it down, and Taiji gets out of the ring to give his side step move some room. Taiji then gets in but Taguchi kicks him first! Taguchi CLUBS Taiji on the neck, whips him to ropes, and he keeps Taiji moving as he side steps and drops down. But Taiji basement dropkicks Taguchi! Taiji bumps Taguchi off buckles, whips him corner to corner, then runs in but Taguchi elbows him away. Taguchi gets Taiji for the booty bumps! Taguchi then runs, ducks and dodges but Taiji gets him with an elbow.

Taiji whips, Taguchi reverses but Taiji reverses back to WRING the arm out! Taguchi bails out of the ring, Taiji goes after him. Taiji drags Taguchi up and whips, but Taguchi reverses. Taiji stops himself from hitting railing to drop toehold Taguchi into the railing! The ref reprimands and Taiji leaves Taguchi behind, to then untie the blue buckle pad! The Bullet Club special is ready, and a ring count starts on Taguchi. Taguchi slowly sits up, using railing to help him. The count is 10 of 20, Taguchi still steadies himself. Taguchi stands at 15, but he wobbles his way over, to get in at 19! Fans cheer, and Taiji drags Taguchi up to wrench and hammerlock, and RAM Taguchi into bare buckles!

Taguchi clutches his arm as he falls against ropes. Taiji drags Taguchi up to knuckle lock and wrench the bad arm, and he wrangles Taguchi down to PULL on the arm! Taguchi moves around, but Taiji wrangles him down again. Taguchi endures, fights up, but Taiji wrangles him down again! Fans rally up, Taguchi rolls and floats but Taiji just gets him for a hammerlock! Taguchi gets a ropebreak with a foot, Taiji lets off quickly. Taiji drags Taguchi back up, Taguchi throws body shots and shoulders. Taguchi runs, Taiji turns hip attack into atomic drop! But Taguchi fires up! Fans rally and Taguchi runs, but Taiji just moves and the hip attack crashes down.

Taiji stomps Taguchi’s butt, then drags Taguchi up to kick low. Taiji runs, Taguchi somersaults to HIP ATTACK! Fans fire up as Taiji bails out. Taguchi goes to the corner to TRIANGLE JUMP PLANCHA! Direct hit and both men are down! Fans rally up, Taguchi stands and he drags Taiji up to put him in. Taguchi aims, springboards, MISSILE HIP! Fans fire up as Taguchi gets Taiji up to snap suplex, Uno Amigo! Then again, Dos Amigos! And THREE AMIGOS! Cover, TWO! Taguchi calls upon the powers of Strong Style already! Taguchi aims from the corner, “GIPPON~!” Gippon!? But then Taiji dropkicks Taguchi down first!

Taguchi slowly gets back up, Taiji runs in but he blocks boots to put Taguchi in the ropes. ENZIGURI, SLIDING GERMAN! Fans fire up and Taiji covers, TWO! Taiji drags Taguchi back up, hammerlocks and half nelsons, scoops, but Taguchi slips out. Taiji switches but Taguchi drop toeholds to OH MY GARFUNKEL! Taiji flails, grabs the ref, and throws the ref into Taguchi! Taiji gets up to POST Taguchi! Taiji then brings Taguchi out to hammerlock, half nelson and scoop, SHOULDER BUSTER! Taguchi writhes, fans rally up, and Taiji aims from a corner. Taiji runs in, MISTICO- NO! Taguchi blocks, rolls up, TWO! OH MY GAR- NO! Victory roll, TWO!!

Taguchi is up, he ducks and ENZIGURIS Taiji down! Fans fire up and Taguchi drags Taiji up. Taguchi chicken wings the arms, Taiji blocks Dodon’s Throne to roll Taguchi into the gut wrench! CIPHER- NO! OH MY GARFUNKEL! Taiji endures, crawls, but Taguchi drags him back. Taiji rolls to drag Taguchi down, BONE LOCK!! Taguchi endures, crawls, reaches out, but Taiji rolls him away! But Taguchi gets OH MY GARFUNKEL!! Taiji flails, Taguchi drops an elbow on the leg! He keeps on the ankle lock, Taiji SLAMS the mat, but that wasn’t a tap! Taiji grits his teeth but Taguchi puts as much as he can on the hold! Taiji crawls, Taguchi reels him in, chicken wings, DODON’S THRONE!! Cover, TWO?!?

