These semifinals are mighty!

It’s the Best of the Super Juniors semifinals, and what incredible match-ups! Robbie Eagles VS Kosei Fujita, Master Wato VS Yoh! Will these tag teams be able to have friendly competition?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Tiger Mask & Taisei Nakahara VS Valiente Jr. & Tatsuya Matsumoto; Valiente & Tatsuya win.
• Yuya Uemura & Masatora Yasuda VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson; Oiwa & Hartley win.
• Jun Kasai & Nick Wayne VS Titan & Gedo; Kasai & Nick win.
• El Desperado & HYO VS Daisuke Sasaki & Dick Togo; Desperado & Hyo win.
• 8 Man Tag: Hontai VS House of Torture; House of Torture wins.
• 8 Man Tag: The Unbound Company VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 33 Semifinal: Robbie Eagles VS Kosei Fujita; Fujita wins and advances to the finals.
• Best of the Super Juniors 33 Semifinal: Master Wato VS YOH; Yoh wins and advances to the finals.

PLAY BY PLAY

After El Desperado & HYO VS Daisuke Sasaki & Dick Togo…

The Rogue Luchador catches The Spoiler in a STRETCH MUFFLER, NUMERO DOS, and he TAPS! Despy & Hyo win, but the celebration is ruined as Daisuke storms back out there with his STUN GUN! Hyo drops Myon Myon by accident, and The House of Torture abducts her again! Hyo & Despy give chase, can they save the snow leopard from these poachers?

Best of the Super Juniors 33 Semifinal: Robbie Eagles VS Kosei Fujita!

The Sniper of the Skies made a promise to finally win a BOSJ trophy, but the Japanese Young Punk wants to go back-to-back. The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but they can’t both win, so who proves to be the mightier here tonight?

The tag partners and good friends shake hands to show there is respect here. The fans cheer that, and they rally up as the bell rings. It sounds like an even split as the two circle and tie up. Fujita waistlocks, Eagles wrenches out to wristlock, but Fujita rolls, handsprings, and wrenches in return. Eagles endures the wristlock, then spins through to headlock for the takeover. Fujita headscissors right back, then pushes up to add pressure. Eagles fights around, rolls Fujita over, and slips through to have the legs tie dup. Eagles then body scissors to roll Fujita for a sunset flip, TWO! Fujita and Eagles reset, feel things out, then Eagles trips Fujita.

Eagles steps through, Fujita boots him away, then drop toeholds on return. Fujita ties up the legs but Eagles headlocks. Fujita rolls through, Eagles dodges the chop, but Fujita ducks the kick. The fans cheer another standoff as the two reset again. Fujita and Eagles circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. Fujita puts pressure on the fingers, then he forces Eagles to his knees. Eagles fights up, but Fujita powers him back down. The fans rally and Eagles rises. Eagles kicks one arm to wrench the other, then he hammerlocks. Fujita elbows Eagles, slips through, and ROCKS him with a forearm! Eagles goes to ropes, Fujita whips, but Eagles blocks!

Fujita still tries but Eagles holds on. Fujita CHOPS and Eagles sputters! Fujita whips this time, but Eagles reverses to TORNADO- NO, Fujita stops the arm-drag, then he YANKS Eagles up. Eagles slips around, flips through, and arm-drags after all! Things speed up, Eagles hurdles then RAN- NO! Fujita stops the rana to swing Eagles up! Eagles pops out the back, shoves, but Fujita hops over the low dropkick! Things keep moving, and Fujita hops over the dropdown to then SHOTGUN Eagles out of the hurdle! The fans fire up as Fujita kips up! Fujita goes to Eagles, saying he’s a little too smart for him. Fujita then hits a SHIN BREAKER, and he KICKS the leg out!

Fujita STANDING MOONSAULTS, then covers, TWO! Eagles toughs it out and the fans rally up again. Fujita brings Eagles around by a leg, and he drags Eagles around into the HALF CRAB! Eagles endures, fights around, and he reaches out to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Fujita lets go. Eagles kicks at Fujita, Fujita eggs him on, so Eagles CHOPS! Fujita winds up to CHOP back! Fujita whips Eagles corner to corner, then runs up to CHOP! Fujita snapmares, but runs into the SOBAT! Eagles then BLINDSIDE LARIATS! The fans cheer while both men are down, and Eagles dusts himself off. Eagles sits Fujita up to step through, and he has the DOUBLE ARM SCISSOR!

Fujita endures, even as Eagles kicks at him. Fujita eggs Eagles on so Eagles kicks at him more and more. Eagles then pulls on the arms, but Fujita leans over and kicks around to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Eagles lets Fujita go. Eagles drags Fujita up, snapmares him down, then runs to SLIDING KICK! Cover, TWO! Fujita toughs it out but Eagles steps over him. Eagles eggs Fujita on now, kicks at him, and Fujita CHOPS! Eagles eggs Fujita on more, so Fujita CHOPS again! Eagles KICKS Fujita down! Fujita sputters but Eagles waits on him to sit up. Then he KICKS again! Fujita shakes his head, and Eagles KICKS again!

