|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 15, 2020 10:10:53 GMT -6
3 Tournaments. 1 Thread. 
World Tag League Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi Great O-Khan & Jeff Cobb YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi Shingo Takagi & SANADA EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi Juice Robinson & David Finlay Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa
Best of Super Juniors Master Wato Yuya Uemura Robbie Eagles DOUKI Ryusuke Taguchi El Desperado Hiromu Takahashi Taiji Ishimori SHO BUSHI
I'm in the process of watching Night 1 right now as both tournaments kicked off this morning. |
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 15, 2020 11:27:45 GMT -6
Night 1
Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
Yano paint brushes Fale in the back of the head as Ishii starts his forearm exchange with him, but Owens attacks & the BC put the boots to Yano before some malfunction at the junction & CHAOS takes control, only to be steamrolled by a Fale shoulder tackle. They isolate Ishii and Owens levels him with a lariat, but misses a V-Trigger and Ishii plants him with a German. Yano & Fale tag in and Yano unties the buckle pad, tries to bodyslam Fale, but not a chance. Ultimately Fale & Owens show some serious miscommunication issues as they miss splashes & land on each other, ending with Yano trapping Owens on top of Fale, pinning him in the process. I haven’t really missed Owens or Fale to be honest.
Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Great O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
Not a shocker that Cobb is the mystery partner as The Empire attack in the opening seconds, but Tana & Toa hit double dragon screws & a fist/knee drop combo on Cobb before locking in a duel Boston Crab. Khan jumps in with a double Claw before sending Tana & Toa into each other and Mongolian chops. He hits Tanahashi with a Claw Slam as Toa tries fighting them both off, successfully does for a brief moment, but ultimately eats a Khan pump kick and Tour of the Islands by Cobb for the 3 count in 2 minutes.. Great O-Khan’s offense is the most laughable offense I’ve seen in New Japan in fucking ages. Post match they beat down Tanahashi’s leg with a chair, so there’s your Tana selling point the rest of the tournament.
YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
Rematch from literally a week ago as these two teams know each other well. CHAOS gains the upper hand early with double teams on Taichi as Goto hip tosses YOSHI onto Taichi for a 2 count. Sabre punts Goto in the back & bails, allowing Taichi to choke him in the corner, so Zack attacks YOSHI on the ramp. All 4 men spill outside where Taichi chokes Goto with the cable chord. Back inside, the Dangerous Tekkers isolate Goto, make quick tags & make sure YOSHI is knocked off the apron more than he is on it. Taichi keeps choking Goto, but Goto answers with a double clothesline. YOSHI gets the tag & chops Taichi a bunch before hitting the Head Hunter. ZSJ knocked to the floor, allowing YOSHI to hit a hanging dropkick & snap dropkick for 2 on Taichi. YOSHI fights off a backdrop driver, but Taichi hits an Axe Bomber to give him time to tag Zack. YOSHI no sells his uppercuts, murdering ZSJ with a chop. He slaps on a guillotine, but YOSHI counters into a brainbuster. CHAOS hit a Head Hunter/Leg Sweep combo, but Taichi breaks up the count. Both teams try for their finisher, but can’t connect. Instead CHAOS hits a neckbreaker/reverse GTR, tries for their finish, but Taichi takes out Goto, allowing Zack to roll up YOSHI for the flash pin. Ok match, their previous match was much better as it was allowed to tell a better story & not feel as rushed.
Shingo Takagi & SANADA vs Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL
I’m pretty sure I’m going to skip every EVIL/Yujiro match as they are the team I dread watching out of anyone else. You know what you’re going to get, interference & shenanigans, it’s going to be that way for 8 matches, so strap in, folks. Dick Togo got involved, choking SANADA with the ref distracted and EVIL hit a low blow and Everything is EVIL to steal the match. Even with the awesome Shingo in this thing, I’m not wasting my time on recapping EVIL & Yujiro tag matches.
Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
I don’t watch NJPW Strong, so this is my first time seeing the Guerrillas of Destiny since February. Tama Tonga is a clean cut son of a gun now. I’m kind of disappointed with this Finn Juice reunion that David Finlay didn’t come out dressed as Blues Brother like Juice did. Tonga & Juice worked the crowd in their early exchange before GoD took control of Juice and kept him from getting a tag. Ultimately he did and Finlay went to town, but that was quickly stopped in its tracks as the match spilled outside, launching Finlay into the railing. They’d bait Juice into distracting the ref to double team Finlay as Tonga got a suplex & Loa nailed a slingshot senton for a near fall. Finally Finlay made his comeback & dove for the Juice hot tag and Juice was a friggin house of fire with spinebusters, cannonballs in the corner, snap rights & dropkick. Jado tried to run distraction, but Juice wiped his legs out, sending him to the floor. Juice went to the top, missed whatever he was looking for, rolled through & ran into a Loa powerslam for the reset. Tonga tagged in & the GoD hit the Tongan Twist for 2 as Finlay tried to stop the double team, but got hit with one as well. Tonga went for & missed a splash, only to get hit with a double flapjack. Hart Attack attempt by FinnJuice, but Loa speared Finlay before it happened. Magic Killer on Juice 1…2…NO! Tonga with a corner splash, but Finlay broke it up and nailed a MASSIVE superplex on the big man Loa as Juice connects with a splash off the top. It was almost a Power-Plex deal. Jado again ran distraction, but Juice starched him with a Left Hand of God as FinnJuice hits a Doomsday Device on Loa for the 3! I dug this match quite a bit, if Jado’s distractions are kept to a minimum this tournament, I’m going to enjoy GoD matches in this thing.
World Tag League Standings
2 Points: Yano & Ishii, O-Khan & Cobb, Zack & Taichi, EVIL & Yujiro, Juice & Finlay
0 Points: Fale & Owens, Tanahashi & Henare, Goto & YOSHI, Shingo & SANADA, Tonga & Loa
Master Wato vs Yuya Uemura
Uemura bolts at Wato & dishes out forearms, corner dropkick & Boston Crab within 15 seconds as they are really teasing the finish already! Wato finally gets a rope break & starts throwing a series of kicks for 2. Knife edge chop by Wato, but Uemura fires back with a flying forearm & perfect dropkick. He tries the arm trapped suplex, but can’t so he settles for a release German. He tries the suplex again, but Wato countered into a rad looking suplex, then hit the TTD for the 3 count. Fun little 4 minute sprint to kick off the BOSJ.
Robbie Eagles vs DOUKI
Ground work by Eagles in the early going, but as he throws kicks, DOUKI blocks & goes for the eyes to take control. He sends the ref into the ropes as Eagles was trying for a springboard & Eagles falls outside. He beats Eagles down outside & hits a neckbreaker using his pipe. They tease a countout, but Eagles rolls into a neck crank by DOUKI, ultimately getting a rope break. Eagles gets in some back elbows & a flash sunset flip for 2, then hits a leaping uppercut to the neck for the reset. Springboard dropkick to the knee & shining wizard get a 2. Double knee in the corner, 619 to the back of the knee & another double knee get another near fall for Eagles. He does a 450, but falls right into the guillotine choke by DOUKI, who releases it to signal for his slingshot DDT, Daybreak, but Eagles counters, tries for Turbo Backpack, misses, Sliced Bread, misses. He does connect with a combo of kicks, charges & DOUKI turns him inside out with a lariat! DOUKI hits Daybreak 1…2…NO! DOUKI wants Suplex de la Luna, but Eagles rolls through with a roll up for 2. After a series of reversals, Eagles hits the Turbo Backpack & 450 splash to the knee, applying the Miller Special for the submission win. Really fun match.
SHO vs BUSHI
Quick back & forth exchange early went to SHO as BUSHI went to the floor & attacked SHO, sending him to the railing as they teased the countout already. SHO makes it back in at 19, but BUSHI slaps on a STF. SHO breaks the hold & surprised BUSHI with a Spear for 2. Basically SHO sold his back & BUSHI sold his arm as that’s what SHO zoned in on. BUSHI fought back with a couple low dropkicks & hit a tope. Back inside, BUSHI looked for a Code Breaker, but SHO counters, going for the arm once again. Power Breaker connects 1…2…NO! Without hesitation, SHO quickly hits Shock Arrow for the 3 count. Nothing crazy, nothing spectacular, just a good little match.
Ryusuke Taguchi vs El Desperado
Desperado was hell bent on not falling for Taguchi’s tricks, but almost immediately did just that. Taguchi leaps off the top, just lands on his feet & Desperado dropkicks out his leg before posting it on the floor. Taguchi recovers & tries to blow Desperado up with drop downs and it actually works. He tries for a hip attack, but settles for Three Amigos instead. Signals for the Bumaye, misses and Desperado locks on a Stretch Muffler, as Taguchi got the ropes. Finally Taguchi hits Bumaye, tries for Dodon, but Desperado got the ref, tries a low blow, but Taguchi blocks. Pinche Loco attempt blocked, Dodon attempt blocked, cradle, cradle, cradle by Taguchi 1…2…3! Fun series to end the match.
Hiromu Takahashi vs Taiji Ishimori
Bell sounds & they bolt at each other before Hiromu low dropkicks the leg & sends Ishimori to the floor. Dropkick off the apron as Hiromu lands right on his back doing more damage to himself than Ishimori, but that’s what he does. Back inside, Hiromu wears his opponent down with chops before Ishimori uses his speed to try to put something together, only for Hiromu to cut him off, try a sunset flip off the apron, but Ishimori catches him with a Powerbomb on the apron! Back in at 15, Ishimori wisely works the neck as it turns into a chop battle, then forearm exchange, but Hiromu hits a wheelbarrow flatliner for the reset. He tries his release belly to belly in the ropes, but Ishimori counters, back handspring, Hiromu counters with a German & Ishimori no sells with a Poison Rana! He charges & Hiromu hits the release belly to belly in the corner this time! Both dudes just dropped on their heads (Hiromu, every bump he takes on the neck scares me to death). They both go to the apron & block some moves until ISHIMORI PILEDRIVES HIROMU ON THE EDGE OF THE APRON!! FUCK!! Golden Triangle seemingly connects, but Hiromu blocks it & hits a Falcon Arrow on the floor! HIROMU HAS DONE THE DEAL! Both are clutching their necks as they beat the count at 19. Dynamite Plunger connects by Hiromu for 2 as Ishimori hits a pump kick, Hiromu with a superkick, Ishimori with a pump knee, Hiromu turns him inside out with a lariat 1…2…NO! They collide with double lariats, but Ishimori turns Hiromu inside out with a lariat this time & falls right on his fucking neck. Shoulder breaker & then lung blower hits 1…2…NO! La Mistica into the Yes Lock as Hiromu fights it off, getting the ropes. Bloody Cross blocked, lariat connects, Bloody Cross blocked & Hiromu hits a pop up powerbomb & flatliner 1…2…NO! Neckbreaker on the knee by Ishimori, but he went for it again & Hiromu counters into the running DVD into the corner, then another in the middle. Time Bomb connects 1…2…3! My goodness, this was a fucking battle, I hope both their necks are ok. This blew away anything else on this card.
Best of Super Juniors Standings
2 Points: Wato, Eagles, SHO, Taguchi, Takahashi
0 Points: Uemura, DOUKI, BUSHI, Desperado, Ishimori
This night and the final night are the only shows where both tournaments are together, so thankfully they're broken up by tournament for a while.
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 16, 2020 12:43:32 GMT -6
WTL Night 2
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
Battle of the Bullet Club here as they all collectively do the Too Sweet before Tama dropkicks Owens outside. This turned into a slugfest back inside, that Tama won, but he got cut off with a leg lariat. Owens sent outside & Loa tosses him into the rail, throwing him inside to get DDT’d by Tama for 2. They pick him apart, pissing Fale off with their antics before finally Owens could make a tag off a Flatliner in the corner on Loa. Fale hits a double shoulder tackle on both GoD and takes turns hitting a splash & Owens with a shining wizard for 2. Match breaks down until Owens tried a school boy with his feet on the ropes, but Jado shoved them off. Tama tried a Gun Stun, but Owens blocked, hit the ropes & Jado clocked him with the kendo stick. Spinebuster by Tama & Sharpshooter applied as Owens tapped.
YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs Great O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
Cobb & YOSHI trade forearms to start; YOSHI wins that, but gets flattened with a shoulder block and here comes Khan, who immediately knocks Goto to the floor. Empire tries a double team, but fails, so CHAOS hit a double team hip toss for 1 count on Khan. Head/Arm triangle on YOSHI as that’s literally all Khan does as he releases it & tags Cobb. Empire take turns beating down YOSHI, who fights back from time to time, only to get cut off. Finally Goto tags in & starts a forearm exchange with Cobb, but eats a kitchen sink knee for Cobb to recover and tag Khan, who chops Goto into the Tree of Woe. I’m so unbelievably bored by Khan’s offense & mannerisms, it’s just not working. Sliding dropkick gets him 2 as the chops he took from YOSHI earlier has made his chest beat red. Right on cue, Goto throws some chops, but Khan does his Mongolian Chops, but Goto creams him with a lariat. Head Hunter/Leg Sweep combo gets 2 as Cobb breaks it up and back suplexes them BOTH at the same time! Gut wrench suplex by Cobb, then one by Khan gets 2. Goto tried for GTR, but got locked in the Claw by Khan. Superkick by YOSHI, crucifix cradle by Goto 1…2…3! Goto pins Khan.
Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL
I like FinnJuice, but not sitting through this. It was the finish you’d expect, interference, low blow, Everything is EVIL, 3 count.
Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs Shingo Takagi & SANADA
Yano tries his buckle pad shot immediately, but SANADA dropkicks him & tries for Paradise Lock with Yano scurrying away. Yano tries to put on the Paradise Lock, but can’t figure it out & gets frustrated, so SANADA wraps him up in one instead. Ishii in and cleans house, but LIJs take over and SANADA whacks Yano in the ass with the buckle pad to free him. To the floor we go and Yano wraps SANADA up in the ring apron to tease the countout loss, which SANADA beats at 19. For some reason Red Shoes starts arguing with Shingo allowing Yano to slam SANADA face first in the exposed buckle for 2. Basement dropkick on Ishii allows SANADA to get the hot tag to Shingo, who is a house of fire. Shingo starts toying with Ishii, which aside from Suzuki, is the biggest mistake you could make. It leads to a forearm exchange that Ishii wins, so Shingo throws a lariat, goes for another, but gets tripped up by Yano & Ishii drops him with a German. Shingo eats through a forearm & levels Ishii with a lariat, tagging SANADA, who gets planted with a suplex by Ishii, as he tags Yano. He charges at SANADA, but runs into the exposed buckle and SANADA gets a rolling crucifix for 2. Yano wiggles out of TKO, hits an atomic drop & slingshot into the exposed corner. Goes for a low blow, Shingo blocks it, LIJs hit a dropkick/back suplex on Ishii, then hit a lariat/Ego Trip combo for 2. Yano spins out of Skull End into a small package 1…2…NO! SANADA with a school boy for 2, Yano with a school boy off an Ishii clothesline for 2, O’Connor Roll by SANADA 1…2…3! I know it’s not saying much, but this was the best match of the night.
Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
After a fast start by Tana, he would get isolated by the champs, working the knee that was injured yesterday (when is Tana’s leg NOT injured?). Taichi & Zack absolutely demolish the knee on the outside & inside, which lasts for nearly 10 minutes before Henare got the hot tag & Fireman’s carry flapjack for 2 on Taichi. Henare has such a good look; he’s just at the early point where he’s a little bland character wise. He tries a spear, but Taichi raked the eyes & hit a jump kick in the corner for the reset. Henare hits a lariat, winds up for another, but Taichi boots his arm and just when he’s about to tag Tana, Zack pulls him off the apron & slaps on an ankle lock on the floor. Sole butt by Taichi, PK by Zack, another kick by Taichi gets a 2 count on Henare. Off come the britches as he goes for the hook kick, but Henare blocks. The heels try for their finish, but Tana is back & he hits a Twist & Shout and Sling Blade. Henare tries a Rock Bottom, but Taichi counters into a Dragon Sleeper and Zack with an ankle pick on Tanahashi. The babyfaces start fading, but Henare falls into the ropes as Tana rolls to the floor with Zack, where he slams him into the railing. Taichi wants a Last Ride, but Henare fights it off with a spin kick to the head, but Taichi answers with an enzugiri. Henare no sells & hits a POUNCE!! Zack & Tana in and the tag champs hit a superkick/Falcon Arrow combo on Tanahashi and Taichi hits a Backdrop Driver on Henare 1…2…NO! Back suplex with a bridge gets another near fall as Henare goes for his finish, Taichi spins out and the champs hit Zack Mephisto for the 1…2…3!
Despite being steamrolled by The Empire yesterday, Henare & Tana had a better showing today as the first 10 minutes were Tanahashi selling his leg and the second 10 were all Henare showing off what he’s got. He hung with the tag champs. I question having them lose so quick yesterday, but pushing the tag champs to the limit today, but I was impressed with the selling by Henare & especially Tanahashi. This was the best I’ve ever seen Henare look, so there’s that.
World Tag League Standings
4 Points: EVIL & Yujiro, Zack & Taichi
2 Points: Yano & Ishii, O-Khan & Cobb, Juice & Finlay, Tonga & Loa, YOSHI & Goto, Shingo & SANADA
0 Points: Fale & Owens, Tanahashi & Henare
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 18, 2020 9:57:45 GMT -6
BOSJ Night 2
Yuya Uemura vs BUSHI
Like 75% of this match was trading Boston Crab attempts as Uemura got it right out the gate, but BUSHI turned the tables & had Uemura in one for a long time before a rope break. Uemura fired up with a dropkick into the corner & went right back to the Crab, but BUSHI got the ropes. Striking exchange ends in BUSHI cutting off Uemura with a dropkick & swinging Fisherman’s suplex for 2. Uemura regains control with a dropkick & release German for 2. Uemura tries his underhook suplex, but BUSHI pops him with an enzugiri & code breaker for 2. Swinging code breaker connects & BUSHI gets the 3. I didn’t care for the ending, but it was an ok match.
Master Wato vs Robbie Eagles
After the feeling out process, both guys hit dives on the outside & subsequently got near falls as a result. Jump kick by Wat led to what I think was supposed to be a powerbomb reversed into a sunset flip by Eagles, but Wato didn’t have a full grip and Eagles couldn’t get over all the way and Eagles landed right on his fucking neck. It got a sloppy before Eagles just slapped on a leg lock & Wato got the ropes. Yikes, that sequence was rough. Striking battle again as it’s kicks this time as just before they’re about to hit the home run shot, the other blocks it. Eagles tried a Sliced Bread, but Wato hits the Buzzsaw kick for the double down in the best spot of the match. Enzugiri on the apron by Eagles, who hits a springboard low dropkick, tries a submission, but Wato punts him in the face & a school boy for 2. Turbo Backpack connects for Eagles 1…2…NO! Eagles went for a 450, but Wato got his knees up, hits a Tombstone, then up top for RPP (Spiral Tap) for the 3 count. Last few minutes were good, but I didn’t really care for this one.
SHO vs DOUKI
DOUKI’s sneak attack blew up in his face, as SHO turned the tables immediately as he hit a running punt kick outside. DOUKI took control by whipping SHO into multiple railings before throwing the ref down & hitting his pipe assisted neckbreaker on the floor for the countout tease. Back inside, DOUKI just slowly picked SHO apart; hitting a DDT that SHO did a full headstand taking for 2. They traded the suplex battle & SHO won it as he fires off a combo of kicks. SHO tries a German, but DOUKI spins through into his guillotine choke. SHO gets the ropes, so DOUKI goes for Daybreak & can’t hit, so he settles for a lariat, which SHO no sells. Running start though connects for DOUKI, but SHO answers quick with a brainbuster. Forearm battle as SHO tries a jumping knee but misses by a mile, thankfully DOUKI didn’t bump, as he locked in his guillotine again, but SHO hits two powerbombs & a powerbomb/lungblower 1…2…NO! Shock Arrow blocked into the guillotine choke a third time and this time SHO fades (his facial expression was fantastic) but he just gets a toe on the ropes. DOUKI again goes for Daybreak & hits it 1…2…KICK OUT! Suplex de la Luna attempt, but SHO wiggles out, Shock Arrow attempt blocked as DOUKI hits a fireman’s carry into a side suplex 1…2…NO! Suplex de la Luna again blocked into a release German by SHO as they slowly rise & throw forearms before SHO murders DOUKI with a lariat. Double arm sitout piledriver gets 2, but Shock Arrow gets 3 and SHO wins a hard hitting & fun battle.
Ryusuke Taguchi vs Taiji Ishimori
Comedy match, more so than Taguchi’s first one, as you know what you’re getting here, Vintage Taguchi! Unfortunately for him, Ishimori had it scouted in the end as he pulled Taguchi’s pants down & rolled him up for the win.
Hiromu Takahashi vs El Desperado
Desperado connects with a somersault tope early & Hiromu is already selling his neck & teasing the countout. This allows Desperado to untie a buckle pad & slams Hiromu back first into it. For the next few minutes, it seemed like whenever Hiromu tried something, Desperado had it countered, until Hiromu finally popped off a hurricanrana, snapmare & snap dropkick. Running dropkick off the apron outside as Desperado falls into the railing, while Hiromu just took a back bump off the apron to the floor. Back inside, Hiromu does the deal with the Falcon Arrow for 2, but Hiromu is really selling his knee, allowing Desperado it zone in & take over. They get into a chop battle, but Desperado dropkicks the leg out, tries for Pinche Loco, but Hiromu counters with a lariat for the double down. Dynamite Plunger for Hiromu gets 2 as he goes for Time Bomb, but Desperado gets out, charges & Hiromu hits the release overhead into the corner! Time Bomb blocked again, Hiromu with a superkick, Desperado shoves the ref in his way, tries a low blow & misses, so they take turns hitting each other with lariats. Suplex into a flatliner gets 2, Hiromu charges & Desperado gets a spinebuster before applying Numero Dos, but Hiromu gets the ropes. Pinche Loco fails as we get a long forearm battle that ends in two Hiromu superkicks. Desperado dragged to his feet & he absolutely starches Hiromu with a right hand for the double down 20 minutes in. Pinche Loco fails, as Hiromu counters into a running DVD into the exposed corner!! He takes too long to capitalize & Desperado nearly gets a flash pin for 2, he sends Hiromu into Red Shoes, who bumps outside & Hiromu gets low blowed. Desperado grabs a chair, but Hiromu dares him to hit him in the head, only for Desperado to smack the leg over & over. He tosses Red Shoes back in & slaps on Numero Dos and Hiromu submits. I really enjoyed this match, much safer than Hiromu vs Ishimori from Night 1 and the story with the leg played part in the whole match.
Best of Super Juniors Standings
4 Points: Wato, SHO
2 Points: Eagles, Taguchi, Takahashi, BUSHI, Desperado, Ishimori
0 Points: Uemura, DOUKI
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 19, 2020 9:39:04 GMT -6
WTL Night 3
Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens vs Great O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
Owens wipes out Khan with a dropkick through the ropes to start as the BC attacks on the floor. Inside, Fale & Khan pair up and have a slugfest before Fale misses a corner splash & Khan hits a pump kick and a silly looking shove as Cobb & Owens tag in. Chase hits a leg lariat, but Cobb hits a spinning back suplex as The Empire take turns hitting gut wrenches for 2. Double shoulder block sends Fale to the floor as Owens tries to mount a comeback, hits a few V-Triggers on Cobb, but as he went for the package piledriver, Khan got him in the claw, threw him into Fale, hits a judo throw and Cobb hits Tour of the Islands for 3. This wasn’t a good match.
Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Juice Robinson & David Finlay
After the feeling out process, FinnJuice double team their opponents before they isolate Henare, working the arm. Henare comes back hitting a drop toe hold on Juice face first onto Finlay’s junk. Hot tag to Tana, who dishes out forearms & dragon screws as he hits a somersault senton on Juice for 2. Juice avoids a Sling Blade & hits a spinebuster, but as FinnJuice goes for a Hart Attack, Henare trips Finlay & Tana hits Twist & Shout on Juice. Tag to Henare who cleans house with a stalling vertical suplex for 2 on Finlay. Hard elbows & a spinning Black Mass kick get 2 for Henare, who wants a spear & gets it for another 2. Leg sweep/Sling Blade combo connects, but FinnJuice turns the tide & hits an Scissors Kick/roll up for 2. Juice’s nose got busted somehow and he hits the Left Hand of God before they hit a Doomsday Device on Henare for 3. Second half of the match was really fun.
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL
I hate Bullet Club teams wrestling each other. Exact same start to the last Bullet Club vs Bullet Club match as they Too Sweet each other before attacking each other. GoD double teamed Yujiro then EVIL & Yujiro double teamed Tama before Loa got the hot tag & got a few near falls on Yujiro. EVIL got in and did his usual distract the ref bullshit & Jado and Togo took turns interfering. EVIL blocked a Gun Stun, Tama blocked a low blow, Magic Killer on EVIL sending him out, but Yujiro avoided a Magic Killer and wipes out Tama with a dive. He tried another on Loa, but Jado smacked him with the kendo stick, allowing Loa to submit him with a crossface.
YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii
On the contrary to what I just said, I’m all for CHAOS guys wrestling each other. Goto/YOSHI/Ishii being the 6 man tag champs. Yano untied a buckle pad, but YOSHI talked him out of it since they’re all buddies. Yano fell for it, allowing YOSHI & Goto to double team both guys, leading to Yano wiping everyone out with the buckle pad. YOSHI tries to start a chop battle with Ishii, which, let’s face it, is dumb. Ishii wins that exchange, but he tags Yano, who gets hit with a Head Hunter. Goto in with a bunch of lariats & forearms as he hits a wheel kick/bulldog for 2. Yano responds pulling Goto down by his hair & tags Ishii, who starts a forearm war with Goto. Nice series that ends in a discus clothesline for the double down & tag to YOSHI. So many chops, then a neckbreaker gets 2. YOSHI runs wild before they hit a GTR/Meteora combo on Ishii for 2. They try their finish, Ishii fights it off a few times, but ultimately they hit a reverse GTR/Facebuster for 2. Yano broke it up & hit a snap DVD on Goto, then tries a slingshot on the exposed corner on YOSHI, who put on the brakes. Belly to Belly by Yano and Sliding D by Ishii gets 2. YOSHI fights back with a brainbuster on Ishii for 2, goes for Karma, but we get a great series of counters & running into their partners on the apron before YOSHI hits a crazy lariat. He goes for Karma again, but Ishii hits a snap German, enzugiri, lariat 1…2…NO! Vertical drop brainbuster 1…2…3! This match was fucking great stuff.
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi vs Shingo Takagi & SANADA
Tag champs controlled SANADA for about 5 minutes before Shingo got the tag, ran wild, but Zack zoned in on the arm. Shingo at one point went for a lariat, Zack ducked, but Shingo didn’t swing all the way & hit a DDT off it, which I thought was great. I now want Zack vs Shingo for the NEVER title. SANADA tagged in & hit his plancha, but Zack countered Paradise Lock into a series of near falls. LIJ double team Taichi with a Noshigami/Flatliner combo for 2 as they lock in dueling Skull Ends on the tag champs, but they turn the tables & get a Dragon Sleeper/Octopus Hold. They try Zack Mephisto, but SANADA breaks that up, only to be planted with a backdrop driver. Shingo with a snap German, Taichi no sells & hits an enzugiri for a reset. Shingo & Taichi are left and they keep trying to lariat one another with finally Taichi hitting an Axe Bomber. He took too much time taking his pants off, allowing Shingo to hit a corner clothesline & Gedo Clutch for 2. Shingo wants a Pumping Bomber, but Taichi cuts him off, they try each other’s finishers, but Taichi hits a stacked up powerbomb for 2. Gedo Clutch by Taichi gets another 2 as they go for Zack Mephisto, but Skull End on Taichi as Shingo hits a Pumping Bomber on Zack. SANADA spun Taichi around in the submission, released him, threw him to his partner who hit Last of the Dragon for 3! These last two matches, especially this one, were the best of the tournament thus far, by a mile. Post match, SANADA & Shingo stare at the tag titles as this is a rematch I definitely want. Zack also pointed at the NEVER title.
World Tag League Standings
4 Points: EVIL & Yujiro, Zack & Taichi, O-Khan & Cobb, Juice & Finlay, Tonga & Loa, Yano & Ishii, Shingo & SANADA
2 Points: YOSHI & Goto
0 Points: Fale & Owens, Tanahashi & Henare
|
|
|
|
Post by Terry's Peeps on Nov 19, 2020 11:52:49 GMT -6
The most accurate description of a Fale match ever.
Just not good.
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 20, 2020 9:19:36 GMT -6
BOSJ Night 3
Yuya Uemura vs El Desperado
Catch me if you can played by Desperado to start & Uemura caught him as we begin with standard mat work by the Young Lion before they spill outside. Desperado tries to toss him into the railing, but Uemura turns the tables & hits a clothesline and is pumped up. As he gets back inside, Desperado punts the ropes & crotches Uemura to take control where he slams him into the railing multiple times to tease the countout. Desperado slowly dismantled his opponent before Uemura hit a dropkick & forearms in the corner before getting a flying forearm for 2. Boston Crab applied before Desperado desperately got the ropes. Uemura showing a lot of intensity, but runs into a spinebuster & Half Crab, which Desperado transitions to Numero Dos, only for Uemura to get the ropes. Cross arm breaker by Uemura, but Desperado gets a toe on the ropes after a struggle. Uemura goes to work the arm, but Desperado pokes him in the eyes and rolls him up with El Es Culero for the 3. I fully expect Uemura to go winless this tournament (maybe he wins his last match), but the story of him getting more & more aggressive but making mistakes along the way is a simple, yet entertaining story.