Taguchi fires up with the fans and he gets Taiji back up! Chicken wings for DODON BUSTER!! Cover, Taguchi wins!!

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

The Bone Soldier is DONE! Funky Weapon plays spoilers, will Taiji be able to live this down?

Best of the Super Juniors 28: YOH VS SHO!

A lot is riding on this one! The loser is out while the winner still has to wait on the rest of the card, but this is also Roppongi 3K finally having it out after High Voltage betrayed Direct Drive! Will Yoh make Sho pay for throwing their friendship away? Or will the Murder Machine bury the past and be back on top of the block?

Sho attacks but Yoh dodges to rally with forearms! Now the bell rings, Sho denies the whip to bail out, but Yoh pursues! They go around the way, Sho kicks and whips Yoh, but Yoh reverses to send Sho into railing! Fans fire up as Sho already wants mercy from Yoh. Yoh puts Sho in the ring, Sho scrambles to a corner but Yoh drags him up to throw forearms. Yoh stands Sho up for boxing elbows in the corner! The ref reprimands, Yoh throws back elbow after back elbow! Yoh finally lets off and fans fire up as he drags Sho into a suplex. Yoh hangs Sho out to dry, uppercuts him down, then builds speed. Sho uses a Young Lion as a shield so Yoh stops.

Yoh slides out, chases Sho, but Sho uses another Young Lion as a weapon! Yoh falls down, Sho drags him up and whips Yoh into railing now! Sho thanks the Young Lion for being a pawn, then he stomps Yoh. Sho drags Yoh up, whips him into railing again, then leaves Yoh behind to writhe. Sho gets a chair from under the ring and brings it over, but he also grabs a corner crossbar sleeve. The ref notices the chair, Sho argues with him so he lets the ref have the chair. Then he smothers Yoh with the crossbar sleeve! The ref sees that now and reprimands. The ref counts, Sho stops and lets him have the sleeve. Sho even points out which corner it’s from, so he can get the chair!

SMACK to Yoh’s arm until the padding falls off! Sho throws the chair away, he talks trash to Yoh, then he drags Yoh up and whips him into more railing! Yoh flops down and Sho gets in the ring. The ring count starts, fans rally up, and Sho is annoyed that the fans support Yoh. The count is 10 of 20, Yoh rises at 12, stands at 14 and gets in at 15! Sho stomps Yoh and chokes him at the ropes! The ref counts, Sho lets off at 4, then he drags Yoh up to bump him off buckles. Sho stomps away, digs his boots in again, but the ref reprimands and counts. Sho stops at 4, fans rally up again, and Sho drags Yoh up with a knuckle lock.

Sho wrenches the wrist, then the arm. Sho brings Yoh down to kick, KICK and stand on his head! Yoh grits his teeth and glares up at Sho as Sho talks trash. Yoh fights up, has Sho’s leg, and he throws forearm after forearm! Sho rakes Yoh’s eyes! The ref counts, Sho stops at 4 to whip. Yoh comes back with FLYING FOREARMS! Fans rally up, Sho crawls to a corner, and Yoh runs in to back elbow! Yoh wrenches, DECKS Sho with a forearm, then rains down more forearms! Fans rally as Yoh hits Sho again and again! Yoh drags Sho back up, reels him in, but Sho fights the suplex and rakes the eyes! The ref reprimands and counts, Sho stops and whips. Yoh reverses to dropkick Sho down!

Fans fire up and Yoh sees Sho bail out. Yoh builds speed to FLY! Direct hit and both men are down! Fans rally up, Yoh stalks Sho as he crawls around the corner. Yoh drags Sho up, puts him in and gets him up for a FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Yoh keeps his focus, drags Sho up, reels Sho in but Sho fights the full nelson. Sho bends Yoh’s fingers! The ref counts, Sho stops but Yoh handsprings to dodge! Yoh ROCKS Sho, Sho resists the suplex to bend fingers again! The ref counts, Sho stops at 4 but Yoh EuroUppers! Yoh runs, the ref is used as a shield, and Sho SPEARS Yoh down! Yoh and Sho are both down and they roll to opposite corners.

