Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/15/24)

A Block, round 3!

Published

2 months ago

May 15, 2024

Steven Mitchell

Can the Rogue Luchador maintain momentum?

Best of the Super Juniors splits up the blocks, with Block A competing first! Will El Desperado keep his rebound going and win in the third? Or will Bushi make Niigata tranquilo?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Ninja Mack & Katsuya Murashima VS SHO & Yujiro Takahashi; Sho & Yujiro win.
DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney & Gedo; Douki & Taka win.
KUSHIDA & Tiger Mask VS Francesco Akira & Callum Newman; Akira & Newman win.
Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito VS Diamond Dia & Tomoaki Honma; Hiromu & Naito win.
Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: Kevin Knight VS Kosei Fujita; Knight wins.
Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: Blake Christian VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Blake wins.
Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: Titan VS HAYATA; Titan wins.
Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: TJP VS Clark Connors; Connors wins.
Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: El Desperado VS BUSHI; Desperado wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current A Block standings!

Titan: 2-0, 4 points
Blake Christian: 2-0, 4 points
El Desperado: 1-1, 2 points
Kosei Fujita: 1-1, 2 points
Kevin Knight: 1-1, 2 points
HAYATA: 1-1, 2 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 1-1, 2 points
Clark Connors: 1-1, 2 points
TJP: 0-2, 0 points
BUSHI: 0-2, 0 points

Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: Kevin Knight VS Kosei Fujita!

The Jet may be tsuyoi, but The Mighty Don’t Kneel! Both men are 1-1, so who will get themselves a very important win to start the third?

The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, Knight wrenches and wristlocks, but Fujita rolls, handsprings and wrenches back. Knight rolls, slips through, waistlocks then headlocks. Fujita powers up and out but Knight runs him over! Knight flexes and says tsuyoi! Things speed up, Fujita hurdles then arm-drags! Knight avoids the next arm-drag, but not the arm-drag after that! Things keep moving, Knight goes up and over but Fujita handsprings through a hip toss! Fujita DROPKICKS Knight and Knight tumbles out of the ring! Fujita builds speed but Knight moves aside, so Fujita stops himself.

Fujita goes to the apron, and PENALTY KICKS! The fans fire up and Fujita fetches Knight off the floor. Fujita CHOPS and Knight goes into the ring. Fujita drags Knight up, scoops, and SLAMS! Cover, TWO! Fujita clamps onto a double wristlock! Knight scrambles around, ROPEBREAK! Fujita lets go, but he stomps Knight around. Fujita drags Knight up, wrenches the arm and YANKS it! And YANKS it again! Fujita wrenches, YANKS, then stomps Knight’s arm. Fujita wrenches again, and again, then top wristlocks, to isolate and STOMP the arm! The fans applaud and Fujita brings Knight up.

Knight throws a body shot, a CHOP, and a forearm! Fujita KICKS the bad arm! Fujita whips, Knight grabs ropes to stop, then he sends Fujita out! Knight builds speed but Fujita moves out of the way, so Knight slides out! Knight goes up a corner and PLANCHAS! Direct hit and down goes Fujita! The fans fire up with Knight and he high-fives a fan. Knight puts Fujita in, drags him up, and then scoops to SLAM into a drop zone! Knight runs and somersaults back to SPLASH! The fans cheer, Knight covers, TWO! Knight keeps cool and the fans rally up. Knight drags Fujita up to whip, then he catches Fujita to a COBRA TWIST!

Knight says he’s very, very, very strong! But then Fujita hip tosses free! Knight handsprings through, and LARIATS on return! Cover, TWO! Knight keeps on Fujita but Fujita CHOPS! Knight UPPERCUTS! Fujita CHOPS! Knight UPPERCUTS! Knight fireman’s carries but Fujita fights free. Knight elbows and whips, Fujita reverses and GAMANGIRIS! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Knight goes to a corner, Fujita to the other. Fujita runs in to CHOP! Fujita then shoves Knight down, goes to the apron and springboards in, MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Knight stays in this.

Fujita storms around, waistlocks and deadlifts Knight, but Knight fights with elbows! Fujita ducks an elbow to GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! Knight endures, fights the hold and rolls to a cradle, TWO! Fujita runs up, stops Knight’s DDT, and ARM CODE BREAKERS! Knight swings, Fujita dodges and CHOPS! Fujita runs, into the DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Knight goes to the outside. Knight aims from the apron, springboards back in, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Fujita stays in this, but Knight calls for the “JETTO! JETTO!” Fujita rises, Knight runs in, but Fujita catches him first! HOVERBOARD!!

Knight endures Fujita’s take on Kushida’s hold, and he powers out! Scoop- ARM-DRAG! And KIMURA!! Fujita cranks on the double wristlock, Knight moves around, it ends up more a hammerlock and he’s able to get the ROPEBREAK! Fujita lets go, but he vows to finish this now! Fujita drags Knight up, reels him in, and suplexes, but Knight slips free! Knight fireman’s carries, but Fujita fights free! Fujita gets around, GERMAN SUPLEX, but Knight lands on his feet! SKY 2 HIGH! Cover, TWO!! Fujita survives but Knight fires up! The fans rally behind Knight and he runs up, SATELLITE DDT!! Cover, Knight wins!

