NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 5-31 Shizuoka report: Tiger Mask IV vs. Kushida
by Bryan Rose, WrestlingObserver.com
Here we are, day 8 of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament! Only 3 matches today, since Shelley is out of the tournament. Results are below, followed by the current rankings and links to previous results.
Gedo vs. Chase Owens
Unlike the other matches we’ve seen in the tournament, Gedo was the face here as he gained control of the match after a referee distraction spot and a dropkick. Gedo made a comeback after the ref was knocked down with a low blow and a roll up. Owens cut him off, did the throwback from the top rope then pinned Gedo with a package piledriver. About as basic of a match as you can get, which isn’t a knock but nothing beyond that.
Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Beretta
This was solid. A lot of the match was Beretta working over Liger. Beretta reversed a hurricanrana off the top rope for a nearfall, but fell trap to a palm strike. Beretta hit his knee strike but Liger reversed a roll up into one of his own for the pinfall.
Tiger Mask IV vs. Kushida
Tiger Mask worked on Kushida’s leg early in the bout. They did a spot where they did stereo kicks to the temple and both fell to the ground momentarily. Tiger Mask laid out Kushida with a butterfly suplex off the top rope but Kushida came back with the hoverboard lock and Tiger Mask submitted. This got more time than the other two matches on the show, and they used that time to have a fine match.
Current Standings:
Block A:
Kyle O’Reilly (6)
Ryusuke Taguchi (6)
Chase Owens (6)
Jushin Thunder Liger (6)
Babaro Cavernario (4)
Gedo (4)
Beretta (4)
Yohei Komatsu (0)
Block B:
Kushida (10)
Mascara Dorada (6)
Tiger Mask IV (6)
Nick Jackson (6)
Rocky Romero (6)
Bobby Fish (4)
Alex Shelley (2) (Out of tournament due to injury)
David Finlay (0)
And here are recaps of the previous shows for quick reference:
Day 1: Gedo vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
Day 2: Kushida vs. Nick Jackson
Day 3: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Kyle O’Reilly
Day 4: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Beretta
Day 5: Chase Owens vs. Jushin Thunder Liger
Day 6: Rocky Romero vs. Tiger Mask IV
Day 7: Kushida vs. Bobby Fish