BOSJ’s B Block Breakdown
When Best of the Super Jr. kicks off on May 15, it will be A Block in action in Nagoya, with B Block competitors also making their presence felt. What can fans expect when B Block hit the ring in anger May 17 in Yamagata?
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El Desperado (6th entry, 3rd consecutive)
Even two years ago, the thought that El Desperado would be carrying the standard of junior heavyweight wrestling worldwide would be universally rejected, including by Desperado himself. The man who ‘never wanted to be the face of anything’ was thrust into his first IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in February 2021 by circumstance, but his second reign saw him grow into his position of responsibility for the division, and for NJPW and wrestling at large. Yet now without his belt he has added motivation to claim the Best of the Super Junior status that has eluded him through his six entries. Should he claim the trophy this year in the face of stiff global competition, it would cement his position in the global all time top flight.
KEY MATCH: May 24 Korakuen Hall vs El Lindaman
It was in February after his second defence of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Master Wato that Desperado started calling out wrestlers from all over the world, inviting them to try their luck against the champion. Francesco Akira and El Lindaman were two of those names, and with both competing in BOSJ 29, it was if the then champion had spoken them into existence, or at least done so for their potential futures in NJPW. With both men representing their own brands of pro-wrestling, neither will be backing down an inch.
Master Wato (3rd entry, 3rd consecutive. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion)
The Way to the Grandmaster has been a difficult and bumpy one, but Master Wato has been making significant progress on the journey ever sicne he became IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. In fact, a significant part of his growth in 2022 can be attributed to a humbling experience opposite Kazuchika Okada during the New Japan Cup; ever since, his teamwork with Taguchi has improved, as has his confidence as an individual. Many eyes will be on Wato as he tries to beat the eight point record he lodged in 2020 and 2021, and to pull off some big wins in the process.
KEY MATCH: May 31 Toyama vs DOUKI
DOUKI has been a thorn in Master Wato’s side ever since the blue haired prodigy made his return from excursion. ‘I hate your hair, your moves, your face, and you,’ were the eloquent comments from ‘Japones Del Mal’ toward Wato en route to Dontaku’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match, and though Wato and Taguchi emerged successful that night, much remains undone between Wato and DOUKI. Should Wato avenge his loss in last year7s tournament, it would go a long way to his further progression, and may even see him in finals contention.
Robbie Eagles (4th entry, 4th consecutive)
For former IWGP Junior Heavyweight and tag team champion Robbie Eagles, a tie for fourth in Best of the Super Jr. 28 with 12 points was if anything the lowlight of an otherwise stellar 2021. Eagles took pride in not just representing his dual Australian and Filipino heritages through BOSJ in the last two tournaments, but also his status as one of the only international wrestlers in the whole lineup. This year though, the world is in force, and Eagles fights not for the international community, but for himself. Can the Eagle soar to his first trophy?
KEY MATCH: May 25 Korakuen Hall vs TJP
This Korakuen Hall battle is an intriguing Filipino derby, with the history of CHAOS and United Empire, and the influence of Will Ospreay on both men’s careers being an interesting undernote. Yet it’s also a fascinating stylistic clash. Both are expert high fliers but also the most scientifically precise junior heavyweights in the world, and expert submission wrestlers. With so much connecting the two athlete, this is a match not to take your eyes away from.
Titan (3rd entry, first in 3 years)
Titan will represent CMLL in Best of the Super Jr. 29, the luchador’s first appearance in the tournament since 2019 a key sign of the theme of nature healing in this year’s tournament. Titan is also having a stunning 2022 over in Mexico, with a stellar run in CMLL’s Universal Championship tournament seeing him come up just short to Mistico in the finals last week. With such an impressive track record so far this year, he’ll be expecting more than the six point score recorded in his 2013 and 2019 outings, and will be gunning for the top spot.
May 28 Chiba vs BUSHI
While Titan is only heading into his third career Best of the Super Jr., he has had occasion to visit and tour Japan multiple times, through the Super Jr. Tag League and multiple Fantasticamanias. Every time Titan has made the trip though, Los Ingobernables De Japon has been a consistent irritation, with Titan only ever to get a victory over a team that included BUSHI just once back in 2017. Now he has the chance to face the Jet Black Deathmask with significant Mexican experience of his own, and he’ll be looking to emerge victorious.
BUSHI (10th entry, 7th consecutive)
Is it tenth time lucky for BUSHI? While the Jetblack Death Mask’s role as the glue for any LIJ tag team combination means few think of him as threatening the singles order, he is very often a factor in the annual tournament, and will certainly either directly, or through playing key spoiler, indirectly affect the final standings.
KEY MATCH: May 25, Korakuen vs DOUKI
The last two BOSJ campaigns for BUSHI have seen him frustrated by DOUKI, the Suzuki-Gun rudo getting the drop on the LIJ star at the end of the 2020 league, and on the opening night of the 2021 run. A third loss in a row to Japones Del mal will turn into a very significant trend, and one he will be desperate to nip in the bud.