Winner: Kevin Knight, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Fujita earns 0)

The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but the Jet does fly! Will Knight keep reaching new heights until he’s at the top of this block?

Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: Blake Christian VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru!

All Heat has been red hot since the start of this tournament, but the Heel Master’s been a little lukewarm. Will Kanemaru look to cool things off with a bit of his whiskey? Or will Blake burn him like the rest?

Kanemaru gets the jump on Blake at the corner! Kanemaru brings Blake down, stomps away, the bell rings to get this on record, and the ref counts. Kanemaru lets off to whip Blake corner to corner. Kanemaru runs in, but Blake uses the ref as a shield! Kanemaru gets the ref out of the way, and Blake RANAS Blake kips up, hurdles over Kanemaru, drops down then DROPKICKS! Blake kips up, the fans cheer, and Kanemaru is on ropes. Blake runs up, basement 619! Then he springboards in to FLYING UPPERCUT! The fans cheer more while Kanemaru bails out. Blake goes to the ropes, slingshots, but Kanemaru moves aside!

Blake lands out of the plancha, and he kicks Kanemaru low! Blake wants fans to move aside, they oblige, and Blake whips. But Kanemaru reverses to BOWL Blake into chairs! Strike! Kanemaru then storms back up on Blake, drags him up, and POSTS him! Blake falls over but Kanemaru drags him around, to SMASH the knee on the ground! Blake writhes, the ref reprimands, but Kanemaru leaves Blake behind. Kanemaru wants the ring count, so the count begins. Blake hobbles on the bad leg, drags himself in at 7 of 20, and the fans cheer. But Kanemaru stomps away on Blake! Kanemaru SMASHES the knee again!

The fans rally for Blake as he crawls along ropes, but Kanemaru whips him to dropkick the legs out! Kanemaru gets the bad leg for a standing toehold! Blake endures, even as Kanemaru twists the leg around. Kanemaru knees the back of the leg, then drops down for a toehold. Kanemaru pulls on the bad leg, but Blake drags himself over to the ROPEBREAK! Kanemaru lets go while the fans cheer, but he still kneels on the knee! The ref reprimands, Kanemaru steps away, and then Kanemaru stalks Blake to a corner. Kanemaru stomps the bad leg, then stands on it at the ropes. The ref reprimands and counts, Kanemaru steps away at 4.

Blake sits up and Kanemaru slaps him around. Blake gets up and throws a forearm! And another! Kanemaru knees Blake low! Blake crawls, Kanemaru brings him up and whips to ropes. But Blake handsprings to NEURALIZER! The fans fire up while both men are down! Blake crawls to a corner and the fans rally up. Blake stands, shakes out the bad leg, and Kanemaru runs in! Blake BOOTS Kanemaru down, then somersaults to NECKBREAKER! Blake hurries back to a corner and up top, to MACHO ELBOW! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up while Blake keeps his cool. Blake goes back to the corner and climbs again!

Blake’s bad leg bothers him, but he still reaches the top. Blake leaps, but into a BOOT! Kanemaru then shoves, somersault clutches, TWO! The fans fire up and Kanemaru falls back to a corner. Blake rises, Kanemaru runs in, but Blake sweeps the legs! Then step-up- NO, Kanemaru avoids the stomp! Kanemaru trips Blake, steps through, and has the FIGURE FOUR! Blake endures, the fans rally, but Kanemaru pulls on the leg and thrashes around! Blake reaches out, claws his way over, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Kanemaru lets go, and Blake clutches the leg. Kanemaru goes up the corner and waits on Blake.

Blake stands, turns around, DEEP- NO, Blake gets around to waistlock! But Kanemaru grabs the ref to stop the lift! Kanemaru kicks the leg out, then scoops to BRITISH- NO, now Blake grabs the ref! Blake gets free, Kanemaru kicks and runs, but Blake shoves the ref at him! Kanemaru shoves the ref back! Blake ends up running the ref over! Kanemaru ENZIGIRIS Blake down! Kanemaru checks on Marty Asami but he’s down! So Kanemaru gets his whiskey! BOTTLE- NO, Blake ducks and ENZIGIRIS back! Then SUPERKICKS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Kanemaru bails out but Blake pounds the mat.

The fans rally up, Blake builds speed, and Blake fakes Kanemaru out! But then Kanemaru avoids the cannonball! Blake still victory rolls to SPLASH on the outside! Blake fires up, the fans are with him, and he hurries to get Kanemaru back in. Blake hobbles his way to the apron and sees Kanemaru dangling out of the ropes. Blake runs up to APRON STOMP! Blake then springboards in to 450 SPLASH!! Cover, Blake wins!

Winner: Blake Christian, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Kanemaru earns 0)

All Heat says it himself, he’s 3-0 with six points! Is nothing going to stop him from turning up the heat until he’s the Best of the Super Juniors? What does Kanemaru have to do to still have a chance?

Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: Titan VS HAYATA!