Taiji Ishimori vs DOUKI
My boy DOUKI attacks Ishimori at his entrance, controlling the start, but Ishimori hits a handspring kick & Golden Triangle to the floor. Springboard seated senton back inside as DOUKI scrambles to the ropes to avoid a Yes Lock. DOUKI rolled through Bloody Cross into his guillotine choke, hits almost a Black Widow Driver for 2. He looks for Daybreak, but Ishimori catches him, nearly gets Bloody Cross, but after a series of pin attempts, DOUKI gets the guillotine again. Daybreak connects as DOUKI goes for Suplex de la Luna, but Ishimori spins out with a pump kick. DOUKI throws the ref in front of him for a bump, grabs his pipe & cracks Ishimori in the ribs, but the Jr. champ grabs his title, smacks away the pipe & waffles DOUKI with it before hitting Bloody Cross for the 3 count. Ishimori out-heeled DOUKI, as post match, he used DOUKI’s pipe to apply the Yes Lock and got DOUKI to tap as well. Two wins in one!
Ryusuke Taguchi vs Master Wato
Solid mat work & counters from both to begin as Wato hits a kick combo before we get into a chop exchange. Great drop down sequence as Wato dropkicks Taguchi to the floor & hits a spinning plancha for one of the first dives of the night. Springboard dropkick for 2 as Taguchi looks for a hip attack, Wato hits an atomic drop, but Taguchi answers with a springboard dropkick off the apron & springboard cross body to the floor. Springboard hip attack misses inside, but Taguchi goes for what I can only describe as a Discus Hip Attack, but Wato knees him in the ass in mid air before hitting an enzugiri for the double down. They trade ankle locks and Wato gets control with a series of kicks, ending with a Buzzsaw Kick that was super loud. He connects with that rad looking arm trapped suplex, but takes too long to follow up and Taguchi picks the ankle. Wato rolls through, goes for a sunset flip, pulls down Taguchi’s trunks, but Taguchi drops down with his bare ass millimeters away from Wato’s face to get the 3 count.
SHO vs Robbie Eagles
This is when the tournament picked up as 5 minutes into this, following an entertaining feeling out process; Eagles hit a somersault plancha through the ropes & cleared the railing, landing on his feet! Back inside, Eagles tries to get the crowd to do an Aussie, Aussie, Aussie chant using his name, but it comes off weird as the crowd can’t chant, only clap. SHO avoids a springboard dropkick & spears Eagles as he fires off a kick combo, but Eagles fights out the corner & hits the springboard dropkick to the leg. Eagles misses a 619 and SHO dropkicks him off the apron to the floor. He goes for a punt kick, but Eagles hits a 619 leg sweep and Sliced Bread using the post! Both slowly get back inside and Eagles lights him up with a kick combo, tries for a hurricanrana, but SHO catches him mid move & hits a huge Powerbreaker for 2. Rolling Germans, but before SHO can get the third, Eagles counters into Turbo Backpack 1…2…KICK OUT! After a strike exchange, Eagles goes for a 450, rolls through, SHO with a jump knee, charges through an Eagles kick & turns him inside out with a lariat! He locks on the Fujiwara armbar, releases it and hits a crucifix piledriver 1…2…NO! Eagles floats through Shock Arrow twice, hits a reverse Sliced Bread into a DDT which was amazing, 450 to the knee, Ron Miller Special and SHO fights, but taps. This was a fantastic match between the CHAOS members.
Hiromu Takahashi vs BUSHI
We go from Taguchi Japan members wrestling, to CHAOS, to now LIJ to cap off the night. They both take turns teasing dives, but opt to taunt instead. Chop battle ensues (how happy is BUSHI that he’s wearing a t-shirt?), they trade low dropkicks & this time BUSHI hits a slingshot rana to the floor. After slamming him into the railing, Hiromu beats the count at 18. Hiromu makes a comeback and hits that running dropkick off the apron outside that makes me uncomfortable every time I watch it. Back inside, BUSHI nails a missile dropkick & after some counters, hits a DDT. Code Breaker blocked as Hiromu answers with a pop up powerbomb and hits a fucking scary Dynamite Plunger for 2 that came within inches of droppking BUSHI on his neck. BUSHI turns the tide with a backstabber in the corner & Code Breaker for a 2 of his own. BUSHI looks for MX, but Hiromu catches him with a superkick to the apron. He charges, but BUSHI cuts him off with a DDT through the ropes onto the apron! Tope suicida connects & Hiromu crashes into the railing. Back inside, BUSHI tries MX again, but Hiromu with a Code Breaker in mid air!! Running DVD into the corner, Hiromu holds on, goes for another, but BUSHI gets La Magistral for a close 2. Backstabber, Code Breaker combo 1…2…NO! Third time trying MX & BUSHI hits it 1…2…KICK OUT!! BUSHI goes up top for a super MX, but Hiromu dodges & gets a release belly to belly into the corner for a reset. Hiromu hits some superkicks & a lariat turning BUSHI inside out, he hits that suplex/flatliner he’s been doing, before looking for a reverse DDT, BUSHI counters into a super close backslide for 2. Hiromu up first with a snap dropkick & running DVD in the corner, then a proper DVD before signaling for Time Bomb & hits it 1…2…3! Really fun main event.
Best of Super Juniors Standings
4 Points: Wato, SHO, Desperado, Ishimori, Taguchi, Eagles, Takahashi
2 Points: BUSHI
0 Points: Uemura, DOUKI
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 22, 2020 9:17:08 GMT -6
WTL Night 4
Shingo Takagi & SANADA vs Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
BC tries to attack, but the LIJs quickly take control, double teaming Owens. SANADA gets the Paradise Lock, but Fale broke it up and cleaned house. After he tagged in, all he did was stand on SANADA’s chest before tagging back out. They took turns choking SANADA behind the refs back & Owens tried to get the Paradise Lock of his own, but couldn’t figure it out. SANADA hit a snap rana, low dropkick on Fale & the hot tag to Shingo, who hit a corner clothesline train on both BC boys. Pumping Bomber on Fale for 2 as Owens jumps in & tries a forearm battle, settles on a strike combo, tries the V-Trigger, but Shingo DDTs out. SANADA in, but he runs into a Flatliner in the corner as they hit a knee lift/lariat combo. Shining Wizard gets Owens 2, so he hits a V-Trigger & tries for the Package Piledriver, but SANADA spins out, tries a TKO. Fale & Owens collide into each other yet again and after a series of near falls by Owens, SANADA is able to get an O’Connor Roll for the 3 count. Owens & Fale have come off as complete goofs in this tournament.
Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto
Tana & YOSHI have a solid little back & forth to start before Henare tags in & they get a double Boston Crab. Henare only stay in control for seconds before YOSHI takes him outside & CHAOS lays out Henare & The Ace. They take turns picking Henare apart inside before he’s able to block a Goto bulldog & counters a suplex into one of his own, making the hot tag to Tana, who is moving very gingerly on those knees today. Dragon screws to both as he hits a somersault senton on Goto for 2. Misdirection by Goto gets him a clothesline for the reset as YOSHI charges, but eats a dropkick off the second by Tana. Henare tags in & runs wild on YOSHI, who cuts him off with a rewind kick & Meteora for 2. Tana breaks it up, Sling Blades YOSHI and they hit a legsweep/Sling Blade combo for a close 2. Spear by Henare on YOSHI gets another 2 as he tries a Rock Bottom, but Goto cuts it off and they end up hitting an assisted Dragon Screw on Tana and their GYW combo on Henare for the 3. Basic match, with a fun finish. Tana & Toa still searching for their first win as Tanahashi’s leg is getting worked more & more as this tournament goes on.
Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL
Love you Ishii (and to a much lesser extent, Yano), but I’m not wasting my time. Togo interferes, takes the ref, heels hit low blows; Everything is EVIL, 3 count. Moving on.
Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs Great O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
FinnJuice with quick tags, working Cobb’s arm early, but Khan tags in and The Empire immediately takes over, controlling Finlay for a few minutes before he leapt & tagged Juice, who didn’t really clean house, he just hit a few jabs & cross body off the top for 2 before Khan pulled him outside & hit a pump kick. They isolated Juice for quite a while, with pretty boring offense, not going to lie. Khan tried a shitty looking dropkick to a hung up Juice in the corner & missed, allowing Finlay to get the hot tag with dropkicks & a plancha. Double axe on Khan, back suplex on Cobb, leaping uppercut on Khan for 2. Khan blocks an Exploder with a Judo throw as Cobb tags in, hits a revolution gut wrench for 2 of his own. Khan sent outside and FinnJuice hit a leg sweep/running boot combo for 2. Khan in with his ridiculous chops, but runs into a double flapjack. Finlay avoids the claw with a stunner, then avoids Tour of the Islands with a swinging DDT. He tries Sliced Bread, but Cobb counters into a Tour of the Islands in MID AIR for the 3 count! That finish was awesome, as is Jeff Cobb himself, but damn, Great O-Khan’s offense continues to be just awful. He takes way too much punishment in every match to be looked at as a monster.
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi vs Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
GoD attack Taichi during his entrance, forcing Zack to literally run from the back to save his partner before the bell.
The next 5 minutes is everyone brawling up the ramp to the stage with each team faking they were going to toss the other off to the floor. Zack & Taichi apply a guillotine & octopus hold as Red Shoes finally puts a fucking count on these guys and the GoD beat the count at 18. Tag champs double team Loa, Zack slaps on a rear naked choke & Loa takes the ref, allowing Jado to hit ZSJ with the kendo stick. I honestly don’t think he hit him, just the ropes, but Zack sold it like he was hit. That allows the GoD to pick apart Sabre and there’s rest holds aplenty here before finally Sabre hits an uppercut out the corner to get to his partner. Taichi chokes his opponents relentlessly before the pants come off, but Loa & Taichi no sell German suplexes & a head kick, but Loa hits a lariat for the double down. Tags to both partners as Zack & Tama have a nice exchange; Zack misses a PK, avoids the misdirection & gets the Octopus Hold, which Tama counters into a flapjack. Taichi attacks, allowing Zack to hit his PK for 2, they call for Zack Mephisto, but Loa wipes him out, letting GoD to hit their reverse Magic Killer for 2. They go for a proper one, but Sabre kicks out & rolls up Tama for 2. Tama tries Gun Stun, but Zack tries for an arm breaker, only for Tama to counter into a Sharpshooter. We then entered the “who can cheat best” portion, as the ref bumped, Taichi used his microphone stand, Jado used the kendo stick, Loa used the microphone stand, Sabre used the kendo stick, but finally Tama Tonga used Taichi’s Iron Fist to lay out Sabre, wake up the ref & get the 3 count.
World Tag League Standings
6 Points: Shingo & SANADA, O-Khan & Cobb, EVIL & Yujiro, Tonga & Loa
4 Points: Zack & Taichi, Juice & Finlay, Yano & Ishii, YOSHI & Goto
2 Points:
0 Points: Fale & Owens, Tanahashi & Henare
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 23, 2020 16:22:45 GMT -6
BOSJ Night 4
Yuya Uemura vs Taiji Ishimori
Ishimori dominated a majority of this one, especially targeting the left arm. Uemura finally cut him off with a dropkick to create some distance. He sank in a half crab, since he was selling his other arm, which I loved (it’s the little things). Ishimori escaped & hit a brutal shoulder breaker, then slapped on the Yes Lock, opting to let it go though for a Bloody Cross attempt, only for Uemura to counter into a cross arm breaker. Both men to their feet & Uemura starts slapping the shit out of Ishimori, fighting through the pain, tries his double arm suplex, but Ishimori rolls through & sinks in the Yes Lock for the submission. This was a simple story, but I honestly loved it. Sometimes the simpler the better as I loved the selling of Uemura here.
Robbie Eagles vs BUSHI
Early tope suicida connects for BUSHI as he chucks Eagles into the railing & hits a neckbreaker back inside for 2. After working the neck a few minutes, Eagles cuts BUSHI off with his springboard low dropkick to the leg & sliding leg lariat for 2 of his own. Double knees to the corner, 619 to the knee & meteora in the corner for another near fall. BUSHI blocks Turbo Backpack with an eye rake & hits a dropkick before nailing the draping DDT onto the apron. Eagles fights back with a kick combo, tries Sliced Bread, but BUSHI tries something, literally falling right into place for Eagles to hit Turbo Backpack for 2. BUSHI with a missile dropkick & the first BUSHI-ROONI I’ve seen this tournament as he hits a backstabber, misses a Code Breaker & rewind kick as Eagles locks in the Ron Miller Special for quite a while, but BUSHI got the ropes. Eagles wants another springboard low dropkick, but BUSHI dropkicks him in mid air & hits a Destroyer for 2. BUSHI to the second rope where he hits MX for the 3 count. Fun little back & forth match.
Hiromu Takahashi vs DOUKI
To the shock of no one, DOUKI attacks immediately, but Hiromu thwarts his attack. He went for his running dropkick off the apron, but DOUKI moved & Hiromu went splat. Tope suicida by DOUKI, who hits a SUICIDE SENTON OFF THE TOP TO THE FLOOR!! Holy shit, my boy DOUKI isn’t fucking around tonight! Hiromu beats the count as DOUKI hits his running double stomp for 2. Misdirection into a rana gets Hiromu back on track as he hits a wheelbarrow facebuster on the outside. Running dropkick off the apron connects, as does a wheelbarrow flatliner back in the ring for 2. DOUKI responds with his backslide driver for 2, then calls for Daybreak, but Hiromu counters, tries for a pop up powerbomb, but DOUKI counters into his guillotine choke. Hiromu gets the ropes, so DOUKI hits Daybreak for a near fall. He charges in the corner & Hiromu hits a release overhead belly to belly to regain control. Dynamite Plunger connects 1…2…NO! Running DVD in the corner, he goes for Time Bomb, but DOUKI rolls through into the guillotine choke. Hiromu fights out & hits a suplex/flatliner for the reset. Strike exchange as Hiromu hits a superkick, DOUKI with an enzugiri, double clotheslines, then DOUKI turns Hiromu inside out with a hard lariat. Hiromu avoids Suplex de la Luna, but DOUKI MURDERS HIM WITH A RIGHT HAND! Hiromu got folded up like an accordion. DOUKI hits this wild backslide driver variation that was brutal looking for 2. Hiromu rolls through a Suplex de la Luna attempt for a near fall, then turns DOUKI inside out with a lariat, on his neck for another close 2. Time Bomb hits for the 1…2…3! Probably my favorite DOUKI showing of this tournament as he pushed Hiromu to the limit.
Ryusuke Taguchi vs SHO
The match starts with Taguchi tap dancing to the claps of the crowd like he’s Michael Flatley, Lord of the Dance. Some early comedy from Taguchi trying to blow SHO up by making him hit the ropes, but the back & forth makes Taguchi dizzy himself and he face plants (to the sound of crickets, which was weird). SHO works the arm, then kicks Taguchi in the ass, which he no sells, it just wakes him up. The buns of steel is simply too much for SHO as Taguchi no sells atomic drops & hits a hip attack to the floor, then slingshot plancha as SHO is thrown back inside & Taguchi hits a springboard hip attack for 2. He hits 2 of the 3 Amigos before getting an ankle lock, but SHO gets the ropes. SHO recovers & targets the arm again (since Taguchi’s ass in indestructible?) as he punts away, only for Taguchi to start firing forearms. SHO blocks a hip attack into rolling Germans, as they take turns getting a cross arm breaker into ankle lock. SHO was in it for a long time, but escapes, tries Shock Arrow, gets a sunset flip and I shit you not, Taguchi pulls his own trunks down for SHO to take (I have no fucking clue what I’m typing anymore with these Taguchi matches) as he hits a hip attack, but SHO answers with an arm cross piledriver for 2, then Shock Arrow for the 3. Taguchi matches are like 70% fun & solid and 30% really fucking weird.
