Tag: njpw

New Japan wrapped up the Best Of The Super Junior 29 today with an event headlined by the Finals, where either Hiromu Takahashi would 3-peat as champion or El Desperado would vault right back into a shot at reclaiming the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship.

Today’s event was held at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.

The announced paid attendance was 3520. Depending on layout and capacity limits, that represents 35-45% max capacity for the venue (varies from 8500-11000 for wrestling).

There were several last-second card changes because Juice Robinson was a late removal. Acute appendicitis.

Match 1: Tomoaki Honma beat Ryohei Oiwa. This was to have been Honma vs. Robinson as match 3.

Match 2: Alex Zayne, Ace Austin, Wheeler Yuta & El Lindaman beat Clark Connors, Titan, Yoh & Robbie Eagles. Zayne pinned Connors after Cinnamon Twist.

Match 3: Francesco Akira & TJP beat Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi. TJP beat Taguchi with Pinoy Stretch.

Match 4: Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Sho & EVIL. Sabre beat Sho with an armbar.

Match 5: El Phantasmo, Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale beat Aaron Henare, Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb. Phantasmo pinned Henare after CR 2. After the match, Austin joined Bullet Club, an angle likely to carry over into Impact Wrestling.

A message for the absent Robinson was delivered…SEE YOU NEXT TIME! SANADA is back! He will attempt to regain the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship when he returns on 6/12. He was forced to vacate the title due to injury (fractured orbital bone suffered during a New Japan Cup match against Will Ospreay).

Match 6: BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi beat DOUKI, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi. Takagi beat TAKA with a ground cobra twist.

Jay White appeared next with a surprise…FANG REVIVES AGAIN! KENTA is back! He has been out since January due to injuries suffered in a No DQ IWGP US Heavyweight Championship match against Hiroshi Tanahashi at Tokyo Dome.

Match 7: Jado, Tama Tonga, Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada beat Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, Doc Gallows & Jay White. Tonga pinned Gedo after Gun Stun.

Special guest Tatsumi Fujinami is introduced as a witness for the final match. (For those unaware, Fujinami is finally retiring after a 50 year career with his final match set for 12/1. It will be a torch-passing of sorts because his final opponent is Hiroshi Tanahashi)

Main Event: Best Of The Super Junior Finals: Hiromu Takahashi beat El Desperado to win the tournament. It’s the 3rd straight BOSJ title for Takahashi and 4th overall. It also earns him a shot at Ishimori for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship, we don’t know when yet.

The next event is DOMINION, the annual June Osaka blowout event, on 6/12 at Osaka-jo Hall in Osaka. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin on 6/12 at 1 AM ET/6/11 at 10 PM PT.

It’s Monday in Japan…which means once again it’s Free Match Monday! Every Monday New Japan digs into the New Japan World archive and makes one full classic match available to all FOR FREE on New Japan World and YouTube. This week, ahead of a must-win final match to keep his 3-peat bid alive, relive the Best Of The Super Junior 28 Final from December 2021 as Hiromu Takahashi went for the tournament title repeat against Yoh, who came back from the dead after an 0-4 start as part of a disastrous 2021 to make an epic comeback to reach the Finals and, despite coming up short, finish the year on a high note and build momentum for a turnaround in 2022.
https://youtu.be/bBg5bsw4qHk

New Japan ran Day 11 of Best Of The Super Junior today, the penultimate day of the preliminary rounds that will further thin the field of Finals contenders ahead of the last day of matches.

Today’s event was held at Ota City General Gym in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.

The annoucned paid attendance was 1890. This is a little over half capacity for the venue and was at least a near-sellout.

All matches were Best Of The Super Junior matches.

Match 1: Block B-Master Wato beat El Lindaman.

Match 2: Block B-Titan beat DOUKI.

Match 3: Block A-Yoh beat Alex Zayne.

Match 4: Block B-TJP beat BUSHI.

Match 5: Block A-Hiromu Takahashi beat Clark Connors.

Match 6: Block A-Ryusuke Taguchi beat Ace Austin.

