Csonka’s New Japan Pro Wrestling BOTSJ Night 11 & 12 Review

Introduction
As a reminder, this will not be another traditional recap, but instead it will be a mash up of the Rs, Instant Analysis and my usual Twitter ramblings I would do during the shows; completely uncensored and as the ideas flow unfiltered to the old keyboard. Remember, this is a review; and I am here to review the show. As always, I encourage discussion and even disagreement, just do so in a respectful manner. I will be doing the review for Raw and most PPVs and iPPVs going forward.

New Japan Pro Wrestling BOTSJ Night Eleven & Twelve

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– BOSJ Block B Match (Night Eleven): Bobby Fish defeated David Finlay [**¼]
– BOSJ Block A Match (Night Eleven): Barbaro Cavernario defeated Yohei Komatsu [**¾]
– BOSJ Block A Match (Night Eleven): Kyle O’Reilly defeated Chase Owens [**½]
– BOSJ Block B Match (Night Eleven): Mascara Dorada defeated Nick Jackson [***¼]

~~~

– Block A Match: Beretta defeated Yohei Komatsu [***¾]
– Block B Match: Tiger Mask IV defeated David Finlay [**]
– Block A Match: Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Barbaro Cavernario [***¼]
– Block B Match: Mascara Dorada defeated Rocky Romero [**¾]
– Block B Match: Bobby Fish defeated Nick Jackson [***½]
– Block A Match: Kyle O’Reilly defeated Gedo [***¾]
– Block A Match: Chase Owens defeated Ryusuke Taguchi [***]

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* Note: This is one of the many shows that New Japan World is not airing live, but instead are making matches available the next day via VOD. On the next day airings they are only making the tournament matches available, so that is all that will be reviewed here. I will try to keep up with all of the tournament matches, but these reviews will be a bit more short form at times since we’re not dealing with a complete show. Thanks for joining me…

* EXTRA NOTE: So I really don’t have much to say about the night eleven matches. It felt like every other show, acceptable matches and one good one and that was that. There is really not much more to add. I have included the star ratings for those matches above, and we’ll just move on and focus with night twelve.

Beretta defeated Yohei Komatsu: This was the opening match for the show, and was just the step up I had hoped for as this was one of the best matches in the tournament so far. Beretta had control early and called a very good match as he looked good, but so did Komatsu who made an awesome and fire filled babyface come back. He is too good, just get him into the regular juniors mix and do it now. Komatusu survived a knee strike, but Beretta was too much for him and picked up the win to complete the shut out of young Komatsu. This was just really good, with a great pace, great energy and the crowd responding well to the work. We needed more of this during the early stages of the tournament.

Tiger Mask IV defeated David Finlay: This was passable, and even looked good in a few spots, but overall the two did not jell in the ring. I still think that Finlay has some potential and would love to see him in Evolve as previously stated. Tiger Mask continues to be rough and uninspired in singles competition. Tiger Mask tried to rip off Finlay arm and made him tap. Moving along.

Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Barbaro Cavernario: Barbaro Cavernario is quickly becoming a guilty pleasure of mine, I mean, he’s a fucking Mexican Caveman that works lightweight and has submissions, what’s not to love? He and Old Man Liger worked well here, doing a little comedy, some mat wrestling and Barbaro Cavernario wild splash to the floor. It all made for a good package, and Liger scored the win with the brainbuster. I wasn’t a fan of the finish, because Barbaro Cavernario is a Mexican Caveman, I highly doubt that the move would really hurt him. Come on, we have to have some realism in wrestling, don’t we?

Mascara Dorada defeated Rocky Romero : Mascara Dorada defeated Rocky Romero in a match that was good, but not quite on the level as the one before it. They worked a good back and forth match, they traded some dives and they also got the crowd involved. Dorada hit a RANA off the ropes, and then finished with a Michinoku driver. Solid stuff.

Bobby Fish defeated Nick Jackson: Due to their tag team rivalry, these two already have good chemistry, and that spilled over here as they put together a good single effort. They worked in some familiar spots from their tag efforts, and Cody Hall actually didn’t annoy me as Nick’s second. They actually did a cool spot where Fish was down and Hall carried him backstage, which led to a count out tease; but Fish just made it back in 19. It was different for the show, but it worked here and added some nice drama. Fish worked the leg following Nick superkicking the post, and then worked a hot final stretch and Fish won clean with the falcon arrow, overcoming the odds.

Kyle O’Reilly defeated Gedo: Much like Liger, Old Man Gedo did some really good things in the tournament but saved the best for last as he had a hell of an outing with O’Reilly here. They both had times that they had good control, with Gedo appearing to a face early on but then attacking the leg of O’Reilly, and really turning up the heel meter. They went back and forth well, they worked submissions and I just felt the intensity being turned up as they kept building the match. This was easily on par with the opener; O’Reilly has been great all tournament long and Gedo provided to be a great foil as O’Reilly tried to earn the shot in the finals. The last two-minutes or so was really well done, and O’Reilly overcame his leg being worked on and scored the big win with the arm bar. Now all we need is for Taguchi to lose and we have a money final match.

Chase Owens defeated Ryusuke Taguchi: This was a good, but not great main event. I could talk about the work or some of the finer points but this is all you need to know. CHASE OWENS HIT THE PACKAGE PILEDRIVER TO PIN TAGUCH AND END ASSFEST 2015! O’REILLY GOES TO THE FINALS! IT’S MORNING IN AMERICA AGAIN!

– Here are the final standings…

BLOCK A
* Kyle O’Reilly (6-1) – 12 points
* Ryusuke Taguchi (5-2) – 10 points
* Jushin Thunder Liger (4-3) – 8 points
* Chase Owens (4-3) – 8 points
* Beretta (4-3) – 8 points
* Bárbaro Cavernario (3-4) – 6 points
* Gedo (2-5) – 4 points
* Yohei Komatsu (0-7) – 0 points

BLOCK B
* KUSHIDA (6-1) – 12 points
* Máscara Dorada (5-2) – 10 points
* Bobby Fish (5-2) – 10 points
* Tiger Mask IV (4-3) – 8 points
* Rocky Romero (4-3) – 8 points
* Nick Jackson (3-4) – 6 points
* David Finlay (0-7) 0 points
* Alex Shelley (1-6) – Lost 6 matches via forfeit due to injury
* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.8

The final score: review Good

The 411

There were no great matches here, but overall we have good wrestling, the good layout and while the main event wasn’t; great the booking was good. It all came down to Taguchi’s final match, if he won he was in the finals due to O’Reilly scoring his win. At the end of the day they booked the right finals, and this was an enjoyable set of matches.