Master Wato vs El Desperado
Desperado jaw jacks with Tenzan, sending Wato colliding into him to start, but Wato quickly gets control with a Camel Clutch. Desperado to the ropes as he bumps the ref & gets Wato to the floor where he takes over, posting the leg. Desperado is taunting the shit out of Tenzan, as he grabs the ring hammer & whacks Wato in the knee with it. For the next 5 minutes, Desperado works the knee, until Wato hits a tilt a whirl slam to regroup & hits a spinning plancha and then a tope con hilo outside! Back inside, springboard uppercut for 2 as these last three moves Wato has hit pretty much has made the previous 5 minutes pointless. Kitchen sink knee by Wato, who misses a high kick & Desperado kicks out the bad wheel, dragon screwing it down before locking in Numero Dos. Wato gets the ropes & hits his Rat Trap Driver, goes for the RPP, but misses. Spear by Desperado, who follows up with Guitarra de Angel for a close 2 count. He signals for Pinche Loco, but Wato backdrops out. Strike exchange leads to a high kick by Wato, as they trade standing switches, Desperado with a mule kick & right hand that starches Wato. Pinche Loco avoided again, as Wato does a spinning jack knife cover for the flash 3 count! Post match, Desperado attacks Wato, but Tenzan makes the save as Desperado bails. I honestly didn’t care for this match, especially in the main event slot.
Best of Super Juniors Standings
6 Points: Ishimori, Takahashi, SHO, Wato
4 Points: Desperado, Taguchi, Eagles, BUSHI
2 Points:
0 Points: Uemura, DOUKI
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 24, 2020 10:01:47 GMT -6
WTL Night 5
Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
FinnJuice controlled Owens for about 5 straight minutes until Fale cleaned house illegally, allowing the BC boys to take over. They slowly worked over Juice until Owens accidentally superkicked Fale & Finlay got the hot tag. FinnJuice again worked Owens with some double teams, but Owens fought back with a superkick & baseball slide dropkick outside on Juice. Grenade by Fale, V-Trigger by Owens and a combo German suplex/Grenade on Finlay to give Owens & Fale their first win. This was just a match, not awful, but sorta boring.
Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL
Henare & Tana got the early advantage, but it quickly turned around once Togo interfered (shocker). They worked Henare with boring heel bullshit for a while before he suplexed EVIL & made the hot tag to Tana, who ran house on everyone, including Togo. Your standard Tanahashi offense here before Togo hit a dragon screw while Tana tried to skin the cat. They really worked Tana’s leg (like every match this tournament) but The Ace recovered, tagged Henare, who promptly fell victim to Togo’s bullshit again, allowing Yujiro to hit an Angle Slam, smack him with his cane & just as he was about to put him away, Tanahashi came in & hit dragon screws on anything that moved. Leg sweep/Sling Blade combo led to a terrible looking Spear by Henare on Yujiro, but he put him away with the Rock Bottom for the 3 count. Henare & Tanahashi get their first win and there’s officially no team winless in this thing.
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii
GoD did a good job isolating Yano early, but eventually, Ishii got the tag & started murdering fools. Unfortunately, Yano removed the buckle pad earlier in the match & Tama sent Ishii into it, leading to GoD regaining control. Unlike Yano, the GoD couldn’t control Ishii for nearly as long, as he quickly cut off Loa with a spinning back suplex & tags Yano, who does his Yano things. Roll ups aplenty until Loa hit an enzugiri, then steamrolled Ishii with a lariat. They tried a Magic Killer, but Yano cut them off. Tama & Ishii had a great series of counters of their finishers, which led to them hitting Ishii with Magic Killer, but he wasn’t the legal man. They try for another one on Yano, but settle on a reverse one for 2. Jado takes the ref (despite the GoD being in control), but Tama accidentally hits Loa with the kendo stick & Yano rolls him up for the 3 count. Dumb ending to an otherwise kinda fun little match.
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi vs Great O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
Cobb & Zack are thankfully the ones who start in the ring after a brawl outside to kick things off. The Empire get control of Zack & target the midsection, as Khan does his silly looking offense yet again, it’s just very difficult to get into. Zack hit a desperation Tornado DDT as both men tagged their partners. Taichi tried to clothesline Cobb, who no sold & leveled Taichi with a shoulder block. High kick & back drop driver by Taichi for the reset (already, Taichi has barely done anything in this match and is already selling a double down). Pants come off (YOU’VE DONE NOTHING TO WARRANT THAT TAICHI!!), but Cobb hits a spinning back suplex before tagging Khan. Oh man, Khan vs Taichi, please send help. Thankfully that didn’t last long, as Sabre jumps in & immediately Judo thrown by Khan as they tie ZSJ up in the Tree of Joey Lawrence, Khan charges, but runs into a Taichi high kick as he frees his partner. Cobb tries for Tour of the Islands, but Zack spins through & gets a sleeper. He tries for Zack Mephisto, but his back is too hurt, so Cobb hits a suplex. Khan & Taichi use the Claw/Choke on one another before Sabre breaks it up, sends Cobb outside & they hit Zack Mephisto on Khan for the 3 count. This monster Khan, gets pinned, yet again. He’s only been around like a month and I’m already bored to tears by him. Post match, Taichi forces Khan to kiss his boot, standing on his head, payback for Khan doing the same thing to him earlier. The brief interactions with Cobb & Sabre were the only highlight of this otherwise boring ass match.
YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs Shingo Takagi & SANADA
The one match of this night I’m excited for. Goto & Shingo start, but quickly turns into a YOSHI/Shingo slugfest with forearms. Both partners take turns hitting knees to the others backs to cut them off, allowing the LIJs to double team & pick apart YOSHI, really working the back/hip, which he’s constantly holding. Paradise Lock, dropkick to the ass for a 2 count. YOSHI gets a suplex on SANADA and Head Hunter on Shingo that leads to the Goto hot tag & murders Shingo with a lariat, corner wheel kick & running bulldog for 2. They trade GTR & Noshigami attempts, which leads to a sliding lariat by Shingo, who plants Goto with a DDT. SANADA goes for the moonsault into Skull End, but Goto side steps & pulls SANADA down neck first on his knee before tagging YOSHI. Draping dropkick gets a 2 as he hits a rewind kick and they hit a superkick/Ushigoroshi/Meteora combo for 2. CHAOS with the double team neckbreaker, they hit a variation of their finish for another 2, as they go for a proper one, but Shingo breaks it up. Lariats by everyone until SANADA hits a springboard dropkick on YOSHI for a complete reset. Corner lariat train by the LIJ as SANADA hits an Ego Trip for 2. Skull End applied on YOSHI, but Goto breaks it up, they go for their finisher, but Shingo cleans house to stop it. Pumping Bomber & TKO on YOSHI 1…2…NO! YOSHI counters Skull End with some roll ups and gets a super close one off a school boy. Corner moonsault into Skull End once more as SANADA spins around, gets the legs locked and YOSHI taps as Shingo holds off Goto on the floor. Really fun main event.
World Tag League Standings
8 Points: Shingo & SANADA
6 Points: O-Khan & Cobb, EVIL & Yujiro, Tonga & Loa, Yano & Ishii, Zack & Taichi
4 Points: Juice & Finlay, YOSHI & Goto
2 Points: Fale & Owens, Tanahashi & Henare
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 25, 2020 11:04:05 GMT -6
BOSJ Night 5
Yuya Uemura vs Hiromu Takahashi
Hiromu dominated this one until Uemura hit his dropkick & charging corner attacks, before getting his Boston Crab. As much as Hiromu sold for him, you know there’s no way in hell he was losing to Uemura, so even though he hit a back drop driver for 2 and sank in a cross arm breaker, you never really felt like Hiromu was in trouble. FINALLY though, Uemura hit his double arm underhook suplex, but didn’t follow up as Hiromu clobbered him with a lariat & Falcon Arrow for 2 before locking in a deep Boston Crab to submit Uemura. Not sure I would’ve wasted Uemura finally hitting the suplex he’d worked for the entire tournament on this match, when it ultimately meant nothing.
Master Wato vs DOUKI
Wato tries a plancha early & DOUKI pulls Yota Tsuji in the way. He grabs the pipe, throws the ref down, takes out Tenzan with it & chokes out Wato as well. Back inside, it was all DOUKI until he couldn’t hit Daybreak as we get a brief time where both guys aren’t on the same page & it looks super sloppy. Daybreak hits flush for 2 as he goes for Suplex de la Luna, but Wato fought out; hit the Rat Trap Driver for 2. We get a shitty looking ref bump as DOUKI grabs his pipe & hits Wato in the ribs & throat, but gets 2 after reviving the ref. Wato hit a high kick & Tenzan Tombstone before hitting RPP for the win. This match sucked. It fell apart and they couldn’t get back on track.
Ryusuke Taguchi vs BUSHI
Not really in the mood to do a recap of Taguchi’s ass antics, just know he did his bare ass hip attacks which are just gross. He did all his signature stuff except for his finisher, as it was BUSHI who ultimately hit MX for the 3 count. Taguchi’s matches, like I said previously, are 70% fun and 30% creepy, this time it was 60-40 and I don’t like how those numbers are getting smaller.
Robbie Eagles vs Taiji Ishimori
Ok, these next two matches should be much better. After a blistering pace set by Eagles, Ishimori was able to recover & slow things down to a snails pace after a springboard seated senton & rest holds working the neck. Sliding German in the ropes, but Eagles fights back with Tope Con Hilo outside, landing on his feet. Back inside, 619 to the knee & meteora in the corner for 2 as Eagles hits his low springboard dropkick to the leg, but Ishimori hits his handspring wheel kick for the reset. It looks like Ishimori misses a meteora in the corner, but he actually hit the arm of Eagles, who screams in pain. Ishimori gets the Yes Lock, but Eagles gets the ropes, then Eagles gets the Ron Miller Special, but Ishimori gets the ropes. They both try 450 splashes, with their opponent getting the knees up each time. Both slowly rise with a strike battle, Eagles gets the best of that, Ishimori hits a jump knee, but Eagles hits Turbo Backpack for 2. Ishimori counters a reverse Sliced Bread into Gargano-Escape, releases it & hits Bloody Cross for the 3. Solid back & forth, entertaining match, with some really good selling.
SHO vs El Desperado
The story early was SHO almost just showing off, slowly picking Desperado apart. That is until Desperado avoided a baseball slide & chucked SHO into the railing. He posts the knee & uses a chair to bait the ref as he hits SHO with the ring hammer. Back inside, it’s Desperado’s turn to show off & toy with SHO, just going to work on the leg with a series of submissions. SHO is able to counter a suplex by digging down deep, trying to get feeling back in the leg. SHO STARTS THROWING KICKS WITH BOTH LEGS. So him slapping his leg 5 times just eliminates all that work Desperado did? It’s fucking infuriating. Desperado does get him down & gets Numero Dos applied as SHO screams in pain before getting the ropes. SHO starts hulking up in a forearm battle, so Desperado kicks out the leg and hits Guitarra de Angel for 2. Pinche Loco blocked as SHO hits a fucking kitchen sink knee as if it was nothing, I’m sort of over it at this point. SHO gets a kimura deep, but Desperado hits a solid spinebuster. He tries for Numero Dos, but SHO rolls into a Fujiwara Armbar into a cross arm breaker. Rope break by Desperado as SHO hits a back stabber (on his bad knees) before charging full speed & hits a lariat. Power Breaker (powerbomb onto his own knees) gets a 2 count. Desperado tries a mule kick, but misses, SHO tries Shock Arrow, but Desperado gets a flash roll up for 2. Desperado starches SHO with a right hand & hits Pinche Loco for the 3. I can’t begin to describe how much I hated SHO’s lack of selling of the leg in this one. He picked & chose when he sold and it was beyond annoying of what otherwise would’ve been an entertaining main event. I just couldn’t get passed it.
Best of Super Juniors Standings
8 Points: Takahashi, Wato, Ishimori
6 Points: SHO, BUSHI, Desperado
4 Points: Taguchi, Eagles
2 Points:
Out of Contention:
0 Points: Uemura, DOUKI
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 28, 2020 10:16:36 GMT -6
WTL Night 6
Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs Great O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
If Ishii can’t get anything good out of Khan, then there’s no hope, so let’s see. Not a good start, as The Empire picks apart Yano and its super boring. Khan has rest holds on Toru Yano, let that one sink in. Finally Ishii gets the hot tag and avoids the double teaming with shoulder tackles aplenty. Battle for a suplex between he & Cobb, which Ishii hits it, but Cobb rolls through a pin attempt & hits a suplex of his own. They trade strikes until Ishii hits a German and both tag their partners in, booo. Pump kick & those damn chops by Khan, as they take turns running into the exposed corner before Ishii charges & Khan sends him into a Cobb spinning back suplex. Empire double teams Yano as Khan gets a gut wrench, then an arm triangle, but Ishii dives in before Yano passes out. Ishii & Cobb brawl outside as Khan gets rolled up by Yano twice for two counts, only for Khan to flatten him with a Judo Throw. Claw applied, Ishii in to break it up, Yano shoves the ref, Ishii with the lariat, Yano with the low blow & rolls up Khan for the 3 count! Khan got Yano’d and any kind of intimidation he might have had left is out the window. Cobb & Ishii have an intense stare down post match & I really want that match again.
Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
Tana gets the best of Owens in the early exchange, doing a little air guitar, but he tags Henare to double team. Fale jumps in & puts a stop to that, allowing Owens to pounce on Henare to put the BC Boys in control. Henare battles back & tags Tana, who is a house of fire with flying forearms & dragon screws. Somersault senton out the corner lands flush, but Owens fights back with a lariat for the double down. Fale tags in & hits a running cross body for 2, but Henare gets in, foolishly tries to suplex Fale, so Tana jumps in and they hit a double one. Leg sweep/Sling Blade gets a 2, which Owens breaks up with some dragon screws on Tana, sending him outside. Henare makes a gallant comeback, but there’s a pointless ref bump, allowing Owens to get a V-Trigger and they hit a German/Grenade combo for the win. Ok match with a shitty finish. You had to shove the ref down to hit a V-Trigger knee? You’ve been double teaming this entire match. This is a shitty way to officially be eliminated from contention of this thing for Tanahashi/Henare.
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi vs Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL
Another instance where the heel team attacks Taichi during his entrance, forcing Zack to sprint out from the back to make the save. I don’t have the patience to even attempt to recap a heel vs heel match, especially when it includes EVIL’s bullshit. Zack & Taichi won after hitting Zack Mephisto on Yujiro. Moving on. Sorry, Sabre, I hate skipping your matches.
Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs Shingo Takagi & SANADA
FinnJuice tries putting away SANADA early off some double teams, but Shingo jumps in and just cleans house, allowing SANADA to take over & the LIJs to control Finlay. They pick him apart for 5 minutes before he battles back & tags Juice, who hits The Taste on Shingo. He starts lighting him up with jabs until Shingo realizes he ain’t got time for that & murders Juice with a lariat. Paradise Lock by SANADA traps Juice & dropkicks him in the ass, as the LIJs get on dueling Skull Ends until Finlay breaks away from Shingo & cuts off SANADA. Juice avoids the springboard dropkick & lays out SANADA with a powerbomb for the double down. Tags to Finlay & Shingo as they have a fun back & forth ending in Finlay hitting a Rock Bottom/Backbreaker deal for 2. FinnJuice wants the Doomsday Device, but Shingo fights them off with a double clothesline. LIJs hit a great strike combo ending in Shingo turning Finlay inside out for 2. Noshigami/TKO combo hits (which should be their finisher IMO), sliding lariat 1…2…NO! Juice cuts off Shingo trying for Last of the Dragon, but Shingo answers with forearms, charges, running into a Finlay diving Spear! POWER-PLEX BY FINNJUICE 1…2…SANADA breaks it up. Legsweep/running boot combo on SANADA to take him out as Finlay hits a lariat on Shingo, SHINGO NO SELLS, Finlay nearly gets a roll up, but Shingo out, only to eat a Left Hand of God & Pulp Friction by Juice, who wipes out SANADA outside with a tumbleweed. Acid Drop connects by Finlay for the 1…2…3 on Shingo! Slow first half of the match, but a friggin fantastic second half. This was the best FinnJuice has looked in a long time.
YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
CHAOS seemingly has things in hand early, but the Jado factor comes into play and the GoD take over on the outside, then hit dueling slingshot sentons back in the ring. Like most of these shows, they fall into the same formula of just isolating one guy (in this case, YOSHI) and keeping Goto at bay, constantly knocking him off the apron. Finally YOSHI hits a Head Hunter & gets the tag after being worked for 5 minutes. Goto runs wild, but Loa avoids Ushigoroshi with a jump kick, which Goto no sells. They start hitting dueling clotheslines on each other, neither budge, so they go full steam & collide for the double down. After only being out of the match for what feels like 90 seconds, YOSHI already tags back in, but he’s recovered (don’t get me started), hangs up Tama on the ropes & hits a leaping dropkick for 2. Tama turns the tide with a corner splash, misses a Superman Punch, allowing YOSHI to hit a rewind kick & Goto jumps in for a Ushigoroshi/Meteora combo for 2. In a rad counter, Tama kicks away from their finish, Loa takes the ref & Jado canes YOSHI as the GoD hit a reverse Magic Killer for a close 2. They hit a proper one 1…2…Goto breaks it up. Tama measures YOSHI up for Gun Stun, misses, YOSHI with the rolling cradle 1…2…3!! Tama can’t believe it. Fun finish.
World Tag League Standings
8 Points: Shingo & SANADA, Yano & Ishii, Zack & Taichi
6 Points: O-Khan & Cobb, EVIL & Yujiro, Tonga & Loa, Juice & Finlay, YOSHI & Goto
4 Points: Fale & Owens
Out of Contention:
2 Points: Tanahashi & Henare
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 29, 2020 9:48:15 GMT -6
BOSJ Night 6
Yuya Uemura vs Ryusuke Taguchi
Taguchi grounded Uemura for the opening minutes, hitting a hip attack, but tried for a charging one & Uemura hit a dropkick to take over. He tried for his Boston Crab and after a fight from Taguchi, managed to sink it in. Taguchi got the ropes, Uemura tried a standing switch, but Taguchi spun out & hit a reverse DDT for 2. Three Amigos connects, but the Bumaye misses & Uemura almost gets a 3 off a school boy. For some reason, Uemura tries for a standard armbar this late in the match, so Taguchi escapes and gets an ankle lock, which Uemura reverses into a cross arm breaker. Taguchi gets the ropes & we get a forearm battle, leading to Uemura countering a flying hip attack into a German for 2. He wants his arm trapped suplex, but Taguchi rolls through & gets the ankle lock again, eventually getting Uemura to tap. This was one of the best Taguchi matches this tournament, it was simple, it was competitive and while he had hip attacks it wasn’t the bare asses variety.
El Desperado vs DOUKI
Battle of the Suzuki-gun boys as it starts with solid mat wrestling, which you know won’t last, as these are two dastardly heels. DOUKI faked a dive, so they brawled outside, where Desperado threw the ref down, only to get attacked by DOUKI & his pipe. Back inside, DOUKI controlled the action until Desperado hit a suplex & went after the left leg, slapping on a Stretch Muffler. DOUKI got the ropes and we get our second forearm battle in as many matches before DOUKI ran into a spinebuster. Numero Dos applied, but DOUKI desperately got the ropes. Desperado tried a low dropkick, but DOUKI stepped back & sank in his guillotine choke. Desperado gets a toe on the ropes, DOUKI signals for Daybreak, but can’t hit it as both men fall to the apron. MONKEY FLIP BY DOUKI AND DESPERADO CLIPS HIS BACK ON THE EDGE OF THE RING! Holy shit that was a terrible landing for Desperado as DOUKI jumps to the top & hits his suicide senton! DOUKI BOMB! They both beat the count, as DOUKI hits Daybreak 1…2…NO! Desperado rolls through Suplex de la Luna and gets Numero Dos locked on as DOUKI fights, but submits. I really liked this match.
Master Wato vs SHO
After an early exchange, Wato gets sent to the floor & SHO hits a punt kick to his arm on the apron. SHO zones in and for the next few minutes, works submissions before Wato knocks him outside & connects with a Tornillo. Springboard uppercut back inside gets Wato a 2. SHO with a misdirection spear for the double down and he’s back to work on the arm. He’s lighting it up with kicks before Wato shows fighting spirit and starts firing off kicks. Weird little moment came when SHO was going to throw something, but pulled it, almost as if it wasn’t his turn yet, which was a little odd. Anyways, SHO gets a fujiwara armbar, tries for the Powerbreaker, but Wato rolls him up for 2. Pump kick, Rat Trap Driver get Wato another 2, as he goes for the RPP, but crashes & burns. Both slowly rise as our third forearm battle of the night commences. SHO murders Wato with a combo, Wato with a spinning back fist, SHO with a pump knee, Wato with a high kick, tries for the Tenzan Tombstone, but SHO turns him inside out with a lariat. Powerbreaker hits, only for 2, hits Shock Arrow for the 3 count. This was an ok match, had its clunky spots, but was fine.
BUSHI vs Taiji Ishimori
For the first 7 minutes, Ishimori worked the arm, until BUSHI recovered; hit a top rope dropkick, BUSHI-Rooni and a tope suicida to the floor. DDT back inside gets BUSHI 2, goes for a Code Breaker, but Ishimori counters into a Yes Lock, as BUSHI scurries to the ropes. Brutal shoulderbreaker into a Yes Lock, as BUSHI is trapped, but ultimately gets the ropes again. Handspring wheel kick by Ishimori as both men go to the corner and BUSHI hits a leaping rana out of the corner for 2. Hanging DDT through the ropes on the apron as for the fourth straight match, we get a forearm battle as BUSHI hits an enzugiri & big back suplex and a DESTROYER 1…2…NO! Fuckin Red Shoes is channeling Earl Hebner by how slow he’s counting there. BUSHI wants MX, but Ishimori counters into Cipher UTAKI as he gets Gargano-Escape in the center of the ring & BUSHI submits.
Robbie Eagles vs Hiromu Takahashi
Not even going to begin to type out all the counters we saw in the first minute of this match, just know it ruled. Eagles hit a top con hilo & both men crashed hard into the railing, Hiromu’s head smacked right against it. Eagles got a 2 back inside, but Hiromu answers with a sunset flip through the ropes, Eagles held onto the ropes, so Hiromu opted for a powerbomb onto the edge of the ring. Shotgun dropkick sends Eagles crashing through the railing as we go back inside & Hiromu gets 2. Cloverleaf slingshot snaps Eagles back as Hiromu sinks in a Camel Clutch, mocking the “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!” chants that Robbie does. Eagles gets the ropes, tries to throw some shots, but Hiromu just clobbers him with chops. He tries a sunset flip bomb again, but Robbie cuts him off with a springboard dropkick, 619, springboard forearm to the neck for the reset. Corner knees get a 2, Eagles misses Sliced Bread and Hiromu hits a snap dropkick sending Robbie outside again. Running dropkick off the apron hits and it still makes me squeamish for Hiromu’s neck. Falcon Arrow hits back inside for 2, but after a series of counters, Eagles hits a rad looking dragon screw and 450 to the leg, fucking his midsection up in the process. Brief forearm battle (I’ll count it, that means all 5 matches tonight had them) leads to an Eagles leg lariat, charges & Hiromu hits an overhead suplex into the corner! Dynamite Plunger hits 1…2…NO! Running DVD into the corner, Eagles rolls through Time Bomb for a close near fall, uppercuts the leg, but runs into two superkicks from Hiromu’s good leg for the double down. Superkick on the apron by Hiromu, who tries his sunset flip bomb a third time, but as he lands, he clutches his leg, it’s hurting too much. Both men slowly climb to the edge of the ring and EAGLES HITS A TURBO BACKPACK ON THE APRON!! Holy shit that was insane!! Hiromu barely beats the count at 19 as Eagles goes to the top, Hiromu cuts him off, tries for what I can only describe as a murder German suplex, but EAGLES HITS A SUPER SLICED BREAD OFF THE TOP 1…2…KICK OUT!! Holy shit! Eagles quickly goes to the top again, Hiromu tries rolling out of the way, but Eagles with a 450 to the back 1…2…NO! Ron Miller Special slapped on in the center of the ring! Hiromu is trapped for quite a while before getting the ropes. Hiromu counters a Reverse Sliced Bread, tries a running DVD again, but his leg gives out. Combo kicks by Eagles, who eats a Hiromu lariat, but no sells, so Hiromu turns him inside out with another one 1…2…KICK OUT! 25 minute call as we get a series out counters before Hiromu hits Victory Royal, then Time Bomb 2 for the 1…2…3!! This was the best match of the tournament and in the running for best juniors match of the year. This was phenomenal. Even if Eagles wins out, he’s lost tiebreakers to Takahashi & Ishimori, who lead the block, so after such a great performance, he’s sadly eliminated.
Best of Super Juniors Standings
10 Points: Takahashi, Ishimori
8 Points: Wato, SHO, Desperado
6 Points: BUSHI, Taguchi
Out of Contention:
4 Points: Eagles
0 Points: Uemura, DOUKI
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 29, 2020 16:18:45 GMT -6
Here's a visual of Eagles hitting Hiromu with a Turbo Backpack on the apron. I worry so much about Hiromu's neck.
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Nov 30, 2020 9:57:29 GMT -6
WTL Night 7
Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL vs Great O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
Not a chance in hell I’m reviewing a 13 minute match with O-Khan, EVIL and Yujiro. Cobb pinned Yujiro via Tour of the Islands.
YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
BC Boys try a sneak attack, but fail as YOSHI & Goto hit their double hip toss on Owens and go a-clubberin until Fale steamrolls them both. In a nice change of pace in their matches, Goto is the one to get beaten down & isolated instead of the usual YOSHI. Quick tags by BC as they work the lower back before Fale comically misses an elbow and that’s all YOSHI needs to get a hot tag. Head Hunter on Fale was impressive, but only got 2. Owens in with a short clothesline, tries a V-Trigger, but YOSHI counters into a rewind kick. Goto in with a corner wheel kick & bulldog for 2. He runs into an Owens enzugiri & lariat slam for 2 as they call for the BC finish, but YOSHI breaks it up. Owens ultimately falls victim to GYW for the 3 count. Owens & Fale are officially eliminated after a pretty much nothing match.
Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii
Henare surprisingly wins the shoulder block battle with Ishii early as they take turns applying double Crabs on the CHAOS crew. Tana didn’t fall for Yano’s antics, as he hit a dragon screw & somersault senton out the corner for 2. Forearm battle ensues until Yano pulls Tana down by the hair & tags Ishii, who lights up The Ace with chops, but Tana fires back with some of his own. Cross body out the corner for the double down. Henare gets the tag, hits a Samoan Drop on Ishii, trades suplex attempts & Ishii hits the release German. Henare hulks up though & lays out both CHAOS members as I haven’t seen Tanahashi on the apron in like 5 minutes. Ishii rolls through a shoulder tackle off the top & starches Henare with a slap to the face. Ishii tries a powerbomb, but Tana pops back up, wipes the leg out, only for Yano to send him into the exposed corner for his troubles. Ishii & Tana have a crazy series of counters ending in a Twist & Shout. Legsweep/Sling Blade combo as Tana hits a plancha on Yano outside. Henare screams for the end as he hits a Spear 1…2…NO! Henare just realized his mouth is bleeding and wipes the blood on his face, which is kinda gross. He hits another Spear, but Yano breaks the count. Yano & Tana take turns running into the exposed corner until CHAOS hits a belly to belly/Sliding D combo for 2. Yano & Tana go back to the outside as Ishii turns Henare inside out with a lariat 1…2…KICK OUT! After a series of counters, vertical drop brainbuster connects 1…2…3. This was a fun back & forth battle. Henare looked real good in there tonight against Ishii.
Shingo Takagi & SANADA vs Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
After a relatively slow start, Shingo tried to save his partner, who had gotten beaten down for minutes, but ate a reverse Magic Killer for his efforts. SANADA got hit with a proper Magic Killer, but kicked out at 2 and the GoD couldn’t believe it. They want a super powerbomb out the corner but SANADA reverse into a rana! We get, you guessed it, a ref bump in a GoD match. Jado tries to interfere, but Shingo no sells a kendo stick shot and just hits 1 jab, sending Jado packing. TKO on Tama gets a 2 count as Shingo & Loa spill outside. Tama got a roll up off Skull End for 2, then both took turns reversing Skull End until Tama nearly hits Gun Stun, but SANADA counters into spinning Skull End. Loa takes the ref and Jado canes SANADA, allowing Tama to hit a Gun Stun for the tainted 3. The ending few minutes, even with Jado involved, were pretty fun due to all the counters.
Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
I’ve got to hand it to Juice; he’s able to get the crowd going no matter the circumstance. Good for him. On the other hand, also no matter the circumstance, Taichi’s entrance remains ridiculous. FinnJuice work the arm of Sabre, showing off their double team maneuvers before Taichi cuts it off and chokes Juice for 5 seconds, that’s literally all they did for the heels to take over. Juice was ultimately able to fight his way to his partner and Finlay cleaned house for a bit until Zack attacked him, allowing Taichi to send him outside. The tag champs did their usual antics on the floor as back inside; Sabre gets revenge as they work Finlay’s arm over. Finlay gets a desperation back suplex and both partners tag in with Juice a house of fire. Standing senton, spinebuster, full nelson slam, series of clotheslines get the crowd clapping as he hits some jabs on Sabre, who tries a guillotine, but Juice counters into a suplex for 2. Demolition Decapitation by FinnJuice gets a 2 count on ZSJ! Taichi drags Finlay outside, allowing the heels to take over on Juice inside as Zack hits a fucking PK so loud for 2. Finlay returns the favor, dragging Taichi outside, as FinnJuice hit that legsweep/lariat combo that AOP used to do for a near fall. They try a Doomsday Device, but Taichi applies an Octopus Hold on the second rope! Zack has a proper one applied, but Juice collapses into the ropes. Zack with toy kicks to taunt Juice, who spits right in his face & hits a Juice Box for the double down. Finlay & Taichi in as they trade kicks/forearms before Finlay drops him with an uppercut. Juice levels Taichi with The Taste, tells Zack to eat shit with a Left Hand of God, but turns into a Taichi jump kick. Finlay gets flattened with a back drop driver 1…2…NO! All 4 men are down before Taichi turns Finlay inside out with a lariat. Finlay blocks a superkick, Taichi blocks Prima Nocta, tries for Zack Mephisto, Juice wipes out Zack with another Hand of God, then hits one on Taichi as well. Finlay hits a Stunner and Juice hits Pulp Friction before they hit Prima Nocta and Pulp Friction on the tag champs at the same time for the 1…2…3!! First half of the match was super duper slow, but picked up in a big way and I loved the chaotic second half and finish.
World Tag League Standings
10 Points: Yano & Ishii
8 Points: Shingo & SANADA, Zack & Taichi, O-Khan & Cobb, Tonga & Loa, Juice & Finlay, YOSHI & Goto
6 Points: EVIL & Yujiro
Out of Contention:
4 Points: Fale & Owens
2 Points: Tanahashi & Henare
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Dec 2, 2020 8:47:59 GMT -6
BOSJ Night 7
Yuya Uemura vs DOUKI
Both men are winless, so this match has zero implications for this thing. DOUKI earned his first victory via Suplex de la Luna.
Ryusuke Taguchi vs Robbie Eagles
Eagles was unfortunately eliminated last show following a spectacular match with Hiromu. Taguchi was also eliminated after the last show, since even if he wins out, Ishimori has the tiebreak over him. Therefore, this match has zero tournament implications. Eagles submitted Taguchi with the Ron Miller Special. These next 3 matches actually mean something.
Master Wato vs BUSHI
BUSHI ain’t fucking around as he hits a tope suicida almost immediately. Wato beats the count at 18 and eats a neckbreaker, but recovers with a kick to the chest & Tornillo outside. Springboard uppercut inside for a near fall as BUSHI blocks a Rat Trap Driver, but runs into a tilt a whirl back breaker. Series of kicks by Wato, but BUSHI cuts him off with a dropkick flush, hangs Wato over the top & hits a diving dropkick off the top before hitting his draping DDT through the ropes on the apron. Desperation spin kick by Wato for the reset as they throw forearms, spinning backfist & Rat Trap Driver by Wato for 2. He misses RPP & BUSHI hits a backstabber in the corner, tries a Code Breaker, but Wato hits a high kick. Wato tries a powerbomb, BUSHI rolls through for 2, pops him with an enzugiri & huge Code Breaker for 2. BUSHI goes for MX, but Wato dropkicks him out of mid air! BUSHI ducks a Buzzsaw Kick with a rewind kick that catches Wato right in the jaw, hits a Destroyer, then MX for the 3 count. I’m never blown away by Wato matches, but the last few minutes of this were quite good.
Taiji Ishimori vs El Desperado
Both men take turns working over their opponent on the outside to kick things off and it’s your standard throw’em into the railing & post stuff before Ishimori works the arm/shoulder back inside for a few minutes. Desperado tries throwing the ref into Ishimori & low dropkick him, but the Jr. Champ has it scouted and gets a neck twister. Desperado cuts him off with a spinebuster, then goes to work on the leg. He keeps going for (and gets a few times) Numero Dos, but Ishimori countered into the Yes Lock. Tilt a whirl shoulderbreaker is rad as Desperado is screaming in pain. Round the world into the Yes Lock, but just as Desperado is about to tap, he counters into Numero Dos. Ishimori screams, but gets the ropes. Series of reversals, the ref awkwardly stumbles into them, but doesn’t bump as Desperado hits Guitarra de Angel for 2. Desperado measures him, charges, but Ishimori hits Cipher UTAKI, tries for Bloody Cross, but Desperado runs him into the ref for a bump. I guess the ref forgot when he was supposed to bump from before? Desperado grabs the Jr. Title, charges & Ishimori gets a pump knee, looks for Bloody Cross, but sees the ref is down, grabs the title, but the ref recovers & grabs the title away from him. This allows Desperado to hit the low blow & Pinche Loco for the 3. Very different story for this match, with a dumb finish. I wasn’t expecting a “work the body part” story for most of this, then was let down by the finish. This left a lot to be desired.
SHO vs Hiromu Takahashi
I have high hopes for this one. They trade corner clotheslines before Hiromu tries an early sunset bomb outside, but SHO blocks it, only for Hiromu to nails a couple shotgun dropkicks that send SHO crashing into the railing. He absolutely launches SHO into these as we head back inside. Hiromu works the neck, which is taped up, forearms away, but SHO hits a misdirection spear to take control. He starts working the left arm, but Hiromu answers with a quesadora into a flatliner, then hits an overhead belly to belly into the corner. Dynamite Plunger connects for 2, as does the running DVD into the corner, but SHO fights back with a rolling Germans into a cross arm breaker. Hiromu keeps his hands locked & gets the ropes. Series of elbows by SHO turn to lariats, he charges & Hiromu gets a low bridge and nails his Sunset Bomb on the floor! They tease the countout, but SHO beats it at 19. Hiromu hits a rana into triangle choke, SHO looks like he’s going to fade, but hulks up and hits a running powerbomb into the corner. The sloppiness of the move made sense since he was fading in the choke. SHO charges out & Hiromu flattens him with a lariat, then hits a snap dropkick into the ropes (Hiromu landed right on his head while doing this). SHO counters Time Bomb into a tilt a whirl kimura! Hiromu tries to break it with another running DVD in the corner, but SHO holds onto the submission! Hiromu struggles & gets a toe on the ropes. Powerbreaker by SHO 1…2…NO! They take turns blocking the others finishers before Hiromu hits a snap German, but SHO NO SELLS, charges & Hiromu hits a lariat 1…KICK OUT! SHO hits a lariat 1…KICK OUT! Pop up powerbomb and Victory Royal hits for Hiromu, who goes for it again, but SHO counters into a back stabber. Lariat to the neck, proper lariat drops Hiromu on his head, he hits a piledriver 1…2…NO! Shock Arrow hits 1…2…3!! SHO WINS! While I liked the Eagles/Hiromu match more, this was a close second for Match of the Tournament. Hiromu has been the MVP of this thing by far.
Best of Super Juniors Standings
10 Points: Takahashi, Ishimori, Desperado, SHO
8 Points: Wato, BUSHI
Out of Contention:
6 Points: Taguchi, Eagles
2 Points: DOUKI
0 Points: Uemura
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Dec 4, 2020 8:49:25 GMT -6
WTL Night 8
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi vs Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
After some brawling outside to start, Fale ragdolls Zack around until Sabre uses his speed to slap on a guillotine, tags his partner and Taichi & Fale just choke each other. The tag champs try to hit Fale with Zack Mephisto, but can’t get Fale up. More brawling to the floor as Owens takes out Taichi and Zack had an armbar on Fale. BC Boys back inside and hit a slow motion combo on Taichi for 2. Zack cleans house as we get a Buzzsaw Kick on Owens & Taichi gets 2. Off come the pants 5 minutes into this (thankfully I don’t think this match will go longer) as Owens hits a neckbreaker. I loved the next spot where Zack had Fale in the Octopus Hold, but both guys stopped Owens & Taichi from hitting their finisher, while in the submission. V-Trigger by Owens, who tries a package piledriver, but Zack cuts him off and they hit the Tensho Zack Driver for the win in 7 minutes. Aside from the last minute, this match was boring as hell, but Zack & Taichi stay alive going into the final night. With this win by the tag champs, it officially knocks out Yujiro & EVIL from the tournament since they hold the tie break over them. So even if EVIL & Yujiro win their match tonight and tomorrow (it’ll be against Owens & Fale, so it spoils nothing), they’ll be tied at best, so it doesn’t matter! Hooray!
YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL
To make things even better, YOSHI & Goto won after hitting their GYW finisher on Yujiro!
Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii
Alright, first match I’ve cared about tonight. Yano starts with his buckle pad antics as he screams at the ref for admonishing him. Ishii takes over, chopping the shit out of Finlay, who tries fighting back, but Ishii just stares at him like “you’ve got to be fucking kidding me?” Yano back in and literally all he does is slam Finlay repeatedly into the exposed corner before tagging Ishii again as CHAOS isolate Finlay. 5 minute mark, Juice gets the hot tag & cleans house, getting Ishii on spaghetti legs before hitting a big boot and ISHII NO SELLS! Juice hits The Taste, ISHII NO SELLS! Juice hits a snap powerslam, ISHII NO SELLS and hits a suplex on Juice for the double down. FinnJuice double team Yano, hitting the Demolition Decapitation for 2 as they follow with the legsweep/clothesline combo for another near fall. Double flapjack on Ishii as they hit the Left Hand of God/Stunner on Yano, but Ishii jumps in and cuts them off. German on Finlay, Backbreaker on Ishii, school boy by Yano on Finlay gets a 2, Yano misses the mule kick, Finlay rolls through & gets the 3 count! Both teams have had much better showings, but this was fun nonetheless.
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs Great O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
Like EVIL & Yujiro, the offense of Great O-Khan has drained me from any interest in watching him wrestle. Which is unfortunate because I like Jeff Cobb and think he rules. I just don’t have it in me anymore. To make O-Khan even less interesting, he’s been eating pins throughout this tournament as well, making it even worse (I guess Cobb isn’t getting pinned all the time, so there’s that). Tonight, Tonga pinned him with a Gun Stun to officially eliminate O-Khan & Cobb, thankfully.
Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Shingo Takagi & SANADA
Fast little opening sequence from Tana & SANADA before Henare gets in, calls for Shingo, but he refuses, so Henare goads him into coming in and they have a solid intense back & forth. Shingo is daring Henare to lay it in before he murders him with a lariat. To the floor we go & brawling a bit as the LIJs isolate Henare. Any time Henare makes any progress towards Tana, Shingo & SANADA make sure they knock Tana off the apron before he tags. This double teaming last for like 5-6 minutes until SANADA tries his leapfrogs, but Henare catches him with a powerslam. Tag to Tana, who is a dragon screw machine, applying a Cloverleaf on SANADA, who quickly gets the ropes. Somersault senton for 2 as SANADA cuts The Ace off with a float over & springboard dropkick out the corner. Shingo & Tana have a strike exchange before Tana blocks a suplex into Twist & Shout for the double down. Henare gets the tag & takes it to Shingo with a Samoan Drop as he hits a diving shoulder off the top for 2. SANADA cuts off the momentum as they hit a combo move to regain control. Henare fights back with a suplex & shoulder tackle as Tana pops back in and we get the legsweep/sling blade combo for 2. Tana & SANADA go outside as Shingo blocks a Henare spear into a DDT. Noshigami hits as the LIJ hit a wheelbarrow/cutter combo 1…2…NO! Some tag team in the US needs to steal that as a finisher. Shingo & Henare, the story of this match, start having a striking exchange with neither man giving an inch. Shingo hits a forearm combo, Henare with slaps, headbutts by both, Henare ducks a Pumping Bomber, hits a Spear 1…2…NO! Goes for another one, Shingo hits a Pumping Bomber, HENARE NO SELLS! Shingo hits Made in Japan 1…2…Tana breaks it up. SANADA wipes out Tana with a plancha as Shingo murders Henare with another Pumping Bomber 1…2…KICK OUT! Last of the Dragon hits and Shingo gets the 1…2…3! Post match, Shingo kneels next to a downed Henare and pats him on the chest, almost like he earned his respect. Of course in LIJ fashion, he shoved Henare to the floor with his boot after, but respect regardless! Really strong performance by Henare, as I wouldn’t be shocked if we get a NEVER Openweight title match with him & Shingo, they worked great together. SANADA & Tanahashi played second fiddle in this one, which is fine. This gave Henare a chance to shine, even in loss.
As we head into the final night, here are you standings. It'll definitely come down to Yano/Ishii vs Zack/Taichi and then YOSHI/Goto vs Juice/Finlay. I predict Henare/Tana will play spoiler for the GoD and also Khan/Cobb spoiler for SANADA/Shingo.
World Tag League Standings
10 Points: Yano & Ishii, Zack & Taichi, YOSHI & Goto, Juice & Finlay, Tonga & Loa, Shingo & SANADA
Out of Contention:
8 Points: O-Khan & Cobb
6 Points: EVIL & Yujiro
4 Points: Fale & Owens
2 Points: Tanahashi & Henare
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Dec 5, 2020 10:57:06 GMT -6
BOSJ Night 8
Yuya Uemura vs SHO
Can Uemura get his first win? Both men struggle for gut wrenches in the early going and it’s SHO who gets it & slams Uemura down. Camel Clutch applied as SHO looks fucking psychotic wrenching away. Uemura gets the ropes, but in return, gets his ass kicked in the corner as SHO screams at him. Uemura does answer with his dropkick, stiff forearms & running dropkick in the corner for 2. Misdirection shoulder by SHO, who hits a combo of kicks, but Uemura blocks a high kick & gets a Boston Crab. SHO gets the ropes, forearms out of Uemura’s underhook suplex & we get a long forearm battle. SHO is straight up murdering Uemura to the point where he collapses. He switches to kicks as SHO shoves the ref away & keeps the forearms coming, charges & Uemura hits his double arm suplex 1…2…NO! Fantastic sequence there as Uemura tries another, but is blocked & SHO hits one instead. Lumbar Check into a Boston Crab by SHO, but Uemura gets the ropes, rolls through a German for a close 2. He slaps the shit out of SHO, charges & eats a pump knee, then gets turned inside out by a SHO lariat. SHO nearly drops Uemura on his head going for the Powerbreaker, but eventually hits it flush 1…2…KICK OUT! Shock Arrow hits 1…2…3! This was a fucking phenomenal showing by Uemura and the facial expressions by SHO were next level. There are times when I hate SHO’s lack of selling, but damn, his expressions in this one were great. The best Uemura match of the tournament.