Eagles runs the ropes, but Fujita CHOPS! The fans rally as Eagles returns, GAMANGIRI from Fujita! Both men are down but the fans rally back up. Eagles and Fujita go to corners, then Fujita runs up. Fujita CHOPS, then he snapmares Eagles. Fujita goes up, out, and springboards in for the MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Fujita waistlocks, deadlifts, but Eagles fights the German Suplex with elbows! Fujita ducks one, drop toeholds, then he ties up the legs! Eagles scrambles over, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Fujita lets go. Fujita vows he’ll end it now, and he brings Eagles up to suplex! But Eagles knees free!

Fujita ROCKS Eagles, Eagles ROCKS Fujita! Fujita ROCKS Eagles again, but Eagles ROCKS Fujita! The forearms go back and forth, faster and faster, mightier and mightier! The fans fire up as Eagles BOOTS, but then Fujita rebounds to CHOP! And CHOP! Fujita whips Eagles, but Eagles uses the pop-up to go way up! Fujita does his best to stay up and Electric Chair Lift, but Robbie uses that to POISON-RANA! The fans fire up while Fujita flops out of the ring! Even Eagles is a bit surprised he pulled that off. Eagles then builds speed to DIVE! Down goes Fujita at the ramp and the fans fire up with Eagles! Eagles then brings Fujita back into the ring.

The fans rally again as Eagles rolls inside. Hartley coaches Eagles, Oiwa coaches Fujita, but Eagles runs up to DOUBLE KNEE! Fujita sits down, Eagles runs back in and METEORAS! Jackknife bridge cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Fujita toughs it out and Eagles grits his teeth. Eagles stomps away on Fujita’s leg, KNEES it, then hits a spinning toehold! Eagles goes up, out, then climbs again, and the fans rally up. WARP- NO, Fujita moves in time! Eagles storms up but Fujita SMACKS him! Eagles staggers back, Fujita runs up, but Eagles blocks the kick! SLAP, KNEE, ELBOW, but Fujita turns the backpack into a KUBINAGI!

Fujita then floats to trap the arm and bend the other! Eagles endures, even as Fujita pulls on the arm! CLARKY CAT, FUJITA EDITION! Eagles endures, reaches out with his legs, and he kicks his way over, only for Fujita to grab a leg! Fujita steps over, CLARKY CAT, JAPANESE YOUNG PUNK REMIX!! Eagles endures, fights, flails, and he manages the ROPEBREAK! Fujita lets go in frustration, but he hauls Eagles up, for a SNAP GERMAN! And then another GERMAN SUPLEX! Fujita still holds on, but Eagles somersaults to grab a leg! RON MILLER SPECIAL! Fujita flails, reaches out, and he army crawls his way forward, dragging Robbie along! ROPEBREAK!!

The fans cheer as now Eagles lets go in frustration, but then KNEE DROPS the leg! The fans rally while Eagles huffs ‘n’ puffs. Eagles vows to end this, and he drags Fujita up. Eagles cravats, but Fujita stops the Asai DDT! Fujita shoves and ROUNDHOUSES Eagles! Eagles stays on his feet, and basement 619s the legs! The fans fire up as Eagles springboards, SNIPER DROPKICK! Then he aims from a corner, HYPER- NO, Fujita pops Eagles up, GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Eagles escapes in time but Fujita is still after him. Fujita drags Eagles up and torture racks! THRILL- NO, Eagles lands out and basement SUPERKICKS!

The fans rally harder, and Fujita sits right up with a roar! But Eagles PENALTY KICKS! Both men are down again and the fans rally even harder! Eagles roars as he rises up, and he brings Fujita to a drop zone! Eagles goes up, up, and WARP 4.5!! Direct hit on the leg, and then the RON- NO, Fujita cradles! Eagles blocks the takedown to KICK the leg! Eagles steps through again, but Fujita reels him in this time! Fujita deadlifts but Eagles slips free! Eagles wrenches clinches, REVERSE LIGHTNING SPIRAL!! The fans are thunderous as Fujita is down from “The Interceptor!” Eagles aims from a corner as Fujita rises up!

