Watch: NJPW World
Placed on a pot of espresso, seize some snacks, and hunker down in your favourite chair like Archie Bunker as a result of Better of the Tremendous Juniors 31 has arrived.
Sure, whereas New Japan Professional Wrestling could now not be the best child in school—the type that wears a jean jacket and sun shades whereas carving the Van Halen emblem into his desk—the world of the lion’s mark retains on turning. It’s time for the corporate’s annual showcase of its junior heavyweight roster and some particular company from promotions close to and much.
Final yr’s match noticed a string of acclaimed performances from international wrestlers Speedball Mike Bailey and Lio Rush, veteran names Ryusuke Taguchi and KUSHIDA struggling to make a dent, and the Japanese debut of Drilla “don’t name him Dan” Moloney, culminating in an electrical ultimate between winner Grasp Wato and runner up Titán. How will this yr’s BOSJ go? Within the immortal phrases of the supergroup Asia, solely time will inform.
Earlier than we delve into evening one, I’d be remiss if I didn’t plug J. Michael and John Carroll’s in depth match previews for A Block and B Block. If you would like all the knowledge goodness your mind can deal with earlier than watching the match correct, test these out.
B Block – Francesco Akira (2) def. Dragon Dia (0)
That is Dragon Dia’s New Japan debut, filling in for an injured Taguchi. Because the opener, this didn’t get a variety of time—only a shade over five-and-a-half minutes—which meant Dia didn’t get a variety of time to indicate off his stuff. Hopefully he will get to do much more in his later matches. He and Akira nonetheless made a very good pairing for the little time that they had, each zipping across the ring with gusto. Dia hit his new finisher Finish Over that he simply debuted at Dragongate’s Useless or Alive present a number of days earlier, however Akira kicked out and received it with the Fireball. ***
.@dragondia “Finish Over”
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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) Could 11, 2024
A Block – HAYATA (2) def. BUSHI (0)
My eyes noticed HAYATA vs. BUSHI on the match lineup and immediately glazed over like a contemporary Dunkin’ donut. As I got here to from my fugue state, I rewound the video and realized I didn’t miss something. This was a gradual, perfunctory match that ended with HAYATA profitable with the 403 Affect DDT. HAYATA doesn’t gentle my socks on hearth no matter promotion, and given he’s the GHC Nationwide Champion, he’s possible going to be within the combine for the semifinals. Ah jeez, Edith. **1/4
B Block – Ninja Mack (2) def. Robbie Eagles (0)
Ninja Mack is one other man making his NJPW debut right here. He’s contemporary off getting his ass kicked by Shuji Ishikawa in a GHC Hardcore Title match at NOAH’s Wrestle Magic present. He fared higher right here, displaying off his acrobatic abilities and flippy-dos—you realize, typical ninja shit. Eagles just isn’t as aerodynamic as Mack, however he’s a a lot smoother and extra refined wrestler throughout, making him a very good dance associate to introduce Mack to the corporate. Mack scored the win after a back-and-forth pin change, with Milano Assortment A.T. on commentary yelling “Ninja! Ninja!” each time Mack had the benefit. **3/4
A Block – Kosei Fujita (2) def. Yoshinobu Kanemaru (0)
Fujita got here out with new gear and new entrance music as he continues to ascertain himself post-Younger Lion. Kanemaru jumped him on the bell and had management for a big portion of the match, concentrating on Fujita’s knee. Fujita made the comeback, however we obtained ref bump #1 of the match. Kanemaru went for the Suntory shock, however Fujita thwarted it with a springboard dropkick. Kanemaru blocked a rolling German suplex, however then ate a pop-up German. Fujita hit Abandon Hope (a suplex dropped right into a cutter) for the win. Fujita didn’t get to do a lot right here, however he kicks off his first BOSJ with a win. ***
.@njpw_Fujita “New Fashion”
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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) Could 11, 2024
B Block – SHO (2) def. Drilla Moloney (0)