BUSHI vs DOUKI
DOUKI tries an early attack, but BUSHI hits a rana outside & nails a slingshot hurricanrana on the floor! The amount of clothing BUSHI wears to the ring is ridiculous, even for pro wrestling. He still had like 8 items of clothing to take off before hitting neckbreaker back inside for 2, only for DOUKI to hit a Stun Gun & we’re back to the floor. DOUKI does his usual heel antics, but also posts BUSHI by the junk! He beats the count as DOUKI tries unmasking him in the corner. BUSHI fights back with a leaping rana out the corner. To the top for a dropkick, then BUSHI-ROONI before hitting a DDT for 2. He hangs up DOUKI in the ropes, nails a corner dropkick, then draping DDT on the apron. DOUKI recovers with his guillotine choke & BUSHI gets the ropes. DOUKI wants Daybreak, but BUSHI counters with a CODE BREAKER IN MID AIR! Backstabber out the corner, as he goes for another Code Breaker, but DOUKI counters into the guillotine again! Once more BUSHI gets the ropes, so DOUKI hits Daybreak 1…2…NO! BUSHI rolls through Suplex de la Luna for a 2, they trade enzugiris before BUSHI destroys DOUKI with a Code Breaker 1…2…KICK OUT! He signals for MX, but leaps right into a Jorge Rivera Special roll up 1…2…3!! DOUKI WINS!! He eliminates BUSHI!
Robbie Eagles vs El Desperado
Desperado is still in contention regardless of what happens in this one. He defeated Eagles via Pinche Loco at the 15 minute mark to get to 12 points.
Master Wato vs Taiji Ishimori
Can Ishimori knock Wato out of contention? He picks apart Wato’s arm in the opening minutes, but Wato fights back with a leaping spin kick to try & recover a bit. Dropkick to the floor & Tornillo hits as he nails a springboard uppercut with the good arm back inside for 2. Ishimori blocks the Rat Trap, Wato throws a spin kick that misses by a mile, so he just lights Ishimori up with kicks to the back & chest. Goes for a home run shot, but they end up trading rollups. Tilt a whirl shoulderbreaker as Ishimori gets the Yes Lock, but Wato gets the ropes. Shotgun dropkick to the corner & double knees get Ishimori 2 as he goes for Bloody Cross, but Wato hits a high kick, tries for a powerbomb, but Ishimori spins it into a DDT for the reset. Forearm exchange (thankfully Wato is using his good arm), Ishimori wins, but runs into a tilt a whirl back breaker as Wato goes the Anaconda Vice, Ishimori rolls through, pump kick, Wato answers with a spin kick as he nails the Rat Trap Driver 1…2…NO! Wato goes for the TTD, but Ishimori counters into Cipher UTAKI, looks for Bloody Cross, but Wato spins out into a tilt a whirl school boy, only for Ishimori to slap on Gargano-Escape. Wato rolls through, but as they roll to their feet, Ishimori hits Bloody Cross for the 3 count! Wato has officially been eliminated.
Ryusuke Taguchi vs Hiromu Takahashi
Even if Taguchi wins this one, Hiromu is still in the hunt tomorrow night, so I’m skipping this match, as it has no implications for tonight. Hiromu won 26 minutes in after a roll up and also makes it to 12 points.
So tomorrow night, the questions will be, can BUSHI play spoiler for Desperado? Can Wato play spoiler for Hiromu? And whoever wins between SHO & Ishimori will be heading to the finals.
Best of Super Juniors Standings
12 Points: SHO, Desperado, Ishimori, Takahashi
Out of Contention:
8 Points: Wato, BUSHI
6 Points: Taguchi, Eagles
4 Points: DOUKI
0 Points: Uemura
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Dec 6, 2020 10:03:33 GMT -6
WTL BOSJ Night 9
Yuya Uemura vs Robbie Eagles
Unfortunately Uemura didn’t win his last match and ends this tournament with 0 points. Eagles won via Ron Miller Special.
Ryusuke Taguchi vs DOUKI
Another match with zero implications, Taguchi got the ankle lock & hit a Dodon for the win.
Master Wato vs Hiromu Takahashi
Can Wato play spoiler? He bolts out with a dropkick & series of kicks, shotgun dropkicking Hiromu outside. Hiromu avoids the Tornillo, hits the sunset flip bomb off the apron and sort of gets it, but not quite. He sends Wato into the railing as we head back inside, shotgun dropkick by Hiromu this time for 2. He tries to mock Tenzan with a Mongolian Chop, but Wato fights back with a spin kick. Wato hits the Tornillo this time outside as he nails a springboard uppercut for 2. They both miss back fists as Wato hits a high kick & Rat Trap Driver for 2. He’s calling it the Recientemente now, which, I’m still going with Rat Trap Driver. Wato tries a sunset bomb out of the corner, but opts for an Alley-Oop face plant instead before looking for RPP, but crashes & burns. Terrible looking backfist by Wato, they trade counters, Hiromu hits a superkick & wild lariat turning him inside out for 2. Victory Royal gets another near fall, running DVD into the corner, Time Bomb is reversed into a school boy 1…2…NO! Super close as Hiromu pops up & hits Time Bomb II for the 1…2…3. Hiromu advances to the finals.
SHO vs Taiji Ishimori
Here’s the math, whoever wins this match, they NEED for Desperado to lose, since Desperado has tiebreakers over both men. Super fast start, as SHO tries a punt kick on the apron, gets caught & slammed down.SHO tries a German on the apron, but ISHIMORI LANDS ON HIS FEET ON THE APRON, then hits a PILEDRIVER ON THE APRON on SHO, slapping on the Yes Lock inside. SHO gets the ropes, then a misdirection spear to regain control. Don’t like how quickly he recovered, but he throws kicks, then works over the arm. Ishimori tries a handspring, but as he’s doing it, SHO punts out the arm. Ishimori floats over a Powerbreaker, hits a pump knee and double corner knee. SHO counters La Mistica into a kimura. We get a forearm exchange, then trade clotheslines and Ishimori hits a running Destroyer, but SHO sort of no sells and plants Ishimori with a German suplex for the reset. Powerbreaker connects for 2, they trade finisher attempts, until SHO sinks in a cross arm breaker, Ishimori reverses into the Bone Lock. SHO rolls out into a cross arm piledriver for 2. Ishimori floats through a Shock Arrow into a guillotine, opts to hit a reverse Bloody Cross 1…2…KICK OUT! Proper Bloody Cross for the 1…2…3! This was a wild 12 minutes that obviously sacrificed selling so they could get in like 22 minutes of stuff in.
BUSHI vs El Desperado
If Desperado wins here, he’s in and knocks Ishimori out due to tiebreaks. BUSHI with a low bridge & a slingshot rana to the floor. BUSHI pretty much landed on his head performing that move, which sucks. Desperado gains control and STABS BUSHI IN THE FACE WITH A PEN that he took from Milano Collection AT on commentary. How do you follow up stabbing a guy in the face, by working his leg of course? After a few minutes, BUSHI fights back with a DDT for the reset. BUSHI hits a dropkick off the second & BUSHI-rooni, hitting another dropkick (so that work on his leg means nothing) as he hit a draping DDT on the apron. Multiple tope suicidas as Desperado almost flies into the lap of Jushin Liger. They tease the countout as Desperado was motionless until 19 and bolts back in, quickly applying Numero Dos. BUSHI rolls through, hits a dropkick, swinging neckbreaker for 2. Desperado with an eye poke, el es culero for 2, they tease a ref bump, but he avoids it & BUSHI hits an enzugiri. Code Breaker, Destroyer 1…2…NO! BUSHI tries MX, but Desperado caught him with a spinebuster in mid air! Numero Dos applied deep and after a struggle, BUSHI doesn’t quit, but the ref stops it, which is weird. Anyways, Desperado vs Hiromu in the Finals this weekend.
FINAL Best of Super Juniors Standings
FINALISTS: Takahashi, Desperado
14 Points: Ishimori
12 Points: SHO
8 Points: Wato, BUSHI, Eagles, Taguchi
4 Points: DOUKI
0 Points: Uemura
Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL vs Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
Bullet Club vs Bullet Club, both teams have really shit the bed in this tournament, so this was a comedy match that barely went 3 minutes. Fale & Owens won after Yujiro, obviously, took the pin.
Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
GoD blindsides Tana & Henare during their entrance and the fucking ref starts the match during the beatdown! Tonga applies a Scorpion Death Lock on Tana as Henare tries to break it up, but Tama spits right in his face. Henare boots him in the face and we get a fun little strike exchange with Loa & Henare, trading headbutts & enzugiris. Samoan Drop on Loa as Henare & Tana hit their leg sweep/Sling Blade combo. Tana with a dragon screw & Cloverleaf as Jado takes the ref and Loa smacks Tana in the leg with the kendo stick. Tama gets the death lock on again and TANA TAPS?? 4 minutes and that was all it took to beat Tanahashi? Yikes. Commentary really puts over how Tanahashi isn’t The Ace of old and where does he go from here?
Shingo Takagi & SANADA vs Great O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
Not doing it, sorry Shingo, sorry SANADA, sorry Jeff. Not even against great opponents like the LIJ will I subject myself to an O-Khan match this Sunday morning. I will say that Jeff Cobb pinned Shingo via Tour of the Islands to eliminate the LIJ, then taunted Shingo with his NEVER Openweight title. Perhaps a match we get maybe at Wrestle Kingdom? I’d be all for that.
Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
Yano is annoyed by Taichi’s entrance & how long it takes him to take his entrance gear off, so he just unties a buckle pad & whacks him with hit. Unfortunately Zack sends Ishii into Yano, who accidentally smacks his partner! Zack & Yano restart their rivalry from the G1 with some near falls at a rapid pace. There are so many as all 4 men spill outside. Zack wraps Yano up in the ring apron and he’s stuck, so Ishii comes over & just sets him in the ring, still wrapped up, to break the count. The tag champs try to isolate Yano, but he fights back with an atomic drop & hair pull. We finally get the first tag of the match as Ishii & Taichi have a slug fest. One of the very few people to get the best out of Taichi, as both are no selling like crazy & hitting the shit out each other. Zack attacks Ishii with a PK, Taichi with a head kick for 2. Taichi absolutely murders Ishii with a dropkick as he takes the britches off, but Yano in and sends the tag champs into the exposed corner & Ishii hits a double clothesline. Nice combo gets a super close 2 from the CHAOS crew as Ishii no sells an Axe Bomber & clocks Taichi with a headbutt flush. Inside out lariat for 2, looks for the brainbuster, Zack cuts him off, avoids a Yano low blow, tag champs hit a thrust kick/Zack Driver. They send Yano outside and hit Zack Mephisto on Ishii for the 3. Commentary really putting over how Zack & Taichi are through to the Finals, but that’s not actually the case. They’re making it so much more complicated than it actually is.
At this moment, with all the tiebreakers, if FinnJuice wins, it’s them & GoD in the finals.
BUT
If YOSHI & Goto win, then it becomes a 3 way tie between CHAOS, Tekkers & GoD, since each team has beaten each other in the tournament and there wouldn’t be a true winner. So they’d presumably be forced to do a 3 way or something.
Got that?
Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto
Fast start from CHAOS, but FinnJuice quickly turns the tide with an assisted hip toss onto YOSHI for 2. They keep YOSHI isolated for almost 5 straight minutes before YOSHI battled back off a suplex attempt & hits Finlay with one, scurries and tags Goto, who cleans house. Snap suplex on Finlay ONTO Juice as he hits a corner wheel kick & bulldog for 2 on Juice. Striking battle commences as they collide with dueling clotheslines, both men screaming at the other & smash to the mat with a final double clothesline. Finlay & YOSHI in and slug it out with forearms until Finlay hits a leaping uppercut, but YOSHI fights back with chops & a neckbreaker. He tries Karma, but Finlay spins out & hits a leaping DDT before tagging Juice, but YOSHI hits a hip toss on Juice crashing into his own partner in the corner! Tag to Goto at the 10 minute call as they hit the leg sweep/head hunter combo for 2. GYR on Finlay sends him outside as they look for GYW on Juice, who avoids it, but gets planted with a superkick/ushigoroshi combo 1…2…NO! They hit GYW on Juice for the 1…2…Finlay dives in at the last second! Spear by Finlay, rewind kick by YOSHI, uranage backbreaker by Finlay as all 4 men are down. Young Lion Gabriel Kidd is smacking the mat to get the crowd going after a great exchange. Corner uppercut by Finlay, who hits a Last Shot on Goto, goes to the corner and FINNJUICE HITS A POWER-PLEX 1…2…NO!! Goto wiggles out of a Doomsday Device, sends Finlay crashing into the guard rail (smacking his head) on the floor. Juice tried Pulp Friction, but eats a YOSHI superkick, roll up by Goto 1…2…NO! Goto flattens Juice with a headbutt, tries for Shouten Kai, but Finlay in & hits a Stunner, Juice with the Left Hand of God, Pulp Friction 1…2…3!! FinnJuice head back to the finals for the second year in a row. This was a great main event, match of the night, IMO.
FINAL World Tag League Standings
FINALISTS: Tonga & Loa, Juice & Finlay 12 Points: Zack & Taichi
10 Points: Yano & Ishii, YOSHI & Goto, Shingo & SANADA
8 Points: O-Khan & Cobb
6 Points: EVIL & Yujiro, Fale & Owens
2 Points: Tanahashi & Henare
|
|
|
|
Post by Terry's Peeps on Dec 6, 2020 10:12:06 GMT -6
Tama Tonga had a not COVID appropriate spit in someone's face.
I got physically ill watching it.
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Dec 6, 2020 11:49:10 GMT -6
Tama Tonga had a not COVID appropriate spit in someone's face. I got physically ill watching it. I know I just glossed over it in the review, but that was a fucking massive size hocker. So disgusting. |
|
|
|
Post by Terry's Peeps on Dec 6, 2020 12:38:55 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Dec 6, 2020 22:06:18 GMT -6
Full card for the Finals this weekend (Saturday morning)
-Eagles, SHO & Yano vs Ishimori, Owens & Fale
-Henare, Tanahashi & Okada vs Cobb, O-Khan & Ospreay
-Shingo & SANADA vs Yujiro & EVIL
-Wato & Ibushi vs BUSHI & Naito
World Tag League Finals
GoD vs FinnJuice
BOSJ Finals
Hiromu vs Desperado
Yeah, only watching the tournament finals.
