The semifinals are upon us!

NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors 30 reaches the semifinals, and Titán is in the biggest match of his career! But can he make it past El Desperado?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita VS Clark Connors & Gedo; Eagles & Fujita win.
• Toru Yano & Tomoaki Honma VS Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan; Henare & Khan win.
• Six Man Tag: Ryusuke Taguchi & The Intergalactic Jet Setters VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
• 8 Man Tag: Chaos VS The House of Torture; Chaos wins.
• Six Man Tag: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii VS Shota Umino, Oskar Leube & Boltin Oleg; Okada, Tanahashi & Ishii win.
• 8 Man Tag: Just5Guys VS Los Ingobernables de Japon; J5G wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 30 Semifinals: Master Wato VS Mike Bailey; Wato wins and advances to the finals.
• Best of the Super Juniors 30 Semifinals: El Desperado VS Titán; Titán wins and advances to the finals.

PLAY BY PLAY

8 Man Tag: Just5Guys VS Los Ingobernables de Japon!

While Douki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru won’t be adding the Best of the Super Juniors trophy to the group’s collection, Sanada is still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and Taichi is still Mr. KOPW. Will NJPW still be run by Just5Guys? Or will Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & Bushi make everything tranquilo?

J5G give the thumbs up while LIJ fist bump. And then LIJ attacks J5G! Hiromu’s after Douki, Bushi’s after Kanemaru, Takagi’s after Taichi and Naito’s after Sanada! Fans fire up as the bell rings and this is on record. Everyone else spills out while Hiromu keeps Douki in the ring. But then Douki rakes Hiromu’s eyes! The ref reprimands, Douki lets off and fans rally. Takagi headlocks Sanada, brings him around the way, then POSTS him! Douki CHOPS Hiromu, whips him, but Hiromu reverses. Douki ducks ‘n’ dodges and RANAS! Fans fire up as Douki dropkicks Hiromu out of the ring!

Fans rally as Douki builds speed, but Takagi trips him up! Hiromu gets back in to basement dropkick Douki! Fans fire up with LIJ but Sanada goes after Takagi. Takagi SMACKS him off the apron and then sends him back into the post! Hiromu CHOPS Douki, has him in a corner, and CHOPS him again! Hiromu says, “Motto!” and fans echo it, so Hiromu CHOPS again! “Motto!” “Motto!” CHOP! “Motto!” “Motto!” CHOP! Hiromu whips corner to corner, runs in, clotheslines, snapmares and basement dropkicks! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Hiromu brings Douki up. Takagi tags in and fans rally as LIJ mugs Douki.

Douki throws forearms but Takagi HEADBUTTS back! Douki staggers, Takagi whips him and KNEES him, then runs to run Douki over! Takagi drags Douki up, to suplex high and hard! Cover but Takagi lets off as Taichi storms in. The two stare down, the ref reprimands, and Taichi backs off. Takagi drags Douki up with a facelock, Naito tags in, and LIJ mugs Douki. Douki throws forearms on Naito but Naito fires off forearms back! Naito cravats, Douki throws body shots, but Naito cranks the cravat. Douki throws body shots but Naito puts Douki in the corner. The ref counts, Naito whips corner to corner, then he SPITS at Taichi!

Naito runs at Douki, JUMP KICK! Leg sweep! COMBI- NO, Douki moves! Douki comes back but into a BOOT! Naito runs in, waistlocks, Douki switches, but Naito elbows free and arm-drags! Naito runs but Douki JUMPING HEADBUTTS! Fans fire up while both men are down! Naito and Douki crawl, hot tag to Taichi! The Holy Emperor gives Naito some Kawada Kicks! Naito goes to a corner, Taichi clotheslines, wrenches and- NO, Naito fights the saido! Naito whips, Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! But LIJ attacks Taichi! Fans fire up, Hiromu & Bushi double whip Taichi corner to corner!

Bushi runs in, but into an AX BOMBER! AX BOMBER for Hiromu! DOUBLE BOMBER from Taichi and Takagi! Both men wobble, but Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! AX BOMBER from Taichi! Both men are down and fans fire up! Taichi hurries over, tag to Kanemaru! The Heel Master brings Naito up to whip, but Naito reverses. Kanemaru dropkicks the leg! And grabs that leg for a SHIN BREAKER! Step through, FIGURE FOUR! Hiromu stomps Kanemaru but Douki kicks Hiromu. Douki throws Hiromu out, Kanemaru lets off of Naito to stomp the legs. Fans rally as Kanemaru stomps Naito more.

