The Best of the Super Juniors continues to heat up.
Despite being a multi-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion who won the Best of the Super Juniors four times, Hiromu Takahashi is one of the wrestlers in last place. It certainly didn’t get any better during his match against Dragon Dia. This was actually a rematch from their bout last year and not surprisingly, the early portion started off fast with chain moves and reversals. But a Death Valley Driver onto the apron put Dia in a dire state for a good portion of the match.
Takahashi dominated the match, with Dia’s comeback being extremely weak until a top rope hurrcarrana changed the tide. He came back with a flurry of offense and nailed a crucifix driver for a strong nearfall. Hiromu almost took his head off with a clothesline. But Dia fired back strongly with an enzuigiri and buzzsaw kick for another nearfall. But a piledriver from Hiromu spelled doom for Dia. Hiromu was about to put the final nail in the coffin until Dia got a surprise jacknife cover for a three count.
El Desperado is trying to bounce back from that shocking loss to Nick Wayne. The current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion was in a fight against Mao, but the start was a stalemate between both men. The match spilled to the outside and Mao hit a brutal stunner across a guardrail post. The referee almost counted the champion out, but he allowed him to get back into the ring.
The match continued to be a back-and-forth encounter until Desperado hit a spear and brainbuster that almost put Mao out of commission. Mao returned the favor with a Michinoku Driver for a strong nearfall. Both men traded headbutts and then went crazy with open hand slaps. A clothesline from Desperado put an end to that. Desperado unleashed a string of moves as he hit another spear, a double underhook piledriver, and the Pinche Loco that saw Mao kick out at the very last second. But Mao took too much punishment to make a comeback as Desperado hit another underhook piledriver and Pinche Loco for the three count.
Check out the full results below for Night Five of Best of the Super Juniors Tournament:
- Best of the Super Juniors A Block: Master Wato (4) def. Ninja Mack (2)
- Best of the Super Juniors B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi (6) def. YOH (2)
- Best of the Super Juniors A Block: Yoshinobu Kanemaru (4) def. Francesco Akira (4)
- Best of the Super Juniors B Block: SHO (4) def. Robbie Eagles (4)
- Best of the Super Juniors A Block: Clark Connors (4) def. Robbie X (4)
- Best of the Super Juniors B Block: Titán (6) def. Taiji Ishimori (2)
- Best of the Super Juniors A Block: KUSHIDA (4) def. Kosei Fujita (6)
- Best of the Super Juniors B Block: Kevin Knight (2) def. Nick Wayne (6)
- Best of the Super Juniors A Block: Dragon Dia (6) def. Hiromu Takahashi (2)
- Best of the Super Juniors B Block: El Desperado (4) def. MAO (4)