RADICAN’S 6/5 NJPW BOSJ 26 Finals report – Moxley vs. Robinson, Tanahashi vs. White, Takagi vs. Ospreay BOSJ finals

RADICAN’S NJPW BOSJ 26 FINALS REPORT
JUNE 5, 2019
TOKYO, JAPAN
SUMO HALL
AIRED LIVE ON NJPW WORLD

Commentators: Kevin Kelly, Gino Gambino, and Chris Charlton

UNDERCARD RESULTS

(1) Bandido & Jonathan Gresham & Ren Narita beat Dragon Lee & Titan & Shota Umino.

(2) Bullet Club (Taiji Ishimori & Robbie Eagles & El Phantasmo) beat CHAOS (SHO & YOH & Ryusuke Taguchi).

(3) Jushin Liger & Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI & Tiger Mask beat SUZUKI-GUN (Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Douki).

(4) L.I.J. (Tetsuya Naito & EVIL & SANADA & BUSHI beat Kota Ibushi & Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma & Toa Henare.

(5) CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Rocky Romero) beat Villain Enterprises (Marty Scurll & Brody King).

After the match, Chris Jericho cut a promo on Okada calling himself the painmaker. He said it would be painmaker vs. rainmaker at Dominion. Okada responded by asking what a painmaker is.

BIG MATCH RESULTS AND HIGHLIGHTS

(6) HIROSHI TANAHASHI vs. JAY WHITE (W/GEDO)

White jumped Tanahashi while he was posing on the ropes during his entrance. The ref called for the bell and White tossed Tanahashi to the floor. White went after Tanahashi’s surgically repaired elbow with some stomps back inside the ring. White tossed Tanahashi over the top to the floor a short time later. He then drove Tanahashi into the barricade and then the apron. He then hammerlocked Tanahashi’s elbow and slammed it into the barricade and then the apron. White then ran Tanahashi’s arm into the ringpost. He snapped it around the guardrail and the ref was about to count to 20, but White pulled the ref to the floor to stop the count. The fans tried to rally behind Tanahashi as White hit him with some light knees on the mat. Tanahashi tried to fire back, but White slammed him arm first into the mat. White hit a hammerlock Saito suplex and Tanahashi writhed in pain, but managed to kick out at two. The fans continued to chant for Tanahashi, despite White dominating the match for over five minutes. Tanahashi tried to whip White, but his arm gave out. He caught a kick from White and hit a dragon screw a short time later to put a stop to White’s momentum.

Tanahashi went on the attack. He hit a somersault senton off the second turnbuckle right before the 10 minute mark of the match passed. White blocked a slingblade attempt. They went back and forth and White sent Tanahashi face-first into the mat and then hit a deadlift German. White hit a DVD, but hurt his knee in the process. Tanahashi managed to kick out at two. They went back and forth and White hit a big uranagi for another two count. Tanahashi slipped out of the Kiwi Crusher and hit Twist and Shout. Tanahashi held on and hit another Twist and Shout. Tanahashi went for a third, but White kept collapsing to the mat to block it. The fans chanted for Tanahashi, who lifted White and slapped him across the face. He went for another Twist and Shout, but White countered it into a Fujiwara armbar. White transitioned the hold into a deep arm submission. He cranked on Tanahashi’s fingers to put more pressure on the hold. Tanahashi struggled, but got to the ropes and the fans applauded as the 15 minute mark passed. Tanahashi blocked a kick a short time later and he couldn’t hit a dragon screw with his arms, so he used his legs to hit the dragon screw. White blocked a Sling Blade and went for the Blade Runner, but Tanahashi countered it into the Sling Blade. He then hit another Sling Blade for a two count. Tanahashi went up top for High Fly Flow, but White tripped him. White tried to go for the Blade Runner, but Tanahashi blocked it and eventually hit a straight jacket German with a bridge for a two count.

Gedo ran into the ring and Tanahashi decked him with a punch. The ref checked on Gedo and White hit a low blow. White went for the Blade Runner, but Tanahashi slipped out of it and hit a low blow of his own for a near fall. Tanahashi hit an inverted dragon screw, but White grabbed his arm and got a hammerlock pinning combination when he was going for the Cloverleaf Hold for the win.