Kanemaru drags Naito up, but Naito fights the shin breaker with elbows. Kanemaru kicks but Naito blocks to CLUB the leg! Now Naito goes after the leg, but Kanemaru fights him off! Kanemaru kicks the leg again, runs, but Naito dodges the dropkick! Naito dropkicks Kanemaru’s leg now! Fans fire up while both men are down, and Naito crawls to tag in Bushi! Fans fire up as Bushi climbs and aims, MISSILE DROPKCK! Bushirooni! Fans fire up and Bushi runs in corner to corner to back elbow Kanemaru! Kanemaru swings on Bushi but Bushi dodges to dropkick the leg out! Bushi ties up those legs, CROSS HEEL CLOVERLEAF!

Kanemaru scrambles and gets the ROPEBREAK! Bushi lets off, hauls Kanemaru up but Kanemaru fights the Fisherman. Bushi kicks low, runs, but into a dropkick to the legs! Both men crawl, hot tag to Sanada! J5G BLAST LIJ first! They drag Bushi up, double whip him corner to corner, then Douki back elbows! Feed to Taichi’s mule kick! Sanada adds a knee lift, and Douki adds an ENZIGURI! Sanada then gets Bushi in a dragon sleeper, for the SKULL SWING! But LIJ returns to save Bushi! They throw Douki and Taichi out but Sanada throws Naito out. Sanada drags Bushi back up for another dragon sleeper!

Bushi flails, spins, cradles, TWO!! Sanada gets free, he dodges Bushi to O’Conner Roll, into the dragon sleeper! Douki DROPKICKS Hiromu off the apron, then DIVES to take Hiromu out! Sanada drags Bushi into the SKULL END! The body scissors are on, Bushi taps! J5G wins!

Winners: Just5Guys, by pinfall

The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion puts away his old friend in the Black Mask, and is rolling strong into Dominion! Will he have to worry about Yota Tsuji bringing doomsday to his title reign?

Best of the Super Juniors 30 Semifinals: Master Wato VS Mike Bailey!

The Way of the Grandmaster enters the semifinals as B Block’s two seed, and he faces off against A Block’s top seed. Will Wato stop Speedball’s momentum? Or will Mike Bailey kick things up a notch and reach the finals?

The bell rings and fans rally up. Wato and Mike encourage them to get louder, and the two circle. Mike offers a handshake, and Wato accepts. Fans cheer the sportsmanship, and the two circle more. They feel things out, testing the water with kicks. Mike is a bit more aggressive and almost gets Wato with a spin kick. Wato tries some of his own, and the two knuckle lock. Mike KICKS Wato in the leg, but Wato KICKS Mike in the leg! They go KICK for KICK back and forth, then Wato SOBATS! Wato whips, Mike reverses, things speed up and Mike hurdles while Wato leaps over. Mike arm-drags, but Wato arm-drags back!

Wato ducks a roundhouse, waistlocks, but Mike wrenches out. Wato blocks the arm-drag, whips and DROPKICKS! Fans fire up while Mike bails out. Wato PLANCHAS and takes Mike down! Fans fire up, Wato stomps Mike, and Wato fires up a bit. Fans cheer him on as he puts Mike in. Wato then body scissors, rolls, and VENDAVAL! Mike scrambles and gets the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Wato lets go, and fans rally up. Wato drags Mike up, CLUBS him down, then CLUBS him again. Wato cravats, snapmares and KICKS Mike in the back! Wato eggs Mike on and Mike sits up, into a KICK!

Wato KICKS but Mike eggs him on, to then SOBAT! And fire off lightning kicks! And then ENZIGURI! Wato bails out of the ring and Mike builds speed! Wato gets on the apron but Mike BOOTS him down! Fans fire up as Mike goes to the corner, TRIANGLE JUMP MOONSAULT! Fans fire up and Mike struts around through the crowd. Mike encourages the fans to get louder so they oblige. Mike makes his way around to the other segments, gets them fired up, and then the ring count climbs. Mike waits on Wato to get up, then runs in, to JUMP KICK! Fans fire up and Mike wrenches the arm to then drop a knee on it!

