Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW New Japan Cup Results & Report! (3/7/24)
Spring has sprung in NJPW!

Time to bust some brackets!
The New Japan Cup has returned for 2024, and this is going to be some March madness! We have one month until Sakura Genesis, who heads for the world title?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Six Man Tag: Bishamon & Boltin Oleg VS El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & Jado; Bishamon & Boltin win.
- Toru Yano & Togi Makabe VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Mikey Nicholls; ZSJ & Mikey win.
- Six Man Tag: The United Empire VS Bullet Club; The United Empire wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Shota Umino, El Desperado, YOH & Tomoaki Honma VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- 10 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Just5Guys; LIJ wins.
- 2024 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Tomohiro Ishii VS Chase Owens; Chase wins and advances.
- 2024 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Tanga Loa VS Great-O-Khan; Loa wins and advances.
- 2024 New Japan Cup Opening Round: TJP VS David Finlay; Finlay wins and advances.
PLAY BY PLAY
2024 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Tomohiro Ishii VS Chase Owens!
Chaos and Bullet Club battled last night and they’re continuing to battle now! Will the Stone Pitbull join Toru Yano and Yoshi-Hashi in the next round? Or will the Crown Jewel avenge his tag partner, Kenta?
The moment Chase’s introduction is done, Ishii DECKS him! Bullet Club struck first last night so Ishii’s getting the jump on Chase! The bell rings and Chase bails out but Ishii pursues! Ishii ROCKS Chase, whips him hard into railing, and then brings him around to whip into more railing! Ishii then goes through the gate, grabs a chair, but the ref reprimands. Ishii lets the ref have the chair and he stalks Chase into the crowd. Ishii CLUBS Chase, then ROCKS him with a forearm. Chase staggers but Ishii reels him in. The ring count begins while Chase fights a suplex! Chase grabs a Young Lion, too!
Ishii lets Chase go, takes a swing, but the Young Lion is used as a shield! Chase then shoves the Young Lion into Ishii and the count is 10 of 20! Chase hurries back to ringside, and Ishii stands back up at 16! But another Young Lion is thrown into Ishii! Chase slides in at 17, but Ishii manages to slide in at 19! But then Chase Oklahoma Rolls him! TWO! Ishii escapes but Chase rolls him back up, TWO! Chase kicks low, snapmares, and then uses his feet in a NECK SNAPPER! Ishii writhes and the fans rally up but Chase looms over him. Chase steps on Ishii’s face, then brings Ishii up to throw him out. Chase then goes out to whip Ishii into railing!
Ishii slumps down, feeling the receipt for earlier. Chase leaves Ishii behind, the count begins, but Ishii is in at 3 of 20. Chase stands on Ishii at the ropes, the ref counts, but Chase only lets off the ropes with his hands. The ref reprimands, Chase steps away and brings Ishii up. Chase whips corner to corner hard, and Ishii staggers around. Chase has Ishii on the ropes and brings him up, but Ishii CHOPS! And CHOPS! Chase CLAWS Ishii’s face! The ref reprimands but Chase takes off his shirt, to CHOKE Ishii with it! The ref counts, Chase lets off, and he stalks Ishii. Chase drags Ishii up to ELBOW him right on the head!
Ishii growls, but Chase ELBOWS him on the neck! Ishii shakes his head, so Chase kicks low and hits a NECKBREAKER! Chase brings Ishii around to clamp on a neck wrench! Ishii endures, the fans rally up, and Chase pushes Ishii down. Chase drags Ishii back up, headlocks, and claims a hair pull so that he can get away with a headlock punch! Ishii snarls and headbutts the mat to fire himself up! Chase kicks Ishii around, eggs him on, but Ishii just scowls. Ishii stands and Chase BOOTS, but Ishii just eggs him on! Chase BOOTS, forearms, and whips, but Ishii comes back to run Chase over!
The fans fire up for Ishii and he brings Chase up. Ishii reels Chase in but Chase fights the back suplex with elbows! Chase whips, Ishii reverses then reels Chase in, SAIDO! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, Ishii brings Chase back up and in, but Chase fights the lift. Chase wrenches free, Ishii blocks the lariat to spin him, but Chase suplexes! Ishii fights that off, swings but into the full nelson! Chase then spins Ishii around, but Ishii suplexes Chase up and over! The fans fire up while both men are down! Ishii rises while Chase flounders and Ishii runs in at the corner. But Chase catches Ishii to BUCKLE SHOT, STO, and SENTON!
Both men are down again and the fans rally up. Ishii goes to the corner, Chase runs in, and forearm smashes! Chase snapmares and runs, “I hate your face!” KNEE! Chase then full nelsons, spins and NECKBREAKERS! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Ishii stays in this, but Chase keeps his cool. The fans rally up, Chase brings Ishii in for the nelson, but Ishii resists! Ishii elbows free but Chase fires a strike fest! Ishii blocks the boot to ROCK Chase! Ishii runs, but Chase BOOTS him! Chase runs, but Ishii ROCKS him at the ropes! Ishii runs, fakes Chase out, but Chase still gets aounnd to GERMAN SUPLEX! But Ishii’s right up!
Ishii GERMAN SUPLEXES Chase! Chase stands, rebounds, but Ishii SWATS the lariat to LARIAT! Chase BOOTS, runs up, but into a LARIAT! The fans fire back up while both men are down! Ishii rises and the fans rally behind him. Ishii storms up on Chase, but Chase fires a forearm! Ishii doesn’t budge! Chase sighs, and he forearms again! But Ishii leans into the shot! And again! Then Ishii DECKS Chase! The fans fire up again while Chase falls into the corner! Ishii storms up on Chase, drags him up to put on the top rope, then climbs up after him. Ishii brings Chase to the very top, but Chase fires body shots!
Ishii still lifts Chase! Chase fights more, Ishii lifts again, and still hits the SUPERPLEX! The fans fire up, Ishii covers, TWO!! Chase stays in this and Ishii roars! Ishii drags Chase up, reels him in, but Chase fights the lift! Chase back drops, Ishii sunset flips but Chase sits on it! TWO, and Ishii stands, into a SPINNING ELBOW! Chase runs up, C-TRIGGER- NO!! Ishii blocks to pop Chase up, POWERBOMB!! High stack, TWO!! Chase survives and the fans fire up again! Ishii sits Chase up, runs, but Chase ducks the sliding lariat! Chase BOOTS, wrenches, hammerlocks, JEWEL HEIST! Cover, TWO!!
Both men are down, the fans rally up again. Ishii goes to ropes and Chase runs in, C-TRIGGER! But Ishii just snarls at Chase! Chase SOBATS, swings, but Ishii SWATS the lariat to HEADBUTT Chase down! Ishii staggers to a corner, leans on the buckles, and he fires himself back up! The fans are with Ishii as he roars! Chase rises, Ishii runs, but Chase C-TRIGGERS!! Chase hurries to set Ishii up again, C-TRIGGER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Ishii survives and the fans are thunderous! Chase is shocked but he hurries to reload! Chase fires himself up, brings Ishii up, and reels him in! Chase tucks the arms, but Ishii fights the lift!
Ishii Alabama Lifts, but Chase fights that! Chase steps through, STYLES CLASH!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Ishii survives again and Chase can’t believe it! Chase isn’t phenomenal but he thought he had it! Chase stands back up, he goes back for Ishii, and he drags Ishii up. Chase reels Ishii in but Ishii HEADBUTTS! Chase rebounds to LARIAT! Ishii’s right up! Ishii swings, into a HALF ‘N’ HALF!! And then Chase runs to C-TRIGGER!!! But he’s not done there! Chase tucks the arms for the- NO, Ishii fights the lift! Chase powers through, but Ishii powers out! Chase ROCKS Ishii, ROLLING- ENZIGIRI!! Chase goes down and the fans are thunderous again!
Ishii throws off his elbow pads and drags himself up with the ropes. Chase rises, Ishii SLIDING LARIATS!! Cover, TWO!! Ghost pin!! TWO!! Ishii escapes, and RAMMING HEADBUTTS!! Cover, TWO?!?! Chase survives but Ishii roars! the fans are thunderous again as Ishii hauls Chase back up. Ishii runs to LARIAT!! Ishii isn’t done there, either! He drags Chase up to suplex, and- NO, Chase wrenches out to pop-up C-TRIGGER!! And then Chase tucks the arms! PACKAGE PILEDRIVER!! Cover, CHASE WINS!
