It all comes down to this!

El Desperado and TJP await in the Best of the Super Juniors semifinals! Hiromu and Taiji control their own fate, so who’s in and who’s out?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: The House of Torture VS Shota Umino, Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima; The House of Torture wins.
• Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Kevin Knight & Tomoaki Honma VS HAYATA, Blake Christian & Boltin Oleg; Hayata, Blake & Oleg win.
• Kosei Fujita & Zack Sabre Jr. VS Clark Connors & Gedo; Fujita & ZSJ win.
• Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire; The Unite Empire wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 31 B Block: Dragon Dia VS KUSHIDA; Dia wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 31 B Block: Ninja Mack VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Drilla wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 31 B Block: DOUKI VS Robbie Eagles; Douki wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 31 B Block: Hiromu Takahashi VS Taiji Ishimori; Taiji wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current B Block standings!

Taiji Ishimori: 6-2, 12 points
Hiromu Takahashi: 6-2, 12 points
DOUKI: 5-3, 10 points
Robbie Eagles: 5-3, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
SHO: 5-4, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
“Drilla” Moloney: 4-4, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
KUSHIDA: 4-4, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Ninja Mack: 4-4, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Francesco Akira: 2-3, 4 points [FORFEIT]
Dragon Dia: 0-8, 0 points [ELIMINATED]

After the opening Six Man Tag…

The House of Torture won with their nefarious means as usual, but Evil still needed to send a message. He gets the mic and he tells Shota that Jon Moxley is running from The King of Darkness! The fans boo but Evil says that in Osaka-Jo Hall, there will be NO running, NO escape! It is decided as Evil has made this a LUMBERJACK MATCH! Moxley doesn’t have enough friends, though, so this will be the “first-ever Handicap Lumberjack Match!” Evil has allies, Moxley doesn’t have a friend in the world! Remember that! Shota storms back into the ring to go after Evil, but he gets mugged by the entire House!

Evil holds up his copy of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, and Kanemaru holds up a Moxley shirt that has Evil’s name spray painted over it. The “President of Darkness” has already declared himself winner, and he makes the Young Lions who teamed with Shota pay by putting on a SCORPION DEATHLOCK! The House heads out, but will The Maniac return to NJPW to find Everything is Evil?

Ryusuke Taguchi is here!

Korakuen Hall is happy to see The Funky Weapon again, an injury keeping him out of his first Best of the Super Juniors ever! Taguchi is given the mic, and he pretends it isn’t on. He then says to get serious, his injury did make him miss time and he apologizes for that. But fortunately, he has been recovering, and he will come back in the near future. Taguchi opens everyone can appreciate his wrestling again soon, just wait a little longer. The fans cheer that, and Taguchi then says that he appreciates all the encouraging messages on social media, and wishes to reply to them. Find them on his YouTube channel, Taguchi6.9.

Taguchi knows the BOSJ is wrapping the round robin league, so this is very different for him to be watching as a fan. It is the fans’ support that powers these guys to  be the best they can be, and he knows Dragon Dia being his substitute really needs that right now. Taguchi thanks everyone for coming and hopes they have a great night. Taguchi now joins commentary for tonight, but when and where will Taguchi make his return to the ring?

Best of the Super Juniors 31 B Block: Dragon Dia VS KUSHIDA!

The Infinity Carat Diamond lost out on his chance long before this point, but the Timesplitter can’t reach the semifinals either now. Will Dia at least get the goose egg out of his win column? Or will Kushida still go Back to the Future?

Kushida makes his entrance and WHOA, Dia DROPKICKS Kushida off the corner! Dia keeps moving and he FLIES! Down goes Kushida, the bell rings, and Dia keeps moving! Roll and REPTILIAN KAI!! Cover, TWO!! Kushida escapes but Dia fires up! Dia goes up a corner, takes aim, D D D D- NO, Kushida bails out to avoid the 4DT! Kushida gets his vest off, Dia rushes out after him, but Kushida slides in. Dia slides in, but narrowly avoids a Penalty Kick! Kushida headlocks, he grinds Dia down, and the fans rally up. Dia endures the grind, fights up, but Kushida holds on tight as Dia tries to power out! Dia rolls to a cover, ONE, but Dia has the headlock.