Match 7: Block B-El Phantasmo beat Wheeler Yuta.

Match 8: Block A-Yoshinobu Kanemaru beat Sho.

Match 9: Block B-Taiji Ishimori beat Franceso AKira.

Main Event: Block B-Robbie Eagles beat El Desperado.

Standings:
Block A-
1-Ishimori, 6-2, 12 points
2-Takahashi, 5-3, 10 points
3-Austin, 5-3, 10 points (OUT)
4-Yoh, 4-4, 8 points (OUT)
5-Sho, 4-4, 8 points (OUT)
6-Zayne, 4-4, 8 points (OUT)
7-Taguchi, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
8-Kanemaru, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
9-Connors, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
10-Akira, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)

Block B:
1-Phantasmo, 6-2, 12 points
2-Eagles, 5-3, 10 points
3-Desperado, 5-3, 10 points
4-Lindaman, 4-4, 8 points (OUT)
5-TJP, 4-4, 8 points (OUT)
6-Yuta, 4-4, 8 points (OUT)
7-SOUKI, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
8-Wato, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
9-Titan, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
10-BUSHI, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
Only the winners of each block advance to the Finals. In Block A, it comes down to Ishimori-Takahashi. Austin mathematically can tie but if the tiebreaker is head-to-head result he’s out because he lost to Takahashi. And while it won’t determine a finalist, Sho-Yoh will still be a huge match on the final day. In Block B, the finale of El Derby will settle it as Phantasmo only needs to beat Desperado or go the distance (30 minutes) to advance. But if Desperado wins, Eagles can advance with a win because he beat all 3 El’s. An Eagles loss or tie means Desperado moves on with a win. Eagles faces Titan.

Day 12 is Tuesday at Toyama Techno Hall West Hall in Toyama with the final day of round-robin action. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.

After a tumultuous off day because of the developing controversy around Kota Ibushi yesterday (go to the Open The Forbidden Gate Facebook page for details), New Japan resumed the Best Of The Super Junior Tournament today with Day 10, heading into the final stretch of the preliminary round. At least one more man, and possibly two, would see their Finals hopes end today.

Today’s event was held at Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall 3 in Chiba and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.

The announced paid attendance was 1095, possibly a legit sellout. If not, then it was very close as only a few same-day tickets were available. No guest on Japanese commentary, but Milano Collection A.T. is back after being off Thursday due to it being a Samurai! TV simulcast. Most of the events have been only on New Japan World, which are produced by TV Asahi.

All matches are Best Of The Super Junior matches.

Match 1: Block A-Francesco Akira beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru

Match 2: Block A-Taiji Ishimori beat Clark Connors by submission

Match 3: Block B-Titan beat BUSHI

Match 4: Block A-Ryusuke Taguchi beat Yoh

Match 5: Block A-Sho beat Ace Austin by ref stoppage (technical submission)

Match 6: Block B-Wheeler Yuta beat Master Wato

Match 7: Block B-El Phantasmo beat TJP

Match 8: Block B-Robbie Eagles beat El Lindaman by submission

Match 9: Block A-Hiromu Takahashi beat Alex Zayne by submission

Taichi joins Japanese commentary for the final match. He has a rooting interest in this Suzuki-gun Derby.
Main Event: Block B-El Desperado beat DOUKI by submission

Standings:
Block A:
1-Ishimori, 5-2, 10 points
2-Austin, 5-2, 10 points
3-Takahashi, 4-3, 8 points
4-Zayne, 4-3, 8 points
5-Yoh, 3-4, 6 points
6-Connors, 3-4, 6 points
7-Akira, 3-4, 6 points
8-Sho, 3-4, 6 points
9-Taguchi, 2-5, 4 points (OUT)
10-Kanemaru, 2-5, 4 points (OUT)

