Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Best of the Super Juniors Day 5, May 18:
A Block
SHO defeated TAKA Michinoku. Very good match that spent most of the time on the mat. TAKA went after the arm of SHO. SHO used his power to get back into the match and from there TAKA went for a facelock submission time and time again. Every time SHO built momentum, TAKA cut him off with the same hold. SHO eventually found a way out and tried to put TAKA away with an armbar. SHO got the win when he hit Shockarrow. TAKA has been having a great tournament so far.
Marty Scurll defeated Tiger Mask IV. This was one of those matches that was way better than you ever would have expected it to be. Scurll went after the fingers of Tiger, even putting his fingers into the turnbuckle’s and turning it. There was a really creative count out spot where Brody King distracted the red, allowing Scurll to superkick Tiger on the floor, and the ref turned around and continued the count, because he didn’t see the Scurll kick. Tiger got back into the match and hit a Tombstone and Tiger Driver for a near fall. He got another with a double arm suplex from the top rope. He almost made Scurll submit with a reverse double armbar, but Scurll barely made the ropes. Tiger escaped the Chickenwing, but Scurll got the win with Black Plague.
Taiji Ishimori defeated Titan. This was just okay. Ishimori grounded Titan and cut off any attempts he made to go to the air or build momentum. The commentary really put over how badly Ishimori has hurt his neck in this tournament. Titan went for the Titan X, which works on the neck, but Ishimori was able to escape it. He dropped Titan with a lariat and finished him with Bloody Cross.
Dragon Lee defeated Jonathan Gresham. This was excellent. One of the best things about tournaments in NJPW is how injuries carry and are sold from match to match. This was fully on display here. Gresham has injured fingers, and Lee has an injured right arm. They made a pact to not go after those injuries. Instead Gresham went after the left arm, using armdrags as a weapon, which I’ve never seen anyone else really do. There was a great moment here where Gresham blocked a forearm and hurt Lee’s inured arm, which momentarily pissed him off. Gresham’s pinning combos and transitions were dizzying and mesmerizing to watch. He was phenomenal going from hold to hold. Lee used his power and superior striking to take the advantage and turn the match in his favour. A series of knee strikes stunned Gresham and Lee hit the suplex/powerbomb to get the win.
Shingo Takagi defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru. This was a quality main event. Kanemaru aggressively went after the knee, dropping him knee first through a table, hitting it with a chair as he was against the ring post and using a figure four out on the floor. Shingo used some incredible power displays to get back into it, but Kanemaru went back to the figure four which saw a long struggle. Shingo blocked the Deep Impact DDT. Taichi got involved after a ref bump. Kanemaru tried to spray Shingo with whiskey, but Shingo blocked it with a chair. Shingo then sprayed him with whiskey and finished the match after a Pumping Bomber and Last of the Dragon. Really great match from these two veterans.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