Kushida headscissors, hooks a leg and has the cover, TWO! Dia escapes but Kushida scoop SLAMS him! Kushida gets Dia up, whips, then clamps on a SLEEPER! Dia endures again as Kushida grinds him down. Dia fights around, rises up, and the fans rally. But Kushida wrangles Dia back down! Dia still fights up, throws some elbows, and is free! Dia runs, but back into the SLEEPER! Kushida drags Dia down with body scissors! Dia endures, fights around, and fans rally again, ROPEBREAK! Kushida lets go cleanly and Dia goes to the apron. Kushida kicks Dia to the floor! Kushida goes out to get Dia, but Dia fires forearms!

Kushida grabs the other arm, hammerlocks it and POSTS it! Dia falls over, clutching that arm, and Kushida refreshes the ring count. Kushida scoops Dia to SLAM him on the floor! Kushida leaves Dia behind, the count climbs, and we pass 10 of 20. The fans rally, Dia rises at 12 and slides in at 13! Kushida drags Dia up to TOSS him out the other side! Kushida then goes out to scoop and SLAM Dia again! The count restarts as Kushida leaves Dia behind. Dia clutches the bad arm, grits his teeth as he stirs, and the fans rally up. The count passes 10, then 12! Then 15! Dia slides in at 16, but Kushida is right on him.

Kushida TOSSES Dia out the other side, goes out, but DIa fights the scoop to scoop Kushida! SLAM! The fans fire up as Dia leaves Kushida behind now! Kushida is up at 7 and slides in at 8, but Dia brings him up. Kushida KICKS Dia in the leg! And again! But Dia jumps the kick to DOUBLE STOMP in return! The fans fire up, Dia SOBATS, LEG SWEEPS, and STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Dia grits his teeth as he stalks Kushida to a corner. Dia puts Kushida up top, then climbs up after him. The fans rally up and Dia goes to the very top, to SUPER FLYING HEADSCISSORS! Kushida goes flying and the fans fire up!

Dia goes back up and he takes aim! Kushida rises, into the D D D D- NO, Kushida avoids the 4DT again! Wheelbarrow, roll, turnover and PENALTY- NO, Dia avoids the kick again! Kushida storms up on Dia, whips, but Dia holds ropes to stop! Then Dia trips Kushida onto ropes! 61- NO, Kushida catches Dia and rolls him to the HOVERBOARD!! Dia endures, the fans rally up, and Dia rises! Dia wrenches out, fires forearms, but Kushida KICKS the bad arm! Dia roars, ducks ‘n’ dodges, tilt-o-whirls, but Kushida turns that into a FACEBUSTER! PENALTY KICK to the arm! Dia stands up, into the SHOTEI!! Cover, TWO!!

The fans are thunderous as Dia survives! They rally behind the underdog as Kushida takes aim. Dia rises, avoids Kushida, roll up and stack, TWO! Dia ENZIGIRIS Kushida, but Kushida PELES back! Kushida runs, but into a HIP ATTACK!! Shoutout to Taguchi and even he’s impressed! Kushida stumbles to the ropes, Dia redials, and hits the 619! And then Dia goes up top to take aim! Kushida rises, D D D D T!!! Cover, DIA WINS!!

Winner: Dragon Dia, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Kushida earns 0)

Taguchi says wonderfully done! It was a hard road filling Taguchi’s shoes in this tournament, but Dia finally shines! These two points mean the world to Dia, will his future be bright from now on?

Best of the Super Juniors 31 B Block: Ninja Mack VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney!

Another case where both men are out of the running but still fighting for pride, the American Shinobi takes on the Abunai Gaijin! Will the Mack attack at least finish with a winning record? Or will he get shot down by the 44 Caliber?

The bell rings and the fans rally for “NINJA! NINJA!” But Drilla gets a mic to speak. “Why? Why am I out here? Kenta, do you know why? Nani? Why am I here right now? I am tired. I am hurt. I have a hangover. And I’ve argued with NJPW office all night and all day, because I do not want to be here. Me and Clark Connors, who you all came to see, we are not in the finals because of two fluke victories by two fluke wrestlers. And I tried, dove, I wanted to give you a really good match today. I really, really did. But… I’m gonna do something even nicer for you. Yeah.

“Today, you get to go back to Pro-Wrestling Noah and tell all the lil’ ninjas that you have a win over one-half of the greatest tag team currently walking this earth. You don’t clap at that! Kenta. Count start, onegaishimasu.” Drilla drops the mic and bails out. He is just gonna walk away? The fans boo, and then Mack storms out after him! This is NJPW Best of the Super Juniors! The fans deserve better than this! Drilla doesn’t care, he just hears the count climbing. Mack says it won’t end like this, and the fans are even encouraging Drilla with chants. The count is 10 of 20, and Drilla attacks Mack!

Drilla puts Mack in the ring, throws off his vest, and he gets int he ring! Drilla is serious now but Mack arm-drags him! Drilla avoids the next arm-drag to waistlock and SLAM! Drilla holds on tight and says this is what Mack gets for being a tough guy! Drilla SLAMS him again! Mack fights, slips out the back, and arm-drags again! The fans cheer as Mack grinds the arm. Mack says Drilla can still quit now if he wants! Mack CHOPS Drilla’s shoulder, but Drilla fights up to put Mack in a corner. The ref counts, Drilla lets off at 4 to whip corner to corner, But Mack goes up and up and tornillos through the air! Then he arm-drags, and DOUBLE CHOPS!

Mack knuckle locks, CHOPS, and goes up and up! The fans fire up for the ninja tightrope walk, but Drilla YANKS him down! Mack flips through to land on his feet! The fans cheer, but Drilla SPINEBUSTERS to DOUBLE STOMP SENTON COMBO! Cover, TWO! Mack is still in this and the fans rally up. Drilla fumes, but Mack catches him to a ghost pin! TWO, Mack runs but slips out of a scoop. Mack headlocks, Drilla DUMPS him out of the ring, but Mack lands on his feet again! Mack drags Drilla out, but no arm-drag this time! Drilla whips, but Mack goes up onto the stage! Mack leaps, Drilla gets clear, and he SUPERKICKS Mack down!

The fans rally up while Drilla paces. Drilla stalks Mack, drags him up, and CHOPS him down! Mack crawls over to English commentary, Drilla drags him up and CHOPS him down! Drilla says Mack should’ve taken the easy way out. Drilla puts Mack in the ring, but Mack SUPERKICKS him back! Mack fires up and the fans rally as he runs. Drilla gets in to stop the handspring, and scoops for a pop up and DRILLA- NO, Mack lands out to SUPERKICK! And LION’S BARRAGE! Drilla bails out, Mack somersaults and runs, to handspring for the SASUKE SPECIAL! But Drilla catches him!! And pops him around, DRILLA KILLA on the floor!!

The fans go nuts and the ref checks Mack! Drilla shoves the ref in the ring and tells him to count! The ref does as told and the count begins. Mack barely moves as we reach 10 of 20! He revives at 11, reaches out, but he’s still down at 15! Drilla paces, we’re at 17! 18! Mack’s still down at 20, Drilla wins!!

Winner: “Drilla” Moloney, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Mack earns 0)

Maybe Ninja Mack should’ve just let Drilla throw this one away. Now Drilla’s the one standing tall while Mack is down on the ground. Will 44 Caliber make sure those “flukes” get corrected at Dominion?

Best of the Super Juniors 31 B Block: DOUKI VS Robbie Eagles!

Japones Del Mal still needs to depend on The Bone Soldier to take out the Ticking Timebomb, but he must also win for himself! Will Douki finally reach that next level? Or will the Sniper of the Skies shoot down his hopes and dreams?

The bell rings and the fans rally and duel. The “DOUKI! DOUKI!” chants are good, but there are plenty of “ROBBIE! ROBBIE!” The two tie up, go around in a deadlock, then break. The fans continue to rally as the two reset. Eagles wants everyone to settle down, but Korakuen is rowdy tonight. He still gets a “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” The fans cheer, but then Douki says shut up, Robbie! The two circle, tie up again, and Eagles headlocks. Douki powers up and out, but Eagles runs him over!

Things keep moving, Douki drops, then hurdles, then does the splits! Eagles leaps over the monkey flip to wheelbarrow, but Douki wants the full nelson! Eagles fights that off, and wants the backpack! Douki arm-drags free of that, but Eagles comes back to arm-drag! Douki sweeps, ONE! Eagles sweeps, ONE! Both men handspring up, and then both anticipate the arm-drag! The fans cheer as the two stand off! Eagles and Douki go again, but Eagles avoids Douki’s dropkick! Eagles wags his finger, goes up and around to arm-drag, then keeps moving. Eagles hurdles, comes back to RANA, but Douki slips through to roll him up! TWO!

Eagles shoves Douki down, but Douki rolls to RANA! Douki RAMS Eagles, springboards, but Eagles catches him to a SNAP SAIDO! The fans rally while Eagles catches his breath. Eagles drags Douki up, then HAMMERS him with an elbow! Eagles KICKS Douki in the back, taunts the fans rallying for Douki, then digs his elbow into Douki’s head. Eagles ELBOWS Douki down, covers, TWO! The fans rally as Douki stays in this, and Douki fires body shots. Eagles KICKS Douki’s leg! And KICKS! Douki blocks one, but Eagles rolls to get the KNEEBAR! Douki crawls forward to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Eagles lets off.

Douki clutches his knee, but Eagles drops knees on the knee! Eagles paces, gives Douki some toying kicks, but Douki gets mad and stands right up! Douki fires forearms, but Eagles winds up to ROCK Douki back! Eagles eggs Douki on and Douki fires forearms! Eagles CHOPS in return! Eagles eggs Douki on more so Douki fires a flurry of forearms! Eagles kicks the bad leg! Eagles runs, avoids the dropkick again, and again says he’s too smart. Eagles runs, but Douki JUMP HEADBUTTS! The fans fire up while both men are down! Eagles rises first while Douki gets his bad leg working. Douki fires off haymakers, then powers up to ROCK Eagles!

Douki whips, Eagles reverses, but Douki arm-drags through! Douki slips around to arm-drag again! Douki dodges a boot, springboards and FLYING BACK ELBOWS! The fans fire up and Douki gets Eagles up, for a DDT! Cover, TWO! Eagles stays in this but Douki slaps his bad leg into working. Douki gets Eagles up, scoops, but Eagles fights that with elbows! Douki ROCKS Eagles with an elbow! Eagles staggers to ropes, Douki brings him around, SAHARAWI- NO, Eagles slips through to sunset flip! TWO, but Eagles steps through, RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Douki scrambles around, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Eagles lets go at 4.

Douki crawls to a corner, Eagles pounds the mat and the fans rally up. Eagles runs corner to corner to DOUBLE KNEE! Eagles goes again but Douki BOOTS him! But Eagles basement 619s! Then METEORA! The fans fire up, Eagles drags Douki to the cover, TWO! Douki is still in this so Eagles KICKS the leg again and again, then SPIN TOEHOLDS! The fans rally for Douki but Eagles goes up the corner. Eagles aims, WARP 4.5- NO, he has to bail out as Douki moves! Eagles runs back at the corner but Douki puts him on the apron. Douki swings but Eagles counters to GAMANGIRI! Douki staggers, Eagles springboards, but Douki gets under!

Douki kicks, Eagles blocks, but Douki says no to the backpack! So Eagles CHOP BLOCKS and runs to BLINDSIDE LARIAT! The fans fire up while Douki is down and Eagles catches his breath. Eagles stands on Douki’s bad leg, then steps off to aim. Eagles KICKS Douki in the chest! And KICK! And KICK! Douki anchors a leg to keep Eagles from runnign ropes. Douki eggs Eagles on, so Eagles KICKS, KICKS, KICKS, KICKS and KICKS! Douki fires up and tells Eagles to bring it! BUZZSAW! Eagles runs, but Douki blocks Hyperion! But Eagles SOBATS! ASAI DD- NO, Douki slips free! Douki goes to run, Eagles stops him, but Douki kicks free to ENZIGIRI!

Eagles runs back up but into a LARIAT! Eagles says I’ll Be Back, but Douki ducks the Heel Kick to Gory Especial! DODON NO JUTSU! Cover, TWO!! Eagles slips free, but ends up ITALIAN STRETCH #32!! Eagles endures, reaches out, and the fans fire up as he scoots back! Eagles kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Douki lets go and Eagles bails out. The fans rally as Douki builds speed, to DIVE and TORNADO DDT to the floor!! The fans fire up for the Tope DDT and the ref checks on Eagles. Eagles is okay to continue and Douki fires up! Douki puts Eagles in, aims from the apron, slingshot and DAYBREAK!! Cover, TWO!!

Eagles survives and the fans fire up again! Douki huffs and puffs and fires up again! Douki stalks Eagles, wheelbarrows, but Eagles cravats! ASAI DDT! Both men are down again and the fans rally more! Eagles crawls his way over while checking his neck. Eagles drags Douki up, but Douki breaks free. Eagles ROUNDHOUSES! SUPERKICKS! But Douki ducks the Pele to wheelbarrow! Eagles arm-drags free, Douki blocks the kick to flip Eagles! HELL STAB! But Eagles PELES! Eagles roars, but so does Douki! Eagles spins Douki around, hooks him up, TURBO BACKPACK!! Eagles has to crawl to the cover, TWO!!

