1. Best of the Super. Jr – Final: Hiromu Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori
This was basically a high-end New Japan main event at three times the speed and I highly approve of that. It was two guys at the top of their game doing ALL OF IT with the added benefit of a Big Match Feel at Korakuen Hall. There isn’t much on this earth like that atmosphere and it is so special when it shows up.
It is crazy how Taiji Ishimori was kind of great since day one, eventually blowing people’s minds for a while in NOAH, and now he is here on this big-ass stage, not only crushing it but looking like a superstar. I mean Taiji Ishimori is JACKED, baby. Plus, Jim Ross commentating for New Japan might not be good, but how else are you going to get Ishimori’s cauliflower ears compared to Paul Boesch’s?
Hiromu Takahashi meanwhile reminds me of a drug-free Sabu, there is such a recklessness to what he does and at the same time you feel confident that he and his opponent are gonna make it out OK because they are professionals.
Anyways, the match: ROPE RUNNING. SPEED. RECKLESSNESS. CRAZY SHIT. BIG NEAR FALLS. EVERYTHING PERFORMED GORGEOUSLY AND HURTY AND WHOA!!!
Plenty of jaw-dropping spots, from the opening minutes with Taiji backflipping out of a sunset flip powerbomb to the floor to the middle with Taiji taking a MASSIVE belly-to-belly suplex in the corner. There were a few incredible bumps into the corner here, both guys just going full throttle into it whether chest-first or upside down.
The crowd brawling early as well as the RANA DOWN THE STAIRS was a fun way to do the New Japan big match countout tease tope. I loved them doing that and then going back into the ring where Ishimori applied a CRAVATE. The thread of the match was kind of Ishimori trying to work holds and Hiromu all, “Nah man that’s not the game anymore, anyways I’m gonna leap off the apron as fast as I can with a dropkick now, bitch.”
All those holds led to the folks going absolutely nuts as Hiromu fought out of a YesLock. The shot of a young girl just exhausted with relief after he got to the ropes was high art.
As can be an issue with main event New Japan Pro Wrestling, there was a whole lot of stuff early that felt kind of meandering, but once that YesLock struggle hit they locked in.
Excellent, frantic, wild finish with the crowd not just bumping along with every twist and turn but completely flipping out. Hiromu eventually hit a ridiculous double underhook head-drop piledriver that would spell the end for Ishimori, as one triangle choke and Time Bomb later he was done. ****1/2
Post-match is fun too with Hiromu being one of the best promos in wrestling – funny, passionate, INTENSE. Then he breaks the BOSJ trophy by mistake and it is delightful.
