The final chance for Block A!

This is it for A Block, and for El Desperado! He holds his Best of the Super Juniors fate in his hands, can he move on to the semifinals?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• KUSHIDA & Shoma Kato VS Dragon Dia & Ninja Mack; Dia & Mack win.
• DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS Robbie Eagles & Zack Sabre Jr; Eagles & ZSJ win.
• Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club; LIJ wins.
• HENARE & Callum Newman VS SHO & Yujiro Takahashi; Henare & Newman win.
• Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: Clark Connors VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Kanemaru wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: Kevin Knight VS BUSHI; Bushi wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: Titan VS TJP; TJP wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: Blake Christian VS Kosei Fujita; Fujita wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: El Desperado VS HAYATA; Desperado wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current A Block standings!

Titan: 5-3, 10 points
El Desperado: 5-3, 10 points
HAYATA: 5-3, 10 points
Blake Christian: 5-3, 10 points
Kevin Knight: 4-4, 8 points
Clark Connors: 4-4, 8 points
TJP: 4-4, 8 points
BUSHI: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Kosei Fujita: 2-6, 4 points [ELIMINATED]

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

100 Proof still has that outside shot, but he’s up against the Heel Master! Will Kanemaru stack this deck with a shot of whiskey? Or will he have to drink his sorrows with No Chaser?

The two stare down and Connors calls for the Too Sweet. Kanemaru just puts one out on Connors instead! Connors knees him low for it! The bell rings, Connors CLUBS Kanemaru, then whips him, but Kanemaru grabs ropes to stop. Kanemaru bails out, wants Connors to chill, but Connors chases him instead! They get in the ring and Kanemaru stomps away! Kanemaru runs, but into the JEEP- NO, Kanemaru dodges Connors and then dropkicks the legs out! Kanemaru drags Connors around to SMASH the knee! Kanemaru paces and then stomps Connors on the leg. Kanemaru gets Connors up but Connors throws down elbows!

Kanemaru kicks the bad leg again, runs, but into the JEEP FLIPPER! The fans fire up and Connors storms out after Kanemaru. Connors drags Kanemaru up, and POSTS him! Kanemaru goes down in a heap, Connors paces around, then Connors drags him up. Connors brings Kanemaru to the orange seats! They go up the bleachers as Connors has Kanemaru in a headlock! The fans fire up as they get closer to the action. The lights come up so everyone can see Connors ROCK Kanemaru with a right. Connors brings Kanemaru along, and snap suplexes to the floor! A bit double-edged for both men but Connors rises first.

The fans fire up with the War Dog as he roars. Connors puts one out on Kanemaru now, then leaves him behind. The fans fire up, the ring count is starting, and Connors goes after a Young Lion! The count is 15, Kanemaru has returned to floor level, and Connors sends the Young Lion at him! But Kanemaru anticipates it and sends the Young Lion into Connors! Kanemaru slides in at 17, Connors flounders around, CONNORS IS COUNTED OUT! KANEMARU WINS!

Winner: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, by count out (gains 2 points; Connors earns 0)

Connors can’t believe it! He tried to be tricky but got outsmarted by the Heel Master! 100 Proof is done, and does his best to cool off, but how will he explain this to David Finlay and the Dogs? HE SPEARS THE REF!! The fans boo as Connors is a sore loser, but he’s not done! He drags the ref out of the ring and drags him backstage! Will Connors make the ref explain this one to Finlay?

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

The way is open for The Jet to still fly into the semifinals! He just has to make it past The Black Mask, who uh, comes out as Huggy Wuggy from Poppy Playtime… Will Bushi make this a nightmare come true? Or will there still be more time on Knight’s flight?

The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two circle. They tie up, Bushi kicks low then whips. Knight reverses then hurdles, hurdles and bypasses, but Bushi avoids the dropkick! Knight still lands on his feet, and then drops down to copy Bushi’s taunt! The fans cheer and Bushi is beside himself! Bushi runs in, but Knight dumps him out! Knight then PLANCHAS, but Bushi slides in! Bushi WRECKS Knight with a dropkick, then builds speed, but Knight slides in! Tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Knight flexes while Bushi goes to a corner. Knight runs in but is put on the apron! Knight stays on his feet, but Bushi bails out to deny him a target.