The ref goes out, reprimands Mike, but Mike steps off. Wato writhes, Mike drags him up by that bad arm, and then Mike puts Wato in the ring. Fans cheer, Mike fires up with a “WOO~!” and the fans echo it. Mike stomps Wato, KICKS him in the back, then covers. TWO! Another cover, TWO! DOUBLE KNEE DROP! Cover, TWO!! Wato survives, fans fire up, and Mike paces. Wato sits up and fans rally again as Mike brings him up. Mike RAMS Wato into the corner, and RAMS again, and RAMS again! Mike whips Wato corner to corner, and runs in to BOOT him! That was one hell of a kick!

Fans fire up, Mike scoops and SLAMS Wato into the drop zone, then he goes up, VADER KNEE DROPS! Cover, TWO! Wato survives but Mike keeps his cool. Mike drags Wato up, wrenches, and CHOPS Wato down! Mike drags Wato up again, wrenches and CHOPS him down again! Mike brings Wato up a third time, for another wrench and CHOP! But Wato ROCKS Mike back! Mike eggs Wato on so Wato ROCKS him again! And again! And again! Mike SOBATS! And AX KICKS! And ROUNDHOUSES! Fans fire up, Mike aims and runs in for the SHOOTING- NO, Wato moves and Mike belly flops!

Wato goes to a corner, Mike runs in but into BOOTS! And then Wato BULLDOGS! Fans fire up as Wato roars, and Wato brings Mike up. Mike kicks but Wato ducks it. Wato waistlocks but Mike breaks it. Wato jumps to ZIGZAG! Fans rally up again while both men are down. Wato goes to ropes and stands up. Wato waits on Mike, runs in and rallies with elbows and a BOOT! Wato whips to CALF KICK Mike down! Fans fire up again while Mike bails out. Wato shakes the bad arm, builds speed, and he FLIES! Direct hit and down goes Mike! Fans fire up again and Wato roars! Wato grits his teeth and he brings Mike up.

The ring count is 9 of 20 but Wato puts Mike back in. Fans cheer and Wato aims from the apron. Wato’s arm bothers him, but he still springboards, but into an ARMBAR!! Mike has Wato caught but Wato scrambles around to the ROPEBREAK! Mike lets off quickly while fans cheer. Mike refocuses, he stalks Wato, and he KICKS Wato in the bad arm! And KICKS him again! And CHOPS him in the corner! Fans rally, Mike whips but Wato blocks by holding ropes! Mike tries again but Wato still blocks! Mike wraps the bad arm around ropes to YANK it! Fans cheer as Mike gets space. Mike then runs back in, but only gets buckles!

Wato comes back but into an ELBOW! And then into BOOTS! Wato is down, Mike goes up, ULTIMA- NO, Wato moves, but Mike rolls through! Wato rushes in, Mike ducks the Screw High Kick, ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Wato clasps hands, rolls to a cover, TWO!! Mike escapes, Wato sunset flips but Mike sits on it! TWO and Wato sunset flips! TWO, into VENDAVAL!! Fans fire up, Mike rocks it to a cover, TWO! Wato still has the hold but Mike powers around to an ARMBAR! Wato powers his way to a waistlock, but Mike fights the suplex! Mike pops Wato up, into the ARMBAR!! Wato stacks again, TWO!

Mike CLUBS Wato, MOONSAULTS but the knees hit the mat! Wato avoids disaster to then roll Mike into VENDAVAL!!! Mike endures, fans rally, and Wato’s own arm makes it hard to hold the hold! Mike fights his way around, reaches out, teetertotters things all the way to the ROPEBREAK! Wato lets go in frustration and both men are down. Fans rally up again while Wato crawls away. Wato waits on Mike to rise, and he powers up, only for Mike to kick his kick away! And then ROUNDHOUSE! And THRUST KICK! Wato staggers to a corner, Mike powers up and fans are thunderous! TATSUMAKI- NO! Wato blocks!

