The final night of the A-Block ended in Ehime with a duel between the two highest scorers in the entire tournament thus far. The main event of the night was a match that promised much and delivered even more as the leading Jr. Heavyweights of two of NJPW’s top factions clashed in a display of power, speed and skill. The glory and prestige of main-eventing at Ryogoku Sumo Hall was on the line and both men went all out to realise their dreams
*****
8th match – Shingo Takagi defeated Taiji Ishimori with a Last of the Dragon
Ishimori started at blistering pace, but Takagi’s sheer power was able to get the better of his opponent. Targeting Ishimori’s weakened neck, Takagi was on top for the first 5 minutes until a sustained period of offense from the Bone Soldier reborn turned the tables. He seriously disorientated the dragon when he irish-whipped his him into the ring post from the outside. Takagi’s strikes back were not quite as powerful as usual as he fought back, whereas Ishimori’s own strikes were clinical and vicious. That was until a vicious Death valley driver onto the ring apron. Takagi came into his second wind as a series of brutal DDTs and suplexes brought the contest back to parity.
From there the match went into overdrive. For Takagi, his perfect record was on the line and for Ishimori, the opportunity to advance to the finals for the second year in a row. A horrific pumping bomber from the dragon would have felled many lesser foes, but time after time, the wily Ishimori was able to escape the finishing blow and was able to trap Takagi in a beautifully executed Yes Lock to almost finish the match. From there, Ishimori captured the initiative and a bloody cross on the 20-minute mark threatened to end the match. Takagi is not known as the dragon for nothing though and his superior endurance and strength overcame his adversary. Post match, Takagi, in a rare display of respect, praised his opponent. He did, however, take advantage of the opportunity to revel in his perfect record, pouring scorn on his future opponent at Ryogoku, whoever it may be.
Match 7 – Dragon Lee defeated Marty Scurll with a Desnucadora
The match started in a rough-and-tumble fashion. Whilst Scurll has won plaudits for his performances and overall results, it was clear that he was unhappy with how his tournament had gone so far. Starting in a methodical yet brutal strategy from Scurll, he took the advantage early on. Lee however proved versitile, mixing strong-style into his lucha libre training to take advantage of Scurll’s weaknesses. Brody King proved a useful second to Scurll, managing to influence the match at key moments, swinging the match in Scurll’s favour. Lee’s strong style almost had Scurll beaten after a series of brutal drop kicks and DDTs. Scurll was able to fight back, until Lee’s fire proved too much and the champ pinned him after a Desnucadora. Dragon Lee ended the tournament with the highest points total of any Mexican wrestler in history.
Match 6 – SHO defeated Jonathan Gresham with a Shock Arrow
Appearing before his hometown, SHO came into the match having already bested his previous year’s total. The match started with Gresham targeting his opponent’s extremities in typical fashion. Gresham intended to put pressure on SHO’s knee joint by applying a horrific amount of torque to the calf. At one point at the 6-minute mark, he applied a leg lock on SHO and continued to the outside, intending to trap SHO on the outside in a countout, whilst intending to inflict maximum amounts of damage on the joint. SHO came back strong and utilised his trademark power moves on the octopus. However, Gresham’s intelligent wrestling ensured that he was almost always on top. That was until SHO’s shock arrow proved too much for the Octopus.
Match 5 – Titán defeated Tiger Mask with an arm-lock hold
It has been a disappointing tournament for both men. Tiger Mask took out his frustrations in the form of a flurry of furious and bitter kicks. Titán however took advantage of his superior speed and dexterity. It was clear that the younger Titán was able to take advantage of the fire of youth and bring the fight to Tiger Mask in a sustained fashion. Tiger Mask was able to transition from a Tiger driver into cross armbraker in rapid fashion, demonstrating that experience had his advantages as well. The match ended controversially when Titán pinned Tiger Mask even though the latter appeared to have his shoulder up. The referee’s decision is final however and the luchadore emerged victorious despite the golden tiger’s protests.
Match 4 – BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito defeated Toa Henare & Ren Narita when Naito pinned Henare after a Destino
Ahead of their match in Okayama on June 3, Narita and BUSHI clashed in a contest of technique versus viciousness. The Young Lion however, displayed a great deal of fight giving him hope he would not suffer the humilation of finishing the tournament with 0 points. Henare and Naito clashed in a powerful display, but Naito’s Destino oblierated the Maori warrior leaving him wanting.
Match 3 – Taichi & DOUKI defeated Gedo & El Phantasmo when Taichi tapped-out Gedo with a Holy Emperor’s Crucifix Tomb
With some of the most detested personalities in New Japan Pro-Wrestling in the same ring, one would forgive the casual fan for wishing for nobody to win the match. El Phantasmo and DOUKI were able to take the opportunity to scout their opponent ahead of their clash in Okayama on Monday. Whilst both teams fought a dirty, cynical fight, it was the heavyweight in the ring, Taichi, that ended the match.
Match 2 – Juice Robinson & YOH defeated Jado & Robbie Eagles when Robinson pinned Jado after a Pulp Friction
Ahead of his title match on June 5, the IWGP US Heavyweight Champion looked perfectly in his element in Ehime. No sign of stress or trepidation was apparent on his exquisitely barbate visage. Eagles attempted to gain an advantage ahead of his match with YOH by attacking his left leg, but YOH deftly escaped the sniper of the skies with his dexterity. Once again, BULLET CLUB’s Japanese contingent let them down as Jado succumbed to the flamboyant one.
Match 1 – Yota Tsuji, Shota Umino, Bandido & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Yuya Uemura, Tomohiro Ishii, Rocky Romero & Will Ospreay when Umino pinned Uemura with a Fisherman’s suplex
Considering two of the combatants were in the running for the B-Block final, this was possibly the most important opening match since Wrestle Kingdom 13. It was the young lions that finished the match with Umino standing out as a supreme talent. After the match Taguchi took the opportunity to gain a cynical advantage when he applied his ankle lock, “Oh My & Garankle” on Ospreay.
Due to injury, TAKA Michinoku was forced to forfeit his match against Yoshinobu Kanemaru, earning the latter 2 points for a tournament total of 6 points.