Knight says Bushi’s smart, and then he comes running in around the way! Back up to the apron for a FLYING DROPKICK! The fans fire up as Knight rips Bushi’s shirt away! “TSUYOI~!” Knight then wipes the sweat away and tells Shingo Takagi on commentary, “Atsui, ne? <It’s hot, huh?>” Knight drags Bushi up, and says they’re going up! The fans cheer as the orange seats get another visit. Knight throws elbows down on Bushi to keep him going, but Bushi CHOPS! Knight UPPERCUTS! Knight bumps Bushi off the railing, then goes to the ledge! The fans fire up as Knight stands on the railing, for the CROSSBODY into a Young Lion!

Bushi uses a Young Lion as a shield, and now he brings Knight over to the other stairwell. Bushi knees low, SMACKS Knight off railing, and then he goes up to the ledge! The fans fire up as Bushi CROSSBODIES Knight down!! Bushi stands tall, the fans want another! Bushi struts to the steps, but then says no, he shouldn’t. Bushi brings Knight back to the ground level and puts him in the ring. The fans applaud and Bushi stands Knight up. Knight knees low, whips, but Bushi reverses and dropkicks the leg out! Bushi drags Knight around by that leg, and turns him for a HALF CRAB! Knight endures, crawls over, and has the ROPEBREAK!

Bushi holds until the ref counts 4, and then stomps the bad leg. Bushi drags Knight up, but Knight fires body shots in return. Knight ROCKS Bushi but Bushi kicks the leg! Bushi runs, but into the DROPKICK! The fans fire up again as Knight clutches his leg. Knight and Bushi go to corners, and Knight fires up again. Knight runs to STINGER SPLASH! Knight stomps a mudhole in, lets off as the ref counts, then runs back in, but Bushi BOOTS! Bushi runs, but into a scoop and SLAM! Then a JET SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Bushi stays in this but Knight stays focused! Knight goes to the apron, fans fire up as shakes out the bad leg.

Bushi rises, and Knight springboards in, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Knight is frustrated but the fans rally up again. Knight rises and roars and he brings Bushi up. Knight fireman’s carries, but Bushi fights free. Bushi reels Knight in, SHIN BREAKER! Bushi kicks, Knight blocks, Knight ducks the enzigiri but not the REWIND HEEL! Bushi goes to a corner, runs back in, CODE- NO, Knight manages to block! And then makes it a SKY 2 HIGH! And then a fireman’s carry, for the F5!! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up again as Bushi survives! Bushi flounders away but Knight pounds the mat. The fans rally, Knight runs up, SATELLITE-

NO, Bushi TOSSES Knight out of the ring! Knight clutches his knee but Bushi goes out after him. Bushi drags Knight back into the ring, the fans applaud, and Bushi goes up the corner! MISSILE DROPKICK to the leg! Bushi then gets said leg, SMASHES it, and then ties Knight up in the FABLE!! Knight endures and the fans rally as hard as they can! Knight reaches out, moves around, crawls his way over, but Bushi rolls him from the ropes! Knight flails, Bushi pins him down with a foot! Knight TAPS, Bushi wins!!

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

The Jet has been grounded once again, and he’s gonna miss out on the semifinals! He’ll just have to fight harder next year, it seems.

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

El Inmortal still has life in this tournament, and is hoping to return to the semifinals in back-to-back years. But Public Enemy told us just last round that he’s going to make a change so that he can finally get a win over Titan in their personal series. Will TJP conquer this ungovernable and the block for the United Empire? Or will Titan keep the faith and have another chance at the trophy?

Well, speaking of that change, TJP has once again transformed into the Aswang! TJP is ready to get scary if it means succeeding where he has failed before. The bell rings and TJP runs up to SHOTGUN! Titan bails out, TJP goes to the apron and CANNONBALLS! Direct hit and the fans fire up! TJP drags Titan up, POSTS him, and then goes looking under the ring. TJP doesn’t find what he needs, so he POSTS Titan again! TJP checks this corner, and yes, he finds a chair! TJP aims but Titan kicks low! Titan has the chair now, but TJP kicks low! TJP puts Titan in the ring, grabs the chair, but Titan DROPKICKS the chair into TJP!