Eagles runs in, HYPER- NO! Fujita catches the leg, slips through, and ties up the legs! NEMOS SPECIAL!! Eagles endures, even as Fujita pushes with his other leg! But then that leg gives out! Fujita has to let Eagles go, but just for a moment! NEMOS SPECIAL, and STRETCH!! Eagles CLUBS at Fujita’s bad leg, then bends the fingers! Eagles pops free and the fans cheer! Fujita clutches his leg but he forces himself to stand. Fujita drags Eagles up, waistlocks, but the bad leg won’t let him lift! Eagles mule kicks the bad leg, but then Fujita SMACKS him! Eagles SLAPS back! Fujita HEEL- No, Eagles blocks and reels Fujita in, TURBO BACKPACK!! Eagles has to reach out and crawl to the cover, TWO!!

The fans fire up as both men are down. Eagles grabs a leg and stands up, but Fujita sits up to O’Conner Roll, and GERMAN into the Torture Rack?! THRILL RIDE!!! Fujita crawls to the cover, AND WINS!!

Winner: Kosei Fujita, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

As hard as he fought, Eagles could not keep his promise to finally make it to the end! Instead, the Japanese Young Punk is one match away from making history as the youngest back-to-back BOSJ winner in history! Will Eagles ever prove he’s the Best of the Super Juniors? Will Fujita prove he’s still the Best of the Super Juniors?

Best of the Super Juniors 33 Semifinal: Master Wato VS YOH!

With Fujita now through, we determine the other half of the finals! The Way to the Grand Master and the Direct Drive are also good friends and tag team partners, but who will be left cheering on the other after tonight?

The bell rings and the fans rally up already. The dueling is strong, maybe 60-40 in Yoh’s favor, and the two circle. They square up, feel things out, and knuckle lock. Wato shoots in and waistlocks, but Yoh pries the hold open. Yoh wrenches to wristlock but Wato spins to wrench and wristlock in return. Yoh rolls, trips Wato, then has the toehold. Wato fights back with a chinlock, then he gets a leg up. Wato goes for the armbar but Yoh clasps his hands together. Yoh rolls Wato, stacks him, but Wato lets go of the arm. Yoh floats, Wato slips away, and the two feel things out again. The fans applaud as the two back off.

Wato and Yoh reset, circle, and feel tings out again. They tie up, Yoh facelocks, but Wato slips through to waistlock. Yoh drop toeholds and floats, but Wato slips out the back to facelock. Yoh rolls free but Wato slips away again, and the fans cheer the technical exchange. Wato and Yoh reset again, tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, then Wato headlocks. Yoh endures the grind, pulls hair, then powers up and out. Yoh drops down, hurdles over, but Wato leaps over! They keep moving, and Wato RANAS! The fans fire up as Yoh bails out, and Wato builds speed! Yoh goes to the apron to RAM Wato, and Mongolian Chop! Yoh uses the move of Wato’s mentor!

Yoh goes up the corner, he brings Wato around, and fires up with “YOSH YOSH YOSH YOSH YOSH YOSH~!” CALF BRANDING! Another of Tenzan’s moves from the copycat! The fans cheer as Yoh even copies the “Shh…!” Yoh stands Wato up for Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian Chops! Then Yoh wipes Wato’s eyes before he Mongolian Chops him down! And a ground chop for good measure! The fans rally as Yoh paces. Cocky cover, ONE! Yoh pushes Wato around, kicks him to a corner, then stomps a mudhole in. Yoh wrenches and whips corner to corner, then runs up to ELBOW! Yoh reels Wato in and calls his shot, BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!

Yoh kneels on Wato, then ties up the arm, ANACONDA VICE! Yoh’s truly using the Fierce Bull’s arsenal! Wato scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud and Yoh lets go, then he stomps Wato. Yoh paces before he brings Wato up, but Wato fires body shots. Wato ROCKS Yoh with a forearm, but Yoh kicks low and Mongolian Chops! Yoh runs, but Wato scoops to BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up while both men are down! Wato brings Yoh up and fires more forearms. Wato then whips Yoh to ropes for the CALF KICK! Yoh bails out while the fans cheer again, and Wato builds speed! Wato FLIES and down goes Yoh!

The fans fire up with Wato as he stands up, but then he needs to rest on the floor from that impact. Wato pounds the floor mats and the fans rally behind him. The ring count climbs but Wato stands Yoh up at 7 to put him in the ring. The fans applaud, and Wato climbs up, to then MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Yoh is tougher than that and the fans rally up again. Wato goes to the apron, waits on Yoh, then springboards back in, but Yoh avoids the flying attack! Yoh goes to a corner, Wato runs in, but Yoh BOOTS him! Yoh runs up, Wato slips around to crucifix takedown, and he drags Yoh up into the clinch! But Yoh fights the lift!

