This is how wrestling is meant to be watched, man. No commentary, one hard cam. Just kidding, I already miss Milano and the sweet New Japan production values.
Tiger Mask vs. YOH – Best of the Super Juniors (Block A)
There were hints of Grumpy Tiger Mask kicking the shit out of YOH that I really liked here, but for the most part they worked an even match and it was all just very okay. YOH working singles matches has exposed a crucial detail about him: his offense is kind of bad. He doesn’t seem to have the athleticism to pull off the intricate pseudo Dragon Gate spots he’s going for, his strikes look weak and that handspring elbow would make Keiji Muto cry. Hence why I would have preferred him getting his ass kicked and selling for the whole match. Not bad or anything – the crowd got into YOH’s kickouts by the end, but yeah just a wrestling match. **3/4
Flip Gordon vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru – Best of the Super Juniors (Block A)
A better version of Tiger/YOH, with similar faults but more compelling action. I’m really not a fan of Flip’s indie-tastic leg-slap-happy offense, but Old Kanemaru is still a lot more motivated than Old Tiger Mask these days and he did good job carrying the whole thing. I quite enjoyed him DDT’ing Flip on the floor, stomping a mudhole in him and cutting off a bunch of his weirdo springboards. For a guy working such a flip-flop kind of style, I feel like Gordon should be moving a lot faster. Is it a cardio thing? Look at someone like Hiromu and how a simple thing like RUNNING REALLY FAST helps pull the audience into his matches. I did pop for that slingshot 450 finish though – WELL DONE FLIP GORDON. ***
BUSHI vs. Taiji Ishimori – Best of the Super Juniors (Block A)
I was ready to hate this based on the flat interactions they had in their lead-in tag match and also the fact that I can never get myself to care about BUSHI, but fuck me, this was tons of fun! Taiji once again came off as a superstar and carried BUSHI to the best BUSHI match possible – no down time, some fun high-flying spots and a bunch of nifty counters. They worked the very simple but effective story of Taiji being a guy on another level than BUSHI and just having the dude’s number, wrecking him with that BONKERS sliding German suplex, countering a Codebreaker by hoisting The Bush in that wild Tombstone/Lungblower combo and then finally reversing the MX out of nowhere with a Codebreaker of his own. Lots of cool shit, all perfectly executed. Taiji’s still working on his heel mannerisms (the creepy faces, t-shirt choking, etc) and so far he’s doing a good job integrating them in his matches without ever slowing down the action. Also, the Bloody Cross is such a dope finisher. I like wrestling! ***1/2
Will Ospreay vs. ACH – Best of the Super Juniors (Block A)
Well, here we are: I am slowly turning into a Will Ospreay Fan. I don’t know what to tell you, the guy’s been on a roll. Great matches with Hiromu, Okada, KUSHIDA, Taiji and now this fun little number. The big difference between 2018 Ospreay and Past Ospreay is that he’s finally figured out when to slow things down and when to speed them the fuck up. Him and the eternally-underrated ACH do this to great effect in this match: splicing up the crazy spots with Ospreay working over ACH’s injured shoulder or ACH brutalizing Will with THE STIFFEST CHOPS.
ACH is a true master of the Little Things and I love watching him show off his CRAFT in this tournament. His shoulder selling was particularly on point and I loved the spot where he just fell on his ass trying a simple thing like an Irish-whip because the pain was too much to handle. Best of all, both guys did a stellar job building up to the big spots of the match, namely Will’s Sasuke Special (ACH countering it amazingly the first time with an enzuigiri to the back) and new Stormbreaker finisher. All the sweet movez were so much more satisfying due to the struggle both guys went through getting to them. Just a crazy tight match between two next-level indie superdudes. ***3/4
