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MAY.3.2022

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Best of the Super Jr. 29: A Block Preview (1/2)

Part one of the BOSJ Breakdown

 

 

With the full lineup of names and matches now revealed, the countdown to Best of the Super Jr. 29 is on. With 20 wrestlers in this year’s lineup, including multiple returns and six debutants, thrilling first time matchups are guaranteed on every stop of one of the most exciting tours of the year. 

Watch EVERY BOSJ 29 event LIVE in English on NJPW World!

Hiromu Takahashi (7th entry, 3rd consecutive. 2018, 2020, 2021 winner)

Hiromu Takahashi stands on the brink of history in this year’s Best of the Super Jr., as he looks for an unprecedented threepeat, and fourth overall crown. Still driven by a dream of having the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship main event in the Tokyo Dome, pulling off such a hitherto unforeseen feat would certainly be a significant step toward that goal. Hiromu’s competition in the single block leagues of 2020 and 2021 was no doubt demanding, but can he keep up his dominant form in the hardest lineup in recent memory?

KEY MATCH: May 31 Toyama vs Taiji Ishimori

Taiji Ishimori remained one of a precious few blemishes in Hiromu’s 2021 BOSJ campaign, a blemish Takahashi will seek to rectify in this year’s tournament. With championship clashes, Tokyo Dome meetings and the 2018 BOSJ final highlighting an on and off again rivalry between Hiromu and Ishimori, Toyama will be treated to this latest chapter with a spot in the finals four days later very possibly at stake; and even if not, Hiromu will be desperate to get a victory over the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. 

Ryusuke Taguchi (19th entry, 17th consecutive, 2012 winner. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion)

Comfortably the ironman of BOSJ 29, the 2012 winner Taguchi heads into his 19th tournament with IWGP junior tag gold around his waist. While taking the 69th BOSJ crown is distinctly unlikely, 29 is at least half of the magic number for the Mega Coach, and ‘big match Taguch’ is sure to be bringing his all. With experience at his side, he’ll be looking to outfox some of the younger competitors, and is a strong dark horse for finals contention. 

KEY MATCH: May 15 Nagoya vs Hiromu Takahashi

Hiromu and Taguchi has been a highlight in the last two years of tournament action, with the Time Bomb bringing both the comedic and the dangerously serious side of Taguchi in equal measure. Since the Time Bomb returned from excursion and joined Los Ingobernables De Japon in 2016, Taguchi has never been able to beat Takahashi; if he can pull off the win this time, it could be a big first step to his best tournament campaign yet. 

YOH (5th entry 2nd consecutive) 

The story of Best of the Super Jr. 28 was YOH’s resurgence. After a mental block and results slump made it appear like YOH could end the tournament on zero points, he was able to turn things around and finish the league with an unprecedented seven match winning streak, before facing Hiromu Takahashi in the longest and arguably hardest fought final in tournament history. 

Yet a loss would rattle his foundations, and another defeat in February to former partner SHO seemed to add further damage. Giving his frustrations form, he went into battle with Hiromu on May 1 at Dontaku only to fall again. Can he pull things together in a critical BOSJ to his career? 

KEY MATCH: May 25 Korakuen vs Hiromu Takahashi

Since the Golden Fight Series, Hiromu Takahashi has been harsh and heavy in his criticism of YOH, decrying a lack of fire in the CHAOS member, and suggesting YOH was ‘content to just cash a paycheck’. YOH brought motivation to Hiromu at Wrestling Dontaku but not results, as Time Bomb and Time Bomb II ended his night. As Hiromu continued to suggest YOH was done, will the matches to come, and this in particular prove the LIJ member right, or can YOH surprise his foe and pick up his first win over Takahashi?

Clark Connors (Debut entry)

One of the standouts of NJPW STRONG, Clark Connors competes in Japan for the first time since the pre-show of Wrestle Kingdom 14. Major leaps have been made since, from graduating from the LA Dojo to battling Tom Lawlor for the STRONG Openweight Championship; now the Wild Rhino will seek to show Japan and the world at large just how far he’s come. 

KEY MATCH: May 21 Aomori vs SHO

While SHO has taken a rather more different path over the last nine months than many could have predicted, the Murder Machine’s position as one of the most gifted juniors on the Japanese roster in terms of raw strength still remains. Yet with Connors on the scene, the tournament seems to have its new power junior. The straight ahead brutal assault of Connors will make things difficult for SHO when it comes to taking his usual HOUSE OF TORTURE styled shortcuts, and will make this a very intriguing match to watch indeed.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru (5th entry, 2nd consecutive)

The Heel Master Yoshinobu Kanemaru heads into his fifth Best of the Super Junior. Though an early hot start quickly fizzled in 2021, ‘uncle ‘Nobu” will be putting the entire roster to the test over the course of this tournament, and can easily be the measure of anyone in the lineup. 

KEY MATCH: May 21 Aomori vs Francesco Akira

A match at either end of the experience spectrum, Kanemaru faces newcomer Francesco Akira on May 21. Will the Heel Master be schooling the Nova Fireball in Aomori, or could this be a key early win for the United Empire member against one of the most established and respected of all hands? 

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