Three matches to go as tournament heads to Chiba

After just one day’s break to try and recover from damage incurred on a demanding three day Korakuen Hall stretch, BOSJ 29 hits Makuhari Messe in Chiba on May 28. With the finals Friday June 3 in Nippon Budokan looming, it is crunch time for all concerned on a tense Saturday evening.

Watch ALL of Best of Super Jr. 29 LIVE in English on NJPW World! 

Main event- B Block: DOUKI (3-3) vs El Desperado (4-2)

Singles record: 2-0 Desperado

A Suzuki-Gun derby in our main event sees the third singles meeting between El Desperado and DOUKI. The two competitors history goes back to competing together in Mexico almost a decade ago, and circled back together when an injury to Desperado allowed DOUKI to enter the BOSJ tournament in 2019. In the intervening three years, DOUKI has improved from one win in his debut year to three in 2021, and already   in 2022. Yet in the pre-tournament press conference, Desperado would call out DOUKI for not improving enough to defeat deathmatch legend Jun Kasai when the two met before BOSJ start. Calling out DOUKI’s past in the Perros Del Mal stable in Mexico, Desperado declared that DOUKI would ‘lose like a b*tch’ leading to the two going nose to nose. DOUKI will be fighting with every bit of pride tonight, exactly what Desperado wants from his teammate and friend.

9th Match- A Block: Hiromu Takahashi (3-3) vs Alex Zayne (4-2)

At six and eight points, a critical meeting for Hiromu Takahashi and Alex Zayne will see both go for broke in our semi main event. Zayne and Hiromu have take very different paths to be in the BOSJ 29 tournament, but at a similar age, and have a similar wild charisma and enigmatic in ring style. Zayne earned Hiromu’s respect before tournament start thanks to his activity in the US, but can he earn two points from the Time Bomb, potentially eliminating the three time winner in the process?

 8th Match- B Block: Robbie Eagles (3-3) vs El Lindaman (4-2)

Robbie Eagles and El Lindaman head to Murakami Messe very much in the hunt for a Nippon Budokan spot. Eagles improved to six points after his main event war with El Phantasmo Thursday while El Lindaman moved up to eight in victory against Wheeler Yuta. Lindaman might have seen in Thursday’s main event a different ELP to the one he dismissed before tournament start, and who tricked his way to victory over the G-REX Champion; Lindaman was similarly dismissive of Eagles’ abilities before the BOSJ began, but on a high after an all time classic victory Thursday will Eagles make the #STRONGHEARTS member eat his words?

7th Match- B Block: TJP (3-3) vs El Phantasmo (4-2)

Singles record: 2-0 Phantasmo

 After Thursday’s loss toRobbie Eagles, El Phantasmo is still riding high at the top end of B Block on eight points as he heads into the final third, but it’s a spot he has to share, and with a crowd of competition right behind. His opponent tonight is one he has wrestled before in TJP, but with their singles meetings over the British Cruiserweight Championship and then the Super J-Cup in 2019 were before a considerable amount of progression and transformation from both men. Despite his      even record of  3-3, TJP is a danger to any and every competitor remaining, and while his own hopes of reaching the finals still remain, he’ll do everything in his power to deprive Phantasmo of his. 

6th Match- B Block: Master Wato (2-4) vs Wheeler Yuta (3-3)

Wato must win

At four points with three matches left, Master Wato’s hopes of the finals are slimmer than most, but the onus will be on the IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag champion to learn, progress and improve as well as win out. He’ll get just such an education and opportunity tonight opposite Wheeler Yuta, a competitor who, at the same age as Wato, has been able to undergo his own masterclasses opposite a wide range of trainers and coaches. As it seems as if Yuta has been able to apply his intertextual learning in a more focused sense than Wato, but the blue haired prodigy’s ability to surprise with dangerous strikes and submissions can catch anyone unawares. Both will look to up each other’s game here tonight in Makuhari.

5th Match- A Block: Ace Austin (5-1) vs SHO (3-3)

After Thursday night’s champion vs champion clash with Taiji Ishimori ended with a disputable call but one in the X Division champ’s favour, Ace Austin is at ten points, two clear at the top of A block as he faces SHO. With HOUSE OF TORTURE backup against Ryusuke Taguchi and Hiromu Takahashi ensuring the Murder Machine is still in the hunt, he will present a difficult challenge for Austin tonight, but the Inevitable is very capable of using some literal aces up his sleeve. 

4th Match- A Block: Ryusuke Taguchi (1-5) vs YOH (3-3)

Singles record: 2-1 Taguchi

Taguchi is mathematically eliminated

While YOH remains in the hunt in A Block, he must head into this bout with the already eliminated Ryusuke Taguchi with some amount of trepidation. After all, YOH has never pinned the Coach, his one victory over Taguchi coming as a result of a countout in the UK four years back in the 2018 British J Cup. After YOH has really turned a corner and tapped into a newfound, genuine self-assuredness in this tournament though, could it be that YOH finally breaks his domestic duck against Taguchi tonight?

3rd Match-B Block: Titan (1-5) vs BUSHI(3-3)

 Titan is mathematically eliminated

 A collision of masked maestros in the third bout of the evening sees the six pointer BUSHI fight to stay in the hunt against the mathematically eliminated Titan. After spectacular performances throughout the tour, Titan will be frustrated at his early elimination from B block contention, and with a theoretical best of eight points, will do everything in his power to reach that mark and close out the tour strong. After an impressive mid tournament stretch meanwhile, BUSHI is in good shape, just one win off the pace in the group and with a victory over joint leader El Desperado. Titan has consistently had BUSHI’s number in tag meetings over the years, but will that be the case one on one?

2nd Match: Clark Connors (3-3) vs Taiji Ishimori (4-2)

Having dropped his last two matches, and with a controversial call leading to a loss to Ace Austin Thursday, Taiji Ishimori is likely to be in a foul mood heading into Makuhari Messe. The usually in control Bone Soldier could be prone to error then as he faces a Clark Connors riding the high of a three match win streak. Most recently that includes a dominant performance over Yoshinobu Kanemaru, who himself was able to beat Ishimori and add to his legendary curse. While tiebreaks make a path to the final difficult for Connors, he could score the biggest win of his career tonight and take a giant leap toward the Budokan. 

1st Match: Yoshinobu Kanemaru 

 Both must win

At four points, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Francesco Akira are all but out of the running, but a crowded top of the block tie could potentially work to one man’s advantage. Kanemaru especially has high ticket wins over Hiromu Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori to his credit, and will be very aware that all hope is not lost. First though, a win in our opening bout tonight is required, and is one that both will be putting all they have into obtaining.