Fans rally as Yoh and Sho slowly rise. Sho runs corner to corner and clotheslines Yoh, to then wrench an arm for KIKC after KICK after KICK! Yoh flops over, but Sho drags him back up to KICK and KICK and SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! Sho is frustrated but fans rally up for Yoh. Sho says he’ll end it now, and he drags Yoh back up. Sho reels him in, tucks the arms, but Yoh fights out, only to swing into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Sho drags Yoh up again, reels him in and lifts, but Yoh fights the bomb! Sho JUMP KNEES, and LARIATS! Fans fire up while Yoh is dazed! Sho drags Yoh up, runs the ropes but Yoh LARIATS first! Fans fire up with Yoh as he roars!

Yoh drags Sho up, reels him in, GHOSTBUSTER! Yoh drags Sho up again, underhooks, but Sho fights that to shove Yoh into the ref! And again! The ref is down, Sho GERMAN SUPLEXES Yoh again! Everyone is down as fans rally up, and Sho crawls to his corner! Sho gets his wrench out! But Yoh JUMP KNEES first! Yoh then full nelsons to DRAGON SUPLEX and bridging cover! But the ref is still down! Yoh would’ve won by now! But then the House of Torture rushes out! Evil, Yujiro Takahashi AND Dick Togo stomp away on Yoh! Evil drags Yoh up but here comes CHAOS! Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi fight off Evil & Yujiro!

Dick gets back in but Hashi SUPERKICKS him! Fans are fired up as Goto-Hashi fires off on the King of Darkness & Tokyo Pimp! Goto feeds Yujiro to Hashi’s back elbow! Evil attacks them back then runs, but into a fireman’s carry! SUPERKICK to USHIGOROSHI! Fans are thunderous as Goto-Hashi rally for Yoh! Yoh stirs, Goto-Hashi drag the House of Torture away from ringside! Yoh stands, fires up, and fans rally behind him! Yoh tunes up the band, he waits for Sho to rise, but Sho blocks the superkick! Sho throws the foot at the ref but the ref runs away, and Sho LOW BLOWS Yoh! Sho fires up and reels Yoh in, double pump handle! SHOCK- NO! Yoh back drops free!

Sho runs into the SUPERKICK!! Yoh is all fired up, he drags Sho up and underhooks, DIRECT DRIVE!! Cover, YOH WINS!!

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

RPG3K is finally put to rest, and it is Direct Drive who stands on top! Sho’s run at the finals is done, but will the door stay open for Yoh?

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

The Headbanga may be out, but he can ruin things for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion! Will ELP have the sweetest victory of the round robin? Or will Desperado secure a spot in the finals?

ELP points out a fan sign saying, “Please show me the inside of the right shoe.” ELP asks if they really want to see, and then says nope! He’s not showing them anything! ELP gets in the ring, the bell rings, and fans rally up as the two talk trash. ELP is upset Desperado has more rally towels than him, mostly cuz NJPW hasn’t made any ELP towels. ELP then throws forearms so Desperado gives them back. Fans rally up as they go back and forth, faster and faster! Desperado ROCKS ELP but ELP knees low! ELP headlocks, Desperado powers out, but ELP rams shoulders. Neither falls, so ELP runs again. They ram shoulders but again Desperado stays up. So ELP pokes him in the eye!

ELP hits an STO then double guns. Things speed up, but ELP fakes Desperado out to step on him and strut. Fans cheer the strut, the roll and handspring, and then ELP strikes a pose. Desperado gets up, mockingly applauds, then pokes ELP in the eye! Desperado headlocks, ELP powers out but Desperado runs him over. Things speed up, ELP hurdles then drops but Desperado grabs ELP’s legs! Desperado stomps ELP in the head! And he mocks ELP’s pose! Fans fire up but ELP gets upset. Desperado gets around, headlocks for the takeover but ELP headscissors but Desperado kips free. Roles reverse as ELP hits the headlock takeover but Desperado headscissors and ELP kips free.

