By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S NJPW REVIEW SERIES
“BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS XXI: NIGHT 1”
MAY 30, 2014
TOKYO, JAPAN

(1) Take Michinoku (2) beat Mascara Dorada (0) in a Best of the Super Juniors Block A match. Dorado got the crowd going with some nice high-flying, but Take ended up taking the match with the Michinoku driver.

(2) Tiger Mask (2) beat Rocky Romero (0) in a Best of the Super Juniors Block B match. Romero nearly got a count out win early in the match after hitting a flying knee strike off the apron followed by a tombstone on the exposed floor. Romero was wearing a Black Tiger mask with an eye patch, which was pretty funny. Romero went after Tiger Masks’s mask, but was unable to pull it off. Tiger mask mounted a comeback and took of Romero’s mask and tossed it at him. Romero ran Tiger Mask into the ref and they had him get a visual pin on Romero with a bridging crucifix. Romero got a nearfall a short time later with sliced bread. Tiger Mask fired back with a counter and hit a tombstone on Romero, but was too weak to cover him. They battled up top and Tiger mask hit a double under hook toss for a near fall. Tiger Mask followed up with a cutthroat suplex and a dragon suplex with a bridge for the win. This was a fun match to watch, especially once things picked up late. (**1/2)

(3) Taichi (2) beat El Desperado (0) in a Best of the Super Juniors Block B match. Taichi went to town on Desperado with a chair while Take Michinoku held the ref to distract him. Desperado had just gotten into the ring when Taichi attacked him. Taichi went after Desperado’s mask, but was unsuccessful and the crowd booed. Desperado’s mask was torn, but he tried to mount a comeback on Taichi. Unfortunately, this match has been a humbling so far. Michinoku distracted the ref again, but this time Dorado mounted a comeback and slapped Taichi and Michinoku across the face. He tossed Taichi to the floor and nailed him with a tope con hilo. Desperado got back into the ring with Taichi and nailed him with a modified jackhammer. Dorado appeared to have Taichi beaten, but the ref was down. Dorado went to revive the ref, but Taichi nailed him with his microphone for the win. This is two matches in a row with a ref bump, but overall this was a fun match once Dorado made his comeback. (**)

(4) BUSHI (2) beat Jushin Liger (0) in a Best of the Super Junior Block A match. Liger hit a palm strike early, but BUSHI fired back and hit a pair of dives through the ropes to fire up the crowd. The ref count reached 17 before Liger was able to get back into the ring. Liger hit a back breaker and mounted a comeback. He tied up BUSHI in a surfboard and the crowd applauded. It sounded like the announcers were talking about wrestling chants by English speaking fans as one of them said, “This is wrestling, this is wrestling.” Liger continued to hold the advantage as he targeted BUSHI’s back with strikes and submissions. BUSHI slipped through the ropes when Liger charged him in the corner and nailed him with a kick from the apron. He followed up with a missile dropkick and the fans fired up. BUSHI tried a rolling pin on Liger, but only got a 2 count a short time later. BUSHI went up top, but Liger hit a palm strike that sent him flying to the floor and he followed up with a big splash off the apron. Liger hit a brainbuster on the floor and went back into the ring. The ref’s count began and BUSHI wasn’t moving. BUSHI began to stir and managed to barely beat the 20 count. Liger hit a big powerbomb and covered BUSHI with one knee and he kicked out at the last second. The fans fired up and BUSHI countered a Liger suplex attempt into a DDT. BUSHI hit a code breaker a short time later for a nearfall. BUSHI got a bridging pin and then flipped over on Liger using his head as a bridge to get the win. This was a very good match and Liger can still go in the ring. (***1/4)

(5) Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi & Karl Anderson &Doc Gallows & Tama Tonga) beat Chaos (Shinsuke Nakamura & Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI & Jado) in a Ten Man Tag Match. Fale and Nakamura went face to face before the match began. Tonga hit a huge splash in the corner to wipe out Jado, who did the Flair flop after taking it. Bullet Club then cleared the apron and everyone brawled on the floor accept for Tonga and Jado. Bullet Club worked over Jado for a long period of time. Takahashi tagged in and hit some light slaps to Jado’s face before doing some crotch thrusts towards the crowd. The fans tried to rally behind Jado as Anderson put a beating on him. Jado fired back on Anderson and finally took him down with a clothesline. He made the hot tag to Okada, who ran wild on Gallows and Anderson after thwarting a double team attempt and the fans popped big and chanted for Okada. Okada signaled for the rainmaker on Anderson and the fans fired up, but Anderson blocked it. Gallows grabbed Okada from the apron and Anderson nailed him with a big bicycle kick. Okada managed to duck a charge in the corner from Fale a short time and after a quick exchange; he caught him with a dropkick off the ropes and tagged in Nakamura. Nakamura went for his crazy boot choke in the corner on Fale, but Fale grabbed his foot and powered out of it. Nakamura managed to catch Fale with an enzuguri. He draped him over the top rope and nailed him with a running charge into the corner for a 2 count.

