Mike Bailey big winner on opening night
Best of the Super Jr 30 got underway in Korakuen Hall on May 12, the first ten league matches seeing big results across both blocks headlined with a major result for Mike Bailey over Hiromu Takahashi.
Bailey showed respect for Takahashi at the jump, but quickly tasted how punishing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion can be. In his main event element, Hiromu set to work on Bailey in the ring and in among the people, where a full sprint in the stands of Korakuen Hall ended in a ticketing dropkick, but Bailey would fight back with some signature brutal strikes that echoed through the sold out Hall.
Both men thought to go big as the match advanced, and when Bailey had the option to play safer and more painful with the leg of his foe on the apron, he instead played a big Moonsault double knees that only found the ring frame. Hiromu followed up with a sickening sunset bomb that made it seem as if all was lost for Speedball, but Bailey had consistent counters for the Time Bomb and a huge riposte in the face of Hiromu’s striking game.
In the standup, Bailey’s feet found home more often than not, and when Hiromu had designs on a thrust kick, it was batted right away by the feet of the Speedball. His Taekwondo experience paying off in spades, Bailey followed with a crushing kick in the corner and then Ultima Weapon, handing the reigning champ an opening night loss.
Elsewhere in A Block, Titan and TJP fought to a dazzling international display that truly captured the spirit of the BOSJ tournament. A back and forth affair between familiar foes, TJP and a Titan didn’t hold back for a second. The Public Enemy denied El Inmortal’s trademark tornado DDT and landed a Mamba Splash to the back over the ropes in return; moments later Titan repaid the favour with a diving double stomp that crushed TJ on the apron.
As the match neared its end, Titan laboured under TJP’s Pinoy Stretch but survived to hit the tornado DDT he’d wanted all match long. A brutal Myra Lock variant followed, and Titan stood to apply more pressure to the neck, TJP tapping to grant El Inmortal two points.
Results came thick and fast early in the card, including SHO’s first loss to Lio Rush. Rush would be jumped by EVIL before the match got going, as SHO’s promise to fight fair and square this year was soon abandoned. Rush was still victorious in the two on one environment though, and Final Hour sealed the deal.
DOUKI was brutally punished by KUSHIDA for the bulk of their eight minute encounter. The Timesplitter bent and stretched Japones Del Mal six ways from Sunday as DOUKI did all he could to survive, but with instinct his guide, the Jorge Rivera/Skayde Special was just enough to hold KUSHIDA’s shoulders down for three.
Ryusuke Taguchi had promised no funny business and all big match Taguch this tournament, and set an incredible pace against Taiji Ishimori in the A Block opener. Taguchi had Ishimori pressured and on the verge of a tap out win early, but a counter to the Bone Lock saw Taguchi regretfully tap in under four minutes.
Action for both blocks continues Saturday in Nagano. KUSHIDA faces TJP, Lio Rush meets Ryusuke Taguchi, SHO takes on Mike Bailey, Titan battles Taiji Ishimori, and Hiromu Takahashi faces DOUKI.