ELP handsprings and Desperado stands, fans cheer the stand-off. ELP does his rocker hands, Desperado mocks them, so ELP throws more forearms. Desperado gives them back, ELP throat chops! ELP throws haymakers to back Desperado to a corner, then he throws more hands. ELP whips corner to corner, Desperado reverses but ELP goes up and over. ELP ducks and dodges but Desperado casually avoids the springboard crossbody. ELP flounders up, Desperado runs in and clotheslines him out! Fans rally and Desperado builds speed, to slide as ELP moves out of the way. Desperado follows ELP around the way and to the ramp to CLAW his back!

Desperado stomps ELP, a ring count starts, and Desperado stands ELP up to CHOP! ELP leans against railing, but he stomps Desperado’s foot! That boot is definitely loaded! ELP dumps Desperado over the railing and into the crowd as the count is 10 of 20! ELP leaves Desperado behind, Young Lions move the railing aside, and Desperado gets up at 16! Desperado runs and slides into the ring at 18! ELP realizes this and is upset with the ref’s count! ELP then drops ax handles on Desperado’s head, then runs for another ax handle! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as ELP CLUBS and wrenches Desperado’s arm. ELP whips Desperado to a corner hard and Desperado bounces off buckles!

ELP looms over Desperado, kicks him around as fans rally up, then he drags Desperado up to throw haymakers. Desperado CHOPS back and ELP staggers away. Desperado heads over, but ELP stomps Desperado’s foot! Desperado falls, clutching his foot, and that boot is definitely loaded! Cover, TWO! Cover, ONE! Deep cover, with ropes! The ref sees that and stops! Fans cheer while ELP argues with the ref. Desperado gets to the corner, ELP asks, “This is the man you cheer?” Then he digs his boots into Desperado’s face! The ref counts, ELP lets off, and he drags Desperado up to CLAW his back! And then slowly claws it again! The ref reprimands, ELP fish hooks Desperado’s face!

The ref reprimands again, ELP jams his elbow into Desperado’s face. ELP hoists Desperado up top to put him in a Tree of Woe, and he digs his boot in. ELP then runs corner to corner, jumps, but climbs up to stand on Desperado’s groin! The ref counts, ELP hops off. The ref works to free Desperado, and ELP does jumping jacks to show off. ELP then somersaults to CLAW Desperado! Desperado CHOPS and CHOPS, but ELP wrangles Desperado down to STOMP the hand! ELP gets Desperado’s fingers to BEND them in all directions! The ref reprimands but ELP keeps changing fingers, and then SNAPS one! ELP hopes we all heard that.

ELP drags Desperado up, knuckle locks and wrenches, to CHOP, go up and up and jump, to CLAW Desperado again! ELP then goes up and up and jumps again, to CLAW Desperado more! ELP keeps on the knuckle lock to bend the fingers, then he goes up another corner, jumps around on the ropes, tightrope walks, but Desperado kicks the rope! ELP falls to a hotshot, Desperado builds speed and DIVES! Somersault tope to the ramp! Fans fire up, a ring count starts, and Desperado gets up first. He drags ELP up at 12 of 20, and shoves him into the ring at 15. Desperado gets in and runs corner to corner to clothesline ELP! Then he suplexes ELP high and hard, almost a brainbuster! Cover, TWO!

Desperado gets ELP’s leg for a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! And STRETCH MUFFLER! ELP scrambles to the ropebreak, but Desperado thrashes the leg until the ref counts 4! Desperado stands on ELP at the ropes, the ref counts and Desperado lets off to CLAW ELP! Desperado drags ELP up, gets the leg, but ELP fights free with elbows. Desperado knees low, runs, but ELP CHOPS! ELP runs, but Desperado back elbows. Desperado fakes ELP out, lifts but ELP SATELLITE DDTS out of the spinebuster! Cover, TWO!! ELP drags Desperado up to straitjacket torture rack, SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!