But Mike hits back, wrenches and whips, but Wato reverses and wrenches to reel Mike in! RECIENTEMENTE!! Cover, TWO!!! Mike escapes at the last possible moment and fans are thunderous again! Wato roars, he drags Mike back up and reels him in, but Mike fights the waistlock! Mike steps through the ropes to the apron, Wato follows, but Mike ELBOW BREAKERS! Wato clutches that arm and Mike takes a fighting stance. Mike KICKS Wato in the chest! Wato KICKS Mike in the chest! Fans rally, Mike and Wato both stand again. Mike KICKS Wato, and Wato KICKS Mike! Mike KICKS Wato again!

Wato staggers, but he comes back to go forehead to forehead. ROUNDHOUSE! Wato reels Mike in, but Mike again fights the suplex! Mike trips Wato, to MOONSAULT KNEE DROP!! Wato sputters into the ring and Mike climbs up! ULTIMA WEAPON!!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Wato survives and shocks everyone!! Mike roars and shakes the ropes and the fans are electric! Mike drags Wato up, puts him on the top rope, and then tucks him in. Wato fights free and gut wrenches! T T D!!! Cover, TWO!!! Mike survives now and Wato shakes his head. Wato roars, fans fire up again, and Wato drags Mike back up.

Wato waistlocks, but the bad arm stops the suplex! Mike KICKS the arm! And ROUNDHOUSES! And then ROUNDHOUSES again! And then THRUST KICKS! Wato is dazed in a corner, Mike runs to TATSU- SCREW HIGH KICK!!! Wato finds new life, to TSUTENKAKU!!! Bridging cover, WATO WINS!

Winner: Master Wato, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

The Way of the Grandmaster continues on! Wato is on the rise, is this year going to be his time?

Best of the Super Juniors 30 Semifinals: El Desperado VS Titán w/ Los Ingobernables de Japon!

Now B Block’s top seed takes on A Block’s number two! Neither man has won this tournament before, will the Rogue Luchador take the next step towards becoming the Best of the Super Juniors? Or will El Inmortal stay alive until the end?

LIJ fist bumps with Titan and fans cheer. The bell rings and fans rally up for “TI-TA-NN!” Desperado says okay, that’s fine. He and Titan circle, feel things out, and tie up. Desperado waistlocks, Titan spins around to a facelock, but Desperado spins that around onto Titan. Titan spins it back onto Desperado but Desperado slips around to half nelson and snapmare Titan into a chinlock. Titan fights up, trips Desperado, rolls him and facelocks, but Desperado slips out to wrench. Titan rolls, handsprings and gets free. The fans cheer as the two stand off. Desperado and Titan reset and circle again.

Titan and Desperado feel things out, Desperado wrenches and spins Titan to a snapmare and back to the chinlock. Titan fights around, gets a leg for a toehold, but Desperado chinbars. Titan shrugs that off but Desperado rolls him with body scissors to have a rear mount. Desperado puts his hands over Titan’s eyes, then toys with the mask strings and slaps Titan around. Desperado then hooks an arm, turns Titan back around and brings him up to arm-drag. Titan kips up to arm-drag back! Fans fire up while Desperado bails out and Titan kips up. Desperado goes to the front row and mockingly applauds.

Titan waits on Desperado and Desperado returns. They circle again, knuckle lock, and then Titan SOBATS! Titan wrenches and whips Desperado to a corner but Desperado reverses. Titan goes up and over and handsprings, then blocks the chop to CHOP back! Titan has the knuckle lock, he goes up and up and tightrope walks to FLYING RANA! Desperado bails back out and fans fire up! Titan builds speed, but Desperado moves so Titan just rolls and flips! Desperado rushes in, Titan dodges to RAN- NO, Desperado dumps Titan to SMASH the knee on the floor! Fans fire up while Titan writhes.

Desperado stomps the bad leg, then YANKS it! Titan growls, hobbles up, and Red Shoes wants this back in the ring. Desperado borrows English commentary’s onion! “Onion-san” has been part of this tour the whole time, and he’s finally in on the action as Desperado throws him at Titan! Titan throws Onion-san back at Desperado! Red Shoes reprimands and gets Onion-san back to commentary. Desperado drags Titan up to POST him! Titan flops over and fans rally up. Desperado has fans move aside and everyone knows what this means. Desperado drags Titan up to BOWL Titan through chairs!