El Inmortal is also undefeated in this year’s run, but the GHC National Champion looks to change that to get himself to the top. Will Titan keep things tranquilo? Or will he experience the “Silence of Darkness?”

The bell rings and Titan rushes in! Hayata dodges, whips, but Titan reverses. Hayata stops the tornado DDT, kicks low and runs, but Titan follows to RANA! The fans fire up and Hayata bails out! Titan builds speed, rolls, and backflips out of the ring as Hayata moves! Titan runs up, but Hayata wrenches him to hammerlock and POST! Titan falls, the fans rally, but Hayata brings Titan up. Hayata wrenches, hammerlocks, and POSTS Titan again! The ref reprimands but Hayata stalks Titan around the way. Hayata drags Titan up, wrenches and YANKS the arm, then puts Titan on the apron. Hayata wrenches and SLAMS the arm on the edge!

The fans rally while Titan writhes, but Hayata stalks Titan and drags him up. Hayata puts Titan in a corner, wraps the arm around ropes and pulls! The ref reprimands and counts, Hayata lets off at 4, then looms over Titan. Hayata drags Titan up, wrenches and clamps onto the arm, but Titan throws body shots. Titan whips, Hayata runs him over, but things speed up. Titan leaps into an atomic drop! Wrench and STRAIT ARM BREAKER! Titan writhes but the fans rally up. Hayata drags Titan around, then drops a leg on the arm! Hayata pushes up as he scissors the arm, but Titan endures! Titan pushes but Hayata cranks the arm!

Hayata then stands up to again drop the leg on the arm! Hayata goes back to the arm scissor, but the fans rally up as Titan endures! Titan keeps his shoulders off the mat, knuckle locks with Hayata, but Hayata uses that to push Titan down! Titan still fights, so Hayata stands and stomps him! Hayata stomps again and again, then he drags Titan up. Titan throws body shots, but Hayata clinches. Hayata hammerlocks, then scoops to SLAM Titan on the arm! Titan writhes but Hayata paces around. Hayata looms over Titan, stands on his face, then steps off. Hayata taunts Titan, Titan kicks from below, but Hayata stomps him again!

Hayata stands on Titan’s face, the ref reprimands, but Hayata brings Titan up. Hayata eggs Titan on, and Titan CHOPS! And CHOPS! Hayata brings Titan around by his mask, then eggs him on. Titan CHOPS again, but Hayata wrenches and hammerlocks! Titan throws elbows, switches, shoves and follows, TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Titan rises, he runs up at Hayata, but Hayata puts him on the apron! Titan GAMANGIRIS, then springboards, CROSSBODY! The fans fire up, both men stand and Titan DROPKICKS! Hayata bails out and the fans fire up with Titan as he builds speed! Titan DIVES! Direct hit at the ramp!

The fans fire up again as Titan roars! Titan KICKS Hayata in the side, the ring count climbs, but Titan CLUBS Hayata. Titan brings Hayata up and puts him in at 11 of 20. Titan goes to the corner and the fans rally up. Titan reaches the top, leaps, but Hayata gets under! Hayata kicks low, runs, but Titan goes Matrix to dodge! Then CALF KICK! Titan whips, but Hayata reverses to PELE! Both men are down and the fans rally up again! Hayata and Titan go to corners, and Hayata runs in. Hayata SHOTGUNS Titan down! Hayata then scoops to SLAM Titan into the drop zone, then goes up to MOONSAULT, onto knees!

The fans fire up as Titan saves himself and fires back up! Titan hooks up the legs fast, but Hayata rolls and rolls to get a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Titan endures, Hayata SLAMS that arm, then shifts to a KEYLOCK HEADSCISSOR COMBO! Titan endures, kicks around, reaches out, but Hayata pulls on the arm! Titan still fights, still reaches, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Titan survives by a literal foot, and Hayata lets go. Hayata drags Titan up, CLUBS away on the arm, then wrenches. Titan swings, but into a DDT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up as Titan stays in this, but Hayata stays on Titan with a facelock.

Hayata lifts, but Titan fights free! Hayata SUPERKICKS! But Titan comes back with a BOOT! SOBAT! KICK! Palm strikes, WHEEL KICK! The fans fire up with Titan and he throws off the armbands! Titan runs corner to corner to LOCO LARIAT! Hayata tumbles and Titan hurries up top! DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS!! Titan isn’t done there! He gets the legs for JAVE INMORTALL!! Hayata endures, claws around, reaches out, but Titan has the STRAITJACKET!! Hayata QUITS, Titan wins!!

Winner: Titan, by submission (gains 2 points; Hayata earns 0)

The Silence of Darkness could not stay silent, and now Titan has a win over the GHC National Champion! But will Titan not stop until he’s truly the Best of the Super Juniors?

Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: TJP VS Clark Connors!

The Public Enemy has been struggling in these early rounds while 100 Proof has been 50-50. They’ve gone back and forth over the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, but who takes one step closer to the top of the block?

