NJPW Best of the Super Juniors results: Ricochet & Ospreay steal the show again

Here are results from this morning’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament show. The second day aired live from Korakuen Hall on New Japan World, featuring Block A matches in the tournament.

Preliminary Matches —

– Tomoyuki Oka, Hirai Kawato & Tiger Mask defeated Tetsuhiro Yagi, Syota Umino & Katsuya Kitamura when Kawato submitted Yagi with a Boston crab.

– El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated ACH & Volador Jr. when Desperado pinned ACH with a crucifix.

– Guerrillas of Destiny & Yujiro Takahashi defeated David Finlay & War Machine when Tama Tonga pinned Finlay with the Gun Stun.

– BUSHI, SANADA, EVIL & Tetsuya Naito defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Satoshi Kojima, KUSHIDA & Juice Robinson when BUSHI pinned KUSHIDA with a backslide into a bridge.

A Block Results —

Taichi defeated Taka Michinoku

Save for some cute storytelling moments, this was bad. It had lots of stalling and goofiness and it felt like a million years until they finally did anything. Taichi is the worst kind of wrestler to have around here. He’s the kind who goes out of his way to have the lamest matches possible and this was the best example of that thus far since his return.

The two, of course, were tentative to start things off. After a while of just standing around and doing nothing, they did a quick flurry that sent Taichi reeling to the outside. He thought about using the ring hammer but put it down instead. 

Taichi continued to stall, then when making his way back into the ring, Michinoku kicked the ring ropes, effectively crotching Taichi. The latter soon returned the favor and undid a turnbuckle. Taichi sold his leg giving out forever until he low blowed Michinoku and rolled him into the Gedo clutch for the win.

Dragon Lee defeated Marty Scurll

I liked this match. I was wondering if there would be a styles clash, but they worked well together and worked in some pretty cool spots to tell a good story.

They chain wrestled to start things off, with Lee getting the better of it. Scurll worked him over until Lee hit a snap German suplex and followed that with a big tope con hilo to the floor.

Lee went for a foot stomp, but Scurll grabbed him and gave him a belly-to-belly suplex to the floor. Lee tried a suplex until Scurll grabbed his wrist and “broke” Lee’s finger. Scurll actually busted out Adam Cole’s Last Shot finish but Lee kicked out.

Lee and Scurll made their way to the top rope, where they battled it out until Lee lashed out with a headbutt, allowing him to hit the foot stomp off the top rope for the win.

Hiromu Takahashi defeated Jushin Thunder Liger

This was really great. Liger is still one of the best workers around, even in his fifties. Takahashi is one of the best junior heavyweights in the world right now. Combine this with a great match layout and you have a pretty damn good bout with some great heat.

Liger immediately hit the shotei, a rolling senton to the outside, and finished off his flurry with a brainbuster on the floor. Takahashi finally managed to gain some momentum by holding onto Liger on the outside. He blocked a sunset flip bomb, but he couldn’t block Takahashi grabbing him and laying him out with a powerbomb on the apron.

Takahashi had the advantage until Liger cut him off with another shotei and a Liger bomb for another close count. Takahashi drilled him with a German suplex, but Liger got right back up, no sold Takahashi’s offense, and landed another brainbuster. Again, a close pinfall.

Liger went for another shot, but Takahashi hit the superkick and the Time Bomb to pick up the win.

Will Ospreay defeated Ricochet

I think this may have been better than their match from last year, which is kind of amazing considering the buzz that it got. This felt like a state of the art match where just all sorts of amazing spots and stunts went down.

Both Will Ospreay and Ricochet are some of the most fluid wrestlers I’ve ever seen, and together created a match that’s up there with some of this year’s best.

They chain wrestled to start things off. They took it slow, then sped up very quickly to head to a standstill. They followed that with a great series of exchanges, finishing it off with the springboard into a kneeling position spot as a callback to last year’s match. They followed quickly with forearm shots that sent both of them down.

Ricochet soon gained the upper hand, working Ospreay over with submissions and big chops to the corner. Ospreay started to fight back, drilling Ricochet with a springboard kick to the temple. Ricochet fought back with a 619, flying forearm, and a standing shooting star press for a near fall. 

Ospreay landed a tornado DDT and went for the OsCutter, but Ricochet threw him over the top rope. Ospreay returned the favor, waist locking him and sending him down to the floor with a hurricanrana and landing the Sasuke special.

He hit his own standing shooting star press and followed with a springboard corkscrew moonsault for another good near fall.

Ospreay and Ricochet fought on the top rope, leading to a reverse rana by Ospreay, though Ricochet landed on his feet. Ospreay was cut off on the top rope as Ricochet attempted a reverse rana. He got it on his second try, but Ospreay landed on his feet as well. A sick series of crazy moves followed. So quick that it’s hard to recap it all, honestly!

The two fought to the apron, where Ricochet landed two floating suplexes in a row. Ricochet hit Ospreay’s own corkscrew punch and OsCutter, but Ospreay kicked out. More back and forth followed, which ended with Ospreay hitting the Benadryller. 

He went to the top rope, but Ricochet cut him off. Ospreay fought back and sent him to the mat with a Cheeky Nandos kick. He followed with a dragon rana, but Ricochet kicked out! Ospreay then hit the corkscrew kick and landed the OsCutter for the win. 

Ospreay first addressed Ricochet after the match, saying he loves him. He then addressed the crowd, saying he does this for everyone watching, and while Ricochet is his worst enemy, he is his best friend.

He said professional wrestling is an artform. Last year was his first Super Juniors and he won. He had a rocky start by losing to Marty Scurll, but he will get better and better, facing everyone against him, even a House of Horrors match with Randy Orton.

Ospreay promised that he will make the finals and he’ll make it a back-to-back Best of the Super Juniors victory.