WINNER: Jay White in 19:00. (****)

(Radican’s Analysis: Tanahashi nearly overcame White jumping him at the bell, going after his injured arm, Gedo’s interference, and a low blow to win, but White caught him with a slick pinning combination that targeted his injured arm for the win. The match did enough to give fans hope that this isn’t the end of the road for Tanahashi took awhile to get going in this match and never really got on track.)

Jon Moxley came out first to a guitar riff. He came out through the crowd and made his way to the ring. Kevin Kelly talked about Moxley and Juice Robinson’s history in FCW. Kelly said Juice was haunted by his past. Juice Robinson made his way to the ring next. Kelly said Robinson knew who was in the video because he had seen Moxley stand in the bar just like the man in the video. Kelly said Moxley isn’t facing the 22 year old kid he knew way back when. Robinson took off his head gear and he had a much shorter haircut. He stepped towards Moxley, who flipped him off with the double bird.

(7) IWGP U.S. CHAMPION JUICE ROBINSON vs. JON MOXLEY

Moxley went right after Robinson with punches. They went back and forth and Moxley sent Robinson to the floor before connecting with a big dive that sent Robinson over the guardrail and into the crowd. They fought near the announcers and then into the crowd. Moxley hit a headbutt and then bit at Robinson’s head. Moxley punched at Robinson’s eye near the area of his head where he bit him. Moxley went for a piledriver on the entrance ramp, but Robinson hit a backdrop. Robinson went above the entrance ramp and hit a big senton onto Moxley and several Young Lions. Robinson hit Moxley with some headbutts as both ment reid to get back to their feet. Robinson was bleeding from above his eyebrow. Robinson went for a cannonball on Moxley against the guardrail, but Moxley got out of the way. Robinson sold his leg while Moxley recovered. Moxley bit at Robinson’s forehead. He then tossed Robinson back into the ring. Moxley went after Robinson’s leg and slammed it around the ringpost. Moxley bowed to the fans after going after Robinson’s eye once again. He then locked in a half crab. He transitioned to a STF when Robinson tried to go for the ropes. Moxley hit some punches to Robinson’s eye and bounced off the ropes, but Robinson nailed him with a spinebuster.

Robinson hit several left hands and Moxley collapsed in the corner. Robinson set up for a cannonball in the corner, but Moxley slipped out of the ring only for Robinson to nail him with a slingshot splash. Robinson crotched Moxley over the barricade and then nailed him with a lariat. Robinson hit the Juice Box, but sold his legs after connecting with the move. Robinson went up top, but Moxley shoved him off the top to the floor. The cameras didn’t show exactly how bad Robinson’s landing was. Moxley got a table from under the ring and then grabbed chair. He slammed it over Robinson’s back. He set up Robinson on the table. Moxley went back after Robinson’s eye once again. He grabbed the chair and went up to the apron. He slammed it over Robinson, who was on the table, but the table didn’t break. Moxley then suplexed Robinson through the table a short time later. Robinson struggled to beat the 20 count and barely got back into the ring and Moxley sold frustration. Moxley hit a big rotating suplex on Robinson for a near fall. WOW! Moxley, who Kelly called the Death Rider, slammed Robinson’s leg around the ringpost and locked in a figure 4. The fifteen minute mark passed with Moxley firmly in control.

Moxley grabbed a chair and wrapped it around Robinson’s leg. He went up to the turnbuckles and the ref yelled at him. Robinson got up and tossed the chair right into Moxley’s face and he fell back into the ring. The fans fired up for Robinson, who pulled himself up to his feet after rolling into the ring. Robinson hit a big running lariat in the corner. He stumbled back to the opposite corner to set up for a cannonball, but Moxley turned him inside out with a HUGE lariat. The fans fired up and chanted for Moxley. Both men traded big forearms. They continued to trade. Robinson fired up and no-sold Moxley’s offense. He went for the Left Hand of God, but Moxley blocked it with a kic. He went for Double Arm DDT (Dirty Deeds), but Robinson shoved him through the ropes and both men spilled to the floor. Moxley got another table and set it up against the guardrail. Moxley went to put him through the table, but Robinson slipped out and hit the Left Hand of God. Moxley ended up slumped against the table and Robinson finally hit the cannonball. WOW!