The bell rings and the two rush in! They RAM shoulders then fire off forearms back and forth! TJP gets the edge, runs, RAMS Connors, but Connors comes back to run TJP over! Connors barks, runs, but TJP stays low. TJP then hurdles, but Connors hurdles in return. TJP runs to RANA and Connors bails out! The fans fire up and TJP builds speed, but Connors avoids the dropkick, to JEEP FLIPPER! TJP goes tumbling, and Connors slaps a fan’s hat off his head! Connors stomps TJP, drags him up, and then brings him to the bleachers in the back! Connors SMACKS TJP off a bench, then slaps another fan’s hat away.

Connors brings TJP up and runs him into the POST! TJP falls in a heap, Connors says don’t boo him! Shut up! The fans boo anyway, Connors tells them to knock it off. Connors goes back to TJP, and SMACKS him off the tag title belt! Connors then stomps TJP around, and he snatches the United Empire banner! The fans boo as Connors puts it down and drops an elbow on it! Connors does snow angels on it, then CLUBS TJP. Connors puts TJP on the banner, wraps him up in it, then stomps away! The fans boo but Connors grabs a Young Lion! Connors scoops and SLAMS Shoma Kato onto TJP! Connors then leaves TJP behind to get in the ring.

The count climbs while fans boo Connors. TJP gets fere of the banner at 12 of 20 but he’s still down at 15! TJP is checking on Kato, but now it’s 18! TJP stands and slides in at 19! The fans cheer but Connors is annoyed. Connors drags TJP up to CHOP! TJP goes to a corner, Connors RAMS into him again and again! Connors lets off, then he grins as he copies TJP with the face scrub. But then he stops and flips the fans off. The fans boo but Connors tells them to shut up. Connors drags TJP up, brings him around, and whips him to ropes. Scoop and SIDEWALK SLAM! Then Connors runs to JUMP ELBOW! Cover, ONE!!

The fans cheer as TJP toughs it out. Connors keeps on TJP with a chinlock and grinds him down. TJP endures, the fans rally, but Connors mocks them. TJP fights up, bridges back, and slips around to step over and trap an arm, to then SNAP the other! Connors writhes and the fans rally up again. TJP goes to ropes, Connors runs in, but TJP puts him on the apron. Connors ELBOWS back, then SLINGSHOT- NO, TJP blocks the spear to DRAPING DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down! TJP rises, whips Connors, but Connors reverses. TJP springboards to FLYING FOREARM! TJP then kicks and SNAP HALF HATCH!

TJP holds on, another SNAP HALF HATCH! And then a third SNAP HALF HATCH! The fans cheer TJP’s take on Three Amigos, then he runs in to GAMANGIRI at the corner! Connors sits down, and TJP shows him how it’s done! TJP scrubs Connors’ face, then runs side to side, for the BOOT WASH! The fans fire up and TJP pushes Connors out. TJP then aims from the apron, springboards and FLYING DDTS! Cover, TWO! Connors is still in this but the fans rally with “T! J P! T! J P!” TJP aims, runs up, but into the SNAP POWER- NO, TJP slips through to get the leg! PINOY STRETCH! Connors endures, reaches out, but TJP drags him back!

Connors kicks TJP away, swings, but into a dragon sleeper! FINAL CUT! Cover, TWO! TJP keeps cool while the fans rally up again. TJP goes up a corner, MAMBA SPLASH onto knees! Connors saves himself, TJP staggers to a corner. TJP runs back in, but into a SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Connors snarls and goes to a corner. Connors takes aim, barks, and runs in, into ONE BY ONE! TJP fireman’s carries, for the DETONATION KICK!! Cover, TWO!! Connors survives and the fans fire up again! Connors flounders to ropes, TJP runs in, but Connors puts him on the apron!

TJP’s leg jams a bit, and Connors runs in to APRON SPEAR! Connors reloads in the corner, and SPEARS again!! Cover, TWO?!?! TJP survives and the fans fire up! Connors snarls and he storms over to TJP. Connors drags TJP up, throws up the Too Sweet, but TJP fights the No Chaser! Connors still tries, but TJP cradle counters! TWO!! Connors escapes, but TJP JUMP SOBATS! But Connors BLINDSIDE LARIATS! Connors back suplexes but TJP lands out! TJP goes up and over in the corner to then TORNADO DDT! Connors stands, TJP SPEARS CONNNORS! The fans fire up and TJP hurries up a corner! But Connors shoves Red Shoes into ropes, tripping TJP up!

The fans boo, but Connors storms over to UPPERCUT TJP! Connors climbs, CLUBS away on TJP, but TJP throws body shots. TJP gets the arm for a standing armlock, then he shoves Connors back. But Connors springs up top, for the SUPERPLEX! And then he reels TJP in, for NO CHASER!! Cover, Connors wins!

Winner: Clark Connors, by pinfall (gains 2 points; TJP earns 0)

Try as he might, TJP could not get that win! Connors “apologizes” to Red Shoes, but everyone knows Bullet Club does what it has to in order to win. Will nothing stop 100 Proof from serving up L’s? What must TJP do to not just get a win in the tournament, but to prove he’s the right choice as the United Empire’s new leader?

Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: El Desperado VS BUSHI!

The Rogue Luchador turned things around from his disappointing first round, and is looking to take this main event. However, The Black Mask is pointless, will he make things tranquilo? Or will nothing stop Desperado from chasing the BOSJ trophy?

The bell rings and the fans rally up already. Red Shoes assesses it, and it is in favor of Despe. The two circle, tie up, and Despe trips Bushi. Things speed up, Bushi hurdles but Despe stops when he sees Bushi set up. Bushi stands and Despe SLAPS him! The fans cheer but Bushi eggs Despe on. Despe runs up, Bushi dumps him out! Bushi builds speed, but stops and rolls back as Despe moves. Bushi teases Despe and the fans cheer. Despe is annoyed, but he calmly steps back in. Only to run up on Bushi! Bushi avoids the kick, kicks back, then whip. Despe reverses but Bushi dropkicks the legs out! Despe bails out and Bushi pursues.

Bushi stomps Despe’s back leg, stomps it some more, then drags Despe up and into the ring. Bushi drags Despe and ties up the legs, but Despe scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes reprimands, but Bushi still pulls on the legs! Red Shoes counts, Bushi lets go, and Despe clutches his knee. The fans rally but Bushi stomps Despe around. Bushi drags Despe up, kicks the bad leg, then whips Despe to a corner. Despe just makes it, but then he dodges Bushi! Bushi BOOTS back, goes up, but Despe YANKS him down! The fans cheer and Despe drags Bushi up, for a BIG back suplex! The fans cheer while Bushi bails out.

Despe storms out after Bushi, stands on the bad leg, and then steps over to DDT the foot! Bushi clutches his knee now and Red Shoes checks him while Despe paces around. Despe comes back, drags Bushi up, but Bushi CHOPS! Despe staggers away, but then he comes back to get Bushi’s leg! SHIN BREAKER! Bushi falls over but Despe drags him up to fake sending him at the crowd. Despe puts Bushi in the ring, storms in after him, then stalks him to a corner. Red Shoes checks with Bushi on the leg but Despe drags Bushi from the corner! Despe SPLASHES the bad leg, then steps over to HIP DROP!

Despe ties the legs up into an INDIAN DEATHLOCK, and he taunts Bushi as he sits up. Despe pushes on the legs, Bushi CHOPS! Despe eggs Bushi on, so Bushi CHOPS again! And again, and again! Despe “falls over” and that puts pressure on the legs! Bushi endures as Despe now makes it a CALF KILLER! Bushi rolls but Despe keeps the bad leg pinned down. Despe lets off, we pass five minutes, and Despe drags Bushi up. Despe goes to gut wrench but Bushi blocks that. Despe suplexes, Bushi slips free, but the bad leg jams and he falls back! Bushi manages to stand up, so Despe runs up. Bushi BOOTS Despe, goes up, and FLYING RANAS!

The fans fire up but there’s no Bushirooni this time. Despe storms up to the apron but Bushi DECKS him! Bushi then builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and the fans fire up! Despe stirs, Bushi shakes out the bad leg, and the fans rally up. The ring count starts, Bushi sits up at 5 of 20, and he stands at 10. Despe sits up at 11, Bushi brings him up and around, putting him in at 14! The fans cheer and Bushi rolls in. Bushi runs to ELBOW Despe in the corner, then puts the bad leg in ropes. Bushi DROPKICKS the leg, then DRAPING BACKSTABBERS Despe down! Both men shake out their bad legs, and the fans rally up again.

Bushi storms up on Desep, blocks his haymaker and spins Despe to a DDT! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer, but Bushi SMASHES Despe’s leg! Then he basement dropkicks the leg! Bushi still hobbles on his own bad leg, but he grabs Despe’s legs. Despe kicks free of the leglock, but he can’t run on the bad leg! Bushi storms back up but Despe kicks Bushi’s bad leg! And kicks it again! Then dropkicks it out! Despe goes after Bushi’s legs, but Bushi kicks him away! Despe slaps his leg into working, and he hobbles after Bushi. The fans rally, Bushi fires a forearm and Despe gives it back! Bushi ROCKS Despe, Despe ROCKS Bushi!

The forearms keep going back and forth, faster and faster! The fans rally up as the shots keep going, and then Bushi gets the edge! Depse kicks the bad leg! Bushi kicks but Despe rolls him, to a STRETCH MUFFLER! Despe thrashes but Bushi endures! Bushi reaches out, fights forward, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Despe lets go in frustration, and Despe gets back up. Despe roars, hauls Bushi up, but Bushi fights free to FISHERMAN SCREW! And then Bushi ties up the legs for the FABLE! Despe endures, flails, reaches out, but Bushi rolls him away from ropes! Despe flails around more as the fans rally up!

Bushi pulls on the leglock, Red Shoes checks with Despe, but Despe refuses to give up! Despe back strokes his way over, and has the ROPEBREAK! Bushi lets go in frustration and the fans rally up. Despe drags himself up with the ropes but Bushi hobbles over. Bushi brings Despe up but Despe shoves him away. Bushi swings, Despe spins him, gut wrench, but Bushi slips free again! Despe blocks a kick, ducks the enzigiri but not the REWIND HEEL! Bushi and Despe go to opposite ends, then Bushi runs in! CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Despe survives, and even has the ropes for good measure. Bushi is frustrated but the fans rally up.