This was champion vs. champion and heel vs. heel. Moloney appears to be like like if Tyler Black was a Mediterranean arms seller. SHO got here out with a number of accoutrement on his particular person, together with an autograph from Moloney that he obtained on the meet and greet earlier than the present. These are the notes I sort when a match like this is occurring. Moloney tried to get SHO counted out, then whereas he argued with the ref for counting too gradual, Gedo appeared and low blowed SHO. Then Yujiro snuck within the ring and low blowed Moloney. Yujiro threw Gedo into the ring to distract the ref and SHO hit Moloney with the wrench, a.okay.a. the Torture Software, for the win. Okay then. *1/2
A Block – Blake Christian (2) def. Clark Connors (0)
This was one other heel vs. heel match, though the true battle was between Blake Christian and good aesthetics. One of the best ways I can describe his look is “70s porn star Ron Weasley head meets parody Shawn Michaels tights meets Beetlejuice boots.” If Tim Gunn was within the constructing, he would have barreled down the aisle screaming “Cease it! Bullshit!” as he clanged a chair in opposition to the guardrail. Just like the Dia and Mack matches, this was one thing of a showcase for Christian, although he obtained slightly extra time than the opposite guys did. I want he didn’t work as a heel as a result of it made for a clumsy dynamic with Connors. The gang was additionally largely detached (an irony given Christian’s heel nickname is “All Warmth”) and there have been a number of botches, probably the most notable being when Christian went for a Fosbury Flop right into a reverse DDT, however Connors took the DDT bump too early. Christian tried to make use of the IWGP Jr. Tag Title, however the ref stopped him, resulting in a ref bump and Christian hitting Connors with a loaded fist. I don’t know what it was he hit him with, it regarded like rubber brass knuckles or one thing like that. He adopted it up with a reverse rolling Loss of life Valley Driver and the Step Up Stomp for the win. Not a very good begin for Christian, hopefully his output improves because the match progresses (even when his look received’t). **1/2
.@ClarkConnors “🎳💥”
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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) Could 11, 2024
B Block – Taiji Ishimori (2) def. DOUKI (0)
Like others, I’ve Taiji Ishimori fatigue. It’s not like he’s a nasty wrestler and even a mean one; he’s nonetheless, at 41 years previous and with greater than twenty years of expertise, actually good. This match with DOUKI, whereas not a blowaway affair, was a strong match with some crisp sequences, particularly in direction of the top. Ishimori can nonetheless sustain with the youthful guys. However after six years of “Bone Soldier” period Taiji Ishimori, I really feel like we’ve seen all the pieces there’s to see with him by way of rivals and title runs. However once more, there are worse wrestlers to place in his spot. Ishimori labored over DOUKI’s arm and shoulder to arrange the Bone Lock. DOUKI fought again and countered La Mistica right into a Jorge Rivera Particular for an in depth two-count, then locked within the Italian Stretch #32. He tried to gator roll Ishimori again in direction of the middle of the ring, however Ishimori escaped and hit the Bloody Cross for the win. ***1/4
A Block – Kevin Knight (2) def. TJP (0)
TJP got here out in regular gear with pink eye contacts, so the Aswang’s evil spirit nonetheless lurks behind the window to his soul or no matter lore dorkery he’s going for. This was the very best match of the evening thus far. That’s not a shock given how good TJP is, however Knight greater than held his personal. He’s at all times had that pure athletic expertise and eye-popping agility, however now he’s obtained the swagger and polish to again it up (and higher gear besides). There was a cool sequence the place Knight went for his leaping rana off the highest, however TJP rolled by means of and caught Knight in a crucifix pin, just for Knight to kick out by way of kip up. I had by no means seen that earlier than. Neither man was in a position to get the benefit for lengthy, however TJP was ultimately in a position to take management and hit a Mamba Splash whereas Knight was draped abdomen first on the highest rope. Knight got here again together with his leaping Spike DDT on the apron. He then hit his personal Mamba Splash and locked within the Hoverboard Lock. This introduced us to the ending stretch, which was additionally the very best of the present thus far. Knight hit an F5 and went for one more Spike DDT, however TJP countered it right into a Northern Lights suplex, which regarded cool. He went up for one more Mamba Splash, however Knight hit the leaping rana and one final Spike DDT for the win. A very good match and my first advice of the match. ***3/4