Block B:
1-Phantasmo, 5-2, 10 points
2-Desperado, 5-2, 10 points
3-Lindaman, 4-3, 8 points
4-Eagles, 4-3, 8 points
5-Yuta, 4-3, 8 points
6-BUSHI, 3-4, 6 points (OUT)
7-DOUKI, 3-4, 6 points (OUT)
8-TJP, 3-4, 6 points (OUT)
9-Titan, 2-5, 4 points (OUT)
10-Wato, 2-5, 4 points (OUT)
Only the winner of each block advances to the Finals. While 8 remain mathematically alive in each block, only those in the top 4 in Block A and top 5 in Block B have any real chance outside of forcing complicated tiebreakers (per New Japan’s Day 11 preview, the bottom 5 in Block B are now out). In Block A, Takahashi kept his 3-peat bid alive but next must beat Connors to force a potential do-or-die finale against Ishimori. That, of course, requires Akira to beat Ishimori next among other things. Despite his loss today, Austin is still very much in it as long as he beats Taguchi next, then his finale would be Akira. Zayne still has a chance and he’s got Yoh & Connors. Simply put, if Takahashi wants to 3-peat he needs just short of a miracle.
In Block B, El Derby will go down to the wire but Eagles remains in perfect position to swoop in and steal it. He’s taken down 2 of 3 El’s and if he can beat Desperado next, the Finals spot is his for the taking as long as he avoids the last-day upset against Titan. But it’s over if he loses. Phantasmo also must get by Yuta next to set down the all-important finale against Desperado (Yuta must win to stay alive). Lindaman is still not out of it yet and if he can put away Wato & BUSHI he’s still got a chance. Block B may very well need tiebreaker matches.

Day 11 is tomorrow at Ota City General Gym in Tokyo. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.

New Japan ran Day 9 of Best Of The Super Junior today, kicking off the second half of the tournament with the end of a Tokyo tripleheader.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English. This was a Samurai! TV broadcast in Japan so different presentation and commentary-no Milano Collection A.T. on the Japanese side today, instead a female commentator (missed her name at first) and Shingo Takagi was a guest on commentary.

The announced paid attendance was 1015. While the lowest of the 3 Korakuen events this was still a near-sellout.

All matches were Best Of The Super Junior matches.
Match 1: Master Wato beat Titan.

Match 2: TJP beat DOUKI by submission.

Match 3: Clark Connors beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru.

Match 4: Alex Zayne beat Ryusuke Taguchi.

Match 5: Francesco Akira beat Yoh.

Match 6: El Lindaman beat Wheeler Yuta.

Match 7: Ace Austin beat Taiji Ishimori.

Match 8: BUSHI beat El Desperado.

Match 9: Sho beat Hiromu Takahashi.

Main Event: Robbie Eagles beat El Phantasmo by submission. This was the longest match of the tournament so far at almost 25 minutes.

Standings:
Block A:
1-Austin, 5-1, 10 points
2-Ishimori, 4-2, 8 points
3-Zayne, 4-2, 8 points
4-Connors, 3-3, 6 points
5-Yoh, 3-3, 6 points
6-Sho, 3-3, 6 points
7-Takahashi, 3-3, 6 points
8-Akira, 2-4, 4 points
9-Kanemaru, 2-4, 4 points
10-Taguchi, 1-5, 2 points (OUT)

Block B:
1-Lindaman, 4-2, 8 points
2-Desperado, 4-2, 8 points
3-Phantasmo, 4-2, 8 points
4-Eagles, 3-3, 6 points
5-BUSHI, 3-3, 6 points
6-Yuta, 3-3, 6 points
7-TJP, 3-3, 6 points
8-DOUKI, 3-3, 6 points
9-Wato, 2-4, 4 points
10-Titan, 1-5, 2 points (OUT)
Only the winner of each block advances to the Finals. And we have our first official elimination today-Taguchi is now out of it. Because of the remaining Block B matches, namely Desperado-Phantasmo on the final day, Titan is now out too.
Ishimori has dropped 2 in a row and that’s allowed Austin to take the Block A lead with Zayne now also a win behind. Takahashi’s 3-peat bid is in serious danger now, he has no margin for error left-he must win out and get help. His last 3 are Zayne, Connors, Ishimori. Austin has an easier path to the Block A title, but not by much-he goes Sho, Taguchi, Akira. Zayne has a difficult trio left-Takahashi, Yoh, Connors.
Block B is wide open but remains largely about El Derby. While it almost certainly will come down to the last leg on 5/31 with Desperado-Phantasmo, Lindaman now seems to have the easiest path to the Final-Eagles, Wato, BUSHI. Desperado goes Eagles, DOUKI, Phantasmo. Phantasmo goes TJP, Yuta, Desperado. Which puts Eagles in the sitting pretty position to steal it with some big upsets, he’s got two of the El’s and Titan and beat Phantasmo, so if he can pull off the El sweep The Sniper Of The Skits should shoot to the top.

