Best of the Super Juniors 2018 is here! Taichi gives his pick for the tournament, and chooses the biggest matches!
◆ Best of the Super Junior 2018 : Tour schedule, Full lineup & Tickets Sales info
https://www.njpw1972.com/schedule/
◆ Check out NJPW World LIVE streaming schedule. All BOSJ league matches will be streamed LIVE or VOD.
Taichi’s prediction is bold, if understandable…
Taichi’s pick: EL DESPERADO
I want him to take every expectation people have of this tournament and ignore all of them. Honestly, corny as it is, I want my friend to win. But a win here is a real big tool, a real string in his bow, and if Suzuki Gun really want to take over we need Despe to step up. If he really has an awakening, really comes into his own, it would be a huge deal for Suzuki Gun. He just lacks a little something in the ring. I can’t help but respect that punk (Ospreay) at least a little, and I do watch his matches now and then. I think he projects this fake toughness and that sees him through. If Despe really spits in everyone’s faces and steps up, he can do it.
★A-Block match to watch:
Tiger Mask vs Yoshinobu Kanemaru (May 18, Korakuen)
It’s got to be Tiger Mask and Kanemaru! Hahaha! It’s a battle of the geezers, so it’s whoever’s energy runs out first that decides it. This is the match I want to see most. They have the longest careers in the tournament, it’s a battle of legends. It’s bound to be good; right now Ospreay and the like are showing this flashy style, but these two will really show us the roots of junior wrestling.
Tiger Mask was the first back to back BOSJ winner. ‘Nobu is ‘Nobu, and he’s racked up all these achievements in every company he’s been to. I don’t know what belts that guy’s won, but I’ve heard he’s the most decorated guy in history or something. In different companies, they’ve made junior heavyweight wrestling what it is today. The battle of the two most decorated old farts in wrestling.
Only thing is, their match is the 18th, yeah? Sorry, but I’m going out drinking that night so I can’t watch. I’ll keep ‘Nobu in my thoughts.
★B-Block match to watch:
Hiromu Takahashi vs El Desperado (May 22, Korakuen)
It’s a bit cheesy to say, but it has to be this match, right? These two have a strange aura around them, you really feel there’s something there between them.
Hiromu puts on a cool act when he’s out there, and then when he goes on social media, he’s like an excitable little kid. So the coolness is all an act. He’s put Desperado on a pedestal, and Despe’s gotten under his skin.
It’s not just the same old mind games, there’s something more than that. Takahashi’s acting coy and at the same time yelling at Despe to bring it.
Even in his comments, Hiromu’s saying stuff like calling Despe ‘Suzuki-Gun’s pet goldfish sh*t’. That riles me up, but at the same time, it’s like ‘so what?’ It feels like Hiromu’s actually cheering Despe on a bit.
There’s something about Hiromu acting cool. Like he wants us to think ‘he knows more than us about not caring what people think’. But all those mind games go out the window eventually. This match will really decide B Block.