Robinson set up another table at the 20 minute mark. Robinson set up for a powerbomb and hit it thought the table on Moxley and the fans fired up and chanted Juice’s name. He tossed Moxley back into the ring. Robinson locked in a Tenzan style Boston crab, but Moxley slipped out of it and hit a dragon screw. He then locked in the Cloverleaf Hold. Robinson struggled, but Moxley dragged him away from the ropes back to the middle of the ring. Robinson flipped over and bit at Moxley’s face to break the hold. Moxley went for a dragon screw, but Robinson hit the Left Hand of God. Moxley went down and Robinson set up for Pulp Friction, but Moxley fought out of it. Moxley went for the DOuble Arm DDT, but Robison countered it into a bridging rollup for a near fall. Both men hit clotheslines at the same time. Robinson stayed up and Moxley went to a knee. Robinson went for the Left Hand of God, but Moxley kicked his knee. Moxley paused and hit the Double Arm DDT, but Robinson kicked out at the last second! Moxley hit a high angle Double Arm DDT and made a deep pin for the win.

WINNER: Jon Moxley in 24:00 to become the new IWGP U.S. Champion. (****¼)

(Radican’s Analysis: Jon Moxley is bringing the brawling style to NJPW and I loved it. These two went at it right at the bell and had an extremely physical match. Moxley worked over Robinson’s eye the entire time and it looked like he busted him open hardway. This was much different than most NJPW matches, so it’s going to be fun to see Moxley in NJPW going forward. He brought a ton of fire out of Juice and the crowd ate up the brawling action.)

Moxley left the ring and Robinson was helped by a Young Lion, who had an ice bag. An egg was visible over Robinson’s left eye. Robison pushed the Young Lion away and got to his feet on his own. He pushed them aside on the outside as well.

The main event between Will Ospreay and Shingo Takagi will crown the winner of BOSJ 26. Shingo Takagi is undefeated since debuting in NJPW last October. Will Ospreay has promised to slay the dragon. Ospreay made his entrance with a sword, as he promised to slay Takagi aka The Dragon.

(8) BOSJ B BLOCK WINNER WILL OSPREAY (7-2) vs. BOSJ 26 A BLOCK WINNER SHINGO TAKAGI (9-0) – BOSJ 26 FINAL

Ospreay backed Shingo against the ropes and offered a clean break. Shingo took Ospreay down with a shoulder tackle, but he got right back to his feet and glared. Shingo pointed at Ospreay and Ospreay told him to bring it. They had a crazy back and forth exchange that finally ended with Shingo ducking a kick from Ospreay and they came to a stalemate. Shingo backed Ospreay into the corner and teased a clean break before landing a big chop. Ospreay teased a dive, but hit a springboard instead and hit his pose after Shingo moved out of the way on the outside. Shingo took his time getting back into the ring. Ospreay hit a slingshot splash to the outside a short time later and the fans applauded. Ospreay went for a springboard off the guardrails, but Shingo caught him and dropped him head first over the apron. Shingo went for a DVD on the apron multiple times, but Ospreay managed to slipped out. They went back and forth and Shingo ended up hitting a flip dive that saw his legs get stuck in the barricade. The fans fired up big time for that sequence. Shingo hit a big knee and then took Ospreay down with a shoulder tackle and he stayed down this time.

Shingo caught Ospreay off the ropes a short time later with a big DVD. Ospreay bounced up after taking a double chop from Shingo. They went to another fast paced exchange and Ospreay sprung off the ropes into a spinning kick on Shingo and both men were down. Ospreay tripped Shingo in the corner and hit a big dropkick. The fans fired up and Ospreay hit a running SSP for a two count. Takagi rolled to the floor and set up for a dive. Shingo tried to trip Ospreay, but was unable to block the Sasuke Special. They went back and forth, but Shingo cut Ospreay off with a straight right and decked him with a lariat. Ospreay went for a kick, but Shingo flipped him up in the air and he crashed to the mat in the seated position. Shingo then hit a sliding lariat for a two count. Ospreay countered a suplex into a stunner. Ospreay hit the Cheeky Nandos kick a short time later. He left Shingo hanging in the corner. Ospreay then went up top and set up for a top rope Stormbreaker, but Shingo fought out of it. They exchanged slaps and Shingo sent Ospreay to the apron. Ospreay hit a big kick from the apron and went for a springboard up top, but Shingo got him onto his shoulders. Ospreay tried to elbow out of it, so Shingo tucked his arm and hit an avalanche DVD for a two count. Ospreay went for a handspring, but Shingo caught him. Shingo went for a burning Hammer, but Ospreay flipped out of it. They traded some incredible counters until Takagi hit a Gory Special variation. The fans fired up and Shingo went for the Pumping Bomber, but Ospreay floated around it and hit a HUGE LIGER BOMB for a great near fall. WOW!