ELP somersaults to the corner, goes up top and takes aim, THUNDER KISS onto knees! Desperado makes it a cradle, TWO!! Fans fire up while both men are down. ELP and Desperado rise, Desperado gets ELP and reels him in. GUITARRA- No, ELP slips out to straitjacket, but Desperado slips off the rack to OLYMPIC SLAM! Cover, TWO! Desperado gets back up, vows to end it, and he drags ELP up. Desperado reels him in, underhooks, but ELP fights Pinche and back drops! Desperado sunset flips, ELP rolls through, and gets the leg to steal STRETCH MUFFLER! Desperado endures as ELP thrashes the leg! Desperado rolls it to a cradle, TWO!

Desperado is up, rolls ELP, and has the STRETCH MUFFLER! Desperado makes ELP pay as he thrashes the leg! ELP crawls, Desperado drags him back! Desperado gets the arm, NUMERO DOS! Fans rally, ELP endures, sits up and sunset flips! High stack, TWO, ELP has Desperado in place! STYLES CLASH! Cover, TWO!! Desperado survives and fans fire up again! Desperado gets to ropes, ELP goes to the opposite side. ELP shakes his head and slaps sense into himself. BANG and V-TRIGGER!! Electric Chair Lift, but then ELP changes his mind. Instead of copying the Cleaner, he puts Desperado down for BLADERUNNER!! He copied The Switchblade!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!!

ELP can’t believe it but Desperado survives! Fans are thunderous as ELP gets back up. ELP slashes the throat, drags Desperado around, then drags him up to tuck the arms. Desperado fights free, hooks ELP up, EL ES CULERO! TWO, SPINEBUSTER! Gut wrench and GUITARRA DEL ANGEL! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives and Desperado is furious! Fans are thunderous again as Desperado roars! Desperado drags ELP up, but ELP plays deadweight. Desperado gets ELP up but he blocks Sudden Death to DECK him with an elbow! Fans fire up with Desperado as he gets ELP back up. Desperado hooks the arms, but ELP resists again! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO!

Desperado has the arms, PINCH- NO! ELP slips out to underhook, and steals PINCHE LOCO!! Cover a la the Deadman, TWO!?!? Desperado survives and fans are electric! ELP drags Desperado up and starts untying the mask! The ref reprimands, Desperado bends ELP’s fingers! ELP CHOPS, CHOPS, SLAPS, but Desperado doesn’t care. Desperado SLAPS ELP down! Fans fire up and ELP rises, Desperado eggs ELP on. ELP forearms, Desperado DECKS him with a haymaker! Desperado taunts ELP, fans rally up, and ELP stands back up. ELP comes back, takes off his armbands, and he SOBATS! The loaded boot takes Desperado down but ELP tunes up the band!

Desperado stands, but he ducks Sudden Death to LOCO MONO!! SUDDEN DEATH on the return!! Cover, ELP WINS!!

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

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion WON’T be going to the finals!! The Headbanga pulled off the spoiler, who is going to the finals in Desperado’s place?

Best of the Super Juniors 28: Hiromu Takahashi VS Robbie Eagles!

It all comes down to this! The math is tricky, but it still adds up to, “Win and you’re in!” Will the Ticking Timebomb keep his chance to repeat alive? Or will the Sniper of the Skies hit the mark and head for the finals?

The bell rings and fans rally up. Eagles encourages them to get louder and the fans oblige. Hiromu and Eagles circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Eagles pushes Hiromu back but Hiromu pushes Eagles to ropes. Red Shoes calls for the ropebreak, Hiromu lets off to CHOP! Eagles eggs Hiromu on so Hiromu CHOPS again. Eagles KICKS Hiromu’s leg, Hiromu CHOPS again. KICK, CHOP, KICK, CHOP, repeat! Eagles goes to dropkick a leg but Hiromu avoids it. Hiromu runs but Eagles avoids the basement dropkick. Eagles covers, ONE, Hiromu sweeps to cover, ONE! Eagles whips, Hiromu reverses and hurdles, but Eagles leaps over.