Titan builds speed, and he DIVES! Down goes TJP and the fans fire up again! Titan stomps TJP, drags him into the ring, then hurries to go corner to corner! But TJP avoids the Loco Lariat, and has Titan in the ropes for a DRAPING FINAL CUT! TJP drags Titan up, whips him to a corner, then runs up to ELBOW him down! The fans rally up as TJP scrubs Titan’s face! TJP runs side to side, and he BOOT WASHES Titan halfway out the ring! The fans fire up and TJP paces. The fans want that again, so TJP brings Titan back in. TJP gives Titan more scrubbing, then runs, for another BOOT WASH! The fans fire up while Titan flops out of the ring.

TJP watches Titan roll back in, and is right on him with an UPPERCUT! TJP climbs up and BITES Titan through the mask! TJP spots out the sequins then pushes Titan down for a cover, TWO! Titan is still in this but TJP brings him up. Titan fires forearms in return! TJP kicks low, whips, but Titan ducks ‘n’ dodges, only for TJP to THESZ PRESS! Cover, TWO! TJP drags Titan back up, reels him in, HALF HATCH “ICHI!” Then TJP drags Titan up for HALF HATCH “NI!” TJP drags Titan up again but hangs Titan out to dry! The fans fire up as TJP goes up the corner and GUILLOTINE- NO, Titan avoids the splash to GAMANGIRI!

TJP staggers away, comes back, but Titan body scissors and throws him out of the ring! The fans fire up as Titan rises to TOP ROPE ASAI MOONSAULT!! Direct hit on TJP and a few Young Lions! The ref checks on everyone, and both Titan and TJP are still okay. Titan rises and roars, the fans fire up with him and put him in. Titan goes to the apron now, takes aim and the fans rally up. Titan springboards in to MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! The fans rally while Titan keeps his cool. Titan drags TJP up, reels him in for a fireman’s carry, but TJP fights free. Titan fires off a strike fest, SOBATS, then runs, but into a SOBAT from TJP!

TJP runs, Titan follows! TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! TJP survives and the fans rally up. Titan pounds the mat and watches TJP go to the corner. Off comes the elbow pad and Titan goes corner to corner! But TJP goes up and over! TORNADO DDT!! TJP turns things around on Titan and both men are down! The fans rally as hard as they can as TJP and Titan stir. Titan and TJP crawl towards each other at center, and go forehead to forehead as they stand. TJP fires the first forearm but Titan gives it back! They go shot for shot, back and forth, and the fans rally up! Titan ROCKS TJP, eggs him on, then SOBATS!

Titan runs, but into a mule kick! TJP runs, but Titan goes Matrix to then SUPERKICK! TJP flops to the apron but Titan hurries over! The fans rally as Titan climbs, and APRON DIVING STOMPS!! Both men flop to the floor, but Titan roars as he rises again! The fans fire up and Titan drags TJP up and into the ring. Titan climbs up a corner, gets his bad leg working, and he aims for the DIVING DOUBLE- NO, TJP moves and catches that leg! PINOY STRETCH!! Titan flails, reaches out, crawls, pulls at hair, but TJP pulls on the hold! Titan still drags TJP along with him as he moves forward, to the ROPEBREAK!

The fans cheer while TJP lets go in frustration. TJP drags Titan up to wrench, fireman’s carry, and DETONATION- NO! Titan blocks the kick, and now he steps through! Titan has the deathlock, but TJP makes it a cradle! TWO!! Titan escapes, but TJP SUPERKICKS! TJP whips, Titan reverses and TORNADO roll through, to a GOURD BUSTER! But TJP blocks a superkick to slips around, LEG CAPTURE SUPELX!! The fans are thunderous and TJP hurries to a corner! TJP reconsiders, he goes to the other corner. TJP goes up, MAMBA SPLASH onto knees! That delay saves Titan and he runs up to SHOTGUN TJP!

TJP is in a corner, Titan hurries to go corner to corner! LOCO LARIAT!! TJP flops back, Titan rises to the top rope! The fans rally as hard as they can as Titan DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS!! But Titan isn’t done there, he roars and goes to the apron! Titan springboards, LA LANZA!! Cover, TWO!! And TJP ends up sending Titan onto the ref!! The fans are thunderous but Titan doesn’t realize what happened! Titan just skins the cat to the top rope! Titan reloads and DIVING DOUBLE- BLOOD MIST!!! ONE BY ONE!!! Cover, TWO!!! Titan survives but TJP goes up top now! MAMBA SPLASH!! Cover, TWO?!?! No one can believe that El Inmortal still lives!