The announcers said that Dragon Lee must be sweating awaiting to defend his title on the winner of this match. Shingo ducked the Robinson special and hit a snap wheelbarrow suplex into the turnbuckle and destroyed Ospreay’s neck. Ospreay rolled to the apron and Shingo went for the Gory Special variation on the apron, but Ospreay fought out of it and hit the hook kick. Ospreay then hit a springboard Os-Cutter on the apron and both men went to the floor. Shingo barely beat the 20 count and Ospreay nailed him with a springboard dropkick right before the 25 minute mark for a near fall. Ospreay went up top and hit a 630 to Shingo’s back as he was kneeling over. Ospreay hit a SSP off the top a short time later for a near fall. Ospreay followed up with the Robinson Special. He followed up with the Os-Cutter, but Shingo kicked out at the last second! Ospreay went for the Stormbreaker, but Shingo blocked it. Ospreay held Shingo’s hand and nailed him with a kick to the face and then he hit another kick and glared at Shingo. Ospreay hit some kicks to Shingo’s chest. Shingo blocked a kick and hit a headbut to Ospreay’s chest.

They traded blows in the middle of the ring. Shingo hit a forearm, but Ospreay fired back with a hook kick. He hit a pair of kicks and went for the Stormbreaker, but Shingo blocked it and hit Last of the Dragon for a near fall. Shingo got to his feet and hit a Pumping Bomber. Shingo then got a running start and hit another Pumping Bomber. The announcers said it was over, but Ospreay kicked out at the very last second. Shingo set up for another Last of The Dragon, but Ospreay fought out of it and hit a poison hurricanrana. Both guys traded headbutts from their knees. They got to their feet and Shingo hit a big lariat and Ospreay bounced off the ropes and went to a knee. Ospreay hit two more lariats and Ospreay went to a knee. Ospreay fired back with a kick and they went to an exchange off the ropes and Ospreay hit a standing Spanish Fly for a near fall. Ospreay hit a hook kick and hit the Hidden Blade. Ospreay hit a double springboard Os-Cutter off the top. He then hit the Stormbreaker for the win.

WINNER: Will Ospreay in 24:30 to win the BOSJ 26. (*****)

(Radican’s Analysis: This was an incredible match. Both men put on a clinic for pro wrestling in 2019. The counter exchanges with both men going for their signature offense was incredible. The Last of the Dragon into the poison rana counter from Ospreay was crazy. Shingo is no longer undefeated and both of these men look to have a big future as singles wrestlers once they move out of the juniors division. This was a special match.)

Ospreay was given the new BOSJ trophy after the match. It now has only one wing in honor of Hiromu Takahashi, who broke his trophy after winning last year. Women were shown in the stands crying. Ospreay got on the mic and thanked the fans. He thanked Shingo in Japanese. Shingo had left the ring, but the fans chanted his name. He said Hiroshi Tanahashi used to wear a t-shirt that wore a shirt that said attack for the next generation. He said he believes the next generation is standing in this ring right now. Ospreay says people come and people go. He thanked every man that has wrestled to create a future for the next generation. He said this BOSJ was the best of all time. Ospreay said people were missing like Hiromu Takahashi, he thinks they can all agree he is missed. Ospreay said he wants him to get well soon so they can fight.

Ospreay said with people going, people on this roster need to step up. Ospreay said he can’t deal with going from England to Japan. He said NJPW has helped him out a little bit. Ospreay spoke in japanese and said he’s moving to Japan. The fans applauded. The fans then began chanting his name. He said he wants to put NJPW on his back and he’s going to take it worldwide. He said as a junior heavyweight, he will go against juniors and heavyweights. He said he was going to give the fans his body and soul. Ospreay said it was time to go and he thanked the fans again in Japanese.

Confetti came down around Ospreay as he held up the BOSJ trophy.

Contact Sean at radicansean@pwtorch.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/sr_torch.