Yoh wrenches out, suplexes, FALCON ARROW! The fans cheer while both men are down again! Yoh and Wato stir as the fans rally up. They go to ropes, and Yoh fires up as he tunes up! Wato stands, Yoh aims, but Wato blocks the superkick! Yoh ducks the roundhouse to O’Conner and- NO, Wato stops the bridge to flip it, sunset for the VENDEVAL! Yoh endures, especially as Wato puts pressure on that bad arm! The fans rally harder as Yoh teetertotters his way to a cradle cover, TWO! Wato lets go in time, and he hurries to bring Yoh up. Wrench and clinch, RECIENTEMENTE! Cover, TWO!! The fans cheer as Yoh survives!

Wato roars as he rises up, and the fans cheer again. Wato brings Yoh up, waistlocks, but Yoh fights the lift! Yoh swings, Wato ducks, and Wato DECKS Yoh! The fans rally up again as Wato brings Yoh back up. Wato roars, runs, but Yoh JUMP KNEES! Then he stands Wato up, but Wato ROUNDHOUSES! Yoh rebounds to SUPERKICK! The fans cheer as both men are down again! Wato and Yoh stir as the fans rally harder and harder. Yoh crawls his way over, drags Wato up, but Wato pushes him away. Yoh comes back, he brings Wato up, and he ROCKS Wato! Wato drops to his knees, but Yoh fires up again!

Yoh stands Wato up and reels him into the underhooks. Wato fights the lift, but Yoh switches to a full nelson! Wato fights the hold, almost breaks it, but Yoh switches to the top wristlock! STANDING ANACONDA, but Wato arm-drags free! And hits a snap takeover! Wato has the ANACONDA VICE on Yoh!! The fans fire up as Yoh endures and fights around! Yoh reaches out, even as Wato pushes on the hold! Red Shoes checks with Yoh but Yoh keeps fighting! The fans rally harder and harder and harder as Yoh reaches out! Yoh flails, but he kicks his way over to the ROPEBREAK! Wato lets go in frustration but the fans rally up again.

Wato fires up as he waits on Yoh. Yoh rises, Wato runs, but Yoh dodges to then cradle! TWO!! Wato escapes, but Yoh kicks low! Yoh runs now, but Wato SLINGBLADES Yoh down! The fans fire up as Wato then hurries to scoop and T T D!! Cover, TWO?!? Yoh survives but Wato is fired up again! The fans are thunderous as Wato drags Yoh up again. Wato waistlocks, but Yoh fights forward! Yoh fires elbows again and again, but Wato still lifts! Yoh still fights, still reaches forward, but Wato drags him back! TSUTEN- NO, Yoh scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Wato KICKS the arms away! RECIEN- NO, Yoh slips around! SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX!

But Wato’s right up!! Only for Yoh to LARIAT!! The fans are thunderous again as Yoh roars! Wato is dazed but Yoh underhooks the arms to drag him up! DIRECT- NO, Wato wrenches free! SLING- NO! Yoh catches Wato to a STANDING ANACONDA!! Wato endures the squeeze, reaches out, but Yoh keeps him from the ropes! Wato tries the other side, but Yoh again brings him away! The fans rally, Yoh hits the ANACONDA STO! Wato flails as he endures, pushes Yoh’s face, then fights up to his feet! Wato reaches out again, but Yoh keeps him just fingertips away from the ropes! ANACONDA FLATLINER!! And then ANACONDA VICE BRIDGE!!! WATO TAPS, YOH WINS!!

Winner: Yoh, by submission (advances to the finals)

The Way to the Grandmaster has hit a dead end tonight, and Yoh has his vindication! If this is how hard Wato had to fight and he still lost, how much harder will he have to fight to return to the mountaintop? But speaking of the finals, Fujita makes his way back to ringside. Yoh welcomes him into the ring by holding the way open, and Fujita accepts. The fans applaud, and Fujita takes the mic first. “After what happened with Robbie, I can’t lose on Sunday. Let’s pick up from last y ear and have a blast!” Fujita drops the mic at Yoh’s feet, and he picks it up. Yoh then squats as he says, “Oi, Fujita, I will show you a world of Chaos! Look forward to it!” The fans like the sound of that!

Yoh and Fujita stare down, then Fujita takes his leave. Yoh takes the mic again to say, “Just one more win, right? I’ll make sure that a real good breeze blows through Ota.” With that, Direct Drive drops the mic and heads out. Will Yoh avenge his loss from last year’s finals? Or will history be made by repeating itself?

My Thoughts:

A great night for the BOSJ semifinals. Is Daisuke Sasaki in House of Torture now? He teamed with Dick Togo, he and Dick stole Myon Myon, and it does just make a natural fit in NJPW. Great match from Fujita VS Robbie, I was moderately surprised Fujita won, but Fujita going to the finals again does work for story. Wato VS Yoh was awesome, and I really like Yoh copying all these iconic moves as his gimmick. Great win for Yoh, and I forgot Fujita VS Yoh was the finals from last year. I kinda hope Yoh wins out, he’s been doing great work and winning BOSJ would be a great reward.

My Score: 8.9/10