.@MegaTJP “DDT”
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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) Could 11, 2024
B Block – KUSHIDA (2) def. Hiromu Takahashi (0)
Not counting younger lion matches, this was the second shortest match of the KUSHIDA-Hiromu collection after the Invasion Assault 2017 match that hardly went two minutes. It actually felt like a condensed, sprint-y model of their matches, although that’s not a nasty factor as a result of it was nonetheless fairly good. KUSHIDA was fairly aggressive, attacking Hiromu’s arm to arrange for the Hoverboard Lock. After solely getting 4 factors final yr, it is smart for him to indicate a extra aggressive facet with the intention to redeem himself. After all it might’ve been tough to try this from past the grave as a result of he practically died taking a Victory Royal from Hiromu, touchdown proper on the highest of his head. Fortunately he was okay. Hiromu arrange for the Time Bomb II, however KUSHIDA grabbed Hiromu’s arm and pulled him down into the Hoverboard Lock. Hiromu tried to struggle out, however KUSHIDA twisted the wrist and Hiromu submitted. I don’t know the way far KUSHIDA will go given he’s not pushed as a high man within the division anymore and is an alternative choice to YOH, however he needs to be a succesful hand regardless. ***1/2
KUSHIDA “MASAHIRO TANAKA”
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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) Could 11, 2024
A Block – Titán (2) def. El Desperado (0)
Titán got here out with new entrance music that gave the impression of the beginning of a progressive rock album opener that goes 17 minutes. It’s going to take a while getting used to as a result of I actually appreciated his “Dios Antiguo” theme. This was a rematch of final yr’s semifinals that Titán received. It was additionally the third match in a row that I might say was actually good, however in need of being nice. Don’t get me fallacious, I’ll take a extremely good match any day of the week, however within the context of a Tremendous Juniors foremost occasion, it’s a tad disappointing. It’s the opening evening and each guys have an extended match forward, so I’m not anticipating them to simply go balls to the wall, however for my enjoyment I wished this to achieve that subsequent degree and it by no means fairly did. Desperado went after Titán’s leg and was in a position to lock within the Stretch Muffler a number of instances, however wasn’t in a position to get the total Numero Dos. Titán nonetheless had some juice in his legs and crushed Despy’s ribs together with his high rope double stomp, earlier than locking in a cross-armed model of Llave Inmortal for the submission win. Desperado’s revenge should wait one other day. ***3/4
.@Titan_cmll “La Quebrada”
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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) Could 11, 2024
Last Ideas
So far as openings go, this wasn’t precisely “Runnin’ with the Satan.” The highest three matches are value a watch, however all the pieces else was skippable except you’re a type of sicko completists like me. One other adverse was the Chiba crowd who, whereas vocal in components, didn’t have the sustained vitality that you’d need. Final yr’s opening evening was significantly better as a result of it had each that scorching Korakuen Corridor crowd and a capital G Nice match in Speedball vs. Hiromu.
Standings
A Block
Titán – 2 factors
Kevin Knight – 2 factors
Blake Christian – 2 factors
Kosei Fujita – 2 factors
HAYATA – 2 factors
El Desperado – 0 factors
TJP – 0 factors
Clark Connors – 0 factors
Yoshinobu Kanemaru – 0 factors
BUSHI – 0 factors
B Block
KUSHIDA – 2 factors
Taiji Ishimori – 2 factors
SHO – 2 factors
Ninja Mack – 2 factors
Francesco Akira – 2 factors
Hiromu Takahashi – 0 factors
DOUKI – 0 factors
Drilla Moloney – 0 factors
Robbie Eagles – 0 factors
Dragon Dia – 0 factors
