Bone Soldier talks title win ahead of BOSJ 29 start

May 2 saw a special post Dontaku press conference play host to the Fukuoka PayPay Dome’s big winners, with new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori first to speak. Greeting the press less than 24 hours after his title win over El Desperado, the faitgued but satisfied champion addressed his match the prior night and the Best of the Super Jr. tournament coming up.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori

I’m still thinking back on that match last night, but to sum it up, it was just like Desperado said- human chess. I tend to like to run my patterns when I can, but both of us are so stubborn that I got caught up in the moment, and just couldn’t think. Seriously, I pretty much forgot how to run the ropes. Come to mention it, I don’t think I did run the ropes once in that match. That doesn’t happen much in a title match, right? That only struck me watching back on NJPW World. 

I said this last night, but El Desperado is one of those guys I can wrestle any number of times, and I’m sure this wasn’t the last time. Same can be said of Hiromu Takahashi. No matter how many times we might face off against one another, I can find a new aspect to enjoy. Honestly, being in that ring is a ton of fun. But for now, all I’ll say is that I’m happy to be champion for a third time, and that it’s third time lucky for me as champion.

Best of the Super Jr. is just about to get started, and a lot of people are coming. Right now, my goal is to stand in the ring with both this title belt and that trophy. I saw the block announcement yesterday, and I have Kanemaru and Taguchi again I see. It’s obvious that the company booked that not wanting me to win. Well, this time, I’m going to destroy them and everyone else.

–There are some debut entries in A Block alongside you. Are there any names you’re particularly aware of?

Ishimori: The IMPACT guy, Ace Austin. He’s the X Division Champion. I’m a former X Division champ myself, so a battle of the current and former X Champions, and champion versus champion at that? That’s a hell of a match. 

–The last two years, BOSJ has gone head to head with World Tag League, but now it stands alone, and with 20 wrestlers. Your thoughts?

Ishimori: I think that this is truly the Best of the Super Juniors. This is what it should have been the last couple of years. It’s been a very different tournament the last couple of years, but to see now that we’re able to get all of these wrestlers together for the tournament, it’s definitely exciting. I was getting hyped watching that video yesterday. So yeah, we can say ‘Best of the Super Junior’ and mean it this year.