New Japan Pro Wrestling continued their Best of Super Juniors tournament on Tuesday. Since the event began at 5:30am EDT, here’s a spoiler-free match listing for all the non-nite-owl New Japan fans. The show is available on NJPWWorld.com.
FIRST MATCH: Flip Gordon & Tomoyuki Oka vs. Chase Owens & Taiji Ishimori
An interesting match up. Owens and Oka continue their mini-feud, while Ishimori and Gordon test each other before their 4/24 showdown. Fun, if inessential viewing.
Need To Watch Rating: (5.0)
SECOND MATCH: ACH & Shota Umino vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
This match was supposed to preview ACH vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, but the true highlight was Shota Umino stepping up against Minoru Suzuki. Definitely recommended viewing for fans of submissions and Young Lions.
Need To Watch Rating: (6.9)
THIRD MATCH: CHAOS (Gedo & Will Ospreay) vs. CHAOS (Yoshi-Hashi & Yoh)
A rare match between CHAOS members. This was a fast-paced, respectful contest. Yoh is looking more and more like the future of the Jr. Heavyweight division with every match.
Need To Watch Rating: (7.8)
FOURTH MATCH: Toa Henare & Tiger Mask vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito)
Definitely recommended viewing as this is the one time of year when Tiger Mask is Actually Good™. Naito and Henare have great chemistry. With the crowd on his side, Henare is a shoe-in for this year’s G1 Climax.
Need To Watch Rating: (7.0)
FIFTH MATCH: Sho (0) vs. Chris Sabin (2)
This battle of former IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champs was far superior to either man’s first matches in the tournament. Sho, while not quite at the level of Yoh yet, makes a serious case for a singles run, while Sabin deftly plays the veteran role. It’s weird to write, but Sho had a better match against Sabin than KUSHIDA. Career Defining performances for both men.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
SIXTH MATCH: Ryusuke Taguchi (0) vs. Dragon Lee (2)
Dragon Lee is only 23.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
SEVENTH MATCH: Marty Scurll (0) vs. KUSHIDA (0)
Scurll and KUSHIDA have a match that would work as an IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title match on any card. Wrestle Kingdom quality in Korakuen. Definitely a must see match.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.05)
MAIN EVENT: Hiromu Takahashi (2) vs. El Desperado (2)
Hiromu Takahashi continues to turn in seriously epic performances in the BOSJ. This might be one of El Desperado’s best matches of his entire career.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.1)