Winner: Chase Owens, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
The Crown Jewel did not crack under pressure, and he just broke through the Stone Pitbull! Is Chase Owens going to finally show his true worth in the New Japan Cup?
2024 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Tanga Loa w/ Jado VS Great-O-Khan w/ Jeff Cobb!
While Tama Tonga may be moving on from NJPW, the Silverback is looking to move up within NJPW! Will he make the climb towards the world title? Or will be eliminated by the United Empire’s Dominator?
The bell rings and Loa RAMS Khan right into the corner! Loa RAMS in again and again, but the ref counts. Loa lets off at 4, then apologizes to the ref. Loa storms back up but Khan TACKLES him! Khan goes for the arms as they go around on the mat. Khan has a top wristlock, but then shifts to a waistlock and roll. Loa fights around, Khan goes back for arms, then facelocks. Khan has a cording hold, then floats around to chinlock. Loa endures, Khan shifts to gut wrench and roll with Loa. Loa blocks so Khan shifts around again to rear mount. Khan hooks Loa with a leg and brings him down, but Loa avoids the armbar.
Khan shifts again, lateral press cover, ONE! Khan keeps Loa down with a facelock but Loa endures. Jado coaches Loa but Khan shifts to for a CROSSFACE! Loa endures, even as Khan digs his knuckles into Loa’s forehead. Khan focuses on the headlock but Loa rolls to a cover! TWO, and Khan still holds on tight. Loa pulls at hair and beard but the ref reprimands. Khan brings Loa up as he grinds the headlock, and smothers him with his iron fist. Loa still fights up, and he throws body shots. Loa powers up and out and ELBOWS Khan down! Khan is right up but Loa LARIATS! Khan stands up again but Loa scoops and SLAMS him!
The fans fire up as Loa paces around. Loa drags Khan up, but Khan CLAPS to fake him out! Khan then brings Loa up, and DUMPS him out of the ring! The fans rally while Loa tumbles to the floor. Jado coaches Loa but Cobb applauds Khan. Khan makes his way out after Loa, stands on Loa’s leg, but lets off to BOOT Loa down! Khan drags Loa back up, brings him around, and whips him hard into railing! Loa tumbles up and over into the front row! Khan storms out after Loa, and has a fan move aside to he can use his chair! Khan CHOKES Loa with the chair, the ref reprimands and Khan stops. The ref gives the fans his seat back while Khan brings Loa to ringside.
Loa shoves Khan so Khan kicks Loa down. Khan drags Loa back up, clamps on a chinlock to drag him along, and then squeezes him int the gateway! The ring count is climbing, Khan SLAMS the gate on Loa! Khan leaves Loa behind as we pass 10 of 20. Loa sputters and rises at 15, hobbles in at 16, and the fans cheer. Khan stands on Loa for a cocky cover, ONE! Khan kicks Loa around, drags him up by an ear, but Loa throws body shots! Khan eggs Loa on, Jado coaches Loa, and Loa throws more shots. Khan BOOTS Loa down! Khan then drags Loa back up, bumps him off buckles, and fires the fans up!
Khan hops up the corner and sits on his throne! The ref reprimands and counts while Loa flails, but Khan pulls the arms back! The ref reprimands and counts again, but Khan lets off at 4. Jado coaches Loa, but Khan brings Loa around to suplex! FALCON ARROW, then a cocky cover, ONE! Khan is annoyed so he covers properly, TWO! Loa is still in this but Khan flexes to say this is easy. Khan kicks Loa around, toys with him, but Jado tells Loa to fight back. Khan just looms over Loa, puts some stank on his hands, and grins as he winds up, Mongolian Chop! Loa snarls and shakes his head, so Khan Mongolian Chops again!
Cobb says keep on Loa, but Loa back hands! And UPPERCUTS! And back hand, and uppercut, and repeat! Loa backs Khan up with strike after strike, faster and faster! Loa fires up and says F U! CHOP!! The fans fire up with Loa and he brings Khan up to whip corner to corner. Loa runs up to A-LIST LARIAT! Khan staggers away while Loa climbs up, then Loa MISSILE DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Loa covers, TWO! Loa fires up more and the fans are with him! Loa drags Khan up, scoops him, but Khan slips free! Khan waistlocks but Loa switches. Khan wrenches to facelock then shift, and he drags Loa down!
Khan facelocks Loa, drags him back up, throws some short knees, then hits a SAYANAGI! The fans rally again while Loa is down. Khan catches his breath and waits on Loa to rise. Loa stirs, Khan storms up and clamps onto an arm. Khan wrenches then hits fireman’s carry takeover. Then a MONKEY FLIP! Khan has both wrists, and whips for a SAYANAGI! The fans fire up, Khan covers, TWO! Khan clamps onto Loa with the IRON CLAW SLEEPER! Loa flails, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Khan lets off. Khan elbows Loa then drags him back up. Khan reels Loa in to a torture rack, but Loa fights the lift!
The fans rally, Loa pries at the grip and throws some elbows! Khan lets go, to ROCK Loa with a forearm! Loa grins and chuckles, then ROCKS Khan in return! Khan nods and grins, and he comes back to ROCK Loa! Loa nods, and he fires a forearm! The forearms keep going back and forth and the fans rally up as they pick up speed! Khan gets the edge, then UPPERCUTS! Then ROLLING ELBOWS! Loa wobbles and staggers but stays on his feet! Loa growls, kicks, KICKS and ENZIGIRIS! Loa scoops Khan for a POWERSLAM! Loa then goes to a corner and climbs up! DIVING HEADBUTT FLOPS as Khan moves!
Khan hurries to clamp onto Loa, KATAGATAME! Loa resists the head ‘n’ arm triangle, but Khan shifts. Loa has the ROPEBREAK, but Khan won’t let go! Khan clinches to EXPLODER! And back to the KATAGATAME!! Loa endures as Khan leans all his weight on the hold! Loa reaches out but Khan headstands and then drops back down for more pressure! Jado coaches Loa, Loa fights his way around, and uses a leg for the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Loa survives by a literal foot! Khan lets Loa go, brings him back up, and clamps on the IRON CLAW SLEEPER Then the F G O PLEX! Khan fires up, runs, but Loa LARIATS first!!
Loa hurries to scoop Khan, for APE SHID!! Cover, TWO!!! Khan survives and the fans are thunderous! Loa and Khan flounder around but Loa stands first. Loa suplexes, but Khan kicks to fight it off! Khan then scoops, for T T D!! Cover, TWO?!? Loa survives but Khan is too tired to be shocked! The fans rally up, both men stir, and Khan rises first. Khan roars with the Monster Rage! Khan drags Loa up, reels him in, and has the HITSUJIGOROSHI! Khan throws some knees and elbows, then he twists the Sheep Killer! Loa endures, so Khan clamps on the IRON CLAW, for the ELIMIN- NO! Loa arm-drags free! And SPEARS!!
Loa hurries to haul Khan up with both hands, for KAMI-GOYE!!! Cover, LOA WINS!!!
Winner: Tanga Loa, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
The Silverback gives a shoutout to the Golden Star, and that helps him win! He has a golden ticket to the KOPW Championship in his back pocket, but will Loa head right for THE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion?
2024 New Japan Cup Opening Round: TJP w/ Francesco Akira VS David Finlay w/ Gedo!
While Will Ospreay has moved on from NJPW, there is still much for the United Empire and Bullet Club to fight over! The Aswang is still out for blood, will he get his pound of flesh from The Rebel? Or will Finlay unleash his fury over losing his IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship?
The moment Finlay is ringside, TJP WRECKS him with a dropkick! Finlay hits railing and the fans fire up while TJP puts him back in the ring! The bell rings and MAMBA SPLASH!! Finlay flounders away but TJP goes up and out to WRECK him with another dropkick! The fans fire up behind “T J P! T J P!” and TJP POSTS Finlay! Finlay staggers away but TJP puts him in the ring again. Gedo protests but what does he expect after everything Bullet Club’s done? TJP has Finlay in a corner, scrapes and scrubs his face, and the fans fire up for the BOOT WASH! TJP says one more time and the fans like that!
