May 18, 2017
(aired live)
City: Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
Venue: Korakuen Hall
Attendance: 1,488
Series: Best of the Super Jr. 24
Commentary: Milano Collection AT
Ring Announcer: Kimihiko Ozaki, Makoto Abe
Intro Video
Introducing the participants in the 24th super junior tournament.
Match 1
Tetsuhiro Yagi & Umino Shota & Katsuya Kitamura vs Oka Tomoyuki & Hirai Kawato & Tiger Mask
(referee: Kenta Sato; ring announcer: Kimihiko Ozaki)
Result: Hirai Kawato makes Tetsuhiro Yagi submit to a Boston Crab
Time: 6:26
Match Thoughts
A pretty good match. It was kind of short, but it was a fine opener. Yagi, Shota, and Kitamura tried to take an early advantage by attacking Tiger Mask’s ream before the opening bell, but the match ended up being pretty even. Kitamura was easily the biggest guy in the match, but the opposing team managed to neutralize him most of the time.
Match 2
El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs Volador Jr. & ACH
(referee: Kenta Sato; ring announcer: Kimihiko Ozaki)
Result: El Desperado pins ACH with a crucifix pin (after a cheap shot from Kanemaru to ACH)
Time: 8:30
Match Thoughts
This match was fun. The pace was high, considerably higher than the opening match. Volador Jr. started off for his team, and he and El Desperado started fast. El Desperado and Kanemaru were able to work together to keep Volador Jr. isolated and started to dominate the match, but ACH eventually got the tag and evened things up. There was a fair amount of flying in this match from ACH and Volador Jr., and that worked well as a counter to Desperdo and Kanemaru’s dirty tricks.
Match 3
Yujiro Takahashi & Tanga Roa & Tama Tonga vs David Finlay & War Machine (IWGP Tag Champs)
(referee: Marty Asami; ring announcer: Makoto Abe)
Result: Tama Tonga pins David Finlay after a Gun Stun (jumping cutter)
Time: 6:39
Match Thoughts
This was a pretty good big-man match. War Machine showed their impressive agility for big guys, but David Finaly was no match for the teamwork of the Bullet Club. There were some big, strong moves in this match.
Match 4
KUSHIDA (ROH TV Champ) & Ryusuke Taguchi & Juice Robinson & Satoshi Kojima vs BUSHI & EVIL & SANADA (NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Champs) & Tetsuya Naito (IWGP IC Champ)
(referee: Marty Asami; ring announcer: Makoto Abe)
Result: BUSHI pins KUSHIDA with a BUSHI Roll (backslide into a bridge)
Time: 9:22
Match Thoughts
Good match. It was more of a tornado for pretty much the entire time which isn’t unexpected when Los Ingobernables de Japon are involved. Everyone had their moments to shine in this one and everyone had the chance to hit some big moves. It was a pretty even match, but LIJ definitely seemed to be the better team as far as teamwork goes.
Ring Area
After the match, as LIJ are leaving the ring area, Naito once again throws his IC Title belt, this time directly at the ring post. The young boys at ringside inspect the belt and see that the belt has been bent along the bottom of the main plate. They bend it back into place using a hammer before taking the belt to the backstage area.
– Intermission –
Match 5
Best of the Super Junior 24 A Block Match
TAKA Michinoku w/ El Desperado vs Taichi w/ Yoshinobu Kanemaru
(referee: Marty Asami; ring announcer: Makoto Abe; guest commentary: Ryusuke Taguchi)
Result: Taichi wins via pinfall with a Taichi-Shiki Gedo Clutch
Time: 9:30
Match Thoughts
This was pretty fun. Everyone involved in this match is a member of Suzuki-Gun, so Taichi and Taka didn’t really want to fight each other. They spent an extended period of time circling each other, and even when they did start to approach each other they managed to compete in the match without touching each other. It wasn’t until the finish that they actually came into contact with one another. I though this match was pretty clever and a good way to have a match between stable-mates.
Match 6
Best of the Super Junior 24 A Block Match
Marty Scurll vs Dragon Lee
(referee: Red Shoes Unno; ring announcer: Makoto Abe; guest commentary: Ryusuke Taguchi)
Result: Dragon Lee wins via pinfall after a double stomp in the corner
Time: 13:09
Match Thoughts
Good match. Scurll seemed a little outmatched at first, but he was able to keep Lee off his game for much of the match. Lee wanted to quicken the pace, but Scurll kept things methodical a lot of the time. Scurll also played to the crowd a lot, which didn’t necessarily help him too much. Lee managed to break free a few times and used his power, agility, and speed to fight back against Scurll’s dirty offense. It was a nice contrast in styles.
Match 7
Best of the Super Junior 24 A Block Match
Jushin Thunder Liger vs Hiromu Takahashi (IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champ)
(referee: Red Shoes Unno; ring announcer: Kimihiko Ozaki; guest commentary: Ryusuke Taguchi)
Result: Hiromu Takahashi wins via pinfall after a Time Bomb (high angle side sitout powerslam)
Time: 8:05
Match Thoughts
Really good match. Liger started quickly and was all over Takahashi in the first part of the match. Liger hit a brainbuster on the floor, but rather than let Takahashi get counted out, Liger rolled him back into the ring just before the 20 count. The match was fast-paced and Takahashi seemed to merely survive for most of it. I think this was a good match for both guys.
Ring Area
After the match, Liger gets on the mic and says that even though he lost his first two matches, he will fight until the end and win the tournament.
Match 8
Best of the Super Junior 24 A Block Match
Will Ospreay vs Ricochet
(referee: Red Shoes Unno; ring announcer: Kimihiko Ozaki; guest commentary: Ryusuke Taguchi)
Result: Will Ospreay wins via pinfall after an OsCutter
Time: 27:27
Match Thoughts
Great match! I thought this one was going to go to a time limit draw, and it almost did. The offense in this one seemed to come in waves. Ospreay and Ricochet would feel each other out for a bit, then they would explode with bursts of offense. Early in the match they tended to cancel each other out with similar moves, but later on they began to trade times in control. They had multiple great chains and sequences, and by the end of the match they had both done everything they could to best each other.
Ring Area
After the match, Ospreay gets on the mic and tells Ricochet that he loves him. He goes on to say that he wrestles for the fans, and that professional wrestling is an art form. He won the Super Jr. tournament last year and even though he lost to Scurll last night, he’s going to climb back up and win this year’s tournament as well. He also said he’d have a House of Horrors match with Randy Orton.
Backstage
Will Ospreay says it’s been a weird journey, but he’s found a home in New Japan. He says the rumors of him going somewhere else are stupid. He’s beat up, but he will sacrifice everything or New Japan.
Show Impressions
This was an enjoyable show. The matches got considerably better as the night went along. I liked the opening matches, but it was the tournament matches that really stole the show. They were all different and good in their own ways. The main event really blew everything else away though.
Match of the Night
Will Ospreay vs Ricochet
So far this is the match to beat in this year’s tournament. Great match.
Standings After Night 2
Block A
| Wrestler | Win | Loss | Draw | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Lee | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Hiromu Takahashi | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Marty Scurll | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Ricochet | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Taichi | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Taka Michinoku | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Will Ospreay (defending champ) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Block B
| Wrestler | Win | Loss | Draw | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| El Desperado | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Volador Jr. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bushi | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| KUSHIDA | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tiger Mask | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Yoshinobu Kanemaru | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |