Is there a changing of the guard in NJPW?

El Desperado and Hiromu Takahashi both lost last round, but the Best of the Super Juniors is far from over! Do Despy & Hiromu still have a chance to take their blocks?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS SHO; Taguchi wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Dragon Dia VS Clark Connors; Dia wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Kevin Knight; Yoh wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: KUSHIDA VS Ninja Mack; Kushida wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Robbie Eagles VS Nick Wayne; Nick wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Robbie X VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Robbie wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Titan VS MAO; Titan wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Kosei Fujita; Fujita wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Taiji Ishimori; Taiji wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Hiromu Takahashi VS Francesco Akira; Akira wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current A Block standings!

Kosei Fujita: 2-0, 4 points
Hiromu Takahashi: 1-1, 2 points
Dragon Dia: 1-1, 2 points
Francesco Akira: 1-1, 2 points
Ninja Mack: 1-1, 2 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 1-1, 2 points
Robbie X: 1-1, 2 points
Clark Connors: 1-1, 2 points
Master Wato: 1-1, 2 points
KUSHIDA: 0-2, 0 points

Here are the current B Block standings!

Nick Wayne: 2-0, 4 points
Robbie Eagles: 2-0, 4 points
MAO: 2-0, 4 points
El Desperado: 1-1, 2 points
Titan: 1-1, 2 points
Ryusuke Taguchi: 1-1, 2 points
SHO: 1-1, 2 points
Kevin Knight: 0-2, 0 points
YOH: 0-2, 0 points
Taiji Ishimori: 0-2, 0 points

Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS SHO!

The Funky Weapon had a solid first round win, but was then brought back down in the second by Titan. Meanwhile, the Murder Machine failed to cheat Nick Wayne but brought the House of Torture down on Yoh. Who rises and who falls to kick off round 3?

Okay, wait. Last round, Yoh brought out whiskey with Sho’s name on it. Tonight, Taguchi brings out a bottle of champagne. Why’s everyone drinking on the job? Even Sho is wondering what’s going on. Wait, is Taguchi going to do what Yoh did? Taguchi takes a swig of champagne from his cup, and runs up on Sho! Sho runs away and it is another chase in Korakuen Hall! Sho fears the booze smoosh! Taguchi chases Sho to the entryway, but then just like the other day, the Tokyo Pimp was waiting! Taguchi backs up and apologizes. Taguchi decides to go into the orange seats, just like Yoh! But that surely means Evil is waiting behind the exit!

Taguchi storms into the hall, but no, it’s SANADA this time! The fans cheer seeing Cold Blooded in his Astro Boy boots, and Taguchi is just as surrounded as Yoh was last time. Taguchi figures he’ll keep the parallels going, and he fires up! Sanada & Yujiro mug Taguchi while Sho keeps the ref distracted! But this time, Yujiro holds Taguchi. Sanada runs up, but Taguchi slips free and the BOOT hits Yujiro! Then Taguchi shoves Sanada into Yujiro, and uses the pimp cane to DOUBLE LOW BLOW! And he THRASHES it around! And he lifts it again and again! The fans cheer but here comes Sho! Taguchi hurries away, pimp cane in hand!

Taguchi returns to ringside, slides into the ring, and he twirls the pimp cane. The ref confiscates the can, Sho slides in, and the bell finally rings to make this a match! Sho runs in, but Taguchi dodges and sends him into bare buckles! Sho suffers his own cheap trick and Taguchi rolls him up! TAGUCHI WINS?!?

Winner: Ryusuke Taguchi, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Sho earns 0)

Sho is absolutely dumbfounded! All those shenanigans beforehand don’t matter, this will go down as one of, if not THE quickest match in the tournament! Taguchi does a dance with Yujiro’s pimp cane, but Sho rushes back into the ring! Taguchi KICKS the ropes to jam Sho up! Yujiro storms in from the other side, Taguchi KICKS those ropes! Sanada tries from a different end, but Taguchi KICKS those ropes, too! The Funky Weapon gets the better of the House tonight and they go into retreat. He can be serious and he can be strange, but will Taguchi reach the top of the block one way or another?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Dragon Dia VS Clark Connors!

The 1-1 traffic jam is much worse in A Block than B Block, but one man will break away and leave the other behind. Will the Infinite Carat Diamond make up for his loss to Master Wato? Or will 100 Proof shift into a higher gear?

The bell rings and the fans rally as Dia and Connors slowly circle. The fans bark with Connors but Dia stays cool. The two tie up, Connors puts Dia on the ropes, but Dia dodges his cheap shot! Dia kicks low, whips, but Connors reverses. Dia ducks ‘n’ dodges, then slides under the boot! Dia tilt-o-whirl ARM-DRAGS, then DROPKICKS! Connors doesn’t budge! The fans cheer and Connors brushes himself off. Dia SOBATS, runs, but into the JEEP FLIPPER! The fans fire up as Connors calls it a homerun! Dia bails out but Connors is right on him. Connors CHOPS Dia, brings him around, and POSTS him! Dia flounders and Connors tells fans to move!

The fans hurry away, they know from yesterday how this goes. Connors ROCKS Dia, but then he makes Dia take a seat. Connors stands on a chair to rain down fists! The fans bark and Connors goes to nine, then UPPERCUTS to top it off! The ref reprimands, but Connors goes looking under the ring! It’s WHEEL-SAN~! The fans cheer and Connors aims, but Dia dodges! Connors turns around, throws Wheel-san at Dia, but Dia ducks, and Wheel-san bounces off the post to SMACK Connors! The fans cheer as now Dia takes Wheel-san for his own! Dia hoists Wheel-san up, just to put it back under the ring!

The fans cheer, Dia puts Connors in the ring, and he has Connors in the corner. Dia whips corner to corner, Connors reverses, but then Dia dodges! Dia goes to the apron, ducks a haymaker to trip Connors and slingshot SPLASH! Dia hurries up a corner and the fans rally. Connors stands, into the D D- NO, Connors stops the 4D and makes it a suplex! Dia slips free, runs up and rolls, REPTI- NO, Connors stops that to SITOUT POWERBOMB! Both men are down and the fans rally up! Connors rises, paces, and he aims from a corner. Connors watches Dia rise, then runs in, but Dia hurdles the spear! Dia goes back up, DDDDT!! Dia crawls to the cover, TWO!

The fans fire up as Connors survives and Dia rises again. Dia hurries to the apron, takes aim and springboards, but into a SPEAR!! Connors crawls to the cover now, TWO?!? Connors survives and Connors can’t believe it! Connors slaps Dia around, whips him, but Dia rolls for the REPTILIAN! Cover, DIA WINS!!

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

Connors tried burning rubber but now he’s hit a wall! Will he be able to make a U-turn and make it back to a winning way? Will Dia still be shining bright as the tournament rolls on?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Kevin Knight!

Direct Drive got screwed over by a stacked deck, but The Jet’s flight was grounded by MAO. Who finally gets going with their first points of the tournament?

The bell rings and the fans rally up. Yoh and Knight slowly circle, feel things out, and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Knight’s height becomes a point of leverage. Knight puts Yoh on the ropes, but he lets off slowly, then blows a kiss. The fans applaud and Yoh blows a kiss back. Knight offers a kiss on the cheek and the fans rally up. Yoh walk up, but Knight headlocks! Yoh powers up and out but Knight slides under the hurdle. Knight shoves Yoh, then he hurdles, to then jump and RANA! The fans cheer while Yoh tumbles to the apron. Knight triangle jump dropkicks him down! The fans cheer more as Knight builds speed!

Yoh hurries back in, and he dropkicks Knight’s legs out! The fans rally but Yoh basement dropkicks Knight! Knight goes to ropes, Yoh KICKS a leg, then CHOP BLOCKS it! The fans rally while Yoh covers, ONE! The fans applaud but Yoh clamps on with a HEEL HOOK! Knight endures, crawls over, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Yoh lets go. Yoh stalks Knight to a corner, but Knight fires body shots! Knight CHOPS, but Yoh kicks the leg! Yoh runs, but Knight scoops to BACKBREAKER! But that’s double-edged given the bad leg! The fans rally up while both men are down. Knight hobbles his way to ropes, then runs up to LARIAT!

Knight LARIATS, whips, but Yoh reverses. Knight manages to go up and over, then he avoids a dropkick to UFO SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Yoh stays in this but then bails out. The fans rally and Knight fights through the pain to build speed. Yoh gets out of the way, only for Knight to slide out and then go to the corner! PLANCHA! The fans fire up as Knight knocks Yoh down! Knight fires up and the fans cheer as Knight hobbles back to Yoh. Knight puts Yoh in the ring, aims from a corner, and the fans rally up. Knight somersaults and- NO, Yoh stops the DDT to wrench, waistlock, only for Knight to buck the O’Conner Roll.

Knight aims, but Yoh blocks the superkick! Yoh then DROPKICKS the other leg! Yoh hurries to step through, and he has the FIGURE FOUR! Knight endures as Yoh has a slightly different angle on it than is traditional. The fans rally and Knight backstrokes to the ROPEBREAK! Yoh lets go and the fans rally up again. Yoh brings Knight up to suplex and FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Knight stays in this and the fans cheer. Yoh roars and he tunes up! The fans clap along and Yoh waits on Knight. Knight rises, but he avoids the superkick to SKY- NO, Yoh fights the bomb to whip! Knight reverses, and hits SKY2HIGH!

Both men are down and the fans rally back up. Knight crawls to the apron, goes to the corner, and takes aim. Yoh rises, Knight runs in, but Yoh dodges! Yoh runs in but then Knight dodges! Knight returns to LARIAT! Knight puts Yoh up top, climbs up after him, and SUPER STEINERS! Yoh writhes and Knight hobbles. Knight aims, runs up, somersault and SATELLITE DDT! Cover, TWO!! Yoh survives and Knight can’t believe it! Knight stands and he vows to end this. The fans rally as Knight goes to the apron. Knight aims again, springboards, but Yoh SUPERKICKS! And then suplexes, but Knight slips free to backslide! TWO!!

Yoh swings, Knight ducks and sunset flips, but Yoh sits on it! TWO!! Yoh is up, runs in at the corner, but Knight BOOTS him away! Knight goes up, FLYING- NO, Yoh dodges the lariat to DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridging cover, Yoh wins!

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

Knight tried to fly but Yoh used that to bring him down! Knight is 0-3, will his fortunes only get worse in round 4? Will Yoh stay fresh now that he’s finally on the board?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: KUSHIDA VS Ninja Mack!

It is shocking to say that the Time Splitter is 0-2 but that’s the truth after losing to Hiromu Takahashi and Robbie X. The American Ninja is only a touch better, having beat Robbie X to open, but then getting burned by Francesco Akira. Will Mack be on the attack and get back up? Or will Kushida finally hit 88 miles per hour and score?

Mack and Kushida bow and even shake hands. The fans applaud, the bell rings, and the two circle. Mack avoids Kushida’s leg trap, then things speed up. Mack rolls over the dropdown, hurdles, the backflips over Kushida’s slide! The fans cheer the standoff, but Kushida kicks and whips. Mack reverses, Kushida RANAS, but Mack handsprings through! The fans cheer but Kushida KICKS Mack’s leg! Kushida runs and tilt-o-whirl RANAS, but Mack handsprings and flips! The fans cheer as Mack shows off a bit, and Kushida isn’t sure what to make of it. The fans rally for “NINJA! NINJA!” and Mack dares Kushida to battle on his knees.

Kushida isn’t sure about this, but Mack insists. Kushida agrees to the kneeling duel. Mack asks the ref also join them. The ref is surprised by that, but he also agrees. The fans cheer as Kushida and Mack tie up, break, then tie up again. Mack headlocks and hits a short takeover. Kushida headscissors, Mack kips up but to his knees, and the ref scoots around. Kushida and Mack scoot, as well, but then Kushida seems to chase the ref! Mack chases Kushida, and Kushida wants a timeout. Kushida stands but Mack just goes back to center. Kushida kneels again, they tie up again, and Kushida wrenches to a wristlock.

Mack rolls, waistlocks, but Kushida sits down to then float around. Mack switches, Kushida switches, then Kushida floats all around. Kushida has the waistlock again, Mack decides to stand, and he runs to ropes to TUMBLE to the apron! Kushida lets go, Mack mule kicks him, and then the Young Lions hurry over! The fans fire up for Mack’s TOP ROPE DOUBLE MOONSAULT!! Mack knocks everyone down and the fans are thunderous! Mack rises and fires up, so the fans fire up with Mack! Mack shouts out Pat McAfee, then he drags Kushida up. The fans rally for “NINJA! NINJA!” and Mack puts Kushida in the ring.

The fans rally as Mack climbs, then DIVING HEADBUTTS! Both men writhe, perhaps that was double-edged for Mack… Mack says, “Itai, itai!” but he still crawls to a cover, TWO! Mack puts on a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Kushida fights up but Mack hops on, it’s a HOVERBOARD!! Mack is using Kushida’s own move, but Kushida powers out to then put Mack in the HOVERBOARD!! Kushida rolls back, Mack reaches for ropes, but Kushida rolls through! Kushida hooks a leg, but Mack fights that into a ROLLING ROLLING ROLLING CRADLE~! Cover, TWO!!! Both men are up, Kushida somersaults, but Mack denies the satellite DDT!

Mack throws Kushida back to JUMP KNEE! The fans fire up as Mack hurries to the corner and climbs again! NINJA- NO, Kushida moves and Mack has to roll through! Mack goes to the far corner, Kushida runs up, but Mack BOOTS him! Mack runs, and he handstand walks over Kushida’s dropdown! But Kushida PENALTY KICKS the arms out! The fans fire up as Kushida takes aim! Mack rises, into the SHOTEI! Cover, TWO!! Mack survives, but Kushida is right on him with a fisherman and BACK TO THE FUTURE!! Cover, KUSHIDA WINS!

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

It was a wild ride, but The Time Splitter finally has points on the board! But is there still time for Kushida to again be the Best of the Super Juniors? Can Ninja Mack still get back on a winning track?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Robbie Eagles w/ Hartley Jackson VS Nick Wayne!

Two of the three 2-0 block leaders meet already, so someone is taking an L! Will the Sniper of the Skies be the first to shoot down this Prodigy? Or will the ROH World Television Champion stand tall over the Soul of PWA?

The moment Eagles is ringside, Nick FLIES out onto him! The fans fire up as Nick hurries to put Eagles in! The bell rings, Nick is up top, FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Eagles survives this sudden start and Nick takes time to take off his jacket. Nick takes Eagles’ shirt off and KICKS him in the back! The fans rally and duel as Nick lines up another shot. Eagles duck that kick, runs and RANAS, and then he WHEEL KICKS Nick down! Eagles kips up, the fans fire up, and Eagles starts up “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!”

Then Robbie KICKS Nick in the back! Cover, TWO! Eagles grabs a leg to drop an ELBOW on it! Nick scrambles to the ROPEBREAK, but Eagles drags him back. Eagles KICKS away on that leg, but Nick BOOTS Eagles away with the other. Eagles goes to the apron, springboards in, but Nick dodges. Eagles kicks first, then CHOPS! Eagles whips, Nick reverses, then Nick hurdles, bypasses, and UPPERCUTS! Nick kips up, the fans fire up, and Nick pushes Eagles to a cover. TWO, and the fans rally up again. Eagles goes to ropes but Nick is on him. Nick stands Eagles up, winds up, and CHOPS! The fans rally while Nick brings Eagles around.

Nick snapmares Eagles, drops a leg, then covers, TWO! Eagles is tougher than that but Nick stays cool. Nick drags Eagles around, has the legs, and ties them up into a modified figure four! Nick then sits Eagles up so he can twist a wrist! Eagles endures as Nick has a double wristlock! Eagles uses his free arm to crawl over and have the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Nick slowly lets go. Nick stomps Eagles on the back, then he brings Eagles up. Nick waistlocks, then goes for the nelson. Eagles fights that off, fires elbows, but Nick has the half nelson! Eagles drops down, slips under, and SNAP SAIDOS!

But Nick is right up! Only for Eagles to CHOP BLOCK! And then BLINDSIDE LARIAT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Eagles rises, and he KICKS Nick in the chest! And KICKS! And KICKS! Eagles runs, the fans rally, and Eagles LEG LARIATS! The fans fire up more and Eagles feeds off the energy. Nick goes to a corner, Eagles runs in and DOUBLE KNEES! Nick sits down, Eagles runs in again, METEORA! The fans fire up and Eagles covers, TWO! Nick stays in this but Eagles vows to end it. Eagles drags Nick up, cravats, ASAI- NO, Nick stops the DDT to go for the nelson! Eagles mule kicks free, but Nick slips around to STUNNER!

Nick cravats, ASAI- NO, Eagles slips free and then he ASAI DDTS! Cover, TWO! But into the RON MIILLER SPECIAL!! Nick endures and the fans fire up! Eagles puts on the pressure but Nick still fights his way forward, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer but Eagles drags Nick back! Eagles KNEES Nick’s knee, but Nick spins to cradle! TWO!! Eagles escapes, runs up, but Nick avoids the low dropkick! Eagles blocks Nick’s kick, hooks him up, but Nick full nelsons! DRAGON SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO! Nick’s bad leg held him back on that but the fans rally up all the same. Eagles stirs and Nick slowly rises.

Nick calls his shot, goes up the corner, but Eagles anchors him! Nick kicks and Eagles tumbles away, but then Nick jams his leg! Nick still tries, up, up and WAYNE’S- NO, Eagles dodges and Nick’s leg jams again! Eagles runs up but Nick ducks Hyperion! Eagles ducks the roundhouse, hops up, and POISON-RANAS!! Nick flounders to the corner and the fans fire up! Eagles roars, the fans fire up more, and Eagles runs in, but into a SUPERKICK! Nick goes up but Eagles BASEMENT 619s! Then SNIPER DROPKICK to the leg! The fans fire up as Eagles then steps through, but Nick UP KICKS! Eagles wobbles, but he feints the slap to KICK the leg!

Nick still blocks Eagles’ kick and ROUNDHOUSES back! Nick goes up, up, into WAYNE’S WORLD!! Cover, NICK WINS!!

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

Truly historic! Nick Wayne isn’t just the youngest entrant in BOSJ history, he’s the youngest to go 3-0 in his first BOSJ! Will nothing stop The Prodigy at this rate? As for Eagles, he may have fallen, but The Mighty Don’t Kneel! Will he get back up and soar higher than before?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Robbie X VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru!

Mr. X is feeling good coming off a clean win over Kushida while the Heel Master had to get down and dirty to screw over Clark Connors. Will everyone hop on the X Express? Or will Kanemaru find a way to screw over another War Dog?

Well speaking of, the moment Robbie is on the apron, Kanemaru knocks him back down! The fans boo and the ref reprimands but Kanemaru stomps Robbie, wrenches his arm and hammerlocks, so that he can POST Robbie shoulder first! Kanemaru CHOKES Robbie with his own shirt! The bell rings, the ref reprimands, but Kanemaru stomps Robbie more. Kanemaru CLUBS Robbie, but Robbie SMACKS Kanemaru! Kanemaru stumbles, Robbie is right on him with another forearm! Robbie SMACKS Kanemaru off the apron, then he runs a lap around the ring! Robbie come sin for a DRIVE-BY DROPKICK!

The fans fire up with Robbie while Kanemaru falls. Robbie puts Kanemaru back in the ring and the fans cheer. Robbie aims and springboards, but Kanemaru dodges. Robbie rolls and comes back, but Kanemaru BOOTS him! Kanemaru wrenches the arm to YANK, YANK, then hammerlock and SLAM! Robbie writhes but Kanemaru stalks him to a corner. Kanemaru drags Robbie up, YANKS the arm, and then wrenches again. Kanemaru WRINGS the arm out and Robbie writhes more. The fans rally for Robbie but Kanemaru stands him up again. Kanemaru WRINGS the arm out a second time, then stalks Robbie.

Robbie tells the ref not to call this, but Kanemaru just stomps him around. Kanemaru whips, Robbie handsprings, but the bad arm gives out! Kanemaru BOOTS the bad arm, but Robbie CHOPS! Robbie fires up, runs, and still handsprings! But Kanemaru uses the ref as a shield! Robbie has to give up on the cutter, and then Kanemaru tilt-o-whirl DDTS! Cover, TWO! Kanemaru “falls” on the ref! The fans know better than that, but Kanemaru takes off his boot! Kanemaru aims, runs up, and he CLOBBERS Robbie with it! Then Kanemaru takes time to put his boot back on! Kanemaru then scoops for BRITISH FALL! Cover, TWO!!!

Robbie survives and Kanemaru is mad with the ref now. Kanemaru goes up, waits on Robbie to stand, and then DEEP- NO, Robbie turns that into a deep atomic drop! The fans fire up, Robbie hits the NO HANDS HANDSPRING! LETHAL INJECTION X!! And then X EXPRESS!! Cover, ROBBIE WINS!

Winner: Robbie X, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Kanemaru earns 0)

The Heel Master thought he could get away with more trickery, but Robbie X has those intangibles of grit and determination! Will Robbie continue to rise up the ranks until this becomes the X Block? Can Kanemaru go back to the drawing board and come up with new ways to cheat?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Titan VS MAO!

El Inmortal snatched a quick victory from Ryusuke Taguchi last round, but the Idol Warrior is undefeated at 2-0! Will Titan stay alive? Or will he be cut down as things heat up?

The bell rings and the fans rally and duel a the two circle. It seems rather even, and the two feel things out. They knuckle lock, though Mao plays around a bit with changing levels. Titan trips Mao, things speed up, and Mao hurdles, only for Titan to leap over! Mao kips up, the two stare down for just a moment, then Titan runs up. Mao wrenches Titan and whips him to a corner, but Titan goes up and over to then handspring away! The fans fire up, and Titan runs again. Mao RUNS Titan over! #Tsukakui! The fans fire up while Titan bails out. Mao pumps up more, then goes to the ropes. Slingshot ARIHARA MOONSAULT!

Direct hit on Titan and the Young Lions, but Mao almost wipes out the front row at the same time! The fans fire up and Mao fires up with them. Mao puts Titan in, then runs up to BOOT Titan against ropes! Mao keeps moving, and he CANNONBALLS Titan against ropes! Cover, TWO! Titan is still in this and the fans rally up. Mao drags Titan up, reels him in and tucks the arm, then a leg! Then both legs! Mao uses a very Llave style hold, then dumps Titan down into JUST FACELOCK! Titan endures, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Mao lets go, and Titan shakes out his legs. Mao smiles as he hears the fans dueling.

Titan slowly rises, the fans rally harder, and Titan CHOPS! Mao powers up to be tsukakui! Titan CHOPS again, but Mao just puffs up! Titan CHOPS, fires up, but Mao hits OSAKA RINKAI UPPER! Titan falls and the fans fire up again! Mao drags Titan up, whips him to the corner, then runs in. Titan BOOTS Mao, SOBATS and fires a strike fest! The fans fire up for Titan and he goes to the apron. Titan springboards to CROSSBODY! Then he DROPKICKS Mao out! Titan DIVES, direct hit in Mao and more of the front row! Titan hurries to put Mao in, then springboards, DIVING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! But Titan wraps Mao up in a TRAILER HITCH!

Mao scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Titan lets go and the fans rally even harder! Titan kicks Mao, kicks again, but Mao fires a forearm. There wasn’t much behind it, and Titan eggs Mao on. Mao fires more shots, then fires a flurry! Titan SUPERKICKS back! Mao checks his teeth, the ref confirms it is okay. Titan runs, Mao uses the ref as a shield! And then Mao leaps over to CUTTER! Mao grins and he vows to end this now! Mao drags Titan up, scoops, MICHINOKU- NO, Titan slips free and shoves! TORNADO DDT! Then he drags Mao back up, for a GOURD BUSTER! SUPERKICK! The fans fire up and Titan hurries to the corner!

Titan skins the cat to the top rope! Then he aims for DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS! Mao flounders, Titan hurries to cover, TWO!! Mao survives and the fans fire up more! Titan roars and the fans cheer. Titan has Mao’s leg, steps through, but Mao makes it a cradle! TWO, and Mao says LOOK! Titan falls for the trick, and Mao DECKS him with a right hand!! The fans are torn and the ref reprimands about closed fists. Mao drags Titan up, reels him in, MICHINOKU- NO, Titan slips free! Mao is shocked, but he capoeria dodges to KICK and- NO, Titan blocks tha tkick to fire a strike fest! But Mao UPPERCUTS!

Mao fires his own strike fest, KICKS Titan down, but Titan kips back up!! The fans are thunderous and Mao says now THIS is tsukakui! They fire forearms back and forth and the fans fire up! It is fast ‘n’ furious, neither man is backing down, and Mao gets the edge! Mao ROCKS Titan with an elbow! Mao then powers up and runs, OSAKA RINKAI!! But Titan stays on his feet!! Mao just runs again, OSAKA RINKAI!! But Titan is still standing! The fans are thunderous as Titan comes back for more! Mao runs, Titan dodges, but then Mao goes Matrix to avoid the superkick! Titan goes Matrix to avoid the uppercut!

Titan CALF KICKS! Mao still runs, goes Spider-Man, and DREAMCAST KICKS!! Mao drags Titan up, goes to the corner and comes back, DREAMCAST KICK, but Titan grabs the leg!! LLAVE INMORTAL!!! Mao is caught, and he TAPS!! TITAN WINS!!

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

The star of CMLL clashed with the star of DDT Pro, and in the end, lucha libre and llave win the day! The CMLL World Welterweight Champion is back on the rise, but will he prove himself the Best of the Super Juniors? Can Mao still find his own path to the top after this fall down the block?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Kosei Fujita!

The Way of the Grandmaster crosses paths with the Japanese Young Punk in a partial rematch of their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match. But will Wato win now like he did then? Or will Fujita grab the golden ticket?

The two get face to face but the ref wants them to calm down. Fujita pushes Wato back, Wato puts his coat aside, and then he gets back in Fujita’s face! Tensions are mounting and there’s more pushing. The ref has them back off, and then the bell rings. The fans duel already as the two stare down. Wato gets in Fujita’s face, so Fujita fires a forearm! Wato fires back, and the forearms fly! The fans rally as this gets fast ‘n’ furious already! Wato ROCKS Fujita, but Fujita storms up, only for Wato to ROCK him again! And again! Wato eggs Fujita on so Fujita fires a flurry! Wato fires it all back! Fujita wobbles and drops to a knee!

The fans cheer, Wato fires more shots, and Fujita falls to the mat. But Wato just keeps raining down forearms! Wato then goes for the bad arm and has a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Wato also steps over Fujita’s head to keep him down. Fujita fights his way over to the ROPEBREAK! Wato holds until the ref counts, then Wato stomps Fujita down. Wato brings Fujita up but Fujita ROCKS him! Fujita whips Wato to a corner, CHOPS him, then CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! The fans rally as Fujita CHOPS more and more! Wato eggs Fujita on so Fujita CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS, then KNEES Wato down! The fans fire up as Fujita stands Wato up.

Fujita CHOPS more, but Wato leans into those shots! A bit reckless as the CHOPS really hit hard now. Wato’s chest is red, but he turns things around to KICK Fujita! And KICK! KICK! KICK! Fujita sits down, but Wato stands him up for more KICKS! The ref reprimands, Wato backs off, and Fujita sputters against the ropes. Wato storms back over and digs his boots into Fujita’s neck! Wato stomps a mudhole but the ref backs him off. Wato drags Fujita up, brings him around, and knees low! Then sunset flip, into VENDEVAL! Fujita endures, rocks the boat, and manages to roll through! Fujita goes for the legs and ties them up!

Fujita adds a chinlock, but Wato fights around! Fujita wants the arms now, and he gets them! NEMOS SPECIAL! Wato endures, tips over, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Fujita lets go. Wato sputters but Fujita waistlocks and deadlifts! Wato fights the suplex, throws elbows, but Fujita CHOPS! Wato KICKS! Wato then ducks a chop to ROUNDHOUSE! And SPIN- NO, Fujita ducks that kick to deadlift GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Wato survives and the fans fire up again! Fujita storms up on Wato, brings him up, and torture racks! But Wato fights free, runs up, tilt-o-whirl and clutch, RECIENTEMENTE! Cover, TWO!

Fujita survives but Wato roars! Wato drags Fujita up while the fans rally. Fujita fights the suplex, but Wato still GERMAN SUPLEXES! Fujita lands out! Fujtia then slips around Wato to O’Conner Roll and CHAOS THEORY!! Bridging cover, TWO!! Wato survives and Fujita roars! Fujita vows to end this and the fans fire up! Fujita drags Wato up, reels him in, and suplexes, only for Wato to fight it! Wato wrenches, reels Fujita in, but Fujita switches! ABANDON- NO, Wato fights that with knees! Wato KICKS, but then Fujita ducks the roundhouse! UPPERCUT! ABANDON HOPE!! Fujita roars because that’s not enough!

Fujita drags Wato up, torture racks, and THRILL RIDE!! Cover, FUJITA WINS!

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

Eagles pinned Yoh, Fujita pinned Wato, the pair is complete! Will the Ichiban Sweet Boys make sure to take those IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships back before the year is over? Will one of them have the trophy to add to the collection?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Taiji Ishimori!

The Rogue Luchador lost to The Prodigy, but that proved him right: anyone can win any given match. But will Desperado get back up and keep Taiji down? Or will the Bone Soldier win over THE IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion?

The bell rings and the fans rally for “DE-SU-PI! DE-SU-PI!” Despy fires up and circles with Taiji. They tie up, Despy trips Taiji and things speed up. Taiji hurdles, Despy leaps over, then they keep going. Taiji fakes out the hurdle to BOOT Despy down! The fans are torn, but Taiji runs. Despy does the splits to let Taiji tumble out! Despy then builds speed, but Taiji GAMANGIRIS! The fans fire up and Taiji grins. Despy bails out the side but Taiji goes over to fetch him. Taiji drags Despy up, and POSTS him! Despy falls in a heap and the fans rally. Taiji drags Despy up, and POSTS him again! Taiji then tells fans to move aside!

Young Lions help usher fans out of the way, and Taiji wrenches Despy to whip and BOWL him into chairs! STRIKE! Taiji leaves Despy behind while Red Shoes checks on him. Taiji unties the blue buckle pad and waits on Despy. The ring count starts as Despy rises from the chairs and personal belongings. Despy stands at 9 of 20, hobbles his way over, and rolls in at 14. The fans applaud but Taiji storms over to Despy. Despy throws body shots but Taiji CLUBS Despy! Taiji wrenches and wristlocks to then wrangle Despy to the mat. Despy endures and fires kicks from below. Taiji pushes on the arm, isolates it, and then STOMPS it!

The fans are torn while Despy writhes. Taiji laughs and paces around. Taiji drags Despy up, wrenches, and hits an ELBOW BREAKER! Then he hammerlocks the arm, to RAM it into bare buckles! The fans are torn again while Despy bails out. Taiji soaks up cheers and jeers while the ring count starts. Taiji goes out so that refreshes the count, and he drags Despy up by the bad arm. Despy endures while Taiji wrangles him and digs a knee in. Taiji SLAMS the arm down, then rolls back into the ring. Red Shoes checks Despy again and Despy rolls back into the ring. Taiji stomps Despy, then digs his boot into the bad arm!

Red Shoes counts as Taiji has Despy on the ropes. Taiji stops at 4, but the fans continue to rally and duel. Despy stands to CHOP, but Taiji CLUBS him! Taiji whips, Despy holds the ropes, but that just hurts the bad arm! Taiji grins while Despy crawls. The fans rally for Despy, but Taiji stomps him around! Taiji whips, Despy reverses and scoops for a BIG back suplex! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Despy and Taiji go to corners, and Despy shakes out the bad arm. Despy runs in, blocks a boot, and puts the leg in the ropes! Despy KICKS the other leg, then give sit a DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Taiji hobbles and falls and the fans fire up again.

Despy rises, storms up on Taiji, and give shim a SHIN BREAKER! Then a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Taiji writhes but Despy has the STRETCH MUFFLER! Taiji reaches out but Despy goes for that arm! Taiji fights around and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Despy lets go in frustration, and he kneels on the leg. Red Shoes reprimands, Despy plays dumb, but then “Oops!” and he drops a knee on Taiji’s leg! Despy again feigns innocence, then he brings Taiji up. Taiji fights the pump handle, so Despy KICKS the bad leg! Taiji drops to his knee and Despy drags Taiji up again. Gut wrench and- NO, Taiji slips free, but his leg jams!

Taiji hobbles, Despy runs up, but Taiji BOOTS him! Taiji runs up, hops on, CRUCIFIX DIRVER! Into the BONE LOCK!! Despy flails, fights around, and reaches out, but Taiji pulls on the hold! Despy still fights, ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes calls it out to Taiji, Despy’s hand is under the rope but that’s the same! Taiji lets go in frustration, and the fans rally while both men are down. Taiji shakes out his leg and rises back up. Taiji drags Despy up and brings him in, but Despy RAMS him into the bare buckles! Taiji suffers his own trick, and Despy runs in, only to be sent into the bare buckles! And then the POST! Despy clutches his arm while Taiji grins.

Taiji brings Despy around to hammerlock and scoop, SHOULDER BUSTER! But that was a bit double-edged given the bad leg! Taiji shakes his leg out, aims from the corner again, and Despy rises up. Taiji runs in, LA MYSTI- NO, Despy fights Mystica to a roll and STRETCH MUFFLER! Taiji rolls into the YES LOCK!! Despy endures, fights around, and reaches out! But Taiji rolls Despy away! Only for Despy to roll through, STRETCH MUFFLER! NUMERO DOS!! Taiji reaches out, Despy rolls him away, NUMERO DOS PLUS! But Taiji pops free to have the SEATBELT! TAIJI WINS!!

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

Desperado continues to be proven right, even as he keeps losing! The Bone Soldier has finally gotten points, will it be #ByGrace that he still takes the block? As for Desperado, will he stop giving out golden tickets to his opponents? Or will the line of contenders only grown longer?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Hiromu Takahashi VS Francesco Akira!

The Ticking Timebomb lost in last round’s main event to Fujita, and Fujita beat Akira to open the tournament. But the Crown of Fire reignited by beating Ninja Mack and is ready to burn even brighter. Just how explosive will this main event be to close round three?

The bell rings and both men rush in! Akira BOOTS Hiromu, Hiromu fires a forearm, and Akira fires back! They go back and forth, and then Akira gets the edge. Akira whips Hiromu to a corner, runs up and LARIATS, then Akira runs corner to corner. But Hiromu follows to LARIAT! Hiromu snapmares, but Akira is right up! Akira dodges, RANAS, and Hiromu has a rough landing! Hiromu bails out, Akira PLANCHAS onto him! The fans fire up with Akira and clap along, “A! KI-RA!” Akira says sup to Great-O-Khan on commentary before he CHOPS Hiromu! Akira hops up onto the apron and wraps on the headscissors!

The fans cheer as Akira squeezes tight while throwing up the crown! Hiromu endures, Red Shoes reprimands, but Akira lets go at 4. Akira has fans move aside before he brings Hiromu around. Akira CHOPS Hiromu, then whips him and BOWLS him into chairs! The fans fire up for the STRIKE, and Akira clears out some of the chairs. Akira drags Hiromu up, makes him take a seat, and CHOPS! Akira then gets space, runs in, and BOOTS! But hiromu stays up, so Akira gets space again. Akira takes a lap, even! And he runs back in, but Hiromu OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES Akira onto the chairs!!

The United Empire at ringside freaks out seeing Akira crash land like that! Hiromu has a very stern look on his face, maybe this isn’t about having fun right now. Hiromu goes back for Akira, drags him up, and CHOPS him! Akira sputters and staggers away but Hiromu stalks him. Hiromu CHOPS again! And he has more fans clear out! Hiromu BOWLS Akira into the chairs for a STRIKE of his own! Akira sputters and Red Shoes wants this in the ring. Hiromu says that’s what he’s doing. Hiromu drags Akira up, puts him in the ring, and the fans applaud. Hiromu drags Akira up, CHOPS him, and then brings him around for another CHOP!

Hiromu CHOPS Akira again and Akira gasps for air. Hiromu whips, Akira reverses, but Hiromu grabs ropes. Akira runs up, but into a BOOT! Hiromu hits the HANGING HEADSCISSORS! Hiromu mocks Akira by telling fans to take pictures of it! Hiromu lets go as Red Shoes counts, and Akira sputters. Hiromu storms in, whips Akira to a corner, then LARIATS, snapmares, and basement DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! The fans duel as Akira stays in this, but Hiromu clamps onto Akira with a CAMEL CLUTCH! Akira endures as Hiromu sits way back! Akira frees one of his arms, but Hiromu just puts it back into place!

Hiromu pulls back on the hold, but Akira keeps fighting! Akira manages the ROPEBREAK! Hiromu lets go, paces around, and he drags Akira back up. Akira fires a forearm, but there’s not much behind it. Akira fires another, and then CHOPS! That had something! Akira runs, but Hiromu dropkicks the legs out! And then Hiromu ties up the legs, MAXIMUM- NO, Akira has the ROPEBREAK first! Hiromu lets go, but then drags Akira back! Akira kicks free, but Hiromu fireman’s carries! Hiromu TOSSES Akira to the apron, DROPKICKS the legs, then he runs! But Akira SLINGSHOT CUTTERS first! The fans fire up while both men are down!

The fans rally as Akira rises and brings Hiromu around. Hiromu breaks free to CHOP! And CHOP! Hiromu whips, Akira reverses, then Akira blows past to jump up and RANA! Much cleaner this time and Hiromu bails out. The fans rally for “A! KI-RA!” and he FLIES! Down goes Hiromu! Akira rises and the fans fire up with him! Akira goes back for Hiromu, puts him in the ring, and he shouts, “Oi, Korakuen! IKU ZO!” The fans fire up for that, and Akira TRIANGLE LIONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Hiromu survives and Akira is frustrated but the Empire coaches him up. The fans still duel and Akira shakes his head.

Akira brings Hiromu up, SPEED- NO, Hiromu slips free, suplexes, and FALCON ARROWS! But Hiromu can’t make the cover! The fans rally up again and Hiromu drags Akira up. Hiromu fireman’s carries, Akira slips free, but Hiromu BOOTS him! Akira runs back in, Hiromu puts him on the apron, but Akira ROCKS Hiromu first! Akira climbs, but Hiromu CHOPS! Now Hiromu climbs, and the fans rally as Hiromu fires body shots. Akira fires back, then hops down to UPPERCUT! Akira springboards and- NO, Hiromu stops that to fireman’s carry! SUPER TIMEBOMB 1.5!! Cover, TWO!! Akira survives and the fans are thunderous!

Hiromu shakes his head, and he grins as he stalks Akira. Now it’s fun as Hiromu fireman’s carries. But Akira fights it! Akira throws elbows, only for Hiromu to power up! F5, but Akira lands out! Hiromu kicks, KICKS, but Akira SUPERKICKS! Akira runs, but Hiromu SUPERKICKS back! Hiromu wobbles, but he brings Akira up to fireman’s carry! Swing and TIME- NO, Akira pops free! And he gets around Hiromu for a POISON-RANA! Akira roars, but so does Hiromu! GERMAN SUPLEX! But Akira rises, DOUBLE LARIATS collide!! The fans rally and duel as hard as they can while Akira crawls after Hiromu.

Akira waistlocks Hiromu, then goes for the arms! Hiromu fights the chicken wings, but Akira pulls Hiromu from the ropes! They struggle for every inch, and Akira POPS Hiromu up, into the GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives and Akira is stunned! The fans rally as hard as they have all night, and Akira feeds off that energy to bring Hiromu up. Akira reels Hiromu in, SPEEDFIRE!! Akira then aims from the corner, for the NOVA FIRE- NO!! Hiromu ducks in time! But Akira comes back to METEORA! And then NOVA FIREBALL from the front! Cover, TWO!?!? Hiromu survives and shocks everyone, which is why Korakuen is electric!

Akira goes back to a corner and takes aim again. Hiromu rises, into the NOV- NO, Hiromu ducks again, and then STEALS NOVA FIREBAL!! Hiromu drags himself back up using the ropes, and he hobbles over to Akira! Hiromu roars, fireman’s carries, and hits the DYNAMITE PLUNGER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Akira survives and no one can believe it! Hiromu shakes his head as we hit 15 minutes, and he rises again. The fans rally and duel as Hiromu fireman’s carries once more. TIMEBOMB- NO, Akira sunset flips it! TWO!! Hiromu wrenches, pump handles, HIROMU-CHAN- NO, Akira rolls the roll back to a JAPANESE LEG CLUTCH! TWO!!!!

Hiromu escapes, Akira runs up, but Hiromu stops the wheelbarrow! Akira flails but Hiromu still WHEELBARROW GERMANS!! But Akira stands?!? HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!!! Cover, ONE?!?!?! Not even Khan can believe what he is seeing! Akira grits his teeth and he crawls over to Hiromu. Hiromu picks him up, CORNER DEATH VALLEY!! And then Hiromu roars! Hiromu dragon sleepers, but Akira fights with kicks! Akira is free, runs up, but into a tilt-o-whirl SIDEWALK SLAM! Hiromu huffs ‘n’ puffs, and he tells Akira to get up! The fans rally on another level, as Akira stands into the HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!?!

Akira is surpassing human limits, but Hiromu dragon sleepers again! Inverted suplex for TIME- NO, Akira slips free! And he has Hiromu down for a BRIDGING FUJIWARA, into a REVERSE CROSSFACE!!! Hiromu endures, reaches out, but Akira is between him and the ropes! Akira BENDS Hiromu and Hiromu TAPS!!! AKIRA WINS!!!

Winner: Francesco Akira, by submission (gains 2 points; Hiromu earns 0)

The Timebomb could not hit the Timebomb, and perhaps that is why he self-destructed! For being a four-time tournament winner, is Hiromu just no longer the Best of the Super Juniors?

As for Akira, he quickly gets the mic to ask Hiromu, in Japanese, to wait a moment. Hiromu stops, and Akira tells Hiromu, “Right now, you don’t have a faction. The United Empire has been looking for new members. Would you like to join?” Hiromu says no thanks and storms off. Waiting until after you’ve beaten someone probably isn’t the time to offer them a helping hand… Akira shrugs that off and says he’s very tired. But pro-wrestling sure is a lot of fun, huh? But hold on, hold on. Akira shifts to English and says that he promised to stop looking at the past, only look to the future. Stop thinking about those who left, but to those who are here.

He has Callum, Jakob, Khan, Templario, Aaron, Akira himself, and the fans! Akira is here to be the best Junior Heavyweight int he world, and tonight, he just beat one of the strongest ever! The fans cheer that, and Akira goes back to Japanese. Akira thanks everyone here tonight, and promises, don’t take your eyes off him as he makes his Japanese dream come true! The fans fire up for that as Akira drops the mic and throws up the crown. Will the Crown of Fire blaze that trail to the very top of the mountain until no one can deny him?

Here are the NEW A Block standings!

Kosei Fujita: 3-0, 6 points
Dragon Dia: 2-1, 4 points
Francesco Akira: 2-1, 4 points
Robbie X: 2-1, 4 points
Hiromu Takahashi: 1-2, 2 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 1-2, 2 points
Clark Connors: 1-2, 2 points
Master Wato: 1-2, 2 points
KUSHIDA: 1-2, 2 points
Ninja Mack: 1-2, 2 points

Here are the NEW B Block standings!

Nick Wayne: 3-0, 6 points
Robbie Eagles: 2-1, 4 points
Titan: 2-1, 4 points
MAO: 2-1, 4 points
Ryusuke Taguchi: 2-1, 4 points
Taiji Ishimori: 1-2, 2 points
El Desperado: 1-2, 2 points
SHO: 1-2, 2 points
YOH: 1-2, 2 points
Kevin Knight: 0-3, 0 points

My Thoughts:

An awesome night for NJPW here, and they’re really going hard with all ten matches at once. Still some really quick ones, but those are a lot of fun all the same. The blocks again have unique looks to them, but now everyone in A Block has at least one win, with Fujita rather quickly and quietly moving up as the frontrunner with his 3-0 record. B Block now has only Kevin Knight at 0-3 and only Nick Wayne at 3-0. Rather surprising on both sides, but especially with Nick. Nick beat Sho, beat Desperado, and now beat Eagles, that’s an honestly incredible list. All three of those guys have checked off the Junior Heavyweight singles and tag titles, and at this point, Nick might as well be a finalist already.

NJPW also continues to show they’re masters of organizing a match card where everything escalates and gets better as you head for the main event. The last four matches on this card could’ve main evented just about any weekly American wrestling show, aka AEW or WWE TV, and no one would be disappointed. Akira’s win over Hiromu was definitely the best, and Akira had a great promo to put forward that, well, the Empire is moving forward. Ospreay, Fletcher & Davis are in AEW, and now Cobb is in WWE, and that is great for them, but the Empire (both kayfabe and shoot) and the fans can’t let that get them down. What’s left are still amazing, and Akira is making moves towards the top, he is a believable finalist.

My Score: 9.1/10