TJP scrubs Finlay again and again, then runs side to side to BOOT WASH! And with some extra stank! TJP soaks up the cheers, rallies the fans again, and he goes back to the corner. But Finlay YANKS TJP down! TJP tumbles out to the floor, but Finlay goes out to fireman’s carry, and POST him! The fans boo but Finlay soaks up the heat. Finlay leaves TJP behind and wants the count, so the count begins. Akira coaches TJP up and TJP sits up at 10 of 20. TJP still crawls his way over to the ring, and he drags himself up at 15. But he flops back over! The count is 18, TJP springs in at 19.5! And Finlay ELBOWS him down!
Finlay SENTONS then rains down fists! Gedo likes it but Akira protests and the fans boo. Finlay claims he runs NJPW, and he suplexes to BROKEN ARROW! TJP flounders, Finlay flexes, but the fans rally behind TJP. Finlay drags TJP up, whips him hard into a corner, and TJP falls in a heap! Finlay eggs TJP on, then asks where the fighting spirit went. Finlay whips TJP back in hard, and TJP tumbles up and out to the floor! Gedo mocks TJP, Akira checks on TJP, but Finlay says he’s just too strong. The fans boo but Finlay says he is the future world champion! Finlay drags TJP up to RAM him into railing!
Finlay fires off hands and CLUBS TJP down! Gedo likes what he sees, and the ring count starts. Finlay tells Red Shoes to stop, they don’t need it. The count still reaches 10 of 20 by the time Finlay puts TJP in. Finlay stalks TJP, has him at the ropes, and then UPPERCUTS him down! Finlay says this is too easy, he’s too strong. Finlay whips TJP but TJP goes Spider-Man! TJP then slips under, around, and wrangles Finlay to get an arm! TJP traps that arm to get the other! DARK ARMBAR!! Finlay flails and writhes and the fans fire up! Gedo is upset now but TJP runs to CROSSBODY Finlay and himself out of the ring!
The fans rally while both men are on the floor. TJP sits up first, and the fans rally behind him as he and Finlay stand, Finlay slides in but TJP takes aim from the apron. Finlay runs up to fire a forearm but TJP gives it back! The fans fire up as the brawl continues, but then Finlay CLUBS TJP’s hand! Finlay goes to suplex but TJP wrenches out and ELBOW BREAKER HOTSHOTS! Finlay is stuck, TJP goes up the corner! GUILLOTINE MAMBA SPLASH! The fans are thunderous as TJP puts Finlay in! TJP then climbs again, for the FLYING FOREARM! Finlay flounders around and TJP pounds the mat. The fans rally up and TJP aims from a corner.
TJP runs corner to corner to GAMANGIRI, then he puts Finlay in a Tree of Woe! Gedo protests but TJP scrubs Finlay again! TJP runs side to side, BOOT WASH! TJP then goes up the corner, and he sits Finlay up so he can drop WOE STOMPS on him!! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives but TJP keeps his cool. TJP watches Finlay rise and Akira joins in on drumming, “T! J P!” TJP runs from the corner, but Finlay clinches! IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Finlay turns things around but it isn’t feeling so easy anymore. The fans rally as both men stir, and they go to opposite corners. TJP rises, Finlay runs in, but TJP goes up!
Finlay catches TJP before he can get over, and hits a DOMINATOR! Cover, TWO!! TJP survives and Gedo is furious with Red Shoes! Finlay drags TJP up, suplexes, but TJP fights that! TJP BOOTS Finlay, but Finlay rebounds and LARIATS! Finlay then scoops TJP, and spins around for the SWINGING IRISH CURSE!! Cover, TWO!!! TJP survives and the fans fire up again! Finlay is frustrated but then he laughs it off. Finlay slashes his throat, fans boo, but Finlay flips them off. Finlay suplexes, but TJP slips free! IRON OCTOPUS!! The fans fire up while Finlay endures the stretch! Finlay moves around, pops free, and gives TJP SNAKE EYES!
Finlay runs, but TJP gets around to IRON OCTOPUS again!! Finlay is brought to his knees and Gedo panics! Finlay crawls on his knees, then falls into the ROPEBREAK! TJP lets go in frustration but the fans are still with him. TJP drags Finlay up and YANKS the bad arm! Akira says break that arm! TJP YANKS the arm again, then scuffs Finlay. TJP wrenches to ELBOW BREAKER, but he doesn’t let go! The fans fire up as TJP wrenches and crisscrosses the arms. Finlay powers out but TJP SUPERKICKS! TJP runs, into an ELBOW! Finlay runs, into a ROLLING SOBAT! Finlay ROLLING ELBOWS in return!
Finlay keeps moving, but TJP catches him, spins him, and DISCUS LARIATS!! The fans fire up and TJP hauls Finlay up. TJP crosses the arms, but Finlay suplexes, INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!!!! TJP survives and the fans fire up! Gedo is frustrated and Finlay goes to a corner. Finlay wants TJP to get up so he can take his head! Finlay runs up, but TJP ducks the blindside lariat to ghost pin! TWO!! Finlay escapes, then scoops, DEEP SIX!! Finlay drags TJP back up, and has him up, POWER- SATELLITE DDT!!! The fans are thunderous as TJP turns things around! Akira coaches TJP and TJP goes to a corner, but Gedo gets on the apron!
The fans boo as Finlay gets his shillelagh! Finlay takes a swing, but TJP blocks with a headscissors! And SPITS BLOOD MIST!! The fans fire up as TJP then BLINDSIDE BUSAIKU KNEES!! Cover, TWO?!?! Finlay survives but TJP DROPKICKS Gedo down! The fans fire up and TJP hurries to the corner! TJP climbs, aims, and MAMBA SPLASHES!!! Cover, TWO?!?! But into the STF, then PINOY STRETCH!!! Finlay freaks out, flails, reaches out, and drags TJP along with him! Finlay has an arm free but TJP grabs for it! TJP keeps the crossface, but Finlay still gets the ROPEBREAK! TJP lets go in frustration but the fans still rally behind him.
TJP drags Finlay up, crosses the arms, but Finlay NORTHERN LIGHTS out! Bridging cover, TWO, and TJP still has the arms! Finlay RAMS TJP, runs back in, but TJP goes up and over! TORNADO- NO, Finlay blocks the DDT! And suplexes TJP into buckles! Finlay hauls TJP up to POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! TJP survives and Finlay is beside himself! Finlay hauls TJP up, slashes his throat, and suplexes INTO OVERKILL!! Cover, Finlay wins!
Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
TJP put up an incredible fight, but he just couldn’t conquer The Rebel! What will it take for TJP to finally reach that next level?
As for Finlay, he and Gedo have the ring and Finlay gets the mic. Finlay says, “Hey, where’s everybody going? Sit down, sit down, The Rebel has something to say! One down, four to go. I promise you people, I will leave five bodies in this ring! Last year, I made it all the way to the finals. This year, I win the whole damn thing!” Now, Finlay knows Naito is back there watching, so let him say this: After Finlay becomes the 2024 New Japan Cup Champion, he is gonna SMASH Naito into a thousand pieces and take the world championship! Fans boo but Finlay says after that, Finlay is going after Nic Nemeth for revenge!
Gedo takes the mic now to say, “OI, that was just the first round and the first demonstration of what Finlay has! Finlay will take the Cup, then Naito’s belt, then Nemeth’s belt! The Rebel’s taking the F over everything! I need The Rebel, NJPW needs The Rebel, and the world needs The Rebel!” The alpha War Dog wants to be the alpha of wrestling, will he prove to be the most dangerous man in all of NJPW?
My Thoughts:
A great official start to the 2024 New Japan Cup series, though only three tournament matches was a bit of a surprise to me. Well, I guess that makes it six in total so far with three more just yesterday. Anyway, great and rather surprising wins for Chase and Loa here. I suppose both IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions can’t lose with Kenta already out against Hashi last night. But between the two, I would’ve thought Kenta was moving on and Chase would bite the bullet against Ishii. And I suppose in how NJPW has been essentially thanking Hashi for his dedication by giving him accolades and wins, it’s the same for Chase. Chase has stuck it out despite being used as sorta the low man on the Bullet Club totem pole, and now he’s a tag champion and getting some great wins.