Hiromu sidesteps, trips and drags Eagles out to then get in and run. Eagles slides in and hurdles, Hiromu turns drop down into wheelbarrow, but Eagles turns that into a victory roll! Eagles gets the leg but Hiromu scrambles to ropes! Eagles lets go and Hiromu bails out while fans cheer the exchange. Hiromu cools off, comes back, and he wants Eagles to give him space. Eagles steps back, Hiromu gets in to CLOBBER him with an elbow. Hiromu whips Eagles to a corner and clotheslines, then snapmares and basement dropkicks! Cover, ONE! Hiromu stays cool as he kicks at Eagles. Eagles sits up to CHOP, but Hiromu CHOPS back. Eagles CHOPS, Hiromu CHOPS again.

Eagles CHOPS, Hiromu CHOPS him off his feet! Fans cheer, Hiromu whips but Eagles reverses to go up and around and arm-drag, then he RANAS Hiromu down! Fans fire up, Hiromu gets up, Eagles WHEEL KICKS him down! Eagles kips up and fans fire up more! Eagles covers, ONE, but he has a cording hold to a top wristlock. Eagles jams his elbow into Hiromu’s ribs, then cranks on the arm. Hiromu reaches out, scoots around, and gets the ropebreak with a foot. Eagles lets off but then he stomps Hiromu at the ropes. Eagles puts Hiromu in the corner to CHOP! Hiromu shoves back to CHOP! Eagles CHOPS, Hiromu CHOPS again! Eagles CHOPS Hiromu and he falls to the corner!

Eagles KICKS Hiromu in the back, wrenches the arm and whips corner to corner. Eagles runs in but Hiromu puts him on the apron. Eagles blocks the punch to GAMANGIRI, but Hiromu gets under the springboard. Eagles mule kicks, runs, but Hiromu follows to RANA Eagles down! Fans fire up while both men are down, and rally as the two slowly rise. Hiromu brings Eagles up, whips, but then forearms and puts Eagles on ropes to KICK the ropes! Hiromu runs to SHOTGUN Eagles out of the ring! Fans fire up as Hiromu goes to the apron, FLYING SHOTGUN! Hiromu fires up, fans continue to rally, and Hiromu brings Eagles up to put in the ring.

Hiromu brings Eagles around, suplexes for the FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Hiromu keeps cool and he drags Eagles up to fireman’s carry. Eagles slips off as Hiromu runs for a corner. Eagles sobats, cravats, SHIRA- NO! Hiromu has the fireman’s carry but Eagles slips out, ducks all the forearms and elbows, but Hiromu still spins him for a RANA takedown, into D! Eagles stays on his feet but Hiromu squeezes the triangle hold tighter! Eagles moves around, fans rally, Hiromu puts on more pressure, but Eagles gets a second wind to get the ropebreak! Hiromu lets go to drag Eagles back up. Fireman’s carry, but Eagles slips out to ROLLING KICK, and BLINDSIDE LARIAT!

Fans rally up, Eagles rises and KICKS away on Hiromu’s chest! Eagles then runs, but Hiromu blocks the Penalty Kick! Hiromu kicks low, whips, but Eagles reverses to CALF KICK! Hiromu flounders to a corner, Eagles sees him on the apron, and he TRIANGLE JUMP DROPKICKS Hiromu down! Eagles runs to DIVE! Direct hit at the ramp! Fans fire up and Eagles catches his breath as they rally. A ring count starts, Eagles drags Hiromu up at 10 of 20. Eagles gets Hiromu up at 15 to put him in at 17, then rolls to a cover, TWO! Eagles is annoyed but he adjusts his pads and drags Hiromu up to knee and KICK down!

Eagles then aims from a corner, runs corner to corner, and DOUBLE KNEES! Eagles rolls back but Hiromu BOOTS! So Eagles 619’s the legs out! Camera gets clipped a bit, but Eagles is fine. Eagles runs back in, METEORA! Hiromu glares at Eagles but Eagles stomps him. Fans rally up, Eagles goes corner to corner again, Hiromu SHOTGUNS him down! Hiromu roars and rises, drags Eagles up, and then runs to fake him out! Eagles sees through it, whips Hiromu to a corner and runs in, but Eagles lands on the corner out of the overhead Belly2Belly! Hiromu gets Eagles for an Electric Chair Lift! Fireman’s carry, but Eagles pops back to the Electric Chair for the POISON-RANA!!