Douki survives because of the delay, but now Eagles wants the legs! Douki kicks free but Eagles SUPERKICKS him down! Eagles goes to a corner, goes up top, and WARP 4.5- NO!! ITALIAN STRETCH 32!! Eagles is caught, the fans are thunderous, and Douki pulls on the arms! Eagles rolls but Douki stays on top of him! It’s a cover, TWO! Eagles is still trapped! Eagles sputters, turns red, but he fights to his feet! Eagles moves around, but Douki rolls him away! But Eagles steps through! But Douki drags him down into a fisherman bridge! TWO!! Eagles rolls Douki to a schoolboy bridge! TWO!! ITALIAN STRETCH-

NO, Eagles pops free to jackknife bridge! TWO as Douki bridges up!! Douki spins Eagles but Eagles flips out of the Gory Especial! He wants the Ron Miller Special but Douki trips him! Wheelbarrow, full nelson, SUPLEX DE LA LUNA!!! Bridging cover, DOUKI WINS!!!

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

An incredible fight worthy of the final round, and Douki comes out with that chance at the finals! He’s one of the only ones with a win over Hiromu, can The Bone Soldier come through for Japones Del Mal?

Best of the Super Juniors 31 B Block: Hiromu Takahashi VS Taiji Ishimori!

And so, it comes down to this. Both men are at the top of the block, and the winner is guaranteed their spot in the semifinals. Will The Ticking Timebomb be on track for his fifth BOSJ trophy? Or will The Bone Soldier make sure this tournament stays Too Sweet?

For at least one more time in this tournament, Hiromu hands Milano Collection AT-san a signed and framed headshot, and Milano Collection AT-san accepts. The bell rings and the fans rally for “HI-RO-MU! HI-RO-MU!” The two circle, feel things out, and then back away. They go again, clinch, and Taiji waistlocks. Hiromu pries at the hold, wrenches, but Taiji wrenches back. Hiromu reaches back to headlock but Taiji brings him to a knee. Taiji headlocks for the takeover, Hiromu headscissors and Taiji kips free. The two stand off and the fans applaud. Taiji and Hiromu reset while the rallying continues.

Taiji and Hiromu tie up again, Taiji powers Hiromu to ropes, but Red Shoes calls the break. Taiji lets off, but takes a swing! Hiromu dodges to whip, ROCK, and trip Taiji onto ropes, then he KICKS the rope to jam Taiji up! Hiromu runs to SHOTGUN Taiji out of the ring! The fans fire up and Hiromu runs to SUNSET FLIP- NO, Taiji holds on and backflips free! Taiji KICKS Hiromu’s bad leg! Taiji drags Hiromu up, brings him to the orange seats and the fans fire up! The lights come up so everyone can see as Taiji fires forearms. Hiromu fights the suplex, but then Taiji fights a suplex! The ring count climbs as they fight for control!

They break at 8 of 20, Taiji kicks low, but Hiromu fights the shin breaker! So Taiji CLAWS Hiromu’s eyes! We’re at 15 of 20 and it’s a race to get back to ringside!! Hiromu stumbles but he still slides in safe at 19.9! Only for Taiji to DROPKICK him! Hiromu tumbles back out, Taiji goes out after him, and he wants fans to move. Young Lions hurry to clear the area, and Taiji drags Hiromu up. SHIN BREAKER on a chair! Hiromu falls over, Red Shoes checks him, and Taiji unties the blue buckle pad. The Bullet Club Special is in play while the fans rally up. The ring count starts again but Hiromu rises at 5 of 20.

Hiromu hobbles over at 10, slides in at 14, and he CHOPS Taiji! Taiji kicks the bad leg! Taiji SMASHES the knee on the mat! The fans rally for Hiromu while Taiji drags him back up. Taiji wrenches and hammerlocks the arm, to RAM it into the bare buckles! Hiromu staggers away, Red Shoes reprimands, but Taiji stalks Hiromu to ropes. Taiji wrenches the arm, snapmares Hiromu, then HAMMERS away on the bad shoulder. Taiji shifts to get the bad leg for a toehold. Hiromu crawls over, ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes counts and Taiji lets go at 4. Taiji stands on the bad leg, even as Hiromu snarls, then stomps it!