And an awesome main event match for TJP and Finlay. I should’ve figured Finlay would win, and I do have to give him some credit that in character, he isn’t actually moving on from the Global Championship, he’s just doubling down. To be fair, more wrestling champions need to be written like that, especially the Heels. Why stop at being world champion when you can be THE champion with as many belts as you are eligible for? Granted, I don’t think Finlay is winning the Cup, but I do think he’s going to go far. He might be one of the semifinalists, possibly running into Takagi or Yota as they also go for the Cup to give Naito his LIJ VS LIJ Sakura Genesis match.
My Score: 8.7/10
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 5.29.25
Stuff happens, maybe it doesn’t, Dreamer and Delirious can’t book.

Well Trick Willie is the new TNA champ and this is the first iMPACT since his win…so let’s just hear him talk about it.
"TNA turned into TRICK-NA. Lets talk about it"@_trickwilliams #WWENXT
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/GrBQpdX5g5 pic.twitter.com/StU4pmi3oy
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 30, 2025
Ratings:
- The Rascalz vs Fir$t Cla$$ vs Laredo vs The System: Rascalz win via Meteora – ***
- Raj Singh vs Mustafa Ali: Ali wins via…No Shit – Squash Garbage
- ASH by Elegance vs Lei Ying Lee: Lei wins via Spinning TKO – ** 3/4
- Mance Warner w/SDL vs Jobber: Mance wins via Hit the Pay Winda – Squash
- Santino Marella & Arianna Grace vs Robert Stone & Victoria Crawford w/Tessa: Team Robbie wins via shenanigans – **
- International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Matt Cardona: Maclin retains via KIA – ***
Results:
The Rascalz vs Fir$t Cla$$ vs Laredo vs The System
Octagon got jumped by The System earlier so Laredo is fighting alone. Another backstage jumping is getting a little dumb.
Laredo and Trey start. Typical Indie start with Simultaneous awful Dropkick spot and bad counters, AJ blind tag runs the smaller guys over, tags out to KC and the Rascalz instantly get the moment. KC is rocked, tags in Laredo and Laredo takes out the System before Lish gets on the apron and grabs Laredo. The referee kicks out Lish and Rehwoldt on commentary points out it’s a No DQ match so that’s dumb.
KC gets tossed at AJ, he catches him, Rascalz Dive and do their taunt as we go to commercial. We come back, Tennessee Whiskey into a KC tag in for the near fall on Laredo. Corner combo, Snapmare into Flip Forward Neck Breaker, KC is on a roll. AJ tags Laredo and starts talking crap to KC, they swerve and go Finger Poke of Doom, but it’s not a legal pin. Suddenly tornado attacks, System and Rascalz go for broke, AJ hits the Senton to break the eventual pin, Laredo counters AJ’s Chokeslam attempt. Trey clears out The System, Wentz sends himself and KC over and out, Laredo with a Corkscrew Moonsault, which looked cool but it’s the pile of morons waiting to get hit spot.
AJ hits the Down Payment on Laredo, but Trey blind tagged AJ. Meteora on AJ, Trey pins Laredo and Rascalz win.
Raj Singh vs Mustafa Ali
Raj looks like shit in the gear he came down in…and he wrestles equivalently. I would rather anyone else comeback…give me Anarquia.
Ali murders Raj, Instant Dropkick, Rolling Neckbreaker, Corkscrew Standing Moonsault, it’s not close. Raj tries to counter things but Ali Bellclap, a little Duck the left, connect the right. Raj even does a terrible looking Punch Combo, he’s in bad shape, a bad looking Ushigoroshi, Raj with a sloppy looking something, 450 ends it.
Fire Raj as quickly as you brought him back. You don’t need a comedically pathetic job guy when the roster is like 4 guys getting pushed and everyone else sucks. Stop being stupid. Ali still hates women too.
This Injury Report is the dumbest segment in the history of wrestling. Stop treating fake shit as “serious business”.
ASH by Elegance vs Lei Ying Lee
ASH mocks karate stuff, Lei throws a few Rising Crane kicks as ASH bails and then things slow down a little. But a Pump Kick, Sliding Kick and Low Dropkick cause ASH to cower and claim her tooth broke. It’s a bait to pull Lei into the turnbuckles and them get in a few stomps. Ash keeps Lei in the corner, Suplexes her ankles into the buckles and then Ash throws a few Booty Shots/Hit Attacks then starts a grounded stretch, Lei Headscissors her down, still sells the hips and ankles, but dodges and fires, combination strikes into the 10 Count Down Strikes. T-bone Suplex, into the pinfall, for only two.
Cheapshot into Running Meteora from ASH for two. Ash goes for the Miz Yes Kicks and Lei No Sells and asks for more. Gorgeous Capture Suplex into Thunder Struck and TKO with flair. My baby has a better finish now! Yay!
Mance Warner w/SDL vs Jobber
Hannifan cursing and being pissed at Trick for not even showing but is more entertaining than a squash match. Not that Mance’s offense is bad, but 2 out of 3 job matches is stupid.
.@milanmiracle and @AriannaGraceWWE make history as the first father/daughter tag team in TNA!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/GrBQpdX5g5 pic.twitter.com/3s8OhtYFPv
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 30, 2025
Santino Marella & Arianna Grace vs Robert Stone & Victoria Crawford w/Tessa
Marella tries to tie up with Robbie, but he bails and tags out to Victoria so Arianna comes in and aside from Alicia Fox’s silliness, the tie up was decent with Arianna and Victoria. Tessa interferes and the Referee throws her out. Victoria comes back in and aside from a slight miscommunication with how Arianna does her punches, Alicia Fox is making her look…pretty good. Transition moves, okay brawling and Arianna looks amazing in her outfit.
Rob and Santino distract the referee and Victoria hits a Figure Four into her Northern Lights Suplex, only for 2. Arianna finally Back Body Drop to find the tag, Santino and Rob, Santino does his split dodge into the Standing Headbutt, Arianna Cross Body onto Victoria. Rob pulls out the ref, then shoves the ref into Santino, Santino into the steps and Arianna attack but Alicia and Lish, the fix is in, Arianna eats the pin.
International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Matt Cardona
A few quick brawl moves, Shoulder Tackles, Strikes, Back Breakers, Cardona does get dumped out and eats a SCUD. Maclin bounces Cardona’s face off the apron and hits an Elbow off the apron to keep Cardona reeling, but a dodged tackle sends Maclin into the steps. Cardona tries to Piledriver Maclin on the ramp, but Back Drop counter, into commercial.
Formulaic commercial etiquette of Cardona still in control, throws Maclin into the ropes, Diving Shoulder Tackle lays both dudes out and they get up by 8. Fighting Spirit spot, Cardona hits ropes and gets hit by Maclin twice, Thesz Press, Ground and Pound, Back Elbow and Olympic Slam has Maclin rolling. Splash into Lariat for two. Maclin has been all gas no brakes. Cardona tries to take a few shortcuts that turns into a Straight Jacket Takedown. Cardona to the top, Maclin cuts him off, Superplex spot. 1-2-kick out!
Maclin goes topside for a Jar Headbutt, Cardona hits the ropes so Maclin crashes into the corner, 2 Reboots connect, the third gets caught, counter into Busaiku Knee, Jar Headbutt. In and out, Cardona uses the middle rope for the Low Blow, Killswitch from Cardona but Maclin kicks out. Cardona dodges and shoves Maclin towards the ref, he puts the brakes on, Radio Silence! 1-2-Kick out! Maclin catches a top rope move, Power Bomb, Corner Splash, Tree of Woe, Caught in the Crosshairs, KIA and Maclin retains!
Overall Score: 4.5/10
Boring paint by numbers show, no Trick, System has one move, Robert Stone is a scumbag, too long to introduce new girls, lots of throw away segments and Rosemary sets up YET ANOTHER Monster’s Ball match. These aren’t interesting when there’s one every 3 months. So we can have terrible Monster’s Ball matches quarterly, Barbed Wire Massacre and Clockwork Orange House of Fun…BUT NO LOCKDOWN!?
Go home TNA, you’re drunk.
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Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/29/25)
B Block, FINAL ROUND!

Who heads to the finals?
Kosei Fujita won A Block, and now B Block finalizes its ranking! Who heads to the Best of the Super Juniors finals this weekend?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Six Man Tag: KUSHIDA, Ninja Mack & Dragon Dia VS Shoma Kato, Masatora Yasuda & Daiki Nagai; Kushida, Mack & Dia win.