Fale fired back and caught Nakamura with a big splash in the corner. Nakamura tagged in Ishii, who went right after Fale. They went back and forth until Okada ran in and nailed Fale with a kick. Ishii then picked up giant Fale and nailed him with a suplex for a nearfall and the fans fired up. Fale got up a short time later and caught Ishii with a huge clothesline before tagging in Takahashi. Takahashi and Ishii went to a big exchange of strikes and kicks before the action broke down and everyone began brawling. Bullet Club managed to clear the ring and they isolated Ishii in the corner and nailed him with a flurry of maneuvers capped by a big clothesline from Takahashi and the fans went nuts and chanted for Ishii. Ishii no-sold a big forearm from Takahashi and wiped him out with a clothesline. The fans fired up as HASHI got the hot tag and ran wild on Takahashi. Chaos cleared the ring and HASHI hit a huge powerbomb on Takahashi and flipped over him into a pinning combination, but Anderson broke up the pin at the last second and the fans gasped. HASHI went up top, but Fale cut him off. Nakamura ran in and wiped out Fale, but Fale fired back and they both spilled to the outside after Fale nailed him with a clothesline against the ropes. The action continued at a rapid pace Takahashi ended a wild sequence with a big German on Ishii. Anderson and Gallows isolated HASHI and peppered him with strikes. Takahashi nailed HASHI with a big boot and Anderson and Gallows followed up with a double team neck breaker. Takahashi then finished off HASHI with the Miami shine. This was an awesome match that built up to a nice flurry of a finish. (****)

After the match Takahashi challenged Ishii to a match for the NEVER Title. Ishii sat in a chair at ringside and confidently slung his title over his shoulder. I couldn’t understand what he said next, but I’ve been told he said Bullet Club will hold all the titles in NJPW. The fans booed as Takahashi concluded by saying, “Bullet Club is real!” Tanahashi was on commentary at ringside and Tonga got in his face before Bullet Club left the ring.

(6) Ricochet (2) beat Alex Koslov (0) in a Best of the Super Juniors Block A match. Ricochet set the crowd on fire early after he flipped over Koslov inside the ring and nailed him with a dropkick. Ricochet teased a dive and ended up springing off the ropes and doing several backflips and the fans applauded. They went at it again and instead of going for a punch off the ropes, Koslov went for a handshake and Ricochet ducked. Ricochet shook his hand and Koslov went for an arm drag, but Ricochet landed on his feet. Koslov ended up sending Ricochet to the floor and he nailed him with an insane flip dive to the floor. Koslov immediately grabbed his shoulder and the ref checked on him. They showed a replay and it appeared Koslov injured his shoulder bracing his arm after Ricochet caught him on the floor. The showed another replay and the announcers gasped. Ugh, that looks nasty. Someone at ringside attempted to pop Koslov’s shoulder back into place. Koslov appeared to be in a lot of pain, but said he would continue and the fans applauded. Koslov baited Ricochet into chasing him around ringside before nailing him with some kicks once he rolled under the ropes to get back into the ring. Koslov methodically worked over Ricochet and eventually applied a chinlock as the pace slowed.

Ricochet ducked a charge in the corner and eventually nailed Koslov with a big clothesline off the ropes. Ricochet then hit a sick dive to the floor where he cleared the top rope by a wide margin before landing on Koslov. Ricochet’s athleticism in this match has been incredible. Ricochet signaled for a brainbuster, but Koslov countered it only to eat a neck breaker followed by a standing SSP for a nearfall. Koslov fired back and caught Ricochet with an enzuguri. He got his hat and the fans fired up as he set up Ricochet for his signature dancing kicks. Koslov capped the sequence with a running double stomp to Ricochet’s head for a 2 count. Ricochet caught Koslov coming off the ropes and hit variation of the GTS with a kick to Koslov’s gut. He went up top, but Koslov got his knees up and rolled him up for a nearfall. They went to a big exchange that ended with Ricochet catching Koslov’s leg and flipping him, but Koslov caught him with an enzuguri. Koslov got Ricochet up on his shoulders and flipped him over and hit a falcon arrow for a nearfall and the fans went nuts and chanted for Ricochet. Koslov went up top, but Ricochet popped up and cut him off. Koslov went for a move off the top after shoving Ricochet to the mat, but ended up popping his shoulder out again. The ref called for the bell.