Bushi goes to a corner, drags himself up and roars, and the fans fire up with him! Bushi climbs, aims, and calls his shot! Despe stands, turns around, but avoids MX! Bushi faceplants, then Despe gets STRETCH MUFFLER! NUMERO DOS!! Bushi reaches out with his one free arm, but Despe rolls him away! NUMERO DOS PLUS!!! Bushi endures, but he QUITS! Desperado wins!!

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

This ended up being two one-legged men in an ass-kicking contest, but Desperado taking Bushi’s arms is what decided this! Bushi is at the bottom of the block, are his hopes of being the best all but gone?

As for Desperado, he gets an icepack and the mic to say, “I had no idea Joetsu even had this many people.” The fans laugh but a few boo his teasing. Desperado tells Bushi that he made leg-based offense a weapon, but Desperado’s won a lot of championships with it himself. The fans cheer that! Desperado continues, saying he isn’t sure if it was the leg damage yesterday or today, but he just has a deeper arsenal. Plus, Bushi hurts his own legs with some of his moves, so it’s a bit self-defeating. Anyway, Desperado knows he’s promised to win so many times that he’s lost count. Almost feels like he’s lying.

But Desperado promises again to win it all this year! The fans cheer and Desperado leaves it at this. Will the Rogue Luchador keep going until he’s finally the Best of the Super Juniors?

Here are the NEW A Block standings!

Titan: 3-0, 6 points
Blake Christian: 3-0, 6 points
El Desperado: 2-1, 4 points
Kevin Knight: 2-1, 4 points
Clark Connors: 2-1, 4 points
Kosei Fujita: 1-2, 2 points
HAYATA: 1-2, 2 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 1-2, 2 points
TJP: 0-3, 0 points
BUSHI: 0-3, 0 points

My Thoughts:

A great night for NJPW, and a great third round for A Block. Titan and Blake still being 3-0 is great, and they’re going to face off in the fourth round, that is going to be great stuff. TJP being 0-3 is rather shocking, but it is definitely building the story of him leading United Empire with Ospreay in AEW. He’s going to start doubting himself, and he’ll probably resort to bringing out The Aswang to get that first win. But he’s up against Bushi next round, who is also 0-3, so maybe TJP gets a win this weekend?

Great main event from Desperado and Bushi with them going leg for leg. But Despe did have a point in his promo, he definitely mastered targeting a leg and has more moves to do it, so of course he won out. And while Titan and Blake are going strong right now, it feels like Desperado should definitely get out of the round robin phase and get a chance at the trophy.

My Score: 8.9/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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52 mins ago

July 26, 2024

Steven Mitchell

The word of the day is, “Gold!”

ROH brings Death Before Dishonor to Texas, and makes it bigger than ever! SIX championship matches, how drastically will the landscape change?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Zero Hour – MXM Collection VS Spanish Announce Project; wins.
Komander VS The Beast Mortos; wins.
Texas Deathmatch: Leyla Hirsch VS Diamante; wins.
ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship Qualifier: Dustin Rhodes & The Von Erichs VS The Dark Order; wins and advances to Battle of the Belts 11.
ROH World Tag Team Championships: The Kingdom VS Tomohiro Ishii & Kyle O’Reilly; win(s) and
ROH World Television Championship Survival of the Fittest: Atlantis Jr. VS Lio Rush VS Shane Taylor VS Johnny TV VS Lee Johnson VS Brian Cage; wins and
ROH Pure Championship: Wheeler Yuta VS Lee Moriarty; wins and
ROH Women’s World Television Championship: Billie Starkz VS Red Velvet; wins and
ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena VS Queen Aminata; wins and
ROH World Championship: Mark Briscoe VS Roderick Strong; wins and

PLAY BY PLAY

[Due to scheduling conflicts, coverage will be on delay]

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 7.25.2024

Slammiversary Fallout! Where do things go on the way to Victory Road?

Published

21 hours ago

July 25, 2024

Andrew Balaz

Well now we start the fall out of Slammiversary. Josh Alexander in his bad bitch summer, X-Speedball legacy, ABC got the t-a-g and Jordynne is still in charge of the Knockouts division. Like I said at the end of Slammiversary, all of the champions being Babyfaces is stupid. They need to drop a couple titles fairly quickly, because I don’t care what some people say, Nic Nemeth ain’t gonna bring any eyes to the brand. He’s about as hot as day old Hamburger Helper over a camping sterno.