- Master Wato, Toru Yano & Katsuya Murashima VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- Hiromu Takahashi & Yota Tsuji VS Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young; Hiromu & Tsuji win.
- Six Man Tag: TMDK VS Bullet Club; TMDK wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Kevin Knight; Knight wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Titan VS Nick Wayne; Titan wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: MAO VS SHO; Mao wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Robbie Eagles; Despy wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Taiji Ishimori; Yoh wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Here are the current B Block standings!
YOH: 5-3, 10 points
MAO: 5-3, 10 points
El Desperado: 5-3, 10 points
Nick Wayne: 4-4, 8 points
SHO: 4-4, 8 points
Taiji Ishimori: 4-4, 8 points
Robbie Eagles: 4-4, 8 points
Kevin Knight: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Titan: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Ryusuke Taguchi: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Kevin Knight!
The Funky Weapon and The Jet may be out of the running, but they will still fight for themselves. Who earns their final points in this final round?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Taguchi and Knight circle with a bit of a strut, and then they tie up. Knight puts Taguchi on the ropes, the ref calls the break, and Knight lets off to swivel his hips. Taguchi pumps up, but Knight says he can’t see anything. Knight flexes and says he tsuyoi. They tie up with knuckle locks, then go shoulder to shoulder in a test of strength. Knight hooks a leg to power Taguchi back, and Taguchi bridges! The fans cheer as Taguchi fights up back up! Taguchi bends Knight into a bridge, has the shoulders down, TWO as Knight powers back up! The fans rally, Knight and Taguchi start vibing with the arm wave, then a full body wave!
Taguchi wiggles around, sends it back to Knight, and Knight spins Taguchi around and around, to then headlock. Taguchi powers up and out, drops down, then hurdles over. Knight stops to waistlock but Taguchi fires elbows. Taguchi runs to fake Knight out, but Knight goes up and over! Knight avoids the Hip Attack! The fans cheer while Taguchi stares Knight down from underneath. Taguchi says bring it, so Knight punches those cheeks! Taguchi’s iron buns withstand it, and Knight says, “Itai itai.” Knight winds up again, and he punches cheeks! Taguchi still stands tall, but the fans rally for Knight.
Knight does some push-ups, he and Taguchi do squats, and Knight winds up again. The fans rally and Knight lines up a shot, to then headlock! Taguchi powers up and out, bypasses and bypasses, but Knight redirects himself! And again, and again, and again! Knight is making Taguchi spin around, and then Taguchi gets dizzy and falls! The fans cheer while Taguchi slumps out of the ring. Knight runs and FLIES! Down goes Taguchi and the fans fire up! “Ore wa meccha, meccha… Meccha tsukareta…” Knight admits he is tired, and he asks for water. A Young Lion brings him water and Knight refreshes himself.
Taguchi sputters, Knight makes his way over to Taguchi, and then brings him back into the ring. The fans cheer and Knight snapmares Taguchi to run and SLIDING TACKLE! Cover, TWO! Taguchi is still in this and the fans applaud. Taguchi flounders, Knight does some squats to get his glutes going. Knight brings Taguchi around to HIP ATTACK! Knight gives Taguchi another HIP ATTACK! The fans rally and Knight does more squats to power up. Knight runs, but Taguchi somersaults to HIP ATTACK! The fans fire up and Taguchi powers up now. Taguchi has Knight on the ropes, rubs it in literally, and then gives point-blank HIPS!
Taguchi runs and HIP ATTACKS at the ropes! Knight dangles out of the ring! Knight flops down, the fans rally again, and Taguchi TRIANGLE JUMP PLANCHAS! Down goes Knight and the fans fire up again! Taguchi rises, steadies himself, and then puts Knight in the ring. Taguchi goes up, up, and MISSILE HIPS! Cover, TWO! Knight is still in this and the fans rally again. Taguchi looks to the corner, and he calls upon the powers of Strange Style! “ORYA~!” Taguchi runs in, but Knight hurdles Ketsuye! SUPERKICK! Taguchi mule kicks, runs, but Knight somersaults, into a FLAPJACK! OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Knight endures, reaches out, but Taguchi drags him back!
Knight reaches up to headscissor into the victory roll, TWO! Taguchi goes to a corner, BOOTS back, then goes up, MISSILE HIP meets DROPKICK! Knight’s antiair works out, and then he somersaults to SATELLITE DDT! Knight goes up top and the fans rally for the hip swivel and MOTHERSHIP UFO SPLASH! Cover, Knight wins!
Winner: Kevin Knight, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Taguchi earns 0)
The Jet still flies high, and he ends with a 4-5 record. Taguchi ends with 6 points in the 9th round, is that nice enough for him?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Titan VS Nick Wayne!
El Inmortal may not have life in the block, but he can still be a spoiler! Will he pop the Prodigy’s bubble? Or will this still be Wayne’s World in the end?
The bell rings and Titan runs up! Nick dodges, whips, but Titan reverses to TORNADO- NO, Nick powers out! Nick wrenches and whips, Titan goes up and over, and then Titan handsprings away! The fans cheer as things keep moving. Nick hurdles then bypasses Titan to UPPERCUT him down! Nick kips up and the fans cheer again. Nick covers, TWO! The fans rally as Nick brings Titan up. Nick CHOPS Titan, Titan leans on the ropes, and Nick brings him around. Nick ROCKS Titan, then whips corner to corner. Nick runs in, UPPERCUTS, and then pushes Titan down to cover, TWO! Titan stays in this and the fans applaud.
Nick stays cool and he sits Titan up. Nick KICKS Titan in the back, then paces. Titan writhes but Nick brings him back up. Titan CHOPS and the fans “WOO~!” Titan CHOPS again, but Nick ROCKS him! Nick then whips Titan, runs in, but Titan BOOTS, SOBATS, KICKS, and fires fast hands! Nick ducks the jump sobat to SOBAT back! Nick cravats, ASAI DDT. but Titan kips up! PELE! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Titan roars and rises up, then he brings Nick around. TRAILER HITCH! Nick endures the leglock and the fans rally again! Nick crawls forward, reaches out, and manages the ROPEBREAK!
The fans applaud and Titan lets go of the hold. Nick shakes out the legs but Titan KICKS Nick in the back. Titan brings Nick in but Nick resists the lift. The fans rally again as Nick and Titan fight for control. Nick wrenches, kicks, and runs, but Titan follows to RANA! Nick bails out, Titan builds speed, and Titan DIVES into an UPPERCUT! The fans rally harder as Titan flops to the apron! Nick rises, he stalks Titan on the apron, and Nick drags Titan up. The ref says don’t do it, but the fans rally up. Nick waistlocks, then goes for the nelson, but Titan resists. Titan fires elbows and Nick backs off. Titan runs up but Nick BOOTS him!
Nick runs up, but Titan SUPERKICKS! Nick falls back, Titan skins the cat to the top rope! Titan aims for LA APRON LANCER!! The fans fire up and Titan roars while Nick sputters and coughs! Titan shoves Nick into the ring, goes up the corner again, and LA LANC- NO, Nick dodges! Titan’s leg jams, Nick DROPKICKS the other out, then he DRAGON SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO!! Titan survives and Nick snarls. Nick goes to the corner and climbs up while the fans rally again. FROG- NO, Titan bails out! Nick rolls through and then comes right back, to FLY over the corner! Down goes Titan and the fans fire up!
Titan puts Nick in, goes back up, and he tries again! FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Titan survives again and the fans fire up! Nick huffs ‘n’ puffs, hears the fans cheering, and shouts “IKU ZO!” Nick drags Titan up, hooks a leg, PRODIGY- CRADLE COUNTER! TWO!! Nick escapes, Titan ducks the roundhouse to fire off his strike fest! But Nick still ROUNDHOUSES! Nick goes up, up, WAYNE’s- NO, Titan stops the cutter to shove and TORNADO DDT! Titan isn’t done there! He suplexes and GOURD- NO! Nick lands out! But Titan goes Matrix and then CALF KICKS! Titan roars, the fans fire up, and Titan has the ripcord, YOYO SLAM!