It was a shame the match ended, as this was an incredible match and Koslov showed incredible guts continuing the match after initially hurting his shoulder. Ricochet really popped out as a star in this environment and showcased amazing athleticism here. (***3/4)

Ricochet sold frustration after the bell rang and checked on Koslov, who eventually got to his feet. Koslov pushed Ricochet from behind after the match and offered a handshake. Koslov shook Ricochet’s hand and raised his hand. Ricochet clapped for Koslov as he went to the back.

(7) Alex Shelley (2) beat Nick Jackson (0) in a Best of the Super Juniors Block B match. Jackson backed Shelley into the corner during the early going and tossed a crotch chop his way and said, “Suck it!” Shelley got the better of a fast exchange and ended up rolling up Jackson for a 2 count. Shelley returned the favor and tossed a crotch chop at Jackson. They went to another fast exchange and Jackson hit an arm drag and the fans applauded. Shelley got the upper hand and nailed a seated Jackson with a sliding kick. Jackson fired back and sent Shelley to the floor with a dropkick. He followed up with a running kick on the apron and threw the too sweet sign towards the floor camera. Nick began working over Shelley and hit his handspring back rake. Nick threw some crotch chops before going back to work on Shelley. Shelley fired back and caught Jackson with a big forearm, but Jackson quickly took Shelley down with a leg sweep. Jackson choked Shelley on the ropes and threw some crotch chops at the ref and mocked him after breaking the choke. Jackson taunted Shelley and shouted his name at him. Shelley fired back and caught Jackson off the ropes with a belly to belly suplex. The fans chanted for Shelley as both men were slow to recover.

Shelley hit a slingshot DDT off the ropes, but only got a 2 count. The fans continued to rally behind Shelley. Jackson fired back and caught Shelley with a big spinning kick to the head. He put Shelley on the top turnbuckle and they ended up battling for position up top. Shelley punched Nick down to the mat, but Nick ducked a double stomp and hit a running knee in the corner and then another running knee off the ropes for a nearfall. They went to a big exchange in the middle of the ring. Shelley lit Jackson up with a kick, but he blocked a sliced bread attempt and hit a swinging DDT off the apron a short time later. Shelley barely beat the ref’s 20 count and ate a pair of superkicks once he rolled into the ring. Nick covered him, but only got a 2 count. The fans chanted for Shelley as Jackson went up top. Jackson rolled through after missing a 450 attempt, but Shelley caught him in a pinning combination for the win. This was really good and even though it only went a shade over 10 minutes, they filled the entire time with fast-paced action. (***1/4)

Matt Jackson ran down and jumped Shelley right after he got the win. Nick joined Matt in putting the boots to Shelley. KUSHIDA ended up running down to the ring and he hit a springboard elbow on Matt and the fans went nuts and chanted his name. KUSHIDA followed up with a big dive to the floor to wipe out Matt and Nick and the fans went nuts again.

(8) KUSHIDA (2) beat Matt Jackson (0) in a Best of the Super Juniors Block A match. KUSHIDA tossed Matt back into the ring, but Nick tripped him from the outside, which allowed Matt to nail him with sliding dropkick through the ropes to the floor. Matt turned to the camera and said, “This is what we do for a living!” The crowd booed as Nick Jackson taunted them after hitting KUSHIDA with a big neck breaker. KUSHIDA ended up on the floor and Nick put the boots to him with the ref distracted and the fans booed. Matt signaled for a brainbuster several times and KUSHIDA countered him each time. It was hilarious how obnoxiously Matt said, “Brainbuster!” KUSHIDA mounted a comeback and ran wild on Matt before hitting a standing moonsault for a 2 count. After a big exchange off the ropes, Matt caught KUSHIDA with a spear and hit a powerbomb for a 2 count. He then locked in a Boston crab. KUSHIDA fought towards the ropes, but Matt dragged him back to the middle of the ring. Matt then lifted up KUSHIDA and hit a huge buckle bomb followed by a superkick for a great near fall.

They went back and forth in the middle of the ring and KUSHIDA sent Matt to the apron with a handspring kick against the ropes. He then dragged Matt to the top turnbuckle. Nick got on the apron, but KUSHIDA sent him to the floor and nailed Matt with another handspring kick up top. KUSHIDA set up Matt on the top turnbuckle and hit a super hurricanrana, but Nick dragged him to the floor. Shelley ran down to ringside, but ate a superkick from Nick. KUSHIDA went to the outside and took a superkick as well. The Young Bucks then hit the IndyTaker on KUSHIDA on the floor. Nick said, “That’s it Matt.” Holy crap! The ref was still out and the Young Bucks went for More Bang for Your Buck, but KUSHIDA countered and went for a kimura on Matt. Matt struggled, but ended up tapping out and the fans popped big. That was a fantastic match with Matt showing a lot of personality as a heel and KUSHIDA pulling out the victory in the end despite the interference. It looks like the Time Splitters will be facing the Young Bucks at some point in the near future for the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Titles. (***3/4)

