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Best of the Super Juniors Day 7, May 22, Korakuen Hall:
This was the first of four nights at Korakuen Hall. Three in a row, a one day break, then another one. Each match will have 10 tournament matches. So get ready for 40 matches over the next five days.
A Block
Taiji Ishimori defeated TAKA Michinoku. TAKA started strong here, he tried to work Ishimori into his facelock, knowing that Ishimori has a hurt neck. Ishimori tried to up the pace, but TAKA hit a beautiful springboard heel kick. TAKA again went back to the neck, but Ishimori out of nowhere hit Bloody Cross to sneak out a win.
B Block
Bandido defeated Ren Narita. This was an amazing sprint, and came as a major surprise. It started with some fun back and forth, Bandido used his power over the youngster. Narita hit his belly to belly. They then ended up on the apron, which isn’t familiar territory for a young lion, but all of a sudden Narita hit a belly to belly on the apron, which almost blew the roof off. Bandido then caught a dive attempt and hit a powerbomb on the apron. Back in the ring Narita got two great near falls with pinning combinations. Bandido then hit a lariat, a GTS and finished him with 21-Plex.
A Block
Jonathan Gresham defeated Titan. This was a beautiful wrestling match. Titan was forced to play Gresham’s game, and at times he was his equal. Titan is well versed in a mat based style and has his own array of unique holds. Again, the transitions were mesmerizing. A couple of times Titan would up the pace, at one point hitting a series of strikes, but very quickly it would go back to wrestling. Gresham locked on The Octopus. Every time Titan soils grab for a rope, Gresham would pull his limb away, until Titan was so tied up that he had no choice but to tap.
B Block
YOH defeated Rocky Romero. This was a great match as Roppongi 3k members collided. It was the coach Rocky vs his protégée YOH. Early on they avoided each other’s moves, but YOH drew first blood as he was able to catch Rocky and begin to work over his knee. Rocky targeted the arm, but it was YOH who was having the most success in his attack. YOH used the dragon screw leg whip, hitting one as Rocky hung over the top rope and another from the top rope. YOH used the Calf Crusher, one attempt was brilliantly countered into an armbar from Rocky. There was some fantastic wrestling in the final minutes, but it was YOH locking on the Calf Crusher and getting a huge submission win.
A Block
Dragon Lee defeated Tiger Mask IV. Tiger took about 80% of this match and schooled the younger Lee for a lot of it. Tiger flew off the top rope with a cross body to the floor. Tiger hit a Tombstone and a Tiger Driver for a great near fall, then tried to apply the double armbar. Lee’s striking was the difference maker, and he also used an STF. But it was a couple of knee strikes and the suplex/powerbomb that ended it. After the match they showed a lot of respect to each other.
B Block
BUSHI defeated DOUKI. This was a fight from the start. BUSHI hit a couple of hurricanrana’s and it went to the floor, where BUSHI attacked DOUKI. DOUKI took some control, but BUSHI then exploded with a huge comeback. This was a more fired up BUSHI, very different from the cool guy we usually see. BUSHI unloaded with everything in his arsenal. The DDT on the apron, a lung blower and MX. That was it. An extremely strong win for BUSHI.
A Block
Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated SHO via count out. This was something very different and really clever. Kanemaru jumped SHO at the bell and this caused SHO to get very fired up. They brawled around the ring, which is Kanemaru’s thing. They fought up into the crowd. Kanemaru ram SHO into a wall and suplexed him on the floor and then went back to the ring as the count out began. SHO made his way back, and at 19, Kanemaru shoved one of the young lions into SHO causing him to get counted out. This was so well done, and SHO lost nothing in defeat.
B Block
Robbie Eagles defeated Ryusuke Taguchi. Another really good match. The knee was the target again for Eagles. Taguchi held off on the comedy and only used one hip attack. One springboard version when he made a comeback. He also hit a nice cross body to the floor. Lots of excellent back and forth wrestling towards the end as they built to a finish. Eagles missed a 450 and Taguchi caught him in an ankle lock. Eagles countered a Dodon into the Rob Miller Special, but Taguchi wouldn’t quit. Eagles hit Turbo Backpack for a great near fall. The finish saw Taguchi hit Dodon onto the knees, but Eagles kicked out and tied Taguchi up in a pin to get a three count. Another excellent showing from Eagles.
A Block
Shingo Takagi defeated Marty Scurll. This was red hot. Marty went right after Shingo. He worked over the left arm, and chopped him in the throat. That was a mistake. It fired Shingo up, who unloaded with a flurry of strikes in the corner and a couple of lariats. Scurll was forced to wrestle Shingo’s match and was able to look his equal at times. It brought out something really different in The Villian. The traded strikes, which Shingo was always going to win. Brody King got involved and dropped Shingo with a black hole slam. Shingo turned things around and blasted him with a Pumping Bomber. Scurll mounted one last attack, but he was caught in Noshagami. He was then nailed with the Pumping Bomber and finished with Last of the Dragon. Hell of a match.
B Block
El Phantasmo defeated Will Ospreay. This was an amazing high flying display. They went over 25 minutes, but it felt like 15. Ospreay has been largely wrestling a more heavyweight style recently, but he went full Aerial Assasin here. ELP hasn’t been particularly impressive in this tournament, but Ospreay made him look like a star.
This one was heated as they have history in Rev Pro, so right from the bell Ospreay attacked ELP with fire. They fought into the stands and ELP nailed a moonsault off one of the balconies. Ospreay hit a corkscrew moonsault from the top rope to the floor. Ospreay even whipped out the Essex Destroyer. ELP looked every bit Ospreays equal when they took to the air, which really shows how miscast ELP has been as a heel in Bullet Club. The match turned when ELP hit a piledriver on the apron. As Ospreay got back into the ring, he was caught with a splash for a big near fall. The finish saw ELP grab the referee to escape the Stormbreaker. ELP hit a low blow and then was able to finish Ospreay with CR2. This was an outstanding match to end a fantastic show.
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