Eagles runs in, into the OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Hiromu throws Eagles into the corner after all! Eagles drags himself to the apron, Hiromu drags himself out to join him. Hiromu drags Eagles up, forearms, but Eagles forearms back. Hiromu hits again, Eagles hits back again. Fans rally as they continue to brawl on the edge. Hiromu ROCKS Eagles, but Eagles blocks the superkick! Eagles reels Hiromu in but Hiromu fights the backpack to waistlock. Eagles elbows free, but Hiromu fireman’s carries! APRON DEATH VALLEY!! Eagles flops to the floor while fans fire up! Fans rally again, Eagles stirs but the ring count starts.

Eagles crawls around, drags himself up at 11, and gets to the apron at 15. Hiromu builds speed and runs to SUNSET FLIP, but Eagles flips out of the bomb to DOUBLE KNEE Hiromu against apron! Both men are down on the outside and fans fire up! A ring count starts and Eagles stirs at 6. Hiromu follows, they’re still down at 10 but Eagles stands at 13. He puts Hiromu in at 15 and fans fire up as Eagles aims from the apron. Springboard missile dropkick to the legs! Eagles gets the legs and steps through but Hiromu reels him in for a cradle! TWO!! Eagles SUPERKICKS Hiromu down! Eagles goes to the corner but Hiromu anchors a foot!

Eagles aims a finger gun and SUPERKICKS again! Eagles goes up the corner now, 450 SPLASH onto knees! Hiromu saves himself but it was a bit double-edged! Eagles gets up to get the leg! RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Fans are thunderous as Hiromu endures! Eagles thrashes, Hiromu reaches out, Eagles drags him back! Hiromu grits his teeth, crawls forward again, but Eagles puts more pressure! Hiromu shakes his head, drags himself and Eagles along, Hiromu even grabs at Red Shoes before the ROPEBREAK! Eagles lets Hiromu go, drags him back, but Hiromu kicks and kicks and kicks. Eagles hits a spinning toehold to jam the leg! But Hiromu avoids the knee drop to SUPERKICK!!

Both men are down and fans rally back up! Eagles sits up and shakes out the cobwebs to crawl after Hiromu. Hiromu throws forearms, but Eagles throws forearms back. Forearms keep flying as both men stand up and fans rally. Hiromu hobbles on his bad leg but he comes back to throw another forearm. Eagles hits back, Hiromu fires off a string! Eagles kicks the leg, cravats, but no Shiranui! LARIAT! Eagles stays up but he wobbles! Eagles shakes his head, SUPER- NO! Hiromu blocks the kick, spins Eagles, but Eagles ducks, only to run into HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! Fans fire up and Hiromu drags Eagles up. Fireman’s carry, CORNER DEATH VALLEY!

Hiromu roars, drags Eagles up, fireman’s carries and spins, but Eagles sunset flips! TWO! Hiromu runs in, Eagles schoolboys and bridges, TWO!! SUPERKICK from Hiromu! Hiromu fireman’s carries again, but Eagles fights it, so Hiromu throws him to the dragon sleeper. Eagles slips out of the inverted suplex but Hiromu goes for a standard suplex now, only for Eagles to fight free! ROUNDHOUSE, SUPERKICK and PELE!! Hiromu wobbles, Eagles runs, LARIAT! Eagles Bomber?! Fans fire up as Eagles gets Hiromu up, SHIRANUI! Cover, TWO!! Eagles dragon sleepers, spins Hiromu, TURBO BACKPACK!! Cover, TWO!! Eagles can’t believe Hiromu survives!

Fans are thunderous again as Eagles undoes a wristband. Eagles drags Hiromu by a leg, says this is his win, and he steps through. Hiromu blocks the Ron Miller but Eagles stomps Hiromu down! And kicks him around! And kicks the leg, then stomps Hiromu! Hiromu keeps trying to get up so Eagles keeps stomping! Again and again and again, Eagles stomps Hiromu down and fans rally up! Hiromu stays down this time, Eagles catches his breath. Eagles drags Hiromu up, then SLAPS him! Hiromu wobbles and staggers, but he SLAPS Eagles back! Eagles takes off his bandana and swings, into D!! Hiromu has the triangle hold again, squeezes tight, and fans rally up!

