Osaka sees last night of Super Jr. Tag League action before tour culminates November 3.
After Wednesday night’s results from Shizuoka determined what teams are still alive heading into Sunday’s Super Jr. Tag League final in Osaka, the full match order for Friday November 1 has been set. At the top of the card, the remaining matches of the Super Jr. Tag League will see the top two points scorers, and therefore Sunday’s league final, determined.
The key to tonight is that the top two point scoring teams in the league will advance. There are situations tonight that will require a four way tie at the top of the table, and thus a four team final on Sunday.
Main event: Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH) (4-2) vs BULLET CLUB (El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori) (5-1)
Roppongi 3K must win.
BULLET CLUB can only be eliminated if they lose and Suzuki-Gun win.
To El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori, this is little more than an exhibition match. With only one black mark on their record through the whole Super Jr. Tag League, their position in the final on Sunday is all but secure. Nevertheless, an end result of 12 points will mean they sit alone at the top of the table as top points scorers, a boost to the egos of ELP and the Bone Soldier.
For Roppongi 3K, a win is essential, and wouldn’t just help them make the final Sunday. Scars still haven’t healed from this past June, when Ishimori and Phantasmo ended RPG3K’s third reign as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. Meanwhile, very physical wounds may not be healed from last night, when El Desperado and DOUKI assaulted both men post match with a chair and severely hindered Roppongi 3K’s chances here in Osaka. Should they get past the champs tonight though, they’ll either see a rematch Sunday, or be one quarter of a four way final.
6th match: Birds of Prey (Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles) (4-2) vs Suzuki- Gun (El Samurai & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) (4-2)
Ospreay & Eagles must win. If Roppongi 3K beat BULLET CLUB, B.O.P need a Mega Coaches win to make a four way final. If BULLET CLUB beat RPG3K, B.O.P need Titan and Volador Junior to beat the Mega Coaches in order to secure second place.
Suzuki-Gun must win and have the Mega Coaches lose to secure second place. Alternatively, wins for Suzuki-Gun, Roppongi 3K and the Mega Coaches will secure a four way final.
In a complicated night of league mathematics, this is the match that depends on the ones around it most. It’s also set to be a hell of a match; the Birds of Prey have established themselves as the hottest new team in the division, while El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru have been making a hot comeback since Desperado’s return from a broken jaw.
They’ve been making that comeback while directing a lot of shade toward B.O.P; the Suzuki-Gun pair have been nothing but critical of Eagles and Ospreay in interviews, and that talk could come back to bite them in Osaka in this league deciding final match.
5th Match: The Mega Coaches (Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero) (4-2) vs Volador Jr. & Titan (3-3)
The Mega Coaches must win. If Roppongi 3K also win, there will be a four way final. If Roppongi 3K lose, the Mega Coaches need Suzuki-Gun to beat Birds Of Prey.
CMLL teams have traditionally struggles in the early autumn junior tag tournaments, but this year has seen Volador Junior and Titan put in the best performance of an all Mexican team in the history of the tournament. With promotional and national pride driving them, this tandem has been explosive and effective throughout the league, and will want to send that point home with a final victory and a positive win:loss record.
They would have to beat the Mega Coaches to do so however. Taguchi and Romero will be looking to hold on to their spot in Sunday’s final, and will be driven to secure a final win Friday night.
4th Match: Kazuchika Okada, YOSHI-HASHI & Toa Henare vs Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma
Two days separate four of these six from what should be a thrilling tag team clash at Power Struggle. Two months separate Ibushi and Okada from their epic main event at Wrestle Kingdom 14 night 1. a vital chance to grab an upper hand here, and a chance for Toa Henare and Tomoaki Honma to make their own mark with the impending World Tag League in mind.
3rd Match: Karl Fredericks, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto vs BULLET CLUB (Jay White, KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi)
BULLET CLUB champions continue to clash with their CHAOS challengers in the third match of the night. This is the last chance for both sides to make an impact before their November 3 title matches. What could be in store Friday?
2nd Match: Los Inobernables De Japon ( Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI) vs Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Junior & DOUKI)
As Tetsuya Naito is 48 hours away from facing Taichi at Power Struggle, will he regain his normal composure Friday night, or will he continue his dangerous rampage? Meanwhile, will BUSHI act on the plan he’s hinted at for IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay?
1st Match: Jyushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask & Yuya Uemura vs TJP, Clark Connors & Yota Tsuji
After this Super Junior Tag League saw Tiger Mask partner up with a partner other than Jyushin Thunder Liger for the first time in seven years, this opener sees the band back together, along with the impressive Young Lion yuya Uemura. In the opposite corner are Tiger and Uemura’s Thursday opponents TJP and Clark Connors, with the uneasy ally of Yota Tsuji, who has to put his hatred of the LA Dojo aside for a while if he’s going to help his team to victory.