Titan goes to a corner, skins the cat again, and LA LANCER!!! Titan crawls to the cover, TWO?!?! Nick survives, but Titan ties up the legs! Deathlock, and then LLAVE INMORTAL!! Nick is caught, the straitjacket variation is in, and Nick QUITS!! Titan wins!!
Winner: Titan, by submission (gains 2 points; Nick earns 0)
Nick Wayne falls to 4-5, he is out of the running! But bigger yet, Titan has a win over the ROH World Television Champion! AEW/ROH and CMLL are going to meet in Arena Mexico for Grand Slam: Mexico, could these two run it back with gold on the line?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: MAO VS SHO!
The Strange Love Connection is the first of the top three to compete tonight, and while he has to hope for the others to fall, he still has to do his part and win. Will the Murder Machine make that all moot with another underhanded trick up his sleeve? Or can the star of DDT Pro make it to the finals?
Wait, Mao already turns the tables by pedaling in on his bike! He RAMS Sho down from behind! The fans fire up as Mao hurries to CLUB Sho down! Yujiro Takahashi AND Ren Narita hurry out here already to mug Mao before this on the record! The fans boo but Mao’s friends from DDT Pro are here! Kanon helps fight off the House, and Mao wants fans to clear out! Mao whips, but Sho reverses and BOWLS Mao into chairs! STRIKE! Ren & Yujiro keep the rest of DDT Pro back while Sho CHOKES Mao with a chair! The ref reprimands but Sho shoves him back! Wait, Kanon has the house in headlocks! Shunma Katsumata stops Sho from hitting Mao with the chair!
Sho gets mad hearing that trash talk, but that lets Mao SMACK Sho in the back with a chair! And Mao sends Sho out the door?! The fans rally as everyone is waiting on the street, and Mao runs to FLY! Down goes the House and DDT stands tall! Wait, wait, they spot a fan parked nearby. Mao hops in and he turns the key! The fans cheer as Mao kicks it into drive, and he comes barreling down the road! Sho and the House freak out, and Sho gets SMACKED by the front of the van! The fans cheer and Mao grins as he steps out. The ref reprimands but Mao drags Sho back into the building! Mao says now they can have this match!
Mao makes Sho sit on the hand cart, and Mao pushes Sho back to ringside! The fans cheer as Sho is barely conscious as Mao drags Sho into the ring. The bell finally rings, Mao covers, TWO!! Sho survives Mao’s hit ‘n’ run and Mao can’t believe it! Mao drags Sho up, but the ref wants to check him. Sho sputters and sits up in a daze, and Ren drags Mao out! Ren beats up Mao, beats up on Mao’s team, and Yujiro SMACKS Mao with a chair! The fans boo as they put Mao’s arm in a chair! Yujiro STOMPS away on the chair! Ren POSTS Kanon, and Sho grabs Mao’s bike! Sho brings it over and he runs over Mao’s arm! Sho does wheelies to smash Mao’s arm!
The fans boo but then Sho adds insult to injury by RIPPING OFF the DDT Pro hood off the bike! Sho and the House beat up the bike! The ref reprimands and Mao says they’ll pay for that! Sho CLUBS Mao, puts him in the ring, and then pushes him to a cover, TWO! Sho has the arm for a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Mao endures and the fans rally. Mao kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Sho puts Mao on the apron, and he has the arm in the rope! ARM WRINGER! Sho then pulls Mao through the corner, traps his arm against the buckle pad, and then KNEES the arm! Mao is stuck and Sho stands on the arm!
The ref counts, Sho step off, and Mao is freed. The fans rally, Mao throws a forearm but there’s not much to it. Sho kicks Mao, Mao fires more shots, but Sho slips around, GERMAN ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Mao flails, reaches out, but Sho pulls on the arm! Mao still kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Sho lets Mao go, and Mao clutches his arm. Sho wrenches Mao’s arm, twists it, and hits the ELBOW BREAKER! Sho holds on to wrench and ELBOW BREAKER again! Sho grins as he lets Mao slump down. Sho knuckle locks, wrenches, and ELBOW- SLEEPER!! Mao has Sho now and the fans fire up!
Sho pries at the bad arm, pulls the fingers, but Mao breaks free! Look! HAYMAKER! Sho wobbles and the fans fire up! Mao whips, Sho reverses, but Mao SHOTGUNS! Sho flounders, the fans rally up, and Mao runs to BOOT Sho! Sho sputters, Mao runs again, CANNONBALL! Cover, TWO! Sho survives, but is now in JUST FACELOCK! Sho endures, fights around, and both Ren & Yujiro are on the apron. But Mao’s team YANKS them down! Sho flails, the bell rings, but it was REN! The fans boo the usual tricks from the House, and Mao is upset that he fell for such a basic trick. Mao drags Sho up, but Sho CLAWS Mao’s eyes!
Sjo runs, but Mao uses the ref as a shield! Mao runs, but now Sho uses the ref as a shield! Sho runs but Mao hurdles over the spear! Mao sends the ref back at Sho, then he HIGH JUMP CUTTERS!! The fans fire up and Mao waits on Sho. Sho rises, Mao brings him around, OSAKA RENKAI!! Cover, YUJIRO DRAGS THE REF OUT! The fans boo, Kanon is up but Yuijro & Ren BLAST him! The House mugs Mao, drags him up, and double whip him into a corner. Yujiro BOOTS Mao, Ren ELBOWS Mao, then Ren snapmares Mao to hold him open! Yujiro hits the FALLING HEADBUTT LOW BLOW! The fans boo while Mao writhes!
Ren stands Mao up and Yujiro has his pimp cane! But wait, SPRINGBOARD MISSILE DROPKICK from Shunma! Down goes Tokyo Pimp! Ren BOOTS Shunma, he BOOTS Kanon, but Kanon roars! Ren CLAWS Kanon’s eyes, runs, but Kanon LARIATS! The fans fire up as the full Strange Love Connection aims at Sho, HIGH LOW LARIATS!! Shunma builds speed and he DIVES! Down go Ren & Yujiro! Kanon & Mao set Sho up, but YOSHINOBU KANEMARU shows up! WHISKEY MIST for Kanon, and the BOTTLE SHOT for Mao! The fans boo as the Heel Master helps screw over the enemies of the House!
Kanemaru shoves the ref in and Sho laughs at Mao! STRAITJACKET DRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Mao survives and the fans fire up! But Sho has the ARMBAR!! Mao flails, fights around, and he stacks Sho! TWO and Sho still has the arm! SNAKE BITE!! Mao fights against the modified triangle, fights his way over, and has the ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer and Sho lets go in frustration. Sho crawls his way over and looks for his things. Sho grabs his Torture Tool and NEVER Openweight Six Man belt. The ref sees the belt and takes that, but then Mao surprises Sho with is iron gauntlet! Mao PUNCHES the Torture Tool down!
Sho dodges the fist, pushes Mao to ropes, and Kanemaru is there! But Mao ducks, WHISKEY MIST hits Sho! Mao BOOTS Kanemaru, then powers up the gauntlet! ROCKET PUNCH!! And then SAMURAI SUPERKICK!! Cover, TWO?!?! Sho survives, but Mao says he’ll finish this now! Mao drags Sho to a drop zone, climbs up the corner, and 450 SPLASHES!!! Cover, MAO WINS!!
Winner: Mao, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Sho earns 0)
Sho tried to stack the deck, but justice was still served! Mao is alive in the block, if only for now. Can he count on Robbie Eagles AND Taiji Ishimori to bring down El Desperado and Yoh?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Robbie Eagles!
The Rogue Luchador still has that target on his back, not only because he could go to the finals with his win and Yoh’s loss, but because he is THE IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. Could the Sniper of the Skies kill two birds with one victory? Or is Despy about to go back-to-back at the BOSJ finals?
Eagles shows off his Soul of PWA Championship, and makes a point that it is bigger and shinier. Despy says yeah, that’s nice. The fans rally and duel already, and the bell rings. Despy and Eagles circle, the fans rally more, and they feel things out. The fans already start up “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” so Eagles joins in! “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” The fans applaud, Eagles mocks Despy’s bow and waving arms, then the two tie up. Despy waistlocks, Eagles switches but Despy wrenches. Eagles rolls, wrenches, hammerlocks, but Despy headlocks for the takeover.