We’ll probably open with the luke warm champion, so tune in like 10 minutes late for anything of substance to be happen.

https://x.com/i/status/1816629254349533588

Ratings:

Steve Maclin vs Cody Deaner: Maclin wins via KIA – *
AJ Francis w/Rich Swann & Josh Bishop vs Sami Callihan: AJ wins via Down Payment – **
Hammer Your ASH (ASH by Elegance & Alexander Hammerstone) vs JuggerYoung (Jordynne Grace & Eric Young): Hammer Your ASH wins via Torture Rack – ** 1/2
The System (Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers & JDC) w/Alisha Edwards vs Matt Hardy & The ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey): Broken Alphabet wins via Twist & Splash – ***

Results:

Nemeth gives the ole “I’ll be a fighting champion…blah blah” promo and drops the “any company” line that we’ve already understood what that means. Campaign Singh cuts him off…and I never thought I’d be happy for Campaign Singh to walk out and say anything…ever. And…Mustafa’s promo is worse than Dolph’s. He’s gone from parody to caricature even saying “it was the biggest screw job Montreal ever saw”. Like some of these lines are cheap heat, but most are just brain dead comments that wouldn’t get a reaction out of anyone (and the crowd was silent for that comment). Mustafa gets caught in an Archer “phrasing” moment about getting screwed hard, but this is painful. Promos written by 14 year olds everyone…

This ends with Ali challenging Nemeth for the World Title. While I’m not against walk up challenges, I watch Japanese wrestling, I don’t really get the point aside from doing it just to do it.

ABC and Matt Hardy have a small promo, and I’m still not really a fan of Unbroken Matt Version 6.0. The floating between Broken voice and his normal voice sounds amateurish.

OH LOOK, finally a match 20 minutes into the show. And it’s my son Steve Maclin! OH CHRIST he’s facing Deaner. This has been 25 minutes of talking followed by the worst god damn attempt at a gimmick. Deaner’s little “Papa Santino told me I can wipe my ass only if the crowd agrees”. This gimmick should die in a fire.

Steve Maclin vs Cody Deaner

Deaner started off quick because Maclin was in disbelief that Deaner was actually gonna fight him. Maclin dodges a Crossbody, Busaiku Knee, and just starts beating on Deaner for fun. And this is fun, maybe Maclin can make sure Deaner gets stretchered out and written off forever. How do you call for an ambulance in French? Maclin with the old Back Breaker into a stretch. Deaner tries to nerd rage up, breaks the Back Breaker Stretch, his punch combo, into a Manhattan Drop and Bulldog. Deaner hits the Crossbody, but Maclin kicks out. This is entirely too competitive.

Deaner goes for the Deaner DDT, blocked, Olympic Slam into Splashing Deaner into the corner, Caught in the Crosshairs, K-I-A, thanks for coming you damn dweeb. Stay in Canada and don’t travel Deaner, please.

https://x.com/i/status/1816633784537874761

AJ Francis w/Rich Swann & Josh Bishop vs Sami Callihan

As the bell sounds, Sami knocks Rich off the apron, Low Bridges AJ, does the Beats of the Bodhran on AJ and then AJ eats the offense and strategizes with his crew. Bishop and Rich swarm the ring, Sami allows himself to get distracted so AJ slides in and starts beating on Sami. AJ throats Sami across the middle rope and Rich makes his presence felt, AJ distracts the referee and Rich gets in a lot of cheap shots. Bishop throws Sami back in the ring, and AJ keeps up the pressure. Lots of 5 count chokes and leverage moves. After the commercial break ends, Sami dodges a Tennessee Whiskey Knee, gets in a few shots before Rich trips Sami as he’s setting up a Dive, and then AJ takes advantage of the position and hits the goofball knee strike.

AJ calls for his Chokeslam, Sami tries to break it with Axe Handles, then claws the eyes. Sami goes for a Scoop Slam, gets him part way up and then falls over. AJ Chokeslam again, but he bites his hand and starts fighting back. Launches himself at AJ, sends him bouncing off the ropes and uses the momentum to hit that Scoop Slam that was teased earlier. Sami goes for a Western Lariat but eats a Big Boot. AJ does a little Hulk Hogan pose to signal a Leg Drop, but Sami dodges and then connects on a Sliding Lariat. Thumbs Up, Thumbs….interference. Rich distracts the ref, Bishop lays out Sami, AJ connects with the Down Payment.

Hammer Your ASH (ASH by Elegance & Alexander Hammerstone) vs JuggerYoung (Jordynne Grace & Eric Young)

ASH and Jordynne exchange slaps and then Jordynne starts to out muscle ASH. Spinebuster from Jordynne, Juggernaut Driver attempt, but ASH fights off, rope run, Sattelite DDT into both tagging out. EY does the Flair corner flop, slides back in between Hammer’s legs, and connects on a Neckbreaker. EY is the quicker of the two, but Hammer finally gets his hands on him and a Release Belly to Belly into a full mount raining of fists, then a near fall. Hammer smashes EY in a corner, Arm Wringer into an Irish Whip across, but EY moves and Hammer tags out to ASH. ASH levels Jordynne, peppers EY with a few shots and pulls him back to their corner and starts some tandem offense with Hammerman. Hammer Guerilla Presses ASH and throws her into EY for a near fall. Hammer looks to aim for either a Powerbomb or Nightmare Pendulum, but EY drops it into a Small Package, pinfall kick out, they both run, Double Lariat spot. The Knockouts get tagged in.