Taiji gets the leg to SHIN BREAKER, and DRAGON SCREW! Taiji steps through to tie up the leg, NAVARRO DEATH ROLL! Taiji has Hiromu in the inverted figure four and the fans rally up! Hiromu reaches out, drags Taiji along, and has the ROPEBREAK! Taiji lets go in frustration, then Taiji drags Hiromu up. Hiromu CHOPS! Hiromu CHOPS again! And again! Taiji ROCKS Hiromu, runs, but Hiromu dodges and comes back to RANA! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Taiji and Hiromu go to opposite corners, and Taiji runs up, but Hiromu dodges! Hiromu clotheslines, snapmares, runs, but he fakes Taiji out!

Taiji runs up, Hiromu BOOTS Taiji and gets him for a HANGING HEADSCISSOR! Red Shoes counts, Hiromu lets go and he whips Taiji to a corner. Another clothesline and snapmare, and now the basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Hiromu hobbles. Hiromu drags Taiji up to fireman’s carry, but Taiji slips free! Taiji ducks the elbow and CLAWS Hiromu’s eyes! Taiji whips, Hiromu reverses but Taiji handsprings to NEURALIZER KICK! Both men are down and the fans fire back up! Hiromu stirs but Taiji brings him up. Taiji scoops but Hiromu fights to turn things around! But Taiji turns it back around! CIPHER- RANA!!

The fans fire up and Hiromu runs up, but Taiji spins him around to POST in the open corner! Taiji drags Hiromu back out, hammerlocks and scoops, for the SHOULDER BUSTER! The fans rally while Hiromu is down and Taiji catches his breath. Taiji aims from the corner, Hiromu slowly rises, and Taiji runs up to tilt-o-whirl, but Hiromu blocks La Mystica! Only for Taiji to turn that back around! CIPHER UTAKI! Hiromu flops over, Taiji covers, TWO! But into the BONE LOCK!! Hiromu endures, reaches out, scrambles around, and the fans rally, but Taiji rolls him from the ropes! But Hiromu fireman’s carries! BARE BUCKLE CORNER DEATH VALLEY!!!

Taiji writhes and the fans are thunderous! Hiromu goes to ropes, he and Taiji both slowly rise. The fans continue to rally as the two crawl to each other. They go forehead to forehead, then forearm for forearm! The fans rally as the two go back and forth! They start slowing down, but then Hiromu fires a flurry! ROLLING- Taiji ROCKS Hiromu first! And again, and again, and again! Hiromu did this with David Finlay before, Taiji ROCKS him again and again! Hiromu staggers around as Taiji ROCKS him again and again, but Hiromu keeps coming back for more! Taiji just keeps throwing shots but Hiromu won’t fall!

The fans fire up as Hiromu stands up tall, and SUPERKICKS! Taiji falls to ropes, but he drags himself up. Hiromu eggs Taiji on, then scoops him to a BACKBREAKER! Then a fireman’s carry, for TIMEBOMB 1.5! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up again as Taiji stays in this! Hiromu drags Taiji up, runs, but Taiji ducks ‘n’ dodges, only for HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER to still find him! Hiromu dragon sleepers, suplexes, but Taiji fights and kicks! They end up in a corner and Taiji goes up. Hiromu ELBOWS Taiji first! Hiromu drags himself up the corner now, but Taiji fires hands on him first! Hiromu CLUBS Taiji, gets under him, but Taiji fights the lift!

Taiji CLUBS away on Hiromu, and TOP ROPE GUTBUSTERS! Hiromu falls back and clutches his ribs! Taiji goes back up, to 450 SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Hiromu survives and the fans are thunderous again! Taiji and Hiromu both crawl, and Taiji goes to a corner. Taiji waits on Hiromu, runs back up, but Hiromu stops La Mystica to pump handle, HIROMU-CHAN ROLL! TWO!! Taiji runs up, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Hiromu SUPERKICKS, then HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! The fans are thunderous as Hiromu waits on Taiji. Hiromu runs, but Taiji BOOTS him! Taiji swings, into TRIANGLE D!! Hiromu has Taiji down and squeezes tight!