Eagles headscissors, Despy rolls Eagles around to then float, but Eagles gets his leg guard up. Eagles wrangles Despy and goes for a leg, but Despy rolls to have a toehold. Eagles kicks Despy down to have the HEEL HOOK! Despy scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Eagles lets go, and Despy goes to the apron. Eagles smirks and eggs Despy on. Despy rises up, the fans rally and duel, and Despy steps inside. Despy and Eagles circle, tie up, and Despy powers Eagles to the ropes. Red Shoes counts the break, Despy lets off to pat Eagles on the shoulder. But then he KNEES low! Despy whips, but Eagles holds ropes to block!
Despy still tries, Eagles still holds on, but Despy CLAWS Eagles’ eyes! Red Shoes reprimands but Despy whips, only for Eagles to go up and around to arm-drag! Things keep moving, Eagles hurdles then RANAS, but Despy sunset flips through! TWO, Eagles high stacks, TWO! Both men stand, Despy KNEES low again, then whips. Eagles reverses to WHEEL KICK and kip up! The fans fire up and Eagles paces. Despy rises but Eagles is on him with a CHOP! Despy goes to ropes, Eagles is on him in the corner. Eagles CHOPS, puts Despy’s leg in ropes, and pulls! Despy shouts for Red Shoes, Red Shoes counts, and Eagles lets go, to basement 619!
Despy tumbles out of the ring, the fans rally, and Eagles paces. Eagles mockingly calls for Despy, then goes to the outside. Eagles stomps away on Despy’s leg, and then SMASHES it on the floor! Eagles flexes, says hey to Ninja Mack on commentary, then goes for Despy. Despy fires body shots and CHOPS, but Eagles TACKLES him down! Eagles YANKS Despy’s leg, puts him in the ring, then sits him up to step over and tie up the legs! STUMP PULLER! Despy endures and clubs at Eagles’ leg, but Eagles drops back to make this a cover, ONE!! The fans cheer as Despy sits up. Eagles KICKS, KICKS, and KICKS! But Despy blcoks!
Despy spins Eagles, Eagles knees free, then Eagles runs, but Despy dropkicks a leg! Despy grabs that leg for a SHIN BREAKER! The fans fire up while Eagles writhes. Despy has the leg and SPLASHES down on it! Eagles kicks at Despy from the mat, but Despy pushes on a leg to have a toehold! Eagles endures, Despy drags him around, and ties up the legs for an INDIAN DEATHLOCK! Despy slaps his own leg into working, but Eagles sits up to CHOP! Despy eggs him on so Eagles CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Despy “falls over” and that puts on more pressure! Eagles flails while Despy just lounges. Eagles crawls over, pushes Despy out of his way, and has the ROPEBREAK!
The fans applaud and Red Shoes calls the break. Despy claims he needs help, but Eagles fires hands! Despy lets go, but he kneels on the bad leg! Eagles has the ropes again, Red Shoes counts, and Despy finally stands. Eagles crawls away, but he refuses to let Red Shoes stop this. Despy drags Eagles up but Eagles fires body shots and forearms! Despy KNEES low, but Eagles BOOTS! Eagles whips, Despy reverses, but Eagles fights the spinebuster! Despy KNEES low again, suplexes, but Eagles slips free to CHOP BLOCK and BLINDSLIDE LARIAT! Despy tumbles out, the fans rally up, and Eagles pushes through the pain to DIVE!
The fans fire up with Eagles but he still hobbles on that bad leg. Eagles sees a young fan dressed like him and cheers with him. Eagles then puts Despy in the ring, pounds the apron, and the fans rally up more. Eagles springboards to SNIPER DROPKICK! And then he has the leg to roll Despy into the RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Despy shouts and flails, scratches and claws, and makes his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Eagles lets go, then Eagles drags Despy to center. Despy kicks at Eagles, but Eagles KICKS the leg! Despy writhes, Eagles hobbles, and they go to opposite corners. Eagles runs in, but Despy dodges!
Eagles’ knees hit buckles, Despy runs up, and Despy blocks a boot! Despy kicks one leg, and DRAGON SCREWS the other! Then he has the STRETCH MUFFLER! Eagles flails, reaches out, but Despy thrashes him around! Eagles lunges to the ROPEBREAK! Despy lets go and the fans rally again. Despy hobbles over to bring Eagles up, and he reels Eagles in. Despy suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! The fans applaud while Despy drags Eagles up. Despy gut wrenches for GUITARRA- NO, Eagles slips free and waistlocks! Despy ELBOWS Eagles, whips, but Eagles reverses, only for Despy to reverse and SPINEBUSETR! High stack, TWO!
Despy has the STRETCH MUFFLER! Eagles endures, Despy thrashes, then Despy rolls Eagles away to have NUMERO DOS! Eagles reaches out with his free arm, then activates the core to sit up! Eagles DESTROY- NO, Despy blocks the rolling driver, tucks Eagles in, but Eagles CLUBS away on the legs! Eagles slips free, wrangles Despy, and has the RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Despy endures, reaches out, and he crawls forward. Despy drags Eagles along with him, but Eagles drags Despy back! Eagles puts on the pressure and the fans are thunderous! Despy fights his way forward again, but Eagles thrashes around! Despy gives it one last gasp and he has the ROPEBREAK!!
Eagles lets go, to drop KNEES on the knee! Then GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Then SPINNING TOEHOLD! Despy writhes, Eagles goes out and up, for WARP 4.5, but onto KNEES! Well, to clarify, the legs are usually the target, but Despy gets his knees up to jam Eagles! Both men are down and the fans rally up again. Eagles and Despy stir, then crawl for each other. They go forehead to forehead, then rise up to go forearm for forearm! The fans rally as the shots go back and forth! Despy slaps his leg into working, ROCKS Eagles, and then stands. Eagles ROCKS Despy, Despy ROCKS Eagles again, but now Eagles UPPERCUTS!
The fans rally up more as Despy storms back up. He SLAPS Eagles! Eagles takes off the headband and bandana! Eagles huffs ‘n’ puffs and SLAPS Despy! And SLAPS, and KICKS! Despy ROCKS Eagles, but Eagles says I’LL BE BACK! ROUNDHOUSE! SUPERKICK! ENZI- NO, Despy ducks to roll and STRETCH MUFFLER! Eagles rolls Despy to a cover, TWO! Eagles schoolboys with a bridge, TWO! Despy stands, Eagles SOBATS, then ASAI DDTS! Cover, TWO!! Despy stands, spins Eagles around and around, then PINCHE LOCO!! But Despy can’t make the cover! The fans fire up as Despy crawls and covers, TWO!!!
The fans fire up as Eagles survives! Despy rises, brings Eagles around, and Despy underhooks. TIGER DRIVER!! And then he underhooks again, but Eagles fireman’s carries! Eagles shifts things around to hit the TURBO BACKPACK!! Eagles crawls to the cover, TWO!! Despy survives and the fans are thunderous! Eagles goes to the corner, takes aim, and he basement SUPERKICKS!! Eagles can’t make the cover, his bad leg hurts too much! The fans rally harder as both men rise, and Eagles is back at the corner. Eagles runs to HYPER- NO, Despy ducks and has the leg! STRETCH MUFFLER! NUMERO DOS!! Eagles flails, sits up again, but Despy makes it a SPINEBUTER!!
Despy has NUMERO DOS PLUS!!! Eagles dangles as he endures, and he QUITS! Despy wins!!!
Winner: El Desperado, by submission (gains 2 points; Eagles earns 0)
The Sniper could not take out the Rogue Luchador, and Desperado is still in the running! With that, Mao is now out of the running, too, so it all comes down to the main event!
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Taiji Ishimori!
The pressure is on for Direct Drive! Yoh beat Despy in their 1v1, so if Yoh wins, he is in! Will this be a fresh finals for the Best of the Super Juniors? Or can the Bone Soldier help Despy make it through?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Yoh and Taiji circle, feel things out, and they tie up. Taiji wrenches to a wristlock, but Yoh rolls then trips Taiji. Taiji counters by going for the armbar, but Yoh stacks Taiji to a cover, ONE! The two back off and the fans cheer. Yoh and Taiji reset, circle again, and feel things out. They knuckle lock, but then Yoh goes for a leg. Taiji holds him off and puts him on ropes. Red Shoes calls the break, and Taiji lets off with pats to the shoulder. The two reset again, tie up, and Taiji headlocks. Yoh fires body shots, powers up and out, then drops down. Yoh bypasses Taiji, drop toeholds, but Taiji avoids the basement dropkick!