Jordynne is in control early, World’s Strongest Slam into a Vader Bomb. Juggernaut Driver attempt, but ASH fights it off and tags out to Hammer. Jordynne and EY do some schoolyard stuff with the old Push while Jordynne is down to trip Hammer. All four get in, ASH gets leveled, EY gets leveled, Hammer and Jordynne have a brief face off, but Hammer throws Jordynne to the apron and ASH connects with a Meteora from the apron. Death Valley Driver from Young on Hammer, ASH stares in shock, EY tells her to get, ASH runs away. EY goes up for his Macho Elbow, and ASH causes him to fall to Hammer’s feet, Torture Rack, and EY submits.

Josh Alexander comes out, with new heel music. And it’s not that bad, definitely better than some other people’s new music. Josh yells at the crowd a bit, says he can’t wait til he’s back in a real Canadian town, like his home of Toronto. Then he drops the mic in lieu of an explanation. The crowd chants him off with the “Nah Nah Nah Nah, Hey Hey Hey”.

https://x.com/i/status/1816647373654724937

The System (Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers & JDC) w/Alisha Edwards vs Matt Hardy & The ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey)

JDC and Hardy start, but JDC quickly tags out to Myers and that doesn’t go well. Hardy grabs a hold of Myers, a few Delete chops, drags him to his corner and they all get in a few shots punctuated with Hardy getting tagged back in and an Elbow into Myers’ extended and worked on left arm. Myers stays isolated, back into the corner, Boot to the gut, Ace tags in and wallops Myers. Ace connects on Double Kicks, into Russian Leg Sweep and his half of Click Click Boom, for a 2 count. Myers finally gets free with a Jaw Breaker and tags out to Eddie. But The System gets no momentum, Ace stifles Eddie’s offense and starts a few quick tags with him and Bey for tandem offense. Moose finally comes down the ramp as Eddie kicked out of yet another pinfall attempt because The System has had nothing going for them. Eddie finally gets some offense since Moose was a big enough distraction.

Eddie thinks they have a spot, so he tags back in JDC, but The ABC stop him cold, tag in Matt Hardy, and Matt walks down JDC, but JDC Low Bridges. Matt is on the outside, so all of The System surrounds Hardy, then Joe Hendry’s music hits! That stops the heel beatdown, and we follow Hendry’s entire entrance. So that proves Hendry is bigger than the 8 other people in this frame. Not really sure if that’s optics you want to push along. Ace and JDC try to remind people there’s wrestling going on, but JDC thumbs the eye to get a little something going. Vertical Suplex for a near fall, tag out for Eddie and Eddie lights up Ace with some of those NOAH Chops. Ace retreats to the ropes and Alisha chokes him with the ropes while the ref is distracted.

Myers gets tagged in, Ace tries to use the crowd energy, Myers stops it at first but then Ace slips a Scoop Slam and tags out to Bey. Hot tag, strike rush, Double Stomp, educated feet, Leap Frog to the corner but Lish climbs on the apron and yells at Bey which stops his rhythm. Myers kicks his feet out and causes Bey to crash. Eddie tags in for a few shots, then to JDC and Slingshot Knees, Wringer Snapmare, Bow and Arrow Submission, and JDC is just doing solid wrestling work right now. Uppercut between the Shoulder Blades as Bey tries to get out, tag to Myers and Bey is still eating offense. Eddie tags in, Bey tries the Sunset Flip, but Eddie tags out before going over, so Myers folds up Bey for a near fall and then tags out to JDC who connects on a Standing Suplex, slams Bey’s face into the corner, Eddie tags in, and Bey finally fights up to his feet, Eddie just flatten Bey’s comeback, tries a Tiger Driver but eats an Enzuigiri for a simultaneous tag. JDC and Hardy come in, JDC tries to exit halfway in, but Hardy is wrecking shop. He disposes of Eddie, Myers slides in but eats a tandem Neckbreaker/DDT from Hardy. Face team does the Delete Corner Face Smashes. Poetry in Motion into a Side Effect into Corkscrew Swanton for only 2 since Myers breaks it up! Everyone throwing hands, referee is distracted, Moose comes in to Spear Hardy, but Hardy dodges and throws him into JDC (I get the call back), Hendry then lays out Moose with the big Lariat. Twist of Fate from Hardy, Splash from Bey, Broken Alphabet wins!

Overall Score: 4/10

Ugh, cliche promos, too damn much talking, a competitive squash match with an imbecile as our first “match”, into an overbooked and slow heel match, finally a decent tag match (with the right team going over), into another overbooked match with a “tease” for the mystery backup being more obvious than Jericho’s WWF debut.

Aside from the afore mentioned tag match, The Rascalz promo and The System Promo; this was hard to watch. A lot of cornball promos, Rosemary licks her conspiracy board, storylines got zero traction. Whoopity Doo, Ryan Nemeth got a match next week and we get an undead wedding.

While this was a bad episode, it was bad by at least new standards. We’re not back in the TNA Dark Days again, but this was…a useless show.

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!