Desperado is personally disappointed, that was probably a few pins short of a strike. Red Shoes wants this back in the ring, Desperado fetches Titan, and splashes him with someone’s iced tea! Titan CHOPS Desperado, but Desperado eggs him on. Titan chops but Desperado CHOPS him down! Desperado drags Titan up and puts him back in the ring. Desperado stomps Titan around, drags him up, but Titan ROCKS Desperado! Desperado kicks the leg out, then brings him up to suplex. Titan slips out to waistlock but Desperado elbows free. Desperado whips, Titan reverses then goes Matrix to CALF KICK!

Desperado staggers to ropes, Titan runs in, but Desperado puts him on the apron. Titan GAMANGIRIS back! Desperado staggers, Titan springboards to FLYING RANA! Desperado bails out, Titan builds speed and Titan DIVES! Direct hit at the ramp and fans are thunderous! Titan rises and stomps Desperado around. Fans rally for “TI-TA-NN!” as he brings Desperado up. Titan wants the fans to move aside now! Titan KICKS Desperado, then BOWLS him into chairs! Now that’s a strike! Titan drags Desperado up and brings him further to the back! Titan knees low, SOBATS, then RAMS Desperado into the side of the stands!

Fans fire up, and now Titan goes up the bleachers! The upper deck gets a closer look at the action as Titan SUPER CROSSBODIES Desperado down!! Fans are thunderous and Hiromu loves it! Red Shoes checks both men and they’re somehow both okay to continue! Hiromu cheers his amigo on and Titan rises! Titan makes his way back to ringside and LIJ tells him he’s got this. The ring count climbs, Desperado is still down at 10 of 20! Titan gets up and in at 15, but Desperado is still so far away! Desperado crawls, runs, and slides in at 19.5! But Titan dropkicks the legs out! Titan gets the leg, for the TRAILER HITCH!

Desperado endures the push on the legs, he reaches out for ropes, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Titan lets go and fans cheer. LIJ and the fans rally for “TI-TA-NN!” as he brings Desperado up. Desperado throws body shots but Titan fires off a strike fest! But then Desperado UPPERCUTS! Desperado kicks, but Titan blocks to DRAGON SCREW! And then step through for LA CRUCETA! The Mexican lucha libre take on the Figure Four, but Desperado still endures. Desperado reaches out for ropes, but Titan rolls him away! Desperado then turns the hold over, but Titan turns it back over! Desperado drags Titan along with him, reaches out, and gets the ROPEBREAK!

Fans cheer and Titan lets Desperado go in frustration. Desperado crawls to the apron and clutches a leg. Titan rests, as well, and the fans rally up. Titan waits on Desperado to return, and he SUPERKICKS! Desperado ends up in a corner, Titan fires up and the fans are with him! Titan roars, runs, but Desperado SPEARS him first! Both men are down while the fans rally up. Desperado rises first, he stalks Titan, drags him up, and hits a BIG back suplex! Desperado hobbles over, brings Titan up and suplexes high and hard! Stack cover, TWO, into STRETCH MUFFLER! Titan scrambles and gets the ROPEBREAK!

Desperado lets go quickly and fans rally up again. Desperado hobbles over, brings Titan up, but Titan throws a forearm! Desperado eggs him on, so Titan throws another forearm! Desperado CHOPS and Titan drops to a knee. Desperado eggs Titan on more, and Titan stands to throw a strike fest! Titan runs, but into an ELBOW! Desperado runs, but Titan follows to hit the TORNADO DDT! Fans are thunderous again as Desperado bails out. Titan builds speed and DIVES into LOCO MONO!! Desperado shakes out his fist while Titan flops back in a daze. Desperado goes up the apron, Titan runs in but Desperado ducks the haymaker.

Desperado throws Titan down by his mask, but Titan kips up to PELE! Desperado falls down and Titan builds speed, to FLY! Another direct hit at the ramp! Fans are thunderous and Titan stomps Desperado around. Titan wants people to move aside, and he goes up the corner! Fans fire up as Titan reaches the top. SUPER DIVING- NO, Desperado moves!!! Did Titan just bust an ankle or a knee? Desperado puts Titan in, and gets the STRETCH MUFFLER!! Titan endures, flails, but Desperado gets an arm! NUMERO DOS!! Titan flails, Hiromu coaches him to keep fighting, and Titan crawls with one arm to get the ROPEBREAK!