(9) Kenny Omega (2) beat Ryusuke Taguchi (0) in a Best of the Super Juniors Block B match. They started slow, but went to a big exchange off the ropes a short time later. Taguchi hit an arm drag and Omega rolled to the floor. Taguchi went for a dropkick, but Omega caught his leg and popped him up and dumped him to the floor off the apron. Ouch! They battled on the apron and Taguchi went for a springboard into the ring, but Omega countered him into a back breaker. Omega worked over Taguchi and went for a standing moonsault, but Taguchi got his knees up. Omega managed to fire back quickly and took out Taguchi’s knees with a bulldog and followed up with a bulldog variation for a 2 count. Omega went for a suplex and Taguchi tried to counter, but Omega held on and powered him over for a 2 count. That was darn impressive and the crowd applauded in appreciation for the spot. Omega went off the ropes a short time later, but Taguchi caught him with a big dropkick and the fans fired up with both men down.

They went to a big exchange with Omega hitting a superkick, but Taguchi managed to backdrop him to the floor and he followed up with a huge flip dive over the top rope to the floor and the fans fired up. One of the announcers went bananas on commentary and they showed a replay of the dive from a different angle in slow motion. Taguchi tossed Omega back into the ring and began working him over. Taguchi went for the three amigos, but Omega countered and slipped behind him. They battled for position and went to a great exchange that ended with Taguchi catching Omega with a dropkick as he came off the ropes followed by a big face buster for a 2 count. They went to another great exchange and Omega ended it by catching Taguchi off the ropes with a hurricanrana. Omega then followed up with a flip dive over the top rope of his own and the fans went nuts. Omega went up top for a splash, but Taguchi rolled through and got a good nearfall. Omega went for a buckle bomb a short time later, but Taguchi countered it into a hurricanrana into the corner. The fans fired up as Taguchi had Omega set up with a double under hook, but Omega rolled through. They exchanged counters and Omega eventually hit a snap dragon suplex. The fans fired up big time behind Omega, who eventually got Taguchi up on his shoulders for Croyt’s wrath, but Taguchi countered it into an inverted hurricanrana and the fans went nuts again. Both men were down as the fans waited for the next stage of the match. Taguchi was up first and he was fired up! Both men began exchanging slaps to the face, but Omega caught Taguchi with a huge bicycle kick when he went off the ropes. Omega followed up with Croyt’s wrath for the win. This was an amazing match with some great counter wrestling. (****)

Omega got on the mic and spoke in Japanese. The fans seemed to dig what he was saying. He seemed to indicate that he would win the Best of the Super Juniors Tournament this year and become IWGP Jr. Hvt. Champion.

Overall thoughts: (8.0) If you like the cruiserweight style, you’re going to love this show. There were a number of good to great matches on night one of the annual Best of the Super Juniors Tournament. Several of the matches were kept to 10 minutes or less, but others were given more time. Each match was action packed and the 10 Man Tag between Bullet Club and Chaos was a really good break from tournament action.

The Bullet Club-Chaos 10 Man Tag match was the highlight of the undercard. With the NJPW stars showcased in this match, they had a hot crowd and some really good action that built to a satisfying finish furthering the Bullet Club-Chaos feud.

The Ricochet-Koslov match was amazing and I’ve always been impressed with Ricochet, but in this kind of environment he came off like a star and had my jaw on the floor as he showcased his athleticism. Koslov deserves a ton of credit for gutting through the match after separating his shoulder after taking a bad landing on a dive to the outside. I almost had to turn my head while someone at ringside popped his shoulder back into place. Koslov resumed the match and grounded Ricochet before the pace picked back up. They were ha ving a classic encounter until Koslov’s shoulder popped out again and the match had to be stopped.

The tournament matches featuring Alex Shelley vs. Nick Jackson and KUSHIDA vs. Matt Jackson nicely flowed into each other and set up a future match between the Young Bucks and the Time Splitters. Both matches were good, but KUSHIDA vs. Matt Jackson got really good and Nick Jackson’s outside interference towards the end of the match heated things up a lot. The Young Bucks are so much fun to watch and they’ve got tons of charisma, which they showcased during these two matches.

The final tournament match of night 1 between Omega and Taguchi was the best tournament match of the night. They engaged in some fantastic counter sequences and the fans ate up the action. The match really kicked into high gear down the stretch with some great fast-paced exchanges and hard-hitting action before Omega put Taguchi away with Croyt’s wrath.

I give this show a high recommendation, especially if you’re a fan of DGUSA, PWG, and ROH and haven’t given NJPW a shot yet. The matches up and down the card were all really good with a couple of exceptions and I’m really looking forward to watching the rest of the tournament.

You can purchase NJPW “Best of the Super Juniors: Night 1” on VOD by clicking HERE or by visiting Ustream.tv.

***

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