Day 10 is Saturday at Makuhari Messe International Conference Hall 3 in Chiba. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2 AM PT/5 AM ET.

In other NJPW news, Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb made a surprise appearance in All Elite Wrestling last night on AEW Dynamite, interfering during an ROH World Tag Team Title match between FTR and Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero. This could be the start of a program leading into a match at Forbidden Door next month.

New Japan ran Day 8 of Best Of The Super Junior today, the halfway point of the round robin portion of the tournament.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.

The announced paid attendance was 1104. A little lower than yesterday but still is increased capacity and, along with other planned experiments upcoming in other promotions, is a good sign for attempts at trying to return to normal for events in Japan.

All matches were Best Of The Super Junior matches. Blocks A & B alternated for the first 3 matches, then doubled up for matches 4-9 and Block A had the main event.

Match 1: Ace Austin beat Alex Zayne.

Match 2: DOUKI beat BUSHI by submission.

Match 3: Clark Connors beat Francesco Akira.

Match 4: Wheeler Yuta beat Titan by submission.

Match 5: El Phantasmo beat El Lindaman. El Derby is El all square for now.

Match 6: Sho beat Ryusuke Taguchi.

Match 7: Yoshinobu Kanemaru beat Taiji Ishimori. This lasted just 127 seconds. Side note: In their NJPW history, Ishimori is now just 1-15-1 in singles matches against Kanemaru. That presumably doesn’t include their many years in Pro Wrestling NOAH.

Match 8: TJP beat Robbie Eagles by submission. TJP gets Filipino bragging rights for now.

Match 9: El Desperado beat Master Wato.

Main Event: Yoh beat Hiromu Takahashi.

Standings:
1-Ishimori, 4-1, 8 points
2-Austin, 4-1, 8 points
3-Yoh, 3-2, 6 points
4-Zayne, 3-2, 6 points
5-Takahashi, 3-2, 6 points
6-Connors, 2-3, 4 points
7-Kanemaru, 2-3, 4 points
8-Sho, 2-3, 4 points
9-Akira, 1-4, 2 points
10-Taguchi, 1-4, 2 points

Block B:
1-Phantasmo, 4-1, 8 points
2-Desperado, 4-1, 8 points
3-Lindaman, 3-2, 6 points
4-Yuta, 3-2, 6 points
5-DOUKI, 3-2, 6 points
6-BUSHI, 2-3, 4 points
7-TJP, 2-3, 4 points
8-Eagles, 2-3, 4 points
9-Titan, 1-4, 2 points
10-Wato, 1-4, 2 points
Only the winner of each block afvances to the Finals. Block A is wide open but, like last year, this could be the start of the big move for Yoh. He is doing much better than last time and the win over Takahashi is a huge confidence booster. Let’s see how Ishimori bounced back fron today’s flash loss, and he gets Austin next for the lead. Takahashi needs to rebound quickly to keep the 3-peat alive. Austin is now the trendy sleeper pick to steal it.
Block B remains all about El Derby, but Yuta & DOUKI are positioned for the upset. Lindaman-Yuta is the key bout next. El Derby will come down to Desperado-Phantasmo next Tuesday, that match likely will decide the finalist.

Day 9 is tomorrow. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/530 AM ET.