TJP pounds the mat, the fans join in, “T! J P! T! J P!” NOVA FIREBALL!! Cover, TJP WINS!!

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

The Aswang’s attack on Titan succeeds! TJP has assured Titan will NOT return to the semifinals, but there is still only a sliver of hope for TJP himself. Will that door stay cracked open for The Public Enemy to slip in? Or will it be slammed shut in a matter of moments?

Best of the Super Juniors 31 A Block: Blake Christian VS Kosei Fujita w/ TMDK!

It has been upset after upset tonight in the block, and now All Heat is in the hot seat! Can he make it through here to head for the semifinals? Or will the Ichiban Young Punk extinguish the flames in the final round?

Fujita attacks the moment Blake’s on the apron! The bell rings and Fujita builds speed to FLY! Direct hit and down goes Blake! The fans fire up with Fujita and he gets Blake up into the ring. Cover, TWO! Fujita keeps moving and he PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! Fujita goes out to the apron, springboards in, but Blake gets under. Fujita comes back, Blake dodges and BOOTS in the corner! Blake pushes Fujita, then goes to the apron himself, so he can springboard and DOUBLE STOMP the arm! Blake then TOSSES Fujita out, and finally gets his vest off. The fans rally as Blake builds speed, and he WRECKS Fujita with a dropkick!

Blake rolls back into the ring, builds speed again, and he FLIES out onto Fujita! Direct hit and the fans fire up! Blake shakes out his arms, drags Fujita back up, and wrenches Fujita’s bad arm for an ELBOW BREAKER! Blake puts Fujita on the apron, pulls on the bad arm, and he mockingly claps with Fujita’s hand. Blake makes Fujita flip us off, then he BITES that finger! The fans boo but Blake smirks as he kicks Fujita in. Blake turns Fujita over, traps the good arm, then pulls on the bad arm! Blake stands on the arm, and he STOMPS it! Fujita writhes while even fans wince from that. Blake paces around Fujita, then drags him back up.

Blake wrenches to ELBOW BREAKER the bad arm again! Blake then goes to ropes, wraps the arm around ropes, but the ref counts. Blake CLUBS Fujita’s arm as he lets off, then taunts ZSJ and Eagles. Blake brings Fujita up, but Fujita ROCKS him with a forearm! Blake smirks, eggs Fujita on, so Fujita fires more forearms! Fujita storms up on Blake, waistlocks, but Blake holds ropes to stop the lift. Blake throws elbows, then PELES the bad arm! Fujita writhes, Blake checks his chin, then Blake storms over. Blake drags Fujita up, whips him to ropes, but Fujita reverses to GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up while both men are down!

Blake crawls to a corner, ZSJ & Eagles coach Fujita in the other. The fans rally, Fujita runs up on Blake, and he CHOPS! Fujita pushes Blake down, goes out to the apron, and he springboards in to MISSILE DROPKICK! Direct hit and Fujita hurries to cover, TWO! Blake is tougher than that but Fujita grits his teeth. The fans rally, Fujita waistlocks and deadlifts, but Blake throws elbows. Fujita ducks one and jumps on, GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! Fujita also has the body scissors in! Blake powers up, and powers out with a back drop! The fans rally, Fujita rises, and Blake ROUNDHOUSES! Blake runs, handsprings, but into the waistlock!

Fujita GERMAN SUPLEXES, but Blake lands on his feet! Basement dropkick! Fujita flounders away and Blake grits his teeth as he goes to the corner. Blake runs up to SHOTGUN Fujita into the other corner! Fujita flops out of the ring and the fans rally up. Blake builds speed and DIVES into a GAMANGIRI! Fujita then slingshots, but into a GAMANGIRI! Blake has Fujita stuck on the ropes, and then springboards, to GUILLOTINE 450!! Cover, TWO!! Fujita survives and the fans fire up again! Blake hears Korakuen Hall cheering for “FUJITA! FUJITA!” but he shrugs it off to run up, step up, but Fujita dodges the stomp!