Taiji endures, reaches out, and he stacks Hiromu. Taiji deadlifts, but Hiromu lets him go to reel him in! But Taiji fights the piledriver! Taiji swings, but into Hiromu’s clinch, and he steals BLOODY CROSS!!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!!! Taiji survives by a literal foot but Hiromu roars! The fans are electric as Hiromu fireman’s carries, swings, TIMEBOMB!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Taiji survives and Hiromu can’t believe it! Hiromu slaps his bad leg, gets Taiji back up, and dragon sleepers for the suplex, but Taiji flips right through! Taiji drags Hiromu down into the BONE LOCK!!! Hiromu endures, reaches out, but Taiji pulls on that arm!

Hiromu claws at the mat, fights his way forward, and the fans rally as hard as they can! But Taiji rolls Hiromu away! BLOODY- NO, Hiromu slips free! But the leg jams! Taiji runs up, LA MYSTICA!! And then dragon sleeper, and Taiji hits BLOODY SUNDAY!! Cover, TWO?!?! Hiromu survives and the fans are electric again! Taiji hurries to get Hiromu up, reels him in, BLOODY CROSS!!! Cover, TAIJI WINS!!!

Winner: Taiji Ishimori, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Hiromu earns 0)

The question had been lingering for a whole year, who would’ve really won last time had Taiji not been injured in the match. We may never have a definitive answer to that question, but here tonight, for the final round of BOSJ 31, Taiji proves he is the better man! And because of his loss to Douki in an earlier round, Hiromu misses out on the semifinals! Douki gets to move on, will he “thank” Taiji by taking the trophy from him?

As for Taiji, he refreshes with a bit of water then gets the mic. Taiji tells Hiromu, “That was an incredible feeling to do this with you here in Korakuen Hall.” The fans applaud that, and Taiji says it was last year in BOSJ 30, against Hiromu, that Taiji got hurt and ended up on the shelf. There was a lot of frustration, anger, pent up aggression, but Taiji has released all of that here tonight. So don’t get it twisted. Taiji knows the fans were cheering Hiromu! They wanted Hiromu to win! But it isn’t about the best looking, the most spectacular, or the youngest, but about the STRONGEST winning! That is pro-wrestling!

And in this ring, who’s standing here at the end? Taiji promises that it is all about destiny, all about his dream, and it is all gifted to him by God’s grace! The Bone Soldier is feeling truly reborn, but will he be able to live that dream of finally being THE Best of the Super Juniors?

Here are the FINAL B Block standings!

Taiji Ishimori: 7-2, 14 points [SEMIFINALIST]
DOUKI: 6-3, 12 points [SEMIFINALIST]
Hiromu Takahashi: 6-3, 12 points [ELIMINATED]
Robbie Eagles: 5-4 10 points [ELIMINATED]
SHO: 5-4, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
“Drilla” Moloney: 5-4, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
KUSHIDA: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Ninja Mack: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Francesco Akira: 2-3, 4 points [FORFEIT]
Dragon Dia: 1-8, 2 points [ELIMINATED]

My Thoughts:

A great final round for the round robin phase, and even good build towards Dominion. Evil is of course building momentum towards his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match with Moxley, using Moxley’s schedule between NJWP and AEW against him, and is at least being upfront about how he’s gonna stack the deck against Moxley. The House of Torture will be ringside as Lumberjacks, and maybe it’s just Shota, but I feel like Evil is gonna be in for a surprise when Moxley does have more friends than he realized. At the very least, there should be enemies of the House of Torture that side with Moxley to make sure Evil does not get the world title.

Great to see Taguchi again, and to hear he’s gonna be back soon enough. And great for Dia to finally win tonight after starting 0-8, the fans were really behind him on that. I also appreciate that Drilla said it, even as a Heel, that when they’re out of the running, what’s really the point? Drilla wanting to just give Mack the win, only for Mack to refuse that and then lose anyway, all good stuff. Hopefully they were just playing up Mack getting hurt by that floor piledriver, this could be for heat on Drilla and a heroic return by Mack with a tag partner to go after the War Dogs.

And the drama of qualifying for the semifinals was really strong in the final two matches. But I figured Douki had to win to keep that drama going, he has been on the rise and the fans are loving it. And while Hiromu would be making history getting to FIVE BOSJ trophies, it is totally the right move to go with another right now. And English commentary pointed it out at the end, all four finalists have never had a BOSJ finals win, so this is going to be great stuff for all four involved. I believe it’s Desperado VS Douki and TJP VS Taiji in the semifinals, and it could really be anyone’s game this year.

My Score: 8.9/10