Desperado drags Titan up fast, gut wrench, GUITARRA DEL ANGEL! Cover, TWO!! Titan survives and Desperado grows frustrated. Desperado roars, the fans are with him, and he drags Titan back up. Desperado reels Titan in, underhooks, PINCHE- NO, Titan fights it, wrenches out, and SOBATS! Titan whips, Desperado reverses to reel Titan in. Titan SOBATS again, whips, but Desperado reverses. They RAM shoulders, but Titan falls over while Desperado falls out of the ring! Fans rally up, LIJ coaches Titan and Desperado clutches an ankle. Red Shoes checks him but he seems okay to continue.

Titan shakes his bad leg out while the ring count starts. Desperado rises at 8 of 20, stands at 12 and hobbles over into the ring at 15. Titan stomps Desperado, CLUBS him, then stands him up. Titan whips, Desperado reverses to SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO!! STRETCH MUFFLER!!! Titan endures all over again but LIJ shouts to him! But Desperado gets NUMERO DOS!! Titan fights, reaches out, but Desperado drags him away! Titan sits up!? And shifts around, DESTROYER!! Both men are down again and fans are thunderous! Desperado drags himself up with the ropes while LIJ and the fans rally for “TI-TA-NN!”

Titan feels it, he runs in at Desperado, but into a drop toehold into the ropes! Titan sputters, Desperado roars, and Desperado whips Titan. Titan reverses, to TORNADO DDT again!! Both men are down, but Titan crawls himself to the corner. Titan skins the cat to the top! Titan stands and leaps, DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS!!! But double-edged for Titan! Titan still crawls, still covers, TWO!!! Desperado still lives! Fans rally and Titan roars again! Titan hobbles, he drags Desperado around and hooks the leg, but Desperado kicks at Titan. Titan stomps Desperado’s stomach! Leg hook, turn over, JAVE INMORTAL!!!

LIJ is fired up, the fans are thunderous, but Desperado fights the crossface portion of the hold! Titan still powers it onto Desperado and he pulls Desperado back! WAY BACK!! DESPERADO TAPS, TITAN WINS!!!!

Winner: Titán, by submission (advances to the finals)

Desperado could not endure and now his dream is denied for another year! But that aside, is Desperado going to be okay to continue wrestling the rest of this year? LIJ joins Titan in the ring to help him with the icepacks as well as to celebrate. But as Desperado takes his exit and Titan gets the mic, Wato makes his return to ringside. Titan gets the mic to say in Spanish, “Thank God for this.” And then in Japanese, he asks, “Feelin’ good, Kawato-san?” Wato joins Titan in the ring as Titan says, “Glad to see you here.” Going back to Spanish, Titan then says, “Next time, it’s just you and me, one on one.”

Titan says he has LIJ behind him, so you’ll get the best of him, “because I’m one of the few Mexicans to go the distance. To go to the Best of the Super Juniors Finals!” Fans cheer and Wato applauds. Titan then drops the mic, Wato raises his finger to say they’re the ones, and then pats his chest as a sign of respect. Wato leaves so Titan can celebrate his moment, but who will be celebrating biggest of all this Sunday?

My Thoughts:

A great card for the semifinals, and I did skim through the other matches I didn’t cover. Great win for Eagles & Fujita with Fujita getting the finish on Gedo. Great showing from The United Empire, and apparently they either want in on the Double Tag Team Championship Triple Threat in Aussie Open’s place, or to just face the winner between Bishamon & House of Torture so they can be the ones to face Aussie Open on their return. But they announced such intentions by attacking after the 8 Man Tag, which was then turned around on them by The House of Torture. Either way, this adds great heat into that title match, which I feel like Bishamon is going to win.

Really good stuff out of the Dream Trio against Shota and the Young Lions. The Young Lions got to really show their stuff even though they lost, and we did get some great interactions between Okada and Shota. And of course we got awesome stuff out of the BOSJ semifinals, and some rather surprising results. English commentary itself said that this is definitely the dark horse match-up between the two Number 2 Seeds. I definitely thought Mike Bailey and Desperado were winning. Or at least Mike Bailey was winning, Desperado VS Titan felt like it could’ve gone either way going into the match.

But I suppose NJPW has been pretty high on Wato and Wato has been doing solid work for a long time, so good of them to give Wato the win here. The final match is anyone’s game, but I feel like it’s 51-49 in favor of Wato so as to avoid Hiromu VS Titan for the title.

My Score: 8.8/10