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Dec 11, 2020 8:38:54 GMT -6
World Tag League Finals
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs David Finlay & Juice RobinsonCan FinnJuice go back to back or will GoD, despite being in multiple finals before, win their very first WTL? Jado trips Juice early, so the ref decides to get the Young Lions ringside to eject him, so it’s a fair fight (something tells me won’t be the last time we see him). FinnJuice immediately go after Tonga with double teams on the arm, but he sends FinnJuice colliding into each other, tags Loa, who cleans house with backdrops. This allows the GoD to double team & isolate Finlay, cutting the ring in half. Finlay tries fighting back with back elbows & forearms, side steps Loa to the floor, Finlay kicks away from Tonga, dives at Juice, who gets pulled off the apron at the last second by Loa. Juice gets the crowd going as Finlay fires off forearms & dives at Juice, who gets the hot tag. Spinebuster/full nelson slam/plancha/series of clotheslines as Juice is on fire. He goes up top for the high cross and 2. Demolition Decapitation by FinnJuice gets 2, they try the Hart Attack, but Loa jumps in & spears Juice before it happens. Double flapjack on Juice gets Tonga 2 as the GoD hit a top rope headbutt/splash combo 1…2…NO! Loa drives Juice in the corner, Tonga misses a splash, Finlay blasts him with a shot, Juice hits The Taste, Tonga with a dropkick, Finlay with a backbreaker, Loa with a running powerslam, Left Hand of God by Juice for a great little sequence as everyone is down. Massive cannonball by Juice, who fires off jabs on Tonga, misses the Left, but connects with the Right. He tries for Pulp Friction, but here comes Jado walking back out, shocker (ref just lets him stay ringside, which makes no sense, but whatever). GoD use the kendo stick as the ref is distracted, get a roll up 1…2…Finlay saves! Flatliner/Crossface by Loa, Sharpshooter by Tonga, FinnJuice struggles, but Juice barely gets the ropes. Magic Killer hits 1…2…KICK OUT! Huge corner splash as they go for the super powerbomb, but Juice hits a rana in mid air! Finlay & Tonga trade Stunner attempts until Finlay sends Tonga colliding into Jado on the apron & hits a Stunner. Loa avoids Sliced Bread, hits a big boot, but Finlay reverses a suplex into a neckbreaker as he tries waking Juice up. Hart Attack connects 1…2…NO! Power-Plex hits 1…2…KICK OUT!! FinnJuice goes for the Doomsday Device, but Finlay gets sent off the top, Loa takes the ref & Jado jumps in for a kendo shot, but Juice blocks it & grabs the stick. Just then, KENTA appears & smacks Juice with the briefcase, allowing GoD to hit the super powerbomb out the corner for the tainted 3 count. That finish just took me out of the whole thing. This was a really fun & entertaining final until the usual Bullet Club bullshit ruined it. I get they’re heels and have to do stuff like this, but this is so fucking overdone in New Japan to the point where it comes off as lazy booking, especially for your Tag Finals. I guess this means Zack & Taichi vs GoD at Wrestle Kingdom. Best of Super Juniors Finals
El Desperado vs Hiromu TakahashiCan Hiromu win his second BOSJ? Or will Desperado make Hiromu tap for the second time in this tournament? Great counter wrestling in the opening minutes until Desperado dropkicks out the leg & launches Hiromu into the railing outside. He recovers & it’s the lower back that Desperado zones in on, sending him into the exposed buckle. Your standard suplexes & backbreakers follow as Desperado’s strategy is to slowly pick Hiromu apart, by also targeting the leg as well, trying to soften Hiromu up presumably for Numero Dos. To the floor again, this time he slams Hiromu’s leg on the ground. Back inside, Hiromu gets a desperation snap rana & low dropkick, but he clutches his knee after (HOORAY SELLING!). Hiromu does this crazy guillotine choke with his legs in the ropes, then lays out Desperado with a wheelbarrow slam on the floor. Running dropkick off the apron as they head inside & Hiromu does the deal, Falcon Arrow, for 2. Desperado avoids the DVD, Hiromu avoids the spinebuster, but not the atomic drop on the leg. Desperado goes for Numero Dos, but Hiromu wisely snaps his neck. Both slowly rise, Desperado charges & Hiromu hits an overhead belly to belly into the corner on his head! I have no idea what Hiromu was going for next, but his leg gives out. Superkick by Hiromu flattens a charging Desperado for the double down at 15 minutes. Running DVD in the corner hits, then a standard one, tries Dynamite Plunger, but Desperado spins out into Numero Dos! Hiromu gets the ropes, but is sent to the floor. Desperado looks for a dive, misses, lands on the apron, Hiromu bolts back into the ring, tries for his sunset flip powerbomb, but comes in so hot, he flies right past Desperado! That was fucking nuts! Desperado kicks Hiromu hard into the railing, throws a title belt into the ring to makes Red Shoes fetch, allowing him to grab a chair & break it over Hiromu’s leg. Guitarra de Angel hits for 2, as he applies Numero Dos at the 20 minute call. I have no idea how Hiromu does it, but as Desperado lifts Hiromu up in the submission, HIROMU COUNTERS INTO A DESTROYER!! That was one of the coolest counters I’ve ever seen. Hiromu up first, but Desperado sends him into Red Shoes, letting him hit a low blow. He drags Hiromu up, who fucking starches Desperado with a right hand! A pissed off Hiromu starts ripping the mask off Desperado until there’s barely anything left. Desperado slowly rises, realizes what has happened and TAKES HIS OWN MASK OFF!! This was shocking. Commentary puts over this is what Desperado is willing to do to win this. Not gonna lie, Desperado is a handsome son bitch!  We get a wild slap battle as this went from 0 to 100 as this has recharged both men before Hiromu slaps Desperado so hard he crumbles. He rises & cracks Hiromu with a right hand, tries Pinche Loco, but Hiromu spins out & hits a head butt for the double down. They trade finisher counters before Hiromu hits Victory Royal, tries for Time Bomb, but Desperado gets El es Culero 1…2…KICK OUT!! Super duper close near fall as the crowd bit for that one. They collide with double clotheslines, Desperado kicks out the leg, goes for a home run shot, but Hiromu lays him out with a superkick! Pinche Loco avoided as Hiromu hits a Running DVD into the exposed corner, which cuts the back open of Desperado! Time Bomb hits 1…2…KICK OUT!! Desperado still has fight left in him! Hiromu hits another Victory Royal at the 30 minute mark, hits Time Bomb 2 for the 1…2…3!! This was one of the best matches I’ve seen all year, the best El Desperado match I’ve ever seen. I can’t say enough positives about this. What an amazing finish to the tournament & performances by both.
Post match, Hiromu thanks Desperado and says he might have won tonight, but they'll be fighting each other until both their careers are over. He then said he wants to wrestle the winner of this weekends Super J Cup before he takes on Taiji Ishimori at Wrestle Kingdom. So maybe that can be night 1 for Wrestle Kingdom and then the Junior Title against Ishimori is night 2?
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Dec 12, 2020 11:09:02 GMT -6
I changed the title of the thread to include 3 tournaments because tonight is the Super J Cup, a one night tournament and the winner will presumably face Hiromu Takahashi I'm going to guess at Wrestle Kingdom? Winner gets Ishimori for the Junior title on Night 2? That last part is iffy at this moment, but Hiromu wants the winner.
I'll be here tonight watching live on NJPWWorld. It starts at 9. This is almost like a mini-BOLA, as many of these guys have wrestled in PWG. This takes wrestlers from all different promotions in a one night tournament.
Opening Round
Clark Connors (NJPW) vs Chris Bey (Impact)
ACH (MLW) vs TJP (Impact)
Rey Horus (ROH) vs Blake Christian (GCW)
El Phantasmo (NJPW) vs Lio Rush (MLW)
Semi Finals TBD vs TBD TBD vs TBD
Finals TBD vs TBD
Non-Tournament Match
Kevin Knight (replacing an injured Karl Fredricks) & Ren Narita vs Hikuleo & KENTA
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Dec 12, 2020 21:17:38 GMT -6
I'm doing live recaps tonight!
 Chris Bey defeated Clark Connors to advance to the semis
Your standard feeling out process with ground work by both before Connors fires off some uppercuts & brutal chops. He misses a splash & Bey gets some height off a standing dropkick. Connors tries a drop down, but Bey has it scouted & hits double stomps to the back. Standing spinning uppercut to the neck which was impressive for 2 as he slaps on an abdominal stretch. He puts the boots to Connors, but only wakes the young lion up, who chokes Bey to the corner, Bey shoves at the ref & gets a cheap shot in on Connors. Leaping uppercut & enzugiri in the corner, rolling neckbreaker gets 2. Leg sweep by Bey, misses a double stomp & Connors does a misdirect POUNCE that launches Bey to the ropes. Chops & shoulders to the midsection until the ref pulls him off. Snapmare/double slap to the back gets 2, he misses a spear, Bey misses his springboard cutter & Connors hits a release German for 2. Bey tries a backslide, gets 2, holds on & gets a Pearl River Plunge for 2. Connors fires off a desperation chop to the chest, tries for a Boston Crab, but Bey gets an inside cradle for 2. Connors up, charges & Bey with a spin kick to the ribs, springboard cutter for the 3. Fun little opener.
TJP vs ACH up next
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Dec 12, 2020 21:30:39 GMT -6
 ACH defeated TJP to advance to the semis
Head scissors by TJP early & flipping arm drag to the outside as TJP hits a springboard dropkick to the floor. Snap suplex back inside for 1, ACH tries to flip around before they trade abdominal stretches, ACH hits a dropkick & standing rana for 2. Gutbuster by ACH, but TJP does a handspring into a victory roll (which was pretty cool), then slaps on the Muta Lock. TJP switches to a weird hammerlock & snaps the arm back for 2. Russian legsweep, holds on & wraps ACH up like a pretzel. He releases it, ACH is up, sweeps the leg, TJP rolls to the floor, but ACH hits a plancha. Quickly back inside, discus corner lariat & fisherman’s suplex for 2. TJP floats over a brainbuster, does a misdirection & hits a springboard DDT for 2. TJP leaps off the top, ACH ducks, hits a spinning heel kick, German suplex for 2. Forearm & uppercut exchange, they trade pin attempts, trade reversals, ACH tries something, but TJP surprises him with a snap suplex. ACH to the second, TJP jumps up with him quick, almost falls but ACH hits a super gutbuster for a close 2. 450 Splash hits and ACH gets the 3 count! This was a good little match. Sort of was hoping for more in this one.
Blake Christian vs Rey Horus up next
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Dec 12, 2020 21:46:43 GMT -6
 Blake Christian defeated Rey Horus to advance to the semis
This is Horus’ first match since February 29th. Both men spin & flip out of armbars & hammerlocks to start, wheelbarrow into a springboard sunset flip by Horus for 2. Christian out, gets a crucifix for 2, they trade a bunch of arm drags & flip up at the same time for the stalemate. Horus avoids a series of kicks, but Christian gets a standing moonsault for 2. Series of reversals, Horus baseball slides to the floor to get away, but Christian follows him & hits a somersault plancha! Back inside, Horus kicks out at 1 as Christian fires off strikes, misses a corner attack, springboard armdrag by Horus & leg lariat sends Christian to the floor. Senton atomico by Horus! Both men slowly back inside, Horus charges, discus corner lariat, leaping kick right to the face for 2, which busts (maybe breaks) Christian’s nose. He calls for a brainbuster, but Christian counters into a suplex, wheelbarrow & splashes down, but can’t follow up. Standing shooting star gets a 2 as we get a forearm battle. Christian hits a spin kick to the face & corner jump kick, but misses a tackle & eats Horus boot. Christian dodges a diving Horus, charges & Horus hits a release overhead belly to belly in the corner! Horus slaps on Cruceta Invertidas reverse figure four, but Christian gets the ropes. Wheelbarrow Victory Roll off the second rope gets 1…2…KICK OUT! Horus climbs the ropes, maybe for a moonsault but Christian follow him & hits a back suplex/flapjack deal for 1…2…NO! Christian up top again, frog splash hits 1…2…3!! Christian wins! This has been the best match so far. Really fun match. Strong showing from each guy.
Lio Rush vs defending champion El Phantasmo up next
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Dec 12, 2020 22:10:46 GMT -6
 El Phantasmo defeated Lio Rush to advance to the semis
ELP is the only dude in the tournament whose music is muted due to licensing issues and he knows it, so he’s mocking the camera and the fans, which was funny. He tries a backflip off the top for his entrance and falls right on his ass. Super fast pace start as ELP flips out & falls on his ass again (ok, this is planned) acting like this is ring rust since he hasn’t wrestled since March. Misdirect by Rush as he hits a snap dropkick. Springboard cross body by ELP for 2, quebrada, lands on his feet, crazy series of blocked punches before Rush head scissors ELP to the floor & fakes a dive as ELP bails. They trash talk each other as ELP baits Rush into a test of strength, but goes after his hand before it happens. He snaps the fingers, slips on the ropes & Rush knocks him to the floor. He’s really selling the whole ring rust thing. Rush baseball slides to the floor, tries a hurricanrana, but ELP catches him STYLES CLASH ON THE FLOOR! Rush in at 16, V-Trigger by ELP, tries One Winged Angel, Rush wiggles free, takes a hard corner buckle chest first. ELP doesn’t follow up, Rush with a misdirect boot, but misses a corner splash. Tree of Woe by ELP, he fakes a dropkick & opts to stand on the junk of Rush. ELP just dissects Rush, then tries his rope walk, but Rush avoids the attack & hits a Poison Rana sending ELP to the floor. Tope Suicida connects, as does an Asaii Moonsault. Back inside, clothesline off the second hits for 2. Rush does the deal, Falcon Arrow for another near fall. Rush tries a handspring, but ELP catches him into a spinning reverse neckbreaker for 2. Forearm battle ensues, sole butt by ELP, looks for CR2, but Rush gets a cradle 1…2…NO! Spin kick to the face by Rush, who hits his rewind cutter 1…2…KICK OUT! He goes for Rush Hour, but ELP gets the knees up, kicks Rush into the ref, ELP with the eye poke, low blow, school boy and 3 count. ELP steals it, just like he won last years tournament. I dug this match quite a bit. ELP is the perfect dickhead heel & Rush looked impressive. Kevin Kelly talks about how Blake Christian has a broken nose, so if he can't compete, ELP would luck into the finals.
Fred Rosser (Darren Young) & Rocky Romero vs JR Kratos & Danny Limelight up next in non tournament action
|
|
|
|
Post by randomone on Dec 12, 2020 22:28:33 GMT -6
JR Kratos & Danny Limelight defeated Fred Rosser & Rocky Romero
Back story here is Limelight turned on Rocky to join Tom Lawlor & his crew on NJPW Strong. Rosser & Kratos start and the big man Kratos launches Rosser to the corner, but misses a splash. Rosser with some hard lariats as the 300 pounder does a leapfrong, Rosser tries a leaping headbutt and they collide like bulls and are on spaghetti legs. Rocky & Limelight tag in & trade shots as Rocky chops the youngster to the corner. Forever clotheslines by Rocky until Kratos clotheslines him on the apron. The heels isolate Rocky until Limelight had a rear naked choke applied, Rocky was fading, but Rosser got passed the big man Kratos and broke it up. Rosser gets the hot tag, as does Kratos and the former Prime Time Player hits a back suplex on the apron! Back inside, Rosser does a shitty looking leg drop for 2. They start trading shots with Kratos rising up & hits a suplex. Tag to Limelight who hits a PK for 2. Tilt a whirl back breaker by Rosser, who tags Rocky back in & he hits kitchen sink knees and the dropkick to a hung up Limelight for 2. Sliced Bread misses, spin kick to the face by Limelight, Fisherman’s Suplex gets a 2 as Rosser breaks it up. He lays out Kratos, Limelight sends Rosser to the floor & Rocky murders Limelight with a wild shot. Sliced Bread, but Romero goes right into Kratos, who hits a wheelbarrow German! Limelight picks up the pieces and gets the 3 count. This was an ok tag, first time seeing Limelight & Kratos, as Limelight has that perfect douchebag heel look. Kratos is a monster.
Intermission now
|
|
