NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night nine results, updated standings

  • Ian Carey
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Best of the Super Juniors 32 continued on Saturday in Himeji, Hyogo, Japan.

Each wrestler had their seventh round-robin bout on the show. With two matches remaining, both blocks are still tight, but B Block is especially crowded with all 10 competitors still in contention.

A Block Matches

Master Wato moved to 10 points and now sits alone atop A Block after defeating KUSHIDA in the semi-main event. KUSHIDA focused on Wato’s arm throughout the match, but Wato came back and got the win with Recientemente followed by a Tsutenkaku German.

Hiromu Takahashi needed a win to stay alive in the tournament and got it against Yoshinobu Kanemaru. House of Torture attacked Takahashi before the bell and Kanemaru controlled much of the match, repeatedly targeting the knee with figure fours. Takahashi finally reversed a third figure four attempt into a cradle for the pin.

Kosei Fujita snapped a three-match losing streak with a win over Dragon Dia with a Thrill Ride.

In a battle between wrestlers tied at six points, Francesco Akira forced Robbie X to tap out to the Ground Tarantula.

The show opened with a battle of ninja weapons and spare tires as Clark Connors faced Ninja Mack. The match spilled outside, where Mack threw ninja stars at Connors. Connors responded by bringing out “Mr. Wheel,” a spare tire he’s used in recent matches. Mack then pulled out a pair of nunchucks and the two had at it with their chosen weapons. No disqualifications or even warnings were issued by the referee for any of this. As typically happens in such situations, the nunchucks turned out to be too much weapon for the spare tire and Mack gained control. However, shortly after the match got back in the ring, Connors hit a gore followed by No Chaser for the win.

B Block Matches

Five wrestlers are now tied at the top of B Block with eight points, and all ten competitors still have a chance to advance.

El Desperado submitted Ryusuke Taguchi in the main event to join the logjam atop the group. The match featured Desperado targeting Taguchi’s knee while Taguchi worked his opponent’s ankle. Desperado eventually earned the submission win with Numero Dos.

YOH submitted Nick Wayne with the Anaconda Vice, moving both to 4-3.

Taiji Ishimori reversed a UFO Splash by Kevin Knight into the Bone Lock to get the win. He had targeted Knight’s shoulder during the bout. Ishimori improves to 4-3, Knight falls to 3-4.

MAO picked up a win over Robbie Eagles with a unique move. He had Eagles in a Dragon Sleeper position on the second turnbuckle, jumped off, and slammed him onto his stomach. Walker Stewart didn’t know what to call the move. NJPW’s website later referred to it as “Ultra Big Tone.”

SHO defeated Titan in the B Block opener following repeated interference by House of Torture members.

A Block —

  • Master Wato (5-2): 10 points
  • Hiromu Takahashi (4-3): 8 points
  • Kosei Fujita (4-3): 8 points
  • Francesco Akira (4-3): 8 points
  • Clark Connors (4-3): 8 points
  • Dragon Dia (3-4): 6 points
  • Robbie X (3-4): 6 points
  • KUSHIDA (3-4): 6 points
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru (3-4): 6 points
  • Ninja Mack (2-5): 4 points

B Block —

  • Nick Wayne (4-2): 8 points
  • El Desperado (4-3): 8 points
  • YOH (4-3): 8 points
  • Taiji Ishimori (4-3): 8 points
  • MAO (4-3): 8 points
  • Ryusuke Taguchi (3-4): 6 points
  • Titan (3-4): 6 points
  • Robbie Eagles (3-3): 6 points
  • Kevin Knight (3-4): 6 points
  • SHO (3-4): 6 points

Upcoming Schedule

The tournament continues in Nagoya on Sunday.

  • A Block: Master Wato vs. Hiromu Takahashi
  • B Block: El Desperado vs. Kevin Knight
  • A Block: Francesco Akira vs. Clark Connors
  • B Block: Taiji Ishimroi vs. SHO
  • A Block: Ninja Mack vs. Kosei Fujita
  • B Block: MAO vs. Nick Wayne
  • A Block: Dragon Dia vs. Robbie X
  • B Block: YOH vs. Titan
  • A Block: KUSHIDA vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Robbie Eagles