Blake JUMP KNEES, runs up, but into a POP-UP GERMAN!! Bridging cover, TWO!! Fujita roars and the fans fire up again! Fujita drags Blake up, suplexes, but Blake fights it! So Fujita GUILLOTINE FACELOCKS! But Blake wrenches the bad arm, hammerlock, half nelsons, CRADLE! TWO!! Fujita escapes and both men stagger to their feet. Fujita waistlocks, Blake pries at the bad arm, and BITES the hand! Then ELBOW BREAKERS! The fans boo but Blake builds speed to handspring, NEURALIZER KICK! Both men are down and the fans rally up more. Blake goes to a corner, climbs, but Fujita ROCKS him first!

Fujita climbs, brings Blake up, but Blake fires body shots! Blake slips under, CLUBS Fujita, then he goes up the ropes to get Fujita for an INVERTED SPANISH FLY!! And then FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! Fujita flails, Blake switches around into a RINGS OF SATURN!! Fujita endures, reaches out, ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer, Blake lets go, but Blake is still smiling! STEP-UP STOMP!! Cover, TWO?!?! Fujita survives and shocks Blake! The fans are thunderous but Blake vows to end this! Blake goes to the apron, springboards, HEAT 450 but Fujita moves! Blake hits the mat knees first! Fujita waistlocks to deadlift GERMAN SUPLEX!

Fujita holds on to get Blake up again, spin and suplex, ABANDON HOPE!! Fujita crawls to the cover, FUJITA WINS!!

Winner: Kosei Fujita, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Blake earns 0)

The Mighty Don’t Kneel, and in this case, they come away with an upset! Is Blake out of luck? Or can he rise from the ashes to still have a chance?

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

This is the one “win and you’re in” match of the entire night, but that means there’s no hope for the loser! Will the Rogue Luchador make good on his promise to finally win it all? Or will he be left out in the cold Silence of Darkness?

The bell rings and the fans rally up already. Despe and Hayata slowly circle, feel out the knuckle lock, then break. They tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, Despe waistlocks, but Hayata switches. Despe spins around to get a facelock but Hayata wrenches out of the wristlock. Despe rolls, wrenches, wristlocks, but Hayata slips through and wrenches back. Despe turns around, traps both Hayata’s arms, then gets a headlock for the takeover. Hayata headscissors back, and fans applaud this opening exchange. Despe bridges, moves around, and he traps Hayata’s legs to turn him over. Despe rolls back to have the deathlock and the fans applaud.

Despe reclines back on Hayata, has the headlock, but Hayata powers out the back to hammerlock. Hayata keeps Despe down on the mat, then SNAP LOCKS the arm. Despe endures, rolls, spins and trips Hayata to get the toehold. Hayata fights back with a chinlock but Despe pulls on the leg. Despe then drags Hayata to have a standing toehold, that he then laces legs for a deeper hold. Hayata endures, turns over and flips things around on Despe to get the arm. Despe fights up, goes to the ROPEBREAK, and Red Shoes calls it. Hayata lets go slowly and cleanly, and the fans applaud. The two reset and circle again.

Despe rushes in but Hayata trips him. Hayata runs, Despe stays low but Hayata handsprings. They keep moving, going perpendicular, but then Hayata hits an atomic drop! Hayata runs to SHOTGUN BOOT! The fans fire up while Despe bails out, and Hayata builds speed. Despe ducks so Hayata handsprings and waits him out. Despe stands, Hayata PLANCHAS, but Hayata lands safe on the apron as Despe moves back. But then Despe trips Hayata! Hayata falls on the apron, and Despe gets him for a STRETCH MUFFLER! And then NUMERO DOS!! Despe keeps Hayata off the floor for a few moments, then drops him down.

Despe brings Hayata around and YANKS the bad leg. The fans rally, Despe gets Hayata up and puts him in the ring. Hayata takes a swing but Despe blocks! Despe ROCKS Hayata, but then Hayata grabs an arm to HOTSHOT! Hayata goes up and up and SHOTGUNS Despe down! Despe staggers away while clutching his arm but Hayata goes out to pursue. Hayata drags Despe up, wrenches, hammerlocks, and he POSTS Despe, shoulder first! Despe falls back, Red Shoes checks him, but Hayata storms over. Hayata drags Despe up, hammerlocks the arm and POSTS it again! Despe falls, clutching the elbow, and the ring count starts.