Yoh avoids a Penalty Kick, but Taiji kicks low to snapmare and NECK- NO, Yoh victory rolls, so that he can NECK TWIST! The fans rally while Taiji goes to ropes. Yoh runs up, Taiji puts him on the apron, but Yoh blocks a shot. Taiji ducks Yoh’s punch to HOTSHOT him down! Taiji then runs to a corner, goes up, up, and GOLDEN TRIANGLE MOONSAULTS! The fans fire up and Taiji brings Yoh around. Taiji hammerlocks Yoh’s arm and POSTS him! Yoh staggers away, Taiji goes off to the blue corner and he undoes the buckle pad. The Bullet Club Special is in play, but Taiji waits as the ring count climbs.
Yoh stands at 3 of 20, shakes out the bad arm, and rolls in at 8. The fans cheer, Taiji storms up, but Yoh fires a forearm! Taiji fires back, snapmares, and NECK TWISTS! The fans cheer while Yoh clutches his neck and shoulder. Taiji drags Yoh up, snapmares, and FIST DROPS! Cover, TWO! Taiji sits Yoh up to clamp on with a chinlock! Yoh endures the knee in his back, then fights his way around. Yoh reaches out, but Taiji turns him with a wristlock. Taiji wrenches and WRINGS Yoh to then WRING the arm again! Yoh scrambles to ropes while the fans cheer. Taiji storms over, grabs the arm, and has a COBRA CLUTCH!
Yoh endures as Taiji drags him away to center. Yoh kicks and reaches out, then fights up. Taiji ripcords to RAM Yoh, then COBRA CLUTCH and a takedown! COBRA TRIANGLE! The fans rally as Yoh endures, and Yoh kicks around to have the ROPEBREAK! Taiji lets go in frustration, and Yoh coughs and sputters as he catches his breath. Taiji CLUBS Yoh, drags him up, but Yoh fires forearms and kicks! Taiji BODY BLOWS, then CLUBS Yoh! Yoh goes back to the ropes, Taiji brings him around to whip into a corner. Taiji runs up, but Yoh BOOTS him away! Taiji comes back, but into a clinch, BACKBREAKER and NECKBREAKER!
The fans rally while both men are down again. Yoh and Taiji rise, and Yoh runs up to rally with forearms! Yoh whips, Taiji reverses, but Yoh FLYING FOREARMS! The fans fire up with Yoh, and he brings Taiji up. Yoh scoops Taiji to SLAM him, and then he revels in cheers. Yoh drops the ELBOW, then covers. TWO, and Yoh drops the KNEE! Cover, TWO and Yoh SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer and Yoh shakes out the arm. Yoh drags Taiji up, reels him in, but Taiji fights the suplex to wrench and ARM CODE BREAKER! Then BONE LOCK! But Yoh rolls it fast! TWO!! Taiji kicks low, CLAWS Yoh’s eyes, then whips.
Yoh reverses, Taiji handsprings, but Yoh catches him! Taiji switches, ducks an elbow, then spins Yoh around, to POST him! The Bullet Club Special comes through, and Taiji brings Yoh out. Taiji hammerlocks the arm, scoops, and SHOULDER BUSTERS! Yoh writhes, Taiji goes back to the corner, and the fans rally up. Taiji runs back in, tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTIC- NO, Yoh spins that into a COBRA TWIST! Yoh then shifts to throw elbows, and he puts on the ANACONDA VICE! Taiji reaches out, fights his way over, but Yoh wrangles him to the mat! Taiji endures, rolls, pops free, and has the BONE LOCK!!
Yoh endures again and the fans rally back up! Yoh fights around, reaches out, but Taiji rolls him back for BLOODY- NO, Yoh handsprings through and O’Conner Rolls! Taiji stops the bridge, pushes Yoh down, BONE LOCK!! Yoh endures again and the fans rally! Yoh fights over again, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Yoh literally escapes by a foot. Taiji lets go, then grins as he brings Yoh back up. Taiji gut wrenches, and CIPHER UTAKI! But Taiji says that’s not all! He aims his finger gun, says BANG, and then brings Yoh back in. But Yoh suplexes, FALCON GOROSHI! Both men are down and the fans rally up again!
Yoh and Taiji slowly stir, rise up, and Yoh fires a forearm! Taiji fires back! Yoh fires another, Taiji fires another, repeat! They pick up speed and the fans rally! Taiji LARIATS but Yoh stays up! Yoh LARIATS but Taiji stays up! They both roar, and DOUBLE LARIAT! Yoh runs up but Taiji JUMP KNEES! BANG and BLOODY- NO, Yoh wrenches out to HEADBUTT! Both men fall and the fans fire up! Taiji and Yoh stir, but Yoh sits up first. Yoh roars, slaps his bad arm into working, and then crawls over to Taiji. Yoh underhooks but Taiji fights the lift! Taiji wrenches out but Yoh full nelsons! Taiji fights that, but Yoh ripcords!
Taiji blocks the knee but that hurts his harm! Taiji takes a swing, but into the ANACONDA VICE! Taiji fights the hold, wrenches out, and tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! BONE LOCK!!! Yoh fights around, reaches out, but Taiji rolls him! Yoh uses that to have the ANACONDA VICE!!! Taiji endures, fights to sit up, and then he stands to fire body shots. Taiji RAMS Yoh into the bare buckles! Both men fall back and the fans rally harder! Taiji drags Yoh up, reels him in, but Yoh blocks! Yoh fireman’s carries, and he hits an USHIGOROSHI! The fans fire up and Yoh full nelsons Taiji! DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!!
Taiji escapes but Yoh vows to end this! The fans are thunderous as Yoh hauls Taiji up! DIRECT DRIVE!!! Cover, YOH WINS!!!
Winner: Yoh, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Taiji earns 0)
The Bone Soldier fails, and now Desperado is NOT going to the finals! Desperado will now be on the outside looking in, waiting for his next challenger.
Speaking of which, Kosei Fujita now makes his way out here to be face to face with Yoh. Yoh holds the ropes open for Fujita to step into the ring. Fujita and Yoh get face to face, and Fujita points at the tag title on Yoh’s shoulder, because he also wants that belt. Yoh knows, since he and Wato took it from Fujita & Eagles. But Yoh dismisses Fujita, they’ll meet again on June 1st. Yoh then takes up the mic to tell Fujita, “Ya bastard… I’ll show you true chaos! Now, just one more win. In Ota, the best wind will blow.” Yoh drops the mic to leave it at that. Will that wind be the winds of change? Or will Yoh fail to bring down The Mighty Japanese Young Punk?
Here are the FINAL B Block standings!
YOH: 6-3, 12 points [FINALIST]
El Desperado: 6-3, 12 points [ELIMINATED]
MAO: 6-3, 12 points [ELIMINATED]
Taiji Ishimori: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Robbie Eagles: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
SHO: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Nick Wayne: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Kevin Knight: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Titan: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Ryusuke Taguchi: 3-6, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
My Thoughts:
A great night to wrap round nine and therefore the round robin portion. No repeat BOSJ finalists, which is actually great because now we’ve got a fresh match-up. Taguchi VS Knight was still a great match for not affecting outcomes, and Knight gets to return to AEW with a win. The flipside is Titan gets a win over Nick Wayne, I really do think it books itself, Nick VS Titan for the ROH World TV Championship on Grand Slam: Mexico. Christian Cage can even be condescending to Nick over how Nick didn’t make it to the finals, adding to that feud. Nick can beat Titan in the rematch, then get in Christian’s face to make a match for All In: Texas, or at least Supercard of Honor where ROH titles should be showing up anyway.
Great stuff with Mao and his team against Sho and the House of Torture. I was pleasantly surprised that Mao won, and I wonder if the House of Torture goes to a DDT Pro show to battle it out with Strange Love Connection. Mao winning also added great drama to the remaining matches, Despy VS Eagles was awesome stuff, probably the actual best match of the night. Yoh VS Taiji wasn’t quite as hot going by the crowd, but Yoh getting the win to shut the door on Despy was good. Yoh VS Fujita will be great, a bit hard to call, but that makes it fun.
My Score: 9/10
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