Ten members of B Block give their pre tournament thoughts

May 11 saw a public press conference get fans and media ready for Best of the Super Jr. 30. The ten A Block participants were first to the stage to make statements both sartorial and aspirational before the kickoff Friday in Korakuen. 

Watch all of Best of the Super Jr. 30 live in English on NJPW World!

El Desperado

It seems to me that the A Block has more champions, more tournament winners…to be honest B Block feels like the also rans. I think I said this last year. I enjoy a good complain. I’m only really interested in Kanemaru. Only thinking about the opening match.
I guess when I won the (IWGP) belt I put Akira’s name out there, and Kevin Knight has done amazing things. He beat me out the gym in the US, and he’s really stunned the Japanese audience. Everyone else?
That stupid match we did in Ryogoku about that TV show, I wasn’t sure but then YOH all fired up and in my face. He’s quite the entertainer. Thanks for that I guess. A Sendai boy huh?
Anyway, to all the so called smarts tweeting away, sad to say I’ll be winning this.

YOH

I want to make a patchwork of all I’ve expressed up to now and create a new self from this tournament.

Master Wato

I will win this 30th BOSJ and raise the curtain on a new era. My next goal is to lead the new generation. And DOUKI, make sure you’re with me, or I won’t forgive you.

Kevin Knight

I am Kevin Knight, too fly, never ‘shoppai’, dropkick so high.
I am a man of firsts. The first African American through the Dojo system. The first to graduate from being a Young Lion mid tour. I won the IWGP Junior Tag titles on my first try and I plan on winning this on my first try. I was even born on the first day of the year. It’s in my blood to win this tournament and be Hiromu Takahashi’s worst nightmare.

I know that me being the first LA Dojo member to win gold burns his soul if he has one. I’m glad he showed you all his true colours, but I’ll make him regret that he sold his soul, and I’ll put him in the dirt.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru

This year I have no intention of winning this tournament. To be honest, I don’t care if I win or not. If I can make this lot eat out the palm of my hand, that’s enough for me.

Robbie Eagles

I’m in the B Block this year. The B stands for Bob, the B in BoSJ stands for Bob. This is my tournament but I’m sick of being the MVP that doesn’t win. This year I’m going to shoot these guys down.

When I was at Ryogoku in a losing effort I said that I would have my revenge. If Hiromu is top of A Block I swear I’ll be second in B. If he’s second, believe I’ll be first. Because I would like nothing better than to eliminate him and guarantee someone new, fresh and exciting to hold up the trophy. That’s me, Bob of the Super Juniors.

Francesco Akira

Last year I had a lot to prove, and I proved a lot. I became the first Italian champion in NJPW history, the second longest IWGP Junior Tog Champion, and I debuted in the Tokyo Dome.

I’m looking forward to facing Despe. Despe, you were first to call me out in NJPW, but then you forgot me. You forgot me, but I had a good year. I can’t say the same for you. I plan on winning Best of the Super Junior, and to now eat my strawberry mochi dessert.

BUSHI

Before I came out here I was in a black hat and jacket, and Clark Connors was wearing the exact same thing. So I took it off and then I looked like Desperado.
My train here was stopped because of lightning, then it was red lights all the way, so I had to walk and got soaked. The fight has already begun.
This year we have semifinals in Yoyogi, so to celebrate being in my 40s and new possibilities, I plan on being in that top two.

Dan Moloney

It’s n it a coincidence that the moment I set foot in this country, the ground begins to shake and a storm rolls in. I’m surrounded by the best junior heavyweight wrestlers the planet has to offer, and they all stand here and tell you how and why they’re going to win BOSJ. I respect that, I like a bit of self belief, but I’ve been sat on the other side of the world waiting for this opportunity. I’ve put 250 lbs of heavyweight stopping power into a 190 lb junior heavyweight killing machine. 

Boys, I don’t apologise if I hit harder than the rest of them. I don’t apologise if you can’t sleep the rest of your nights and you’re sat awake in your hotel room because the pain is so bad. I’ve waited too long. 

Clark Connors

This is the first time I’ve been in front of a crowd since I joined BULLET CLUB. So I’ll tell you why. It’s about respect. When I joined LA Dojo I was told that I would have the respect of the fans, my peers and the powers that be. Respect that would give me the opportunities I’d earned. But when I came back to Japan last year, I received disrespect. The fans, my peers and the powers that be didn’t give a sh** about me.

I was a joke. I was done with New Japan. I was ready to quit and I was quitting, I had offers from all sorts of companies in and out of wrestling. the only reason I came back was when I saw David Finlay take what was his in San Jose. That’s when I realised that someone like me would never be given respect, and the only way I could get what I want was to take. And that’s what I’m going to do. 

After the main press conference a question from the host saw Connors and Knight go nose to nose, and after trash talk, Connors floored Knight with an elbow. Both would be absent from the final photo session as they are set to face off on night one in Korakuen Friday.