Eagles is fading, but he fights to his feet, to deadlift and fireman’s carry! But Hiromu slips out, spins Eagles and VICTORY ROYALE! Cover, TWO!! Fans fire up again as Hiromu roars! Hiromu runs, HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! But Hiromu won’t end it there, he dragon sleepers and inverted suplexes, only for Eagles to throw knee after knee . Hiromu still inverted suplexes but Eagles kicks and fights. Hiromu still tuck shim in, but Eagles kicks and kicks and kicks! Hiromu still hits TIMEBOMB II!! Cover, Hiromu wins!!

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

And that’s it! Hiromu eliminates Eagles and has a spot in the finals!! Eagles exits, but Yoh walks back out while Hiromu catches his breath. Yoh gets the mic first and says, “I’d given up. I was completely in the black. Lost all hope. I took the time. I fought and clawed. I found a way. I finally overcame. And now I stand here.” Fans cheer that resolve. Yoh finishes with, “In Ryogoku, guaranteed, I will beat you.” He then sets the mic down and Hiromu picks it up. “Yoh, finally… You’re finally speaking your mind. But y’know what? It doesn’t matter! You suffered? Everyone suffers. Everyone hurts. You’re not the only one.

“But make sure you carry that emotion, that drive, to the final on Wednesday! Then watch me repeat my victory!” Hiromu drops the mic to stare Yoh down forehead to forehead. Yoh takes his leave to give Hiromu his moment. Hiromu then picks the mic back up to say, “OI! You guys have been watching us from the very start, and we’re almost at the climax of the Best of the Super Juniors! I think you all know now that the Juniors aren’t just about me and Desperado. You’ve felt it all, haven’t you? Anger, sadness, joy, passion! Let it all out on us Wednesday, in Ryogoku, in the final! And we’re going to have more, more, more, MORE, MORE, MORE… MORE FUN TOGETHER~!”

Hiromu is in his third finals, and looks for his second win, but will he get it? Or will Yoh take it all on his first try?

Here are the FINAL BOSJ 28 standings!

Hiromu Takahashi: 7-3-1, 15 points [FINALIST]
YOH: 7-4, 14 points [FINALIST]
El Desperado: 6-4-1, 13 points [ELIMINATED]
Robbie Eagles: 6-5, 12 points [ELIMINATED]
SHO: 6-5, 12 points [ELIMINATED]
Taiji Ishimori: 6-5, 12 points [ELIMINATED]
El Phantasmo: 6-5, 12 points [ELIMINATED]
Bushi: 5-6, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
Ryusuke Taguchi: 5-6, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 4-7, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Master Wato: 4-7, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Douki: 3-8, 6 points [ELIMINATED]

My Thoughts:

Apologies for skipping the first two matches, but it was all a battle of the eliminated, those matches weren’t going to impact story. I did skim those matches, though, and I will say, Wato and Douki gave it their all to be a good opener. Bushi VS Kanemaru also seemed pretty good, but Taguchi getting the spoiler win on Taiji was really good stuff. Yoh VS Sho was also great, and I figured it’d be overbooked with House of Torture wanting to make sure they had a representative in BOSJ finals. I’m sure we’ll see a Chaos VS House of Torture rematch for those NEVER Openweight Six Man titles at WrestleKingdom.

ELP beating Desperado was a great shocker and spoiler, and ELP using the Bladerunner in the final sequence is a great way to further him calling out Jay White. Hiromu VS Eagles was also great stuff, and I figured with Desperado being cleared out, Hiromu would secure his spot. Hiromu VS Yoh is going to be a really good finals, and I think it works out that Hiromu beat Yoh so quickly in the round robin so that whatever happens in the rematch feels fresh and new. I would think Hiromu wins for a little bit of history, and also to set up a rematch from the tournament since Hiromu VS Desperado was the only draw of the entire thing.

My Score: 8.9/10