Hayata twists Despe’s arm, drags him up, and puts him in at 10 of 20. Hayata then SLAMS Despe’s arm on the apron! The fans rally, Hayata steps in and he drags Despe to drop a leg on the arm! Hayata scissors the arm, Despe throws body shots, and Despe crawls along to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Red Shoes counts, and Hayata lets off. Hayata drags Despe up, bumps him off buckles, and then wraps the bad arm around ropes! Red Shoes counts, Hayata pulls but lets off at 4. Hayata then goes to the apron and pulls the arm! Red Shoes counts, Hayata lets go, and Despe staggers away to the far corner.

The fans rally as Hayata storms up. Despe fires body shots and a CHOP, but Hayata wrenches and CLUBS the arm! Hayata wrenches to a wristlock, then arm-drags Despe down. Hayata arm-drags again, knuckle locks and drops for an ARM JAMMER! Despe staggers away while the fans applaud. Hayata storms over, drags Despe up, but Despe fires CHOP after CHOP! Despe CHOPS, whips, but Hayata reverses to ENZIGIRI! Despe falls and the fans rally up again. Hayata runs up, but into a scoop and BIG back suplex! The fans fire up again while both men are down. Despe watches Hayata go to a corner, runs up and ELBOWS!

Despe reels Hayata in, suplexes high and hard, and the fans cheer. Cover, TWO! Despe YANKS the bad leg, hits a GROUND DRAGON SCREW, and the fans rally again. Despe drags Hayata around to have the STRETCH MUFFLER! Hayata scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes counts while Despe thrashes, and Despe lets go. “Oops!” Knee drop on the knee! Red Shoes reprimands but Despe says it was an accident. Despe stands on Hayata’s leg, that’s no accident. Hayata pushes him, so Despe stands Hayata up. Hayata fires a forearm, and another, but Despe kicks the leg out. Despe then reels Hayata in for a SHIN- Hayata KNEES free!

Hayata goes to a corner, then runs to SHOTGUN Despe down! The fans fire up, Hayata drags Despe to a drop zone then goes up the corner. SECOND ROPE SAULT! But the bad leg hurts a bit so Hayata’s late on the cover, TWO! The fans rally, Hayata shakes out the leg and goes back for Despe. Hayata drags Despe up, crosses the arms, but Despe wrenches out to hit a BIG back suplex! The fans fire up and so does Despe! Despe gut wrenches, GUITARRA DEL ANGEL! Cover, TWO! Hayata is still in this and the fans fire up! Despe snarls, drags Hayata up, and he underhooks. But Hayata wrenches out to hit another ARM JAMMER!

Hayata runs to ARMBAR BULLDOG! And then a DEEP hammerlock! Desperado scrambles forward, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Red Shoes counts, and Hayata lets go in frustration. Despe clutches the arm and the fans rally for him but Hayata stands up first. Hayata drags Despe up, wrenches, but Despe fires a forearm. Hayata YANKS the arm, Despe fires another forearm! Hayata CLUBS the arm, Despe throws a KICK! Despe swings, Hayata gets around and STRAITJACKET DDTS! SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!! Despe survives and the fans fire up again! Hayata is a bit surprised, but he drags Despe back up.

The fans rally for Despe as Hayata reels him in, 403- NO, Despe fights and lifts Hayata! Hayata fights that, kicks and whips, but Despe reverses to SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO, into STRETCH MUFFLER!! Hayata flails, but still ends up in the NUMERO DOS!! Hayata flails with his free arm, reaches out, but Despe drags him back! But Hayata powers out to hammerlock the arm! AND BRIDGE!! Despe endures, flails, reaches out, kicks around, and the fans are thunderous! Hayata has to reset, and Despe claws forward! Hayata BRIDGES again! Despe kicks and kicks, fights his way around, and manages to BOOT Hayata!

The fans fire up as Despe is free, clutching the bad arm. Despe and Hayata stir, slowly rise, and head for each other. They go forehead to forehead, then Despe fires a forearm! Hayata fires a forearm back! Despe gives another, so Hayata gives it back! The fans rally as Despe fires another! They go back and forth, Hayata wobbles, but then he CLUBS the bad arm! Despe ROCKS Hayata with the other elbow! Both men fall and the fans fire up again! Hayata roars and eggs Despe on! Despe stands and KICKS the leg! Despe grins, gets the leg, but Hayata ENZIGIRIS! Hayata runs up, but into a wrench, spin and underhook! But Hayata wrenches out!

Hayata goes after the arm but Despe fights the takedown! Despe rolls, gets the leg, STRETCH MUFFLER, but Hayata rolls to a cradle! TWO!! Despe swings, into a takedown! High stack, TWO, but Hayata OKLAHOMA ROLLS! TWO!! Hayata gets Despe in a ghost pin! TWO!!! Despe escapes the onslaught and the fans are thunderous! Hayata swings, but into a wrench, underhook, backslide! TWO!! But back to underhooks, and PINCHE LOCO!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Hayata survives and Despe is in disbelief! The fans are thunderous and dueling now as Despe rises. Despe throws off his elbow pad and he drags Hayata back up.

Despe reels Hayata in, underhooks, PINCHE- NO, Hayata fights and crosses the arms! STRAITJACKET DDT!! Despe flops over and the fans fire up again! Hayata rises, he slashes his throat, and he drags Despe back up! 403- NO, Despe fights the Impact! So Hayata gets a leg, FISHERMAN’S SCREW! Hayata hurries to reset, 403 IMPACT!!! But he has to crawl to the cover!! ROPEBREAK!!! Despe survives by a literal foot and Hayata can’t believe it! The fans are thunderous again as Hayata rises! Hayata waits on Despe as the fans rally up. Despe sits up, Hayata runs up, but into an UPPERCUT! And ROLLING ELBOW!

But Hayata SUPERKICKS! Despe falls to his knees again, and Hayata vows to end this! Hayata runs, into a SPINEBUSTER!! Flip over and underhooks, JAY DRILLER!! And then PINCHE LOCO!!! Cover, DESPE WINS!!

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

The Rogue Luchador toughs it out and takes the top spot in the semifinals! But he still shows the GHC National Champion respect by bringing him the icepack and shaking his hand. But with Hayata eliminated, the math says the other semifinalist is… T J P! The Aswang’s win over Titan tonight and over both Blake and Hayata in previous rounds means he has the opportunity to conquer the BOSJ for the United Empire!

As for our top seed in A Block, Despe gets the mic to admit that if the roles were reversed and Hayata won the block his first time in this tournament, everyone other than NJPW fans would be excited. And Despe gets it. He’s not making fun of non-NJPW fans, he just knows it’d be more shocking. But Despe is grateful that it was Hayata who he got to face in this last round. Despe might not have made it through if he had to go on earlier. He was so nervous, he barely ate anything after lunch! The fans applaud that, knowing the feeling.

Despe says this time last year, he made it to the semifinal round, only to lose to Titan. B Block is tomorrow, and the match-ups will be decided after that. He looks forward to that. The fans applaud in agreement, but Despe adds that in the end, HE will be going to the Dominion main event in Osaka-Jo Hall, and HE will be the one to get the “last buzz.” The fans cheer that, too, and Despe leaves it at that. Will Despe finally prove he is the Best of the Super Juniors?

Here are the FINAL A Block standings!

El Desperado: 6-3, 12 points [SEMIFINALIST]
TJP: 5-4, 10 points [SEMIFINALIST]
HAYATA: 5-4, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
Blake Christian: 5-4, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
Titan: 5-4, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
Kevin Knight: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Clark Connors: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
BUSHI: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Kosei Fujita: 3-6, 6 points [ELIMINATED]

My Thoughts:

A great night for BOSJ, and a great final round for A Block. For one, I did not think they’d give us so many upset/spoiler victories. Kanemaru snatching things so quick from Connors was great, though. I feel like the tensions between War Dogs and House of Torture need to continue until finally, we get a proper Bullet Club Civil War arc. Great win for TJP over Titan, and great to see that he’ll be going into the next phase with Desperado. Despe VS Hayata was a great main event, and I feel like we’ll get a parallel with how Hiromu VS Taiji are fighting for the top spot.

At the same time, Taiji beat so many of the others that if Hiromu won, I think Taiji would still go into the semis. Taiji winning opens the way for Douki, one of the only two to get a win on Hiromu. Kushida is the other but he’s too far down, so it is really just Douki VS Eagles and Hiromu VS Taiji that affect the semifinals. Douki, Taiji, Hiromu, any of those would make great opponents for Despe and